The coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the extractives,anti-corruption and governance sectors in Ghana has called on president-elect John Dramani Mahama, to prioritize transparency, combat corruption, and strengthen resource management as he prepares to take office.
A letter dated December 11, 2024 to the president Mahama highlights eight critical areas for reform that the coalition believes are essential for sustainable development and effective governance.
The key recommendations made by the CSOsare as follows:
- Terminate the Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML) Contract: The CSOs argue that this contract has resulted in significant revenue losses without delivering adequate benefits to the nation. They advocate for its termination to restore public trust in financial management.
- Abolish the Agyapa Royalties Deal: The coalition calls for the permanent cancellation of this controversial deal, which they claim jeopardizes Ghana’s mineral wealth.
- They also recommend reviewing the Mineral Income Investment Fund (MIIF) Act to enhance transparency in mineral revenue investments.
- Reform the Energy Sector: The letter emphasizes the need to limit political interference in state-owned enterprises within the energy sector and address ongoing challenges affecting performance and profitability.
- Combat Illegal Mining and Strengthen Environmental Governance: The CSOs urge the repeal of recent regulations that permit mining in forest reserves and advocate for stricter enforcement of existing laws to protect Ghana’s natural resources.
- Enhance Anti-Corruption Measures: They recommend improving procurement transparency, strengthening oversight institutions, and ensuring public officials adhere to asset declaration laws.
- Run a Lean Government: The coalition encourages Mahama to fulfill his commitment to an efficient government that minimizes waste and maximizes resource allocation towards productive sectors.
- Prioritize Inclusive Governance: Engaging civil society in decision-making processes and ensuring equitable resource distribution are highlighted as vital for promoting inclusive development.
- Identify Key Economic Priorities Early: The CSOs stress the importance of early identification and protection of resources for essential economic and social investments.
The letter concludes by expressing the coalition’s readiness to collaborate with Mahama’s administration to implement these reforms, reinforcing their commitment to building a better Ghana for all citizens.
Members of the CSOs who signed the letter includes; Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), Ghana Anti-Corrption Coalition (GACC), iWatch Africa, and Revenue Mobilisation Africa (RMA).
The rest are Third World Network-Africa (TNW-Africa), IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Centre for Extractives and Devlopment (CEDA), Institute of Energy Security (IES) and Human Environment Livelihoods Platform Foundation (HELP Foundation Africa).
By: Christian Kpesese
