BudgIT Ghana, in collaboration with the Ford Foundation, has launched a policy document on Ghana’s Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) and “Needs and Impact Assessment of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC)’s Social Sector Investment” in the oil producing districts.
BudgIT’s innovation within the public sphere comes with the creative use of government data by either presenting these in simple tweets, interactive formats, or infographic displays. The primary goal is to use technology to intersect civic engagement and institutional reform.
The report focuses on the performance of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee for the period between 2011 and 2021 in keeping duty bearers transparent and accountable.
The document highlights the impacts of PIAC, since its establishment, on the management and use of petroleum revenues for the socio-economic development of Ghana. Also, it assesses the extent of implementation and achievement of the objectives of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act 2011 (PRMA), and the use of petroleum revenues in the past ten years.
The needs assessment entailed a desktop review of key sector reports, policies and legislation, as well as meetings and workshops with stakeholders in the oil producing districts and selected non-oil producing districts in Ghana.
According to the Research lead of BudgiT Ghana, the development of the policy documents was informed by the need to create awareness among the media, traditional rulers, civil society and community-based organisations, donors, partners and the public on the legislative processes concerning the PIAC.
With enhanced knowledge of the governing framework for the PIAC, and management of petroleum revenues, he added that it was their hope that the public would be in a position to better understand the activities of PIAC, thus demand transparency and accountability from the government on the judicious use of petroleum revenues.
“This will advance the development of Ghana’s oil and gas sector in an effective and efficient manner for the benefit of all citizens.
It is our hope that this document, together with other public campaigns and efforts, will contribute to the development of an oil and gas sector that reflects the desires and aspirations of all Ghanaians,” he stated.
The Global Director of BudgiT Ghana, Oluseun Onigbinde, addressing the gathering at the launch of the reports this week in Accra, assured the public of their continuous support to society in helping to make government organisations transparent and accountable.
