By: Saidu Jalloh
A group of journalists from across Sierra Leone has completed an intensive training program on investigative reporting, with a special focus on the country’s mining and extractive industries. The training was organized by *BBC Media Action Sierra Leone, aiming to strengthen journalistic capacity to uncover issues related to corruption, accountability, and governance in one of the nation’s most critical but opaque sectors.
Leading the sessions was Tamasi Ford, a renowned investigative journalist from BBC Africa Eye, who traveled from London to share her expertise. She guided participants through the core principles of investigative storytelling, source protection, digital security, and the ethical considerations required when covering sensitive issues in the extractive industry.
“Investigative journalism is about giving voice to the voiceless and holding power to account,” said Ford. “Sierra Leone’s mining sector is rich not only in minerals but also in stories that must be told with courage, clarity, and care.”
Participants also received hands-on training in field reporting techniques and were introduced to the legal and historical frameworks that shape mining operations in Sierra Leone.
A key highlight of the training was a presentation by Emmanuel Gbondo Esq, a respected mining governance expert and lawyer with the Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD). Gbondo provided an in-depth analysis of mining contracts, legal structures, and the often fraught relationship between multinational companies and local communities.
“If journalists are equipped to understand these documents and the power dynamics behind them,” Gbondo noted, “they can better expose injustices and advocate for fairer outcomes.”
The training is part of a broader initiative to build investigative journalism capacity in Sierra Leone, especially in sectors vital to the country’s development and transparency.