OXFAM calls for transparency in use of resources

OXFAM International, a civil society organisation, has emphasised the need for transparency, accountability and the judicious use of the country’s resources.

The President of Oxfam America, Mr Raymond Offenheiser, who made the call in Accra during a media interaction, said the mining sector must be committed to the development of the towns in which they operated.

Mr Offenheiser observed there was a growing interest by citizens in the role extractive industries played in driving development in Ghana.

He said there was a general view around the world that extractive industries abused the rights of citizens as they carried out their activities, and called on them to ensure that measures were put in place to protect the rights of citizens. 

He noted that the whole world was looking at how Ghana would utilise its wealth in the petroleum industry and, therefore, challenged the government and other regulatory bodies to put in place policies that would ensure that revenue accrued from the sector benefitted the population.

He indicated that donor organisations always looked out for countries that were prepared to mobilise and utilise their resources to the benefit of its citizens before offering any assistance.

“Will Ghana manage and spend its new wealth responsibly? Will it channel those monies into sectors such as education, health, among others on behalf of the citizens?” Mr Offenheiser asked.

Mr Offenheiser applauded Ghanaians for their demand for good governance from their leaders, adding that such an act always ensured that the government acted responsibly.

The President further commended Ghana for allowing a lot of civil society organisations to thrive. He, therefore, called on such organisations to step up their advocacy role in ensuring that the ordinary Ghanaian was adequately informed on governance issues to facilitate full participation.

For his part, the Country Director of Oxfam Ghana, Mr Sebastian Tiah, said  the organisation was also involved in developing agriculture in Ghana, especially in the three northern regions.

He said the aim was to alleviate poverty and ensure food availability and its production in the country. 

Mr Tiah said Oxfam Ghana was also working with some farmers to educate them on the need to adopt new methods that would boost crop yields.

Mr Offenheiser, who led a team into the country on a five-day visit to major mining sectors in Ghana, also paid a courtesy call on the Deputy Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, to discuss issues involving public finance and transparency in the management of the Ghanaian economy.