Journalists urged to lead in-depth reporting to drive energy sector reforms

Mr. Benjamin Nsiah, Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) urged journalists to prioritize investigative and data-driven reporting to address systemic challenges in Ghana's energy sector.

Speaking at a workshop organized by Energy News Africa, he highlighted inefficiencies in the crowded downstream petroleum sector with over 200 Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), far more than neighboring countries.

Nsiah questioned the operational transparency of these OMCs and called for investigative scrutiny.

He also spotlighted the Electricity Company of Ghana's (ECG) annual losses exceeding $1 billion, contrasting it with more sustainable operations at GRIDCo and Bui Power Authority. He urged the new Energy Minister to prioritize forensic audits of ECG.

The workshop aimed to enhance journalists' understanding of energy sector dynamics, emphasizing the importance of rigorous journalism to combat corruption, enhance accountability, and inform evidence-based policies.

Attendees committed to pursuing collaborative reporting to unearth inefficiencies and advocate for reforms.