By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, Feb. 17, GNA — Mr. Benjamin Nsiah, Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE), has called on journalists to prioritize investigative and data-driven reporting to uncover systemic challenges and propel reforms in Ghana’s energy sector.
Speaking at a day’s training workshop organized by Energy News Africa for 30 journalists, Mr. Nsiah emphasized the need for media professionals to transcend reliance on press releases and instead adopt proactive strategies to dissect complexities within the petroleum and power industries.
Mr. Nsiah raised alarms over Ghana’s crowded downstream petroleum sector, which hosts over 200 Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), a figure far exceeding neighboring countries like Côte d’Ivoire (40) and Tanzania (60).
He attributed inefficiencies and regulatory hurdles to this saturation, questioning how many of the NPA-registered OMCs actively operate or source products transparently.
“Why do we have over 200 OMCs when our neighbors function efficiently with far fewer? Journalists must investigate which companies are truly operational and how they comply with regulations,” he said.
The Director also spotlighted Ghana’s struggling power sector, urging scrutiny of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), which continues to incur annual losses exceeding $1 billion.
In contrast, he noted GRIDCo and Bui Power Authority (BPA) operate more sustainably.
“ECG’s persistent financial hemorrhage demands urgent inquiry. Is privatization the answer? We need data-driven analysis, not conjecture, to guide policy,” he said.
Mr. Nsiah further challenged the newly appointed Energy Minister to prioritize forensic audits of ECG’s operations.
The workshop, designed to enhance journalists’ understanding of energy sector dynamics, included sessions on electricity generation value chains, regulatory frameworks, and strategies for accessing credible data.
Participants engaged in case study analyses and collaborative discussions to strengthen investigative skills.
Mr. Nsiah stressed that rigorous journalism was pivotal to curbing corruption, enhancing accountability, and shaping evidence-based policies.
“The public deserves clarity on how energy sector decisions impact their lives from fuel pricing to power tariffs. Media must bridge this information gap,” he said.
The event concluded with a resolve among attendees to pursue collaborative reporting projects aimed at unearthing sectoral inefficiencies and amplifying calls for reform.
GNA