Ghana-based Energy News Africa Ltd, one of Africa’s leading energy news portals, in collaboration with the Tema Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has held its maiden capacity-building training at Hotel Marjorie ‘Y’ in Tema Community 6.
The programme aimed to equip journalists in the Tema Region with the skills needed for effective energy sector reporting in the era of social media and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The training, themed: “Leveraging Social Media and AI for Effective Energy Reporting: Trends, Tools and Best Practices,” brought together participants from the print, television, and radio sectors.
In his welcome address, Mr. Michael Dewornu, Tema Regional Chairman of the GJA, commended the Executive Director of Energy News Africa Ltd, Mr. Michael Creg Afful, for agreeing to organise the programme in Tema for the first time after holding three previous sessions in Accra, the capital of Ghana.
He encouraged Mr. Afful to continue collaborating with the GJA so that more of such training programmes could be organised to equip reporters in the region, noting that Tema hosts strategic power and petroleum installations.
Mr. Dewornu praised the journalists for their participation and urged them to apply the knowledge gained to improve their reportage.
In his presentation, Mr. Michael Creg Afful, Executive Director of Energy News Africa Ltd, outlined the structure of Ghana’s power and petroleum sectors, emphasising the need for journalists to understand the mandates and functions of each player in the value chain.
According to him, when journalists are familiar with these roles, they will know which institution or agency to contact for clarification, thereby avoiding the publication or broadcast of inaccurate information.
Mr. Afful urged journalists not to rush to publish stories, stressing the importance of thorough verification before publication.
He added, “Since we started, we have ensured that we remain a professional platform.”
Ing. Jabesh Amissah-Arthur, Managing Partner of Arthur Energy Advisors and Chairman of the training programme, said it is sometimes disheartening for energy experts to listen to media discussions where issues are often mixed up.
Ing. Amissah-Arthur, who also serves as Board Chairman of the Volta River Authority, noted that Ghana’s energy sector is a vital component of the national economy. He added that the media serves as the stream of information; therefore, information disseminated on the sector must be accurate to promote transparency and drive sustainable development.
Mr. Charles Wundengba, Chief Executive Officer of Wundef Media in Obuasi, spoke on the theme and presented statistics on social media usage and the adoption of AI tools by journalists and media organisations to enhance their work.
He encouraged the media to make effective use of AI and social media to market their work and generate revenue, explaining that audiences are more likely to rewatch a 30-second video than read lengthy articles or watch full television news bulletins.
He noted that AI has become a permanent feature of the media landscape, and journalists must learn to use it responsibly rather than avoiding it due to fear of losing creative skills, despite some negative impacts AI may pose.
Mr. Edmond Kombat, Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), provided an overview of the refinery’s operations, highlighting gains made this year and plans to restore the facility to full operation.
Mr. Roger Akrong, Chief Information Security Officer at the Information Security Directorate of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), representing the Managing Director, also delivered a presentation on social media and AI, outlining both their benefits and risks.
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