‘PIAC must strengthen transition from transparency to accountability’
DISCUSSANTS at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) have emphasized the need for the Committee to strengthen its transition from transparency to accountability and rally citizens to actively support its advocacy efforts.
PIAC, tasked with ensuring public oversight over Ghana’s petroleum revenue management, engaged representatives from its 13 constituent bodies in Accra. The focus was on bolstering efforts to enhance accountability in the management and use of the country’s petroleum revenues.
Addressing the meeting, PIAC Chairperson Emerita Professor Elizabeth Ardayfio-Schandorf, stressed the importance of collaboration with the Committee’s constituent bodies to effectively disseminate its findings and empower citizens to demand accountability.
She reaffirmed PIAC’s commitment to upholding transparency and accountability, ensuring that petroleum revenues are utilized efficiently for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
Strengthening Public Accountability Through Collaboration
PIAC’s Annual General Assembly (AGA) serves as a platform for representatives of the Committee’s 13 constituent bodies, providing an opportunity to share insights, best practices, and explore reforms aimed at improving the management of petroleum revenues.
Professor Ardayfio-Schandorf noted that PIAC’s efforts are essential to deepening public engagement and accountability. She reiterated the Committee’s focus on ensuring that the revenues generated from petroleum resources contribute to national development, but emphasized the need for a more informed and engaged citizenry to hold duty bearers accountable.
2023 PIAC Annual Report Highlights
During the AGM, the PIAC Chairperson presented the highlights of the 2023 PIAC Annual Report, which detailed crude oil and gas production, petroleum receipts, and the allocations from the Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF). Notably, crude oil production declined by 6.78% in 2023, marking the fourth consecutive year of reduced output. The decrease was attributed to limited investments in new field discoveries and the natural ageing of existing fields.
The report also included findings and recommendations on how to address these challenges, with PIAC emphasizing the need for immediate action to reverse the trend.
Feedback and Strengthened Collaboration
Representatives of PIAC’s constituent bodies shared feedback on the Committee’s work and discussed opportunities for stronger collaboration to fulfill its mandate. Key points raised included the need for PIAC to actively monitor the ongoing review of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA) to ensure the law is strengthened with enforcement powers.
Participants also highlighted the need for more public education to increase awareness of PIAC’s role. Suggestions included improving the dissemination of PIAC reports, enhancing media collaboration, and using strategic communication to engage citizens in the Committee’s work.
Ultimately, constituent bodies called for a more proactive PIAC that not only promotes transparency but also pushes for greater accountability from duty bearers.
PIAC’s Constituent Bodies
The Committee’s membership is drawn from a diverse array of professional institutions, civil society groups, and traditional and religious bodies. These include the Trade Union Congress, National House of Chiefs, Ghana Journalists Association, and the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, among others.
The composition of the Committee ensures that PIAC represents a wide range of voices and interests, united in their goal of ensuring the prudent management of Ghana’s petroleum resources. With continued collaboration and citizen engagement, PIAC is positioned to play a key role in ensuring that Ghana’s petroleum revenues are managed responsibly, benefiting all citizens while promoting accountability at all levels.
