Following
the consistent mismanagement, lack of transparency and corruption associated
with the management of revenues from the Ghana’s extractive industry,
Penplusbytes (International Institute of ICT Journalism) is partnering with
Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) to develop a digital platform that would
enable citizens to keenly monitor the oil and gas sector.
The digital platform project aims at
improving transparency in the management of Ghana’s oil and gas resources
through active participation of citizens and relevant stakeholders. It also
seeks to reduce the risk of mismanagement through fiscal accountability,
contract transparency and other regulatory frameworks. This was contained in a
statement issued and signed by Jeremiah Sam, Project Coordinator of
Penplusbytes.
Ghana has over the years failed to properly
manage its gold and other mineral resources leaving majority of the citizens
wallowing in abject poverty. The country has also lost a larger part of its
natural resources including lands, forests and water bodies to the extractive
activities.
At the moment, there is high anticipation
among the Ghanaian populace suggesting that the oil and gas business is likely
to face similar fate as the gold, which in effect could lead to public outburst
against the managers of the oil and gas revenues.
But Penplusbytes and ACEP’s initiative seems
to have one stop solution to the continuous mismanagement of the revenues accrued
from the extractive industry. The introduction of the digital platform which
forms part of the online component of activities by the two credible
institutions is expected to “Improve Transparency in Ghana’s gas and oil
sector”. It is being supported by DFID.
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| Kwami Ahiabenu II |
The President of Penplusbytes, Kwami Ahiabenu
II said “Penplusbytes’ rich experience in applying technology to enable
citizens participate in decision making process backed by in-country
experiences from Ghana, Uganda, Liberia, Tanzania, would ensure the development
of an online platform that would take into consideration the needs of citizens.
He said that the project would also develop a
user-friendly application that would project the concerns of citizens whiles at
the same time soliciting feedback from duty bearers for greater advocacy.
The online platform will be the tool to
carry citizens along on the happenings in the governance of the oil sector. The
project is expected to facilitate citizen’s participation in sending concerns
or decision through a two-way interactive SMS messages, mailing list, mobile
app, interactive voice response systems (IVR), mobile apps and integrated with
social media all geared toward meeting the citizens where they are.
The Executive Director of ACEP, Mohammed Amin
Adam said “we are excited to work with Penplusbytes on this project, since they
are a lead organization in developing tools and applications that promote
citizen participation in governance and we believe their vast experience in
deploying new digital technologies for citizen engagement combined with ACEP’s
research and advocacy capabilities will help the project in achieving it
ultimate objective of citizens’ participation. Penplusbytes is one key
organisation which understands technology and governance to help us achieve
project
goals.”
Penplusbytes since 2001seeks to empower the
media through the use of ICTs to advance the course of journalism in the areas
of governance and accountability, new media and innovations and oil, gas and
mining. And the Africa Centre for Energy Policy- (ACEP) was established in
2010. It seeks to influence energy sector policies in Africa by providing
professional analysis of energy policy, training, advisory services and policy
advocacy for the efficient and transparent management of Africa’s energy
resources.
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