Foreword by the GHEITI Chairman (Chief Director of MoF)

I am pleased to present the 2013 Annual Report for the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI). This report provides a summary of the many activities carried out by members of the National Steering Committee (NSC) and the GHEITI Secretariat for the period January – December 2013. It also provides a brief background on the Ghana EITI process, the significant successes chalked during the year, challenges and outlook for 2014.

The Extractive Industry Transparency initiative has become an important platform for change. As the global minimum standard for disclosure, it uniquely combines transparency in the form of EITI reporting with accountability through the multi-stakeholder group. It has been widely acknowledged that EITI objectives are best achieved when EITI is integrated into a process of broader sector reforms and national development objectives. The Ghana EITI process is built on a very strong national ownership. Ghana is using the EITI implementation as a platform for broader efforts to strengthen governance in the extractive sectors including greater transparency in monitoring how revenues from the sector are being managed by government.

This annual report reflects the scope, content and quality of the work of the Ghana EITI in 2013 and further shows how fostering understanding and partnership between government on one hand, Civil Society and Companies on the other, can produce good results. The trust is what has given the Ghana EITI the purpose and momentum over the years. The momentum will be sustained as we mark our journey to the year 2014 in order to inspire fresh advances for the future particularly as we prepare to extend the EITI to the forestry sector.

On this note, I thank all the NSC members and the GHEITI Secretariat for a wonderful job done for 2013 and we look forward to a brighter 2014.

Major (Rtd) Mahama S. Tara, Chief Director/Chairman, Ghana EITI