7TH Regional Media Training on Oil, Gas and Mining Governance underway in Tanzania

 Penplusbytes , in partnership with Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) is holding the 7th regional media training on oil, gas and mining governance in Tanzania from 17^th to 28^th October, 2016.

The week-long “Course A” workshop forms part of activities under the “Strengthening Media Oversight of the Extractive Sectors” project which is aimed at promoting effective and consistent media oversight of oil, gas and mining activities as a pathway to increasing the number and quality of stories on extractives across all media platforms.

Twenty four selected journalists from 3 African countries- Uganda, Tanzania and Ghana- are currently in Tanzania for the course. These participants have, over time, demonstrated interest in extractives with records of extensive reportage on some aspect of the oil, gas, and mining sector on various news media.

The training is ultimately aimed at equipping journalists to develop stories on the sector that aim at holding public officials accountable and also helping them play an active watchdog role over the extractive sector revenues and resources.

According to Kwami Ahiabenu, II, Executive Director of Penplusbytes, “the training programme falls in line with the overall project goal of equipping journalists with the requisite knowledge and skills needed for effective oversight and advocacy of the oil, gas and mining sector”. This, he said, is a sure way to protect and safeguard the country’s extractive sector especially Ghana’s oil and gas sector which remains nascent.

The second course, “Course B” will be a national follow-up workshop. Three parallel editions of this workshop will take place in each country in November and December.

The follow-up workshop for the Ghanaian participants will be held from 14th to 28^th of November 2016 at the New Media Hub, Osu.

ABOUT

Penplusbytes is a not-for-profit organization driving change through innovations in three key areas: using new digital technologies to enable good governance and accountability, new media and innovations, and driving oversight for effective utilisation of mining, oil and gas revenue and resources.

The Natural Resource Governance Institute is a non-profit policy institute and grantmaking organization that promotes effective, transparent and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources for the public good. Through capacity building, technical assistance, research and advocacy, the NRGI help countries to realize the development benefits of their natural resource wealth.