President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has called on journalists covering the mining sector to uphold the highest standards of accuracy, fairness, independence and accountability.
He said the media could not demand accountability from government, mining companies and regulators while exempting itself from the same scrutiny.
“As President of the GJA, I must also speak frankly about the role of the media. We cannot demand accountability from others while exempting ourselves,” he said.
He was speaking at the National Mining Dialogue 2026 in Accra, held under the theme, “Rethinking the Social Licence to Operate.”
Mr Dwumfour said journalists must verify information before publication, investigate allegations thoroughly and give all parties a fair opportunity to respond.
“We must verify before publishing, we must investigate before accusing, we must give all sides a fair opportunity to respond,” he said.
He further urged journalists to focus on evidence rather than speculation, public pressure or sensational claims.
“And we must follow the evidence, not the noise,” he said.
According to him, responsible mining journalism requires journalists to examine relevant documents, engage affected communities, consult experts and regulators, and seek responses from mining companies and other parties mentioned in reports.
He also cautioned against presenting allegations as established facts and urged journalists to clearly distinguish between claims and verified information.
Mr Dwumfour warned against sensational reporting aimed primarily at attracting attention and generating online traffic.
“We must also resist sensationalism. A dramatic headline may generate clicks, but inaccurate reporting can damage reputations,” he said.
He said inaccurate reporting could have serious consequences for mining companies, government officials, traditional authorities, community leaders and individuals whose reputations could be affected by unverified allegations.
He therefore called for responsible journalism that promotes accountability while maintaining fairness, accuracy and public trust in the media.
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