FIELD TRIP TO BOGOSO FROM 6TH-9TH JANUARY 2016

Ghana country water partnership (CWP-Ghana) in collaboration with the Federation of Environmental Journalists (FEJ), embarked on an educational trip to Bogoso and Preastea, both mining communities in the Prestea Huni valley district in the Western region of Ghana.

This is to expose student journalists to the practicalities of environmental reporting, as well as bring to the fore, issues confronting these communities.

In all, 21 participants, made up of the driver, 17 students, Abel Gayvolor, a lecturer from Ghana Institute of Journalism, Miss Irene Ofosu Ennin, representative from GCWP as well as facilitator, Mr. Frederick Asiamah, embarked on the trip.

DAY 1

DEPARTURE

Participants converged at the Police headquarters at 6:00am and the journey began at 6:40am.

ARRIVAL

The team arrived at Prestea Huni Valley at 3:30pm where members checked into the Bogoso Golden Hotel. Each room was shared by a couple of students.

BRIEFING

At 5:00pm, participants were taken through the nitty- gritty of environmental reporting by the moderator, Frederick Asiamah

Subsequently, four groups namely Television, Radio, Print and online, were formed to enable the students undertake their news reporting task efficiently. Each of the groups was expected to report on newsworthy stories, with specific regard to the environment.

Each participant was also challenged to produce at least one story be it hard news, news features, opinion feature or caption/photo story which will be eventually published in the national dailies.

Irene Ofosu Ennin, the representative from GCWP, distributed an amount of GHC80.00 to each student to cater for meals for the entire trip.

DAY 2

Participants embarked on a familiarization tour in the Prestea Township. The first point of call was the Workers club, where they were received by some executive members of the Concerned Citizens Association of Prestea, a non-partisan group formed to advocate for the well-being of indigenes.

The Secretary General, Dominic Nyame, elaborated the numerous environmental challenges that have confronted the community as a result of mining activities.

He further led the group to Anfegya, where a dump site which has been posing health risks to residents was situated.

Group members also spoke to other stakeholders in the area, including Honourable Shaibu Dimbie, an executive member of Voices of tomorrow foundation who also serves as the district Appointee of Prestea Huni Valley.

Next was Ankobra, where members interacted with Michael Kwarteng, the head of Jimmy and group small scale mining, after which each group was tasked to produce a news script from the day’s activities.

DAY 3

At 8am, participants gathered to make a presentation of their stories. The two hour exercise saw the facilitator Frederick Asiamah, critiquing the works. In the end, students were taught how to select story angles and pitching them.

Thereafter, a visit was paid to the Prestea Huni Valley district assembly office, where five officials addressed issues raised by the students.

It was revealed that in all 183 communities in the district, the ratio of an officer to residents is 1:159,304, making solving the environmental challenges that confront them, far-fetched.

Later, the group proceeded to the chief’s palace at Himan. There, the Abakomahene, Nana Kwaw Nsowa and two other sub-chiefs, addressed the group.

With new information, the groups were tasked to update their news reports.

DEPARTURE

Before leaving the town, each of the students shared a lesson or skill learnt from the trip. They were further urged to submit a draft of their individual stories to Frederick by the close of Wednesday 13th January, 2016.

A stop was made at the Center for Environmental Impact Analysis in Cape coast, where the Executive Director, Mr. Samuel Obiri focused on the scientific perspective of mining and its attendant health implications.

LIMITATION

The mining company the group was supposed to visit was unresponsive to our request. Therefore, Students were unable to witness their activities and obtain firsthand information from them. 

CONCLUSION

On the whole, it was a successful trip and the students, especially those in their first year who have not yet been exposed to the theoretical aspect of journalism have learnt about both the theory and practical at a go. They now pride themselves of being ahead of their colleagues.

FOLLOW UP ACTIONS

First of all, to ensure participants meet the deadline for submitting their stories, the Federation will constantly send reminders to each of them.

Subsequently, a symposium will be organized on campus, where other members and even non-members of the club will be impacted with the knowledge and skills gained from the trip.

Each of the beneficiaries of this trip will be tasked to do a five minute PowerPoint presentation on a specific subject.