When journalists and industry leaders sit across the same table, something powerful happens: myths are challenged, facts are clarified, and dialogue begins. That was the spirit behind a recent two-day training programme jointly organized by the Ghana Chamber of Mines and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Kumasi.
Held at the Miklin Hotel, the training brought together editors and senior reporters from the country’s seven mining regions. The aim was simple yet ambitious — to give journalists the tools and knowledge to report more accurately on one of Ghana’s most complex and misunderstood sectors: mining.
For Ahmed Dasana Nantogmah, Chief Operating Officer of the Chamber of Mines, the role of the media in shaping public discourse cannot be overstated. “Mining contributes significantly to Ghana’s foreign exchange, job creation, and community development,” he said in his opening remarks. “But it is also highly technical, and often misunderstood. This training has been designed to bridge that gap, to foster understanding, encourage informed reportage, and create space for honest, open dialogue.”
The Chamber’s Chief Executive Officer, Ing. Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, echoed this sentiment but pushed further, calling for balance in how mining is discussed nationally. Too often, he argued, the focus tilts heavily toward criticisms without equal acknowledgment of the sector’s contributions to infrastructure, education, and health. “We need a conversation that holds companies accountable,” he said, “but also one that recognizes the good that the industry does.”
Dr. Ashigbey also used the platform to advocate for reforms to the Minerals and Mining Act. Stronger regulations and sharper oversight, he said, would not only protect communities but also ensure Ghana remains attractive to investors.
The media’s role in these reforms and in the broader mining story was a key theme for Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the GJA. He warned against the waning of public campaigns against illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey. Despite its well-documented destruction of rivers, forests, farms, and livelihoods, coverage has become less sustained, he observed.
Mr. Dwumfour urged government, particularly President John Dramani Mahama, to enforce mining laws without fear or favour. “We must see maximum sentences for offenders,” he stressed, calling for stronger legal and institutional responses. But he also challenged his own constituency—the press—to revive a consistent, hard-hitting campaign against galamsey. For him, the issue is not only environmental; it is about human rights, public health, and the integrity of Ghana’s natural resources.
Both leaders agreed that illegal mining is too complex for any single institution to tackle alone. Dr. Ashigbey highlighted the need for clear regulations and strong political will, while Mr. Dwumfour pointed to public accountability and the press’s duty to keep pressure on duty-bearers.
For the journalists in the room, the training was more than just a workshop—it was an opportunity to rethink how stories on mining are framed. The hope is that by deepening their technical knowledge and sharpening their investigative tools, reporters can move beyond sensational headlines to deliver nuanced coverage that informs the public while holding industry and government accountable.
The Chamber of Mines and the GJA see this as just the beginning. If sustained, such initiatives could help bridge the long-standing gap between an industry often viewed with suspicion and a public hungry for transparency. And for Ghana, where mining has been both a blessing and a challenge, that dialogue may be the key to shaping a more sustainable future.