The Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ) and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources are working towards a formal partnership to improve reporting on mining, forestry and land administration in Ghana.
The collaboration is expected to give journalists better access to technical information and sector experts while helping the ministry explain its policies and reforms more clearly to the public.
The agreement followed a meeting in Accra between the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, and an IFEJ delegation led by its President, Roger Agambire Agana, with members Bernard Yaw Ashiadey and Rayborn Bullay.
Building journalists’ expertise
IFEJ President Roger Agambire Agana said the institute was ready to support public education on the ministry’s policies, particularly as Ghana seeks to increase local value addition in the minerals sector.
For journalists, the partnership would provide opportunities to deepen their understanding of the sector, engage directly with technical experts and produce more informed reports on policies affecting businesses and mining communities.
Mr Ashiadey proposed a memorandum of understanding to guide the collaboration, an annual conference on mining and natural resource governance, and joint research and publications with technical support from the ministry.
He also called for closer engagement between IFEJ members and the ministry’s agencies, including visits to degraded lands being reclaimed to assess restoration efforts and the effects of environmental damage.
Ministry seeks clearer public communication
Mr Buah welcomed the proposals and agreed to a half-day workshop at which he and heads of the ministry’s agencies would brief IFEJ members.
He said general press coverage often missed the substance of sector policies, making specialised reporting important to public understanding.
For the ministry, working with journalists who understand the technical and policy issues could help explain reforms, clarify their implications for affected communities and improve public understanding of developments in the natural resource sector.
Workshop to launch collaboration
The half-day workshop will mark the beginning of the proposed partnership, with IFEJ members expected to follow up directly with the ministry’s agencies.
The collaboration will cover reporting on mining, forestry and land administration, with proposed activities including technical briefings, joint research and field visits.
Its long-term value will depend on sustained access to information, regular engagement between journalists and technical officials, and the ability of journalists to report independently on both government policies and their implementation.
