PIAC fails to verify GH¢21m petroleum projects in Ayawaso West

The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) has raised significant concerns after being unable to verify four projects funded by petroleum revenue during a field inspection in the Ayawaso West Municipality. These untraceable projects represent a total investment of approximately GH¢21 million. The committee’s inability to locate the infrastructure has highlighted persistent gaps in the monitoring of how the nation’s oil wealth is being utilized for local development.

During the monitoring exercise, PIAC officials reported that their work was significantly hindered by a lack of cooperation from central government agencies. Specifically, the committee cited insufficient information and unclear project descriptions from the Ministry of Roads and Highways as a major barrier. Despite making formal requests for specific project details prior to the field visit, PIAC received no response, leaving the inspection team without the necessary data to confirm the existence or progress of the scheduled works.

While the team successfully identified and evaluated three road projects and a Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound in the municipality, four other projects listed as receiving petroleum funds remained missing from the ground. Mr. Isaac Dwamena, the Executive Secretary of PIAC, emphasized that the lack of relevant information from sector ministries prevents the committee from conducting thorough evaluations. He noted that transparency is impossible without the active participation and information-sharing of the authorities responsible for executing these projects.

This incident underscores a broader challenge regarding accountability in the management of petroleum revenues between national ministries and local authorities. PIAC has reiterated the importance of stringent reporting and communication to ensure that every cedi of oil revenue is accounted for in tangible infrastructure. Moving forward, the committee intends to push for better institutional alignment to ensure that public funds effectively serve the communities for which they are intended.