A deputy Minister of Finance, Dr John Kumah, has called on the Public Interest and
Accountability Committee (PIAC), to lead an advocacy to increase interest in crude oil
exploration in the country.
He said such a campaign by PIAC, which was in line with its mandate, could help improve the
nation’s oil production from about 10 per cent to 60 per cent.
Dr Kumah, who made the call at a ceremony organised by PIAC in Accra yesterday, added that
an increase in the country’s stake in oil exploration would enable the government to generate
more revenue for development.
“Lately, there have been some discussions in the public space by traditional rulers and other
concerned citizens about the management and use of oil revenue for development. Some
people have even questioned why the nation’s interest in the extractive industry was limited to
about 15 per cent and not 60 per cent.
I think that discussion must be taken over by PIAC because it knows the interest and limitations
of the government,” Dr Kumah said.
Corporate identity
The event was to unveil a new corporate identity of PIAC aligned to its renewed hope to ensure
transparency and accountability in the country’s petroleum revenue.
It included the introduction of a corporate logo, a redesigned website and an integrated data
dashboard to provide PIAC with the needed recognition and legitimacy to carry out its
functions.
PIAC’s corporate website is one of the key tools that it uses to engage the public.
Dr Kumah congratulated PIAC on the initiative and said government was happy with the work
of PIAC.
Significance
The Chairman of PIAC, Prof. Kwame Adom-Frimpong, said the introduction of the new
corporate identity would further enable his outfit to promote transparency and accountability
in the petroleum revenue management space.
He said over the years, the Committee had campaigned for the efficient utilisation of petroleum
revenues and that the new identity would help them discharge their responsibilities more
effectively.
The Chairman of the Public Affairs and Communications Sub-committee of PIAC, Eric Defor, said
that the Committee in its formative years chose the coat of arms with its name beneath as their
primary logo.
He, however, said the use of that identity over the last 12 years had not communicated its
purpose well, hence, the need for the re-branding to give PIAC the needed recognition and
legitimacy in carrying out its functions.
“Currently, it is difficult to associate PIAC with anything petroleum-related because nothing in
its name or previous logo suggests that.
“The Committee, therefore, realised the need to make its role in the petroleum revenue
management space more prominent in the new logo with key elements that convey its mission,
while maintaining its legitimacy as a statutory institution,” Mr Defor added.
Aug – 17 – 2023, 06:09 Daily Graphic