MEDIA PRACTITIONERS EMBARK ON FIELD TRIP

13-02-2010 MEDIA PRACTITIONERS EMBARK ON FIELD TRIP
Some selected media practitioners from the Upper East, Upper West and Northern region have conducted a field visit to the Nangode mining site at Nangode, a mining community in the Talensi-Nabdam District of the Upper East Region, to ascertain the level of land degradation and other environmental hazards caused as a result of the mining activities in the area. The visit was to have first hand information on the issues of desertification and mining as well as its impact on the livelihood and quality of life. The visit which is also geared at creating a unique platform for facilitating policy discussion and strengthening the capacity of civil society and media organizations to promote accountability and transparency in the natural resource and environmental sector, forms part of Kasa project, a civil society support organization in the natural resource and environmental sector. In an interview with Radio Ghana, the officer in charge of Communications and Event for Kasa, Naa Oye Nettey said the Kasa Projects place much premium on the country’s natural resources and environment and its deteriorating impacts. In view of this, Kasa Project with support from other civil society organizations and NGOs, deem it necessary by getting the media on board in the education of the public on natural resources and environmental issues. Madam Nettey commended the media for playing a leading role in the advocacy, creation, and education and information dissemination on environmental issues. A Veteran journalist, Alhassan Imoro, tasked the government and other duty bearers to effectively tackle the issue of environmental degradation to save the life of the people in the country. During a media interaction, some of the workers at the Nangode mining site expressed their appreciation to the media group for their contribution in helping to address the negative impact of mining in the life of the people in the country. They called on the government to assist them in their operations through the provision of equipments and tools for effective and safe mining activities. One of the workers, a 45 year old woman, Madam Lariba Kpangu talked about the ordeal women in the area go through in the process of their work. She said they have no option but to take part in the mining activities in order to help them cater of their families. This, she explained, was partly due to the unemployment situation in the area and appealed to the assembly to help provide jobs for the youth in the area.