Ghana’s Extractive Sector Lacks Transparency, Says Anti-Corruption Coalition
Story by Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor
In a purposive monitoring initiative implemented by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition(GACC), Africa Centre for Energy Policy(ACEP),and partners have revealed a disturbing lack of transparency in the management of the country’s extractive sector.
The coalition’s ‘From Disclosure to Impact’ project, which monitored 68 projects funded by the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA), found limited citizen participation in decision-making at the local level.
Speaking at the sidelines of a-one forum, GACC Programme Officer, Samuel Harrison, disclosed that most projects were implemented without citizen input, and more disturbing was the non- involvement of local assemblies as well as absence of contract details.
“The citizens who live in the districts don’t make any inputs into the kinds of projects,” he said.
Mr. Cudjoe highlighted limited access to information, with contract documents unavailable for most projects.
Harrison noted that this lack of transparency undermines accountability and fuels corruption.
“There is no contract document… you don’t know when the project was starting, when it was supposed to end, who is implementing it… nothing,” he lamented.
The GACC’s findings also point to weak transparency and accountability at the district level, with local assemblies unable to hold contractors accountable due to unavailability of information on the project.
The coalition is calling for urgent reforms to address these issues and ensure effective use of oil revenues.
The coalition’s research further showed that oil revenue was spread thinly across multiple projects, many of which were abandoned or delayed.
Harrison warned that this inefficient spending could undermine Ghana’s development and erode public trust in government.
The GACC Programme Officer is urging the government to address these issues as it embarks on a big push for infrastructure development, to ensure transparency and accountability and restore public trust in governance.
In a recent report by the Local Accountability Network (LANET) which highlighted the glaring lack of transparency and community involvement in Ghana’s development projects, leading to abandoned and defective projects across the country.
The report, presented by Philip Duah, Executive Director of ABAK Foundation and focal person for Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, revealed that district-level officials are often left in the dark about project details, making it difficult to hold contractors accountable.
The report cited several examples, including a school building project in Ejisu Besease, where a toilet facility was abandoned and left to decay, and a street light project in Suame, Kumasi, where no lights were found despite claims of completion.
These cases, LANET Executive Director referred that to symptoms of a broader problem – the exclusion of citizens from project planning and implementation.
According to LANET, the lack of access to project information, including scope, timelines, and budgets, makes it challenging for citizens to monitor and hold contractors accountable.
“Government can do better,” said Philip Duah. “We are the citizens, we have the problems, and we suffer from the problems. These problems are our problems. The government should consult us, involve us, and empower us with information so we can hold contractors accountable.”
LANET is planning to engage with government officials and other stakeholders to push for changes.
The organization believes that making project information publicly available, involving local stakeholders in project planning, and strengthening accountability mechanisms can help address the issue.
The call for transparency and accountability in Ghana’s development projects is gaining momentum, and it’s time for the government to listen to the voices of its citizens.
“Government without the people is questionable.” It’s time to change that narrative,” he said.
The day’s engagement was held on the theme, “From Disclosure to Impact-Mobilizing Local Civil Society to Verify Published Extractives Data and Advocate for Equitable,Accountable Spend of Funds-National Multi-Stakeholder Adocacy Forum on The ABFA Project.”
Ghana’s Extractive Sector Lacks Transparency
