Journalists asked to avoid publishing falsehood about mining companies

Sunyani (B/A), Sept. 27, GNA – The media have been asked to avoid publishing false stories about mining companies in the country.

They should critically examine activities of mining companies before disseminating information about them to the public.

Mr. Daniel Owusu- Koranteng, Executive Director of Wassa Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM), a non-governmental organisation, made the call at a workshop organised for more than 50 media practitioners in Sunyani at the weekend.

The event, sponsored by DKA Austria, a Catholic charity organisation, was jointly planned by the Ghana Journalists Network on Mining, Oil and Gas (GJNMOG) and WACAM.

The GJNMOG is a network of journalists seeking transparency and accountability in the mining industry as well as becoming the voice for communities directly affected by mining, oil and gas operations.

Mr. Owusu-Koranteng expressed regret that the majority of stakeholders in the mining industry in the country had failed to help alleviate the plight of communities affected by mining operations.

He said the media served as the voice for such communities “as the only channel they can rely on and pass their grievances through for redress”.

Mr. Owusu-Koranteng noted that mining companies in the country continued to create a lot of discomfort and pain to people in mining communities.

“If we allow communities to continue to suffer from the various atrocities from mining companies, one day these communities would stand up and fight for their basic rights”, he cautioned.

Nana Boaman Bofotia, Krontihene of Sunyani Traditional Council, said that some mining companies had failed to pay royalties to traditional authorities.

He said since chiefs were the embodiment of the people and the custodian of lands, they were the right people to be contacted before any mining company could start operations.

Nana Bofotia advised the media to be circumspect in their reportage to avoid jeopardizing public peace.

He expressed concern about the use of provocative statements in the political landscape.

Nana Bofotia appealed to political parties to eschew activities that could result in confusion in the next General Election.

He advised the youth not to allow politicians to use them to foment trouble but they should rather channel their exuberance into productive ventures.

Mrs. Hannah Owusu-Koranteng, Deputy Executive Director of WACAM, took the participants through the Mineral and the Mining Act 2006 (ACT 703).

She noted that the Act provided generous incentives to mining investors and deny government the opportunity to accrue revenues from the mining sector to meet the development needs of the people.

Mrs. Koranteng called on the media to work hard and help to expose the rots in the mining industry as well as alleviate the plight of people in the mining communities.

Mr. Raphael Godlove Ahenu, National President of GJNMOG, called on journalists to regularly visit mining communities to help find solutions to the problems of the people.

He said the contributions of the media in promoting socio-economic development could not be overemphasized.