International Institute of ICT Journalism - Penplusbytes in partnership withRevenue Watch institute – Natural Resource Charter (RWI-NRC) is organising a roundtable for 32 journalists and editors who have successfully completed “Strengthening Media Oversight over Extractive Industries”training programme on the theme: “Gas Commercialization as a Solution to Ghana’s Energy Crisis – Myth or Reality?" in Accra.

The refresher workshop and mentoring roundtable is aimedat bringing together past trainee journalists who have benefited from this initiative to engage with Stakeholders in the Oil and Gas sector on topical issues and developments within the sector.

Penplusbytes working with other partners in Uganda and Tanzania have since 2010 trained nearly a hundred journalists on skills and knowledge needed to effectively report on the extractive sector in Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania.

This has resulted not only in an increased reportage of oil and gas stories but also, and more importantly, an improvement in the depth, content, scope and impact of oil and gas stories in the media landscape in the 3 selected countries.

This year, the project is being supported by STAR-Ghana with the view to consolidating and sustaining the outcomes and gainsachieved by the project. With great interest in enhancing accountability, improving responsiveness and ensuring increased transparency, Star-Ghana aims to support and empower the media in their oversight responsibility in order to ensure the efficient management of revenues from the extractive sector,adequateprovision of essential public goods and efficient public service delivery.

According to Kwami Ahiabenu II, president of Penplusbytes, “The key objective of this event is tosustain the interest of Ghanaian journalists in covering the extractive sectors,update journalists’ knowledge of current and emerging governance issues in the sector and to provide a platform for journalists to seek the advice of mentors and exchange ideas.”

Dr. Joe Asamoah an eminent expert in the oil and gas sector and energy economist will deliver the key note address with other such as Dr. George Lugalambi, the media program officer of RWI-NRC,Dr. Mohammed Amin, Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP),and Dr Arne Disch, Managing PartnerScanteam, Norwegian independent advisory group with extensive field-experience from 100 countries.

A second workshop/roundtable is scheduled for the second half of this year.

Editor’s Note

The Revenue Watch Institute is a non-profit policy institute and grant-making organization that promotes the effective, transparent and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources for the public good through capacity building, technical assistance, research and advocacy.

Penplusbytes is a not-for-profit organization established in 2001 that seeks to empower the media through the use of Information and Communications Technology to advance better journalism in the coverage of governance and accountability, new media and innovations, and mining, oil and gas sectors.

Star-Ghanais a multi- donor pooled funding mechanism (Funded by DFID, DANIDA, EU and USAID) to increase the influence of civil society and Parliament in the governance of public goods and service delivery, with the ultimate goal of improving the accountability and responsiveness of Ghana´s government, traditional authorities and the private sector