….Urges responsible energy reporting
The Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Edmond Kombat, has outlined significant progress in the refinery’s ongoing recovery efforts, assuring that revitalisation plans are firmly on course.
Speaking at a capacity-building workshop organised by Energy News Africa Limited in collaboration with the Tema Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, Mr Kombat, detailed the challenges he inherited upon assuming office.
He revealed that TOR was weighed down by substantial debts running into millions of dollars, dwindling staff numbers and halted operations.
However, he noted that through diagnostic assessments, extensive staff engagement and carefully designed revenue-enhancing interventions, the refinery has begun to regain stability.
One major milestone, he said, was the resolution of longstanding staff promotion delays. “Over 250 of them deserved promotion, and they were promoted,” he announced, adding that the move restored calm and boosted confidence among employees.
He described TOR as a strategic national asset with immense potential and stressed that current recovery initiatives are yielding positive results.
Mr Kombat encouraged journalists to continue reporting on the energy sector responsibly, emphasising that accurate and ethical journalism is essential for national development and public trust.
The workshop, held in Tema, brought together reporters, analysts and content creators at a time when rapid technological advancements are reshaping newsroom practice. It was organised on the theme: “Leveraging Social Media and AI for Accurate and Effective Energy Reporting.”
Delivering the keynote address, the TOR Managing Director highlighted the critical role journalists play in shaping public understanding of Ghana’s energy landscape. He praised participants for their commitment to improving the quality of industry reporting.
“I know that all of you who are here, you speak, you analyse, you create content,” he said, stressing that media credibility depends heavily on ethical conduct. “Reputation is critical; it’s difficult to build, but it can be whittled down within minutes.”
Mr Kombat urged practitioners to prioritise accuracy, verification and balance in their reporting. He cautioned that the fast-paced nature of digital platforms and the growing use of artificial intelligence must not compromise the integrity of journalism.
“It’s not really about who is the first to break it, but whose story is authentic,” he added, encouraging journalists to harness social media and AI tools responsibly.
