The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) has held a regional public forum in the Savannah Region to deepen stakeholder understanding of the management and utilization of Ghana’s petroleum revenues.
The engagement, which took place on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at the conference hall of the Savannah Regional Coordinating Council in Damongo, brought together a broad cross-section of stakeholders, including traditional authorities, queen mothers, religious bodies, professional associations, civil society groups, security agencies, students, and the general public.
Among those represented were the Federation of Muslim Councils, Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission, Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, Christian Council of Ghana, and the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference. Others included the Ghana Journalists Association, Ghana Bar Association, Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), Ghana Audit Service, Ghana Medical Association, and the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana.
Also present were representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and Industries/Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Civil Society and Community-Based Organisations (CSOs/NGOs), and political parties. The Regional House of Chiefs, Regional Queenmothers Association, and Heads and students of Senior High Schools were also in attendance.
Security agencies such as the Police, Army, Prisons Service, Fire Service, and Immigration Service were represented, alongside the Ambulance Service.
Other groups included the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), PROTOA, NAGRAT, GNAT, the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOSAG), dressmakers and tailors, market women, and hairdressers associations, as well as persons with disability.
The forum also had in attendance Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MCEs), Assembly Members, staff of the Regional Coordinating Council, and the Regional Minister with his assistants.
Chairman of the forum, Garba Tolodompewura Abdallah Ahmed, popularly known as Chief Morno, in his opening remarks, admitted he was initially surprised upon hearing that PIAC was visiting the region, given that Savannah does not currently produce oil.
He noted that this curiosity highlighted the importance of the forum, emphasizing that petroleum revenue concerns all Ghanaians regardless of location.
He therefore urged participants to pay close attention to the discussions in order to better understand PIAC’s mandate and activities.
Delivering the welcome address, the Savannah Regional Minister highlighted the significance of the day, noting that Wednesdays have been declared as National Fugu Day by government, although not yet backed by law.
He encouraged participants to observe the cultural initiative and pledged to present parcels of fugu to members of the PIAC delegation as a gesture of the region’s hospitality.
The Minister also used the platform to outline key development projects in the region funded through petroleum revenues. He cited the furnishing of the Regional Coordinating Council, as well as the construction of bungalows for the Regional Police Commander and his deputy, as examples of projects already executed. He further mentioned the Tamale–Salaga–Mankango road as a major ongoing project.
Looking ahead, the Minister disclosed that several road projects in the region are expected to benefit from petroleum funds under the government’s “Big Push” initiative. These include the Bole–Chache road, the Bamboi–Bole–Wa road, and the planned asphalt overlay of the Fufulso–Damongo–Sawla road. He commended PIAC for its oversight role in ensuring accountability in the use of oil revenues.
Presenting highlights of the 2025 PIAC Annual Report, Mr. Isaac Dwamena, Esq., clarified a widespread misconception that oil had been discovered in the Savannah Region.
He explained that while exploratory activities are ongoing, no commercial discovery has yet been made. He also assured the media that a detailed report on the Tamale–Salaga–Mankango road would be released following an inspection scheduled for Friday.
The forum featured an interactive session where stakeholders raised concerns and made recommendations. A key issue highlighted was the need for improved public awareness of projects funded by petroleum revenues, as many citizens remain uninformed about such developments.
In his closing remarks, Chief Morno touched on global and local factors affecting fuel prices, expressing concern over what he described as longstanding mismanagement within the sector. He nonetheless commended participants for their active involvement and expressed appreciation to PIAC for its continued public education efforts.
The forum forms part of PIAC’s nationwide mandate to promote transparency and accountability in the management of Ghana’s petroleum resources while ensuring citizens remain informed and engaged in how these funds are utilized.
