Minister says government will ensure judicious use of revenue
Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, Deputy Minister of Finance, on Thursday said government would ensure that the enhanced revenues from the mining and oil and gas sectors were prudently managed and utilized for the benefit of the people.
He said those to benefit especially are those immediately and negatively impacted by the activities of extractive sector companies.
Mr Forson made the pledge in an address delivered on his behalf by Mr Franklin Ashiadey, National Coordinator of Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI) at a day’s GHEITI Dissemination Workshop on the 2010/2011 Audit Reports for the Mining and Oil/Gas Sectors in Sunyani.
It was attended by Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) and other stakeholders in the mining and oil/gas sectors.
Mr Forson said the Municipal and District Assemblies in the mining areas were also expected to demonstrate fiscal accountability and transparency in all revenue mobilization and expenditure decisions, particularly those relating to the use of mineral royalties.
“Communities should be able to hold District Assemblies (DAs) to account for the services they provide. To do this people need information about what decisions the assemblies are taking and how public money is being spent,” he added.
Mr Forson said GHEITI reports had made some critical findings and recommendations and therefore appealed to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), companies and DAs affected by the findings and recommendations should ensure the necessary corrective measures were put in place as soon as practicable.
“We on our part will offer the requisite support and commitment required to make our institutions more efficient.”
Mr Forson said for GHEITI to be effective, key stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector and selected MDAs should be able to discuss, evaluate and interpret the reports.
“These discussions will signal our willingness to be responsible and accountable for extractive sector revenues. We are convinced that it is only through creating awareness among relevant stakeholders that maximum benefit will be derived from these publications,” he said.
Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, in an address read on his behalf, urged the MDAs receiving additional resources from the natural resources found in their areas to put in place credible systems to ensure prudent use of such resources.
He expressed the hope that at the end of the workshop issues of mismanagement of natural resources, oil/gas would be thoroughly discussed and roads maps developed towards the implementation of the recommendations made by the GHEITI reports.
Source: GNA