Ghanaians are becoming increasingly concerned about what they describe as wasteful spending of petroleum revenues, Public Agenda has uncovered. In a brief statement at a Western Regional dissemination workshop on the 2014 Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) reconciliation report, the Omanhene of Essikado traditional area, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, observed that it is the expectation of many natural resource host communities to feel the socio-economic benefits of resource extraction, however the consolidation approach to national economic accounting makes it difficult for host communities to be able to appreciate the direct contribution of the resources being exploited in their geographical jurisdictions to their local economic development.

15th May, 2015

Government has been asked to take immediate steps to begin the process of incorporating Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) clauses into Ghana's mining laws. The addition of those clauses will protect mining communities from the many of the violations they suffer as a result of mining activities. FPIC will also equip the mining communities to protect their rights to ownership of land and rights to livelihood.

15th May, 2015

Ghana's quest to maximize benefits from its oil and gas resources can be given a boost if there is a strategic approach to the implementation of the Local content Law, Dr John Gatsi, a Chartered Economist and lecturer at University of Cape Coast, has submitted.

The Petroleum Commission has been advised to urgently set up an online repository where information on upstream petroleum blocks could be accessed. The Petroleum Commission is the upstream regulator of Ghana's petroleum sector. It is mandated to regulate, manage and co-ordinate all activities in the upstream petroleum industry for the overall benefit and welfare of Ghanaians.