The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), in collaboration with the Department of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana, recently held an interactive programme to launch its 2023 Annual Report and sensitize the university community on the activities of PIAC.
In his welcome address, Prof. Joseph A. Yaro (FGA), the Principal, University of Ghana Accra City Campus, who also represented the ProVC (ASA), Prof. Gordon Awandare, noted the key role that PIAC plays in the management of Ghana’s petroleum resources. He urged students and faculty to take keen interest in the activities of PIAC and actively engage the Committee in order to understand the petroleum revenue streams. He also urged them to continue the debate on the country’s petroleum resources in order to improve petroleum management and utilization in Ghana.
Prof. Joseph A. Yaro (FGA)
The Head of the Department of Geography and Resource Development, Prof. Charlotte Wrigley-Asante, emphasised the importance of PIAC’s engagement with the students since the Department teaches and conducts research on natural resources management. She highlighted the fact that courses such as Resource Analysis, Resource Management and Environment are part of the Department’s curricula and it’s expected that more insights into PIAC’s activities will provide students with the opportunity to broaden their knowledge on resource use as well as ensuring sound environmental stewardship of these resources, at the individual and society levels.
Prof. Joseph A. Yaro, FGA(middle) and Prof. Charlotte Wrigley-Asante (right)
The Chair of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), Emerita Professor Ardayfio-Schandorf, noted that the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), was established by the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (Act 815) in 2011, and is mandated to oversee Ghana’s petroleum revenue management. She presented a summary of the 13th Annual Report by highlighting Ghana’s crude oil production and recent declines, challenges in revenue collection, utilization of annual budget funding amount which prioritizes specific sectors such as infrastructure and agriculture; as well as PIAC’s recommendations which amongst others included investing in existing oil fields and exploring new ones to reverse production decline.
Emerita Professor Ardayfio-Schandorf
The report was then launched by the Chair for the occasion, Prof. Paul Kingsley Buah-Bassuah, FGA, who is also a former Chair of PIAC, supported by Emerita Professor Elizabeth Ardayfio-Schandorf. Prof. Paul Kingsley Buah-Bassuah, FGA, reiterated the need for PIAC to shed light on both positive developments and ongoing challenges in Ghana’s petroleum revenue management. He also called for the need for PIAC to ensure that the recommendations made are implemented.
Prof. Paul Kingsley Buah-Bassuah, FGA
Present at the programme were University of Ghana officials including the Pro VC (ASA), Prof. Gordon Awandare, Past and Present PIAC Members, Stakeholder Institutions including the Ministry of Energy, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, Petroleum Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ghana Revenue Authority, Bank of Ghana, Ghana Audit Service, Energy Commission, Investment Fund, Ghana National Gas Company, Donors, Senior members and students of the Department of Geography and Resource Development as well as representatives from other units within the university.
