By Issah Mohammed/ Jibril Abdul Mumuni,GNA
Accra, Aug. 19, GNA – Mr Albert Dwumfuor, President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has announced that the association would undertake a nationwide tour to assess communities and sites affected by illegal mining.
The exercise would involve veteran and experienced journalists who would independently examine the impact of illegal mining and engage affected communities and other key stakeholders.
“We will take the conversation to the ground. I will lead a team of veteran and experienced journalists on a nationwide tour of communities and sites affected by illegal mining. We will go into the field to see the situation ourselves,” he said at a national mining dialogue in Accra.
Presided by the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the event was organised by Asempa 94.7 FM and its flagship programme, Ekosiisen, in partnership with Semmis DS and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
Held under the theme: “Rethinking the Social Licence to Operate”, discussions focused on how Ghana can maximise the economic and social value from the extraction of its mineral resources, without compromising the health and environmental wellbeing of present and future generations.
It was attended by government officials, traditional authorities, mining industry players, regulators and other stakeholders.
Mr Dwumfuor said the team would visit affected communities and mining sites and engage residents, miners, farmers, traditional leaders, regulators and other relevant stakeholders to deepen public understanding of the crisis.
“We will examine the conditions of previous attacks. We will speak to the affected communities. We will engage miners, farmers, traditional leaders, regulators, and other relevant stakeholders,” he said.
Mr Dwumfuor said the initiative would enable journalists to assess conditions on the ground rather than rely solely on reports and claims about illegal mining.
He said the exercise would be conducted independently of the Government, with the GJA working with development partners, experts and other relevant stakeholders considered necessary to ensure a comprehensive assessment.
The GJA President said the initiative formed part of the media’s responsibility to provide accurate, balanced and evidence-based reporting on the country’s mining sector.
He said journalists had a responsibility to investigate illegal mining networks and give affected communities a voice, while reporting fairly on interventions and mining companies that were meeting their obligations.
Mr Dwumfuor stressed the importance of specialised knowledge in mining journalism, saying journalists could not effectively report on an industry they did not understand.
He said the GJA would continue to promote specialised training for journalists covering mining, environmental issues, finance and regulation, alongside stronger fact-checking, investigative reporting and responsible use of data.
Mr Dwumfuor said the media must remain independent while scrutinising government policies, mining companies and regulators.
He said the nationwide tour would contribute to a more informed national conversation on illegal mining and the responsible exploitation of Ghana’s mineral resources.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
19 Aug. 2926
Reporter: Issah Mohammed