Ghana's Energy Sector, Oil and Gas News
Penplusbytes, RWI train 9 journalists in Oil and Gas
Nine Ghanaian journalists from selected media houses are receiving training to enable them better stimulate public debate in ensuring that proceeds from the oil, gas and mining sector are used in the best interests of the country and its citizens.
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The workshop under the tutelage of Penplusbytes and Revenue Watch Institute, also aims at promoting good governance and effective oversight of the oil, gas (extractive) resources and revenues by the Ghanaian media.
A statement issued by Penplusbytes Tuesday named participating media houses as The Independent, Daily Graphic, Public Agenda, and The Chronicle (newspapers), and the Ghana News Agency, Gurune Style FM and Myjoyonline.com.
“The workshop is designed to introduce practicing journalists to current key issues surrounding Oil, Gas and Mining thereby helping them to develop the knowledge and skills to stimulate and feed public debate on how best to ensure that proceeds from the sector are used in the interests the country and its citizens. The workshop also includes a 2 day field trip which will provide the selected journalists with first-hand information and a better understanding of the extractive sector to enable them better inform and educate civil society and the general public,” the statement said.
President of Penplusbytes, Kwami Ahiabenu II who described the workshop as a learning opportunity, explained that it will not only build the capacity of the journalists but also bring journalists and Civil Society Organisations together for “a concerted effort towards advocacy, networking and partnership building in their quest to promote transparency and accountability in Ghana’s oil and gas revenue and resources”.
The workshop is a follow up to an initial one held in Tanzania earlier this year.
Established in 2001, Penplusbytes seeks to empower the media through the use of ICTs to advance the course of journalism in 3 areas: governance and accountability, new media and innovations and oil, gas and mining. The Revenue Watch Institute is a non-profit policy institute and grant making organization that promotes the effective, transparent and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources for the public good.