The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) has raised significant concerns over the systematic exclusion of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) from key decision-making processes in the selection, implementation, and maintenance of projects funded by Ghana’s petroleum revenues. In a detailed inspection report spanning multiple regions, PIAC revealed persistent inefficiencies, underutilisation, and poor service delivery in several completed projects, attributing these issues to weak local governance engagement and lack of oversight.
The Committee’s findings, based on on-the-ground inspections in the Oti and Volta Regions, underscore a pattern of mismanagement that undermines the long-term sustainability of public investments. While some projects have delivered tangible benefits to communities, others remain incomplete, poorly maintained, or functionally obsolete, raising questions about transparency, accountability, and the effective utilisation of petroleum funds.
Key Inspections and Findings Across Regions
1. Oti Region: Incomplete Projects and Underutilised Infrastructure
PIAC’s inspection in the Oti Region focused on Biakoye and Jasikan Districts, where several petroleum-funded projects were evaluated for compliance and impact.
-
Jasikan Agenda 111 Hospital Project
Despite being a priority healthcare infrastructure initiative, the project remains stuck at the foundation stage, with no visible progress toward completion. PIAC highlighted this as a critical failure in project execution, particularly given the region’s limited healthcare facilities. -
40-Seater Open Market Stalls in Biakoye Constituency
Although the construction was completed, the facility has remained unoccupied since its completion. Traders cited the inadequate size of the stalls as the primary reason for their reluctance to utilise the space. PIAC noted that consultation with end-users (local traders) during planning was either nonexistent or insufficient, leading to a mismatch between project design and community needs. -
Nkonya–Tepe–Toklosu Road Spot Improvement Works
This 90% complete road project was commended for improving motorist and resident access. However, PIAC warned that without proper long-term maintenance funding, the benefits could diminish rapidly, leaving communities with temporary rather than sustainable improvements.
2. Volta Region: Operational Gaps and Unmet Expectations
In the Volta Region, PIAC examined projects in Ketu South Municipality and Ketu North District, revealing operational inefficiencies and unfulfilled promises.
-
1,000-Metric-Tonne Warehouse at Dzodze
Funded and operational since November 2025, this National Food Buffer Stock Company (NFBSC) facility is serving its intended purpose. However, PIAC identified critical gaps in logistical support and maintenance, which could hinder its efficiency over time. The Committee stressed the need for regular upkeep and additional infrastructure to ensure the warehouse remains functional and productive. -
Ehi–Dzodze Road Project
Despite Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) support for bitumen surfacing, PIAC found that no surfacing work had been completed. Instead, only drainage improvements had been undertaken, leaving the road in a substandard condition. Community members reported persistent potholes and poor road quality, contradicting official claims of progress. PIAC demanded clarification from the relevant authorities on the misallocation of funds and the lack of transparency in project execution. -
Gakli CHPS Compound (Ketu South Municipality)
While the health facility is operational, providing essential maternal healthcare (handling ~200 cases monthly), it faces structural and operational challenges: - Inadequate infrastructure, including poorly maintained buildings and limited space.
- Staffing shortages, which strain service delivery and increase patient wait times.
- Non-functional mechanised borehole, leaving the facility dependent on unreliable water sources.
- Poor road access, which deters patients and complicates emergency responses.
PIAC emphasised that without immediate interventions, these operational deficits could compromise public health outcomes.
- Aflao Border Police Post
Funded through ABFA, this police facility became operational in late 2025 after local interventions by the Municipal Assembly. However, it remains severely under-equipped: - No electricity supply, restricting operations to daytime hours only.
- Lack of water and ventilation, creating unhealthy working conditions.
- Insufficient office equipment, impairing effective law enforcement and security monitoring.
Local authorities expressed concerns about the facility’s impact on security and cross-border economic activities, particularly given its proximity to the Ghana-Togo border. PIAC urged urgent provision of essential utilities to ensure the police post functions as intended.
Broader Systemic Issues Identified by PIAC
The Committee’s findings reveal recurring patterns that jeopardise the effectiveness of petroleum-funded projects:
-
Lack of MMDAs in Decision-Making
The exclusion of local assemblies from project selection, planning, and oversight has led to projects that do not align with community needs. This top-down approach often results in poorly designed, underutilised, or abandoned infrastructure. -
Incomplete Projects and Unfinished Work
Several projects, such as the Jasikan Hospital, remain indefinitely stalled, raising questions about contractor accountability, funding allocation, and project management. -
Maintenance Gaps and Operational Failures
Even completed projects (e.g., warehouses, roads, and health facilities) suffer from poor maintenance, staffing shortages, and infrastructure deficiencies, eroding public trust in government investments. -
Lack of Transparency and Accountability
Cases like the Ehi–Dzodze Road, where funds were allegedly misused, highlight weak monitoring mechanisms and failure to hold contractors accountable. -
Community Disengagement
The failure to consult end-users (e.g., traders in Biakoye) during project planning has led to low adoption rates, wasted resources, and community dissatisfaction.
PIAC’s Recommendations for Corrective Action
To ensure the effective utilisation of petroleum revenues and maximise community benefits, PIAC has issued urgent recommendations:
- Full Inclusion of MMDAs in Project Cycles
- MMDAs must be actively involved in project selection, planning, and monitoring to ensure local relevance and ownership.
-
Community consultations should be mandatory before project commencement to identify needs and avoid mismatches.
-
Strict Oversight and Accountability Mechanisms
- Independent audits should be conducted at every stage of project execution to prevent corruption and mismanagement.
-
Contractors must be held legally and financially accountable for delays, poor workmanship, and incomplete projects.
-
Long-Term Maintenance Funding
- Separate maintenance budgets must be allocated for all petroleum-funded projects to prevent rapid deterioration.
-
Regular inspections should be conducted to address infrastructure gaps before they escalate.
-
Human Resource and Capacity Building
- Adequate staffing must be ensured in health, security, and public service facilities to prevent operational failures.
-
Training programs should be implemented to improve local governance capacity in project management and maintenance.
-
Transparency in Fund Allocation
- Public disclosure of project budgets, timelines, and progress should be mandatory to build trust and reduce corruption.
-
Community feedback mechanisms should be established to track project performance and address grievances promptly.
-
Immediate Remediation of Critical Failures
- Stalled projects (e.g., Jasikan Hospital) must be prioritised for completion with clear timelines and penalties for non-compliance.
- Non-functional infrastructure (e.g., boreholes, police posts) must be restored without delay to restore essential services.
Conclusion: A Call for Systemic Reform
PIAC’s findings expose deep-rooted flaws in how Ghana allocates, implements, and maintains petroleum-funded projects. The systematic exclusion of MMDAs, lack of accountability, and poor project planning have wasted public resources and failed to deliver sustainable benefits to communities.
For Ghana to maximise the impact of its petroleum revenues, urgent reforms are required—not just in project execution, but in governance structures, transparency, and local engagement. Without meaningful changes, future investments risk repeating past mistakes, leaving communities without the infrastructure they desperately need.
The success of Ghana’s petroleum-funded projects hinges on whether policymakers and implementing agencies are willing to listen to local voices, enforce accountability, and ensure that every ghana cedis is spent wisely and effectively. The time for corrective action is now.