Grant us prosecutorial powers – PIAC
Published:
1 month ago
Source:
Ghanaian Times
The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) has emphasised the need for the committee to be granted prosecutorial powers, to enable it to enforce its recommendations, and prosecute individuals found to have mismanaged oil revenue funds intended for development projects. The committee currently only makes recommendations on the "mismanagement and abuse of oil revenue" and relies on Parliament to enforce the implementation of these recommendations which has not deterred abuse of oil revenue. The Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Representative on PIAC, Mr Richard Ellimah, made this statement during a media engagement in Ho in the Volta Region on PIAC's activities, and the role of citizens in ensuring the judicious use of oil revenue for development. He revealed that projects intended for specific communities were being relocated to other areas without PIAC's knowledge, describing it as unfortunate, noting that PIAC lacks the legal authority to sanction those responsible for misplacing projects. He also pointed out that, despite Ghana's wealth of minerals mined for decades, there had been no regulation on how mining revenues should be used, depriving the country of necessary funds for development over the years.