Most Ghanaians unaware of oil funded projects – PIAC

Most Ghanaians are unaware of projects funded with oil funds, a public fora held by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) in the Western North and North East regions have revealed.

In both regions, the Committee held regional public fora on the 2021 PIAC Annual Report, which brought together stakeholders from the traditional council, religious groups, security agencies, traders, educational institutions, among others to deliberate on the management and use of petroleum revenues.

The participants also called for more projects to be executed with petroleum revenues.

PIAC therefore recommended the labelling of Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA)-funded projects for identification.

It again reiterated its commitment to carrying out its mandate to ensure the prudent management and use of petroleum revenues in Ghana.

PIAC commends some oil funded projects but unhappy about some

In terms of the projects funded with petroleum funds, the Committee expressed satisfaction about some, whilst critiquing others, calling for urgent steps to complete them.

The inspection of the projects took place from Sunday, 24th to Friday, 29thApril, 2022.

In the Western North Region, the Committee inspected the construction of a 3-storey Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) Administration Block in Sefwi Wiawso, construction of three Senior Staff Bungalows at Sefwi Wiawso and a rural market in Amoaya in the Bodi Constituency. The construction of the RCC building received ₵10.5 million from the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) in 2020 and 2021.

Members of the Committee expressed satisfaction of the project which had been completed, commissioned, and was in use.

The Committee also expressed satisfaction with the senior staff bungalows which received a total of GH₵1,779,660 from the ABFA in 2020.

The project was reported to be 90% complete with bungalows erected and roofed, internal finishing virtually completed, and external works ongoing.

Again, the Committee welcomed the upgrading of the Nalerigu – Gbintri road, in the North East region which was allocated ₵20 million from the ABFA in 2020. It was also inspected by the PIAC team and officials of the Ghana Highway Authority.

In terms of project that the Committee called for urgent action to be completed, they included the rural market, situated in Amoaya, in the Western North region which received ₵107,327 from the ABFA in 2020, but work had stalled and the construction of a 3-Storey Administration Block for the Council, located in Nalerigu in the North East region.

Construction commenced in 2019, and the project was expected to have been completed in 2021. Outstanding works include painting, tiling, electricals, and furnishing.

PIAC was established under Section 51 of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA), to among others, monitor and evaluate compliance with the Act. The Committee was inaugurated and commenced work on 15th September, 2011.