Media should
be partner in search for transparency
Accra, May 21, GNA - Mr. Kodjo Yankah,
President of African University College of Communication (AUCC),
has called on the 15-member Steering Committee of Ghana
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), to
consider the media as a partner in the search for
transparency and accountability in the country’s oil, gas
and mining industries.
He asked the committee not to be media shy but to open its
doors to journalists so that adequate information concerning
important activities could reach the public.
Mr. Yankah was speaking at a workshop, organized jointly by
Committee, an initiative of government, civil society and
mining companies that seek to increase transparency in the
payment and use of revenue from the extractive industry, for
journalists, in Accra on Thursday.
He said "I know some Chief Executives, who will not like to
talk to the media, but will ask the public relations officer
to handle all communication activities," but such entrenched
position did not help organizations to grow.
Mr. Yankah urged the media to be objective and accurate in
its reportage.
In 2003 Ghana embraced the principles of Extractive
Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an initiative
launched in September 2002 by former the UK Prime Minister,
Tony Blair, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development
in Johannesburg, in order to promote good governance,
accountability and transparency in the utilization of mining
benefits.
Nana Juaben-Boaten Siriboe, Chief Director of Ministry of
Finance and Economic Planning, explained that Ghana embraced
the principles of GHEITI five years ago, in order to promote
good governance, accountability and transparency in the
utilization of mining benefits.
He said: "By adopting this initiative, government therefore
seeks to ensure that investors make appropriate payments in
the right way and the right time," he said adding "while
government utilizes the receipts for the intended purpose to
achieve sustainable development."
Mr. Amponsah Tawiah, a member of the EITI steering
committee, said the use of natural resources as an important
engine for sustainable economic growth and poverty
reduction, if not managed well could create negative
economic social impacts.
He said public understanding of government revenue and
expenditure could inject investor confidence and enhance
public financial management and accountability.
Mr. Tawiah called for a nationwide sensitization programme
to educate mining communities about the initiative and its
potential benefits.
He was hopeful that an interaction of the committee with the
media would help in spreading the concept as a tool for
improving the extractive industry.
Mr. Sulemanu Koney, a delegate from the Ghana Chamber of
Mines, was of the view that if mining companies complied
with the international cyanide management code and the laws
in the country as well as adopted best international
governance practices, transparency could be promoted.
He called on statutory agencies such as the Internal Revenue
Service, Value Added Tax service, Mineral Commission,
Environmental Protection Agencies to be proactive to ensure
transparency and accountability in the extractive industry.
The objective of the workshop was to train members of the
media on EITI activities and how to effectively build public
awareness on transparency in the extractive sector.
GNA
