The Chairman for the Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas, Dr. Steve Manteaw has reiterated the need for journalists in the country to build their self-capacity in the oil and gas industry. He said that will enhance their reportage on the subject.
Dr. Manteaw bemoaned the fact that journalists are often sidelined during important meetings and training on the sector, although journalists are supposed to be on top of issues and report accurately. He stressed the need to build capacities, especially at the local level to enable Ghanaians to effectively participate in the development of the extractive industry.
Dr. Steve Manteaw was speaking at a three day workshop for journalists on the extractive sector at Elmina in the Central Region.
He said journalists also need to challenge themselves to ensure they are not left out in contributing to the development of the sector.
“Public office holders will want to feel that they can trust you that you are going to do a fair job on the information they give you. Some take the information and play partisan politics with it. And so for me those are the major challenge to journalist assessing information. Again when public officials are divulging information, they want to believe that the person they are giving the information is technically competent enough to handle the information…that is why for me I believe they (journalist) must equip themselves with fields especially the oil and gas sector”. Dr Steve Manteaw advised.
By : Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana