PIAC fails to locate GH‵21m petroleum-funded projects in Ayawaso West

The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) has revealed its inability to locate four petroleum-funded infrastructure projects valued at approximately GH‵21 million in the Ayawaso West Municipality. During a recent field inspection intended to ensure transparency and value for money, the committee found that insufficient information and vague project descriptions hindered its efforts to verify the existence and progress of these state-funded developments.

While the inspection team successfully identified three road projects and one Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound in the municipality, four other significant projects remained unaccounted for. These missing initiatives reportedly include major rehabilitation works that were supposedly financed through the country’s petroleum revenues. The lack of clear geographical markers or specific project identifiers has made it impossible for the oversight body to confirm whether the funds were applied as intended.

Executive Secretary of PIAC, Isaac Dwamena, pointed to a lack of institutional cooperation as a primary obstacle. He noted that the Ministry of Roads and Highways has failed to respond to requests for critical information or provide the necessary documentation to facilitate effective monitoring. Mr. Dwamena emphasized that without timely communication and detailed data from implementing agencies, PIAC’s mandate to provide independent oversight of petroleum revenue utilization is severely compromised.

This development raises concerns about the accountability mechanisms governing the use of Ghana’s oil wealth for national development. PIAC has consistently advocated for better coordination between government ministries and oversight bodies to ensure that every cedi of petroleum revenue is traceable. Moving forward, the committee expects the Ministry of Roads and Highways to provide the required project details to allow for a full audit and to safeguard public funds against potential misappropriation.