CSOs present policy reforms to political parties ahead of 2024 elections
By Isaac AIDOO, Accra
The CSO Alliance, a coalition of civil society organizations working in Ghana’s extractives and environmental governance sectors, has presented 15 key policy reforms to major political parties in the country.
The reforms aim to shape the manifestos of political parties ahead of the 2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
The policy demands cover five critical areas: Energy Transition, Upstream/Downstream Petroleum & Gas Sector, Forestry, Environment & Climate Change, Mining, and Anti-Corruption.
The CSO Alliance is urging political parties to commit to more ambitious transition timelines, leveraging the Petroleum Revenue Management Act to finance the Energy Transition agenda, and addressing the gas sector indebtedness, among other key reforms.
The alliance comprises 12 organizations, including the Institute for Energy Security (IES), UK Ghana Gold Programme, Ghana Integrity Initiative, and the Natural Resources Governance Institute (NRGI) and Centre for Extractives and Development Africa (CEDA).
They believe that by providing valuable insights now, they can influence the manifestos that will shape Ghana’s future.
Dr Steve Manteaw of the UK Ghana Gold Programme read out the statement containing the 15 key policy demands the CSOs believe are essential for any party aspiring to lead Ghana post-2024
The CSOs demanded that whoever will be in government in 2025 commitsZ to ambitious energy transition timelines and attract investments in renewable energy, encouraging oil and gas companies to invest in the green minerals sector.
They demanded that the next government should use the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA) to finance the Energy Transition agenda, revisiting the process of amending the PRMA.
The party that forms the next government to leverage Ghana’s forests and afforestation initiatives to obtain carbon credits for financing green technologies.
The next government must activate domestic supply requirements for crude oil to enhance economic stability and job creation and also address gas sector indebtedness by improving power sector efficiency and reforming SOE governance.
The next government must commit to foster institutional alignment in the gas sector and provide innovative financing for gas infrastructure.
Government must establish a Youth Green Fund for youth-led green startups.
The CSOs called for an enhanced collaboration between the Minerals Commission and the Ministry of Trade and Industry and called on further called on the next government to tackle illegal mining and associated issues such as gold smuggling and illicit financial flows.
The alliance emphasized that these highlights represent a roadmap for sustainable development, economic stability, and good governance in Ghana. They urged all political parties to seriously consider these recommendations in their manifestos.
The CSO Alliance is committed to collaborating with political parties to ensure that the policies put forward in the 2024 elections address the pressing issues facing the country and pave the way for a brighter future.
They remain committed to engaging with political parties and advocating for policies that will benefit all citizens and contribute to the overall development of Ghana.
