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5th Oil and Gas training programme for journalists opens in Uganda

 The 5th training programme for 30 journalists working in the oil, gas and mining sectors drawn from Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania has opened in Kampala, Uganda.

 

It aims mainly at introducing journalists who cover the extractive industry to the critical issues surrounding the exploitation, management, and utilization of oil, gas, and mineral resources in their countries, enriched with a global perspective.

Under the theme “Strengthening Media Oversight of the Extractive Sectors: REPORTING ON OIL, GAS, AND MINING”,  the 10 day training programme will run from the 4th to 13th June 2014 at Africa Centre for  Media Excellence (ACME), Kampala, Uganda organised by Revenue Watch Institute, in conjunction with Penplusbytes, GHANA, ACME, Uganda and Journalists Environmental Association (JET) of Tanzania.

The training course will introduce the participants to the fundamental issues concerning the exploitation, utilization, benefits, and challenges of oil, gas, and mineral resources. It is designed to help journalists develop the knowledge and skills to stimulate and feed public debate on how best to ensure that the proceeds from natural resources are used to serve the interests of a country and its citizens.

A statement issued by organisers said the training programme began in 2011 by RWI, Penplusbytes and other partners with the aim of increasing the quantity and quality of oil and gas stories and has so far built the capacity of about 70 journalists to enable them play the critical role of helping inform and engage citizens, CSOs and parliament to effectively hold government and companies in the sector accountable.

President of Penplusbytes, Kwami Ahiabenu II, prior to his departure for Uganda from Accra said, “The extractive sector revenues are important for wealth creation and poverty reduction in Africa. However, this promise can only be realized if all stakeholders especially the media are given the capacity to play an oversight role and we are delighted that this week in Kampala, we are going to support the knowledge and skills set of 30 journalists to enable them play this crucial role effectively”

Journalists from Ghana participating in this training programme are Sheila Aklamanu Williams, Senior Reporter, Business Day; Adams Kodjo, Reporter, Ghana News Agency; Adu Koranteng, Business Reporter, The New Crusading Guide; Dominic Hlordzi, Senior Editor/Assistant Manager (Radio), Ghana Broadcasting Corporation; Isaac Robert Aidoo, Reporter/Deputy Editor, The Finder Newspaper; Kofi Adu Domfeh, Reporter, Luv FM;

The other participants are Malise Oblitey Otoo, Reporter, Spy News Agency; Mark Kwabena Boye; Senior Reporter, The Enquirer Newspaper; Marlvin James Dadzie, Reporter, The New Crusading Guide and Richard Annerquaye Abbey, Reporter, Business & Financial Times.

“This training programme has been an eye opener especially for journalists coming from the northern sector of Ghana and has broadened our horizon particularly on activities at the downstream of the oil and gas industry and how we as journalists can engage stakeholders play the advocacy role in ensuring revenues from the sector can benefit all citizens as well as providing linkages for indigenous enterprises to provide local content for the industry.” Kofi Adu Domfeh, Reporter, Luv FM, Kumasi.

Revenues generated from oil gas and mining could improve health care and education for the poor, and serve as a catalyst for economic growth if journalists are able to play an effective advocacy and oversight role over the sector and this training seeks to achieve this goal. 

Penplusbytes

Established in 2001, Penplusbytes is a leading organization in Africa working in 3 areas: governance and accountability, new media and innovations as well as oil, gas and mining. It consists of a network of media organizations and journalists interested in using ICTs to effectively advance high quality journalism. The organisation has trained hundreds of journalists and civil society actors from various parts of Africa and across the globe in cutting edge new media technologies, governance and accountability and extractives sector.

Revenue Watch Institute 

The Revenue Watch Institute is a non-profit policy institute and grantmaking organization that promotes the effective, transparent and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources for the public good. Through capacity building, technical assistance, research and advocacy, RWI help countries realize the development benefits of their natural resource wealth.

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