Accra: The government has pledged to protect the independence of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) as part of efforts to improve transparency and accountability in the management of Ghana's natural resources. Speaking at PIAC's 15th anniversary event, Professor Francis Dodoo, the Presidential Adviser on the National Anti-Corruption Programme, emphasized the administration's view of PIAC as a crucial partner in ensuring the country's natural resources benefit ordinary Ghanaians.
According to Ghana Web, Professor Dodoo conveyed President John Dramani Mahama's commitment to treating PIAC as a partner in nation-building, rather than an adversary. The administration plans to uphold PIAC's independence and take its recommendations seriously. Over the years, PIAC has played a significant role in helping Ghanaians understand the management of petroleum revenues through its reports and public engagements.
Professor Dodoo highlighted PIAC's influence in urging successive governments and stakeholders to comply with the Petroleum Revenue Management Act. This ensures that oil revenues are used to improve citizens' lives. He further stated that stronger oversight institutions like PIAC do not undermine the government but instead enhance governance by building public confidence, attracting investors, and improving decision-making.
Aligning with President Mahama's Reset Agenda, which aims to rebuild trust in public institutions, the government's commitment to transparency seeks to ensure that national resources benefit all Ghanaians. Professor Dodoo also encouraged PIAC to expand its focus beyond petroleum revenues to cover Ghana's broader extractive sector and ensure that natural resource revenues contribute to national development.