Education

Energy Commission to support courses in energy in journalism, communication institutions

The Energy Commission has initiated steps to get a course in energy or related matters introduced into the curricula of journalism and communication studies institutions in the country.

The move is part of an effort by the regulatory body to build the capacity of journalists in energy reporting  so they could help the  public understand issues in the sector.

At the opening of a workshop for the commission’s press corps at Abokobi in Accra on Thursday, the board chairman, Professor George Hagan said discussions were ongoing with the institutions to actualise the vision.

” [This is ] so as to form, overtime, an active group of media men and women who will see energy as a professional specialty “, he said

The two-day workshop , which ended on Friday aimed at deepening the knowledge of the participants  on diverse issues in the sector.

According to Prof. Hagan, this was in line with the commission’s  series of activities to increase public awareness on energy issues as well as solidify stakeholder engagement.

He noted that  energy access had not only become a necessity of life but a fundamental human right, saying ” energy poverty, energy denial and energy inaccessibility is dehumanising and unacceptable.”

He said it was for this reason that successive governments had pursued policies to increase energy access to 85 per cent  as well as ensure its reliability, affordability and safety.

In the next  five to 10 years, Prof. Hagan said the aim was to reach 100 percent energy access  nationwide and ensure that energy was reliable and affordable to all Ghanaians.

Expressing concern that Africa was abound in energy resources but neck deep in energy poverty, he said Ghana had plans to extend its energy benefits to neighbouring countries  in the future  by becoming the energy hub in the subregion to support economic development on the continent.

However, he said this vision could only be realised  through continuous efforts to increase production, transmission, transportation and distribution of energy as well as ensure that there was enough energy for national use.

For his part, the  Executive Secretary of the commission, Oscar Amonoo-Neizer urged participants to make the best of the opportunity and let knowledge acquired at the workshop reflect in their reportage.

He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to executing its mandate which includes regulating and managing the development and utilisation of energy resources.

BY JONATHAN DONKOR

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