GHANA: Elections and the Transparency Outlook
Ghana's electoral commission has released the results of the nation's closely-watched December 7 elections, and local and international observers have declared the first round of voting free, fair and peaceful. Neither of the two leading presidential contenders, representing the ruling New Patriotic Party and the opposing National Democratic Congress obtained the constitutional minimum percentage for victory. Results for the Parliament so far show a slight majority for opposition party NDC over the NPP, which is being interpreted as a popular demand for cooperation between the two dominant parties.
These results have several implications for revenue transparency initiatives in Ghana. Commercial quantities of oil were discovered for the first time in Ghana in June 2007. With drilling scheduled to begin in late 2009, the country has been preparing for an oil boom which could eclipse the country's mining revenues. The government convened a national forum on oil and development in February, and Revenue Watch continues to support consultations between Parliament, civil society and Ghana's Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (GEITI) group.
Voting in Ghana has been extended until December 28 and most government activity has ceased for the period. Ghana was an early member of the international EITI effort, first launching its program in 2003. While RWI was expecting to see a revised EITI validation work-plan and budget, this step will likely be postponed. Additionally, with the opposition NDC party expected to assume control of Ghana's Parliament, the new dynamics of the legislature may impact the progress of RWI's efforts to build legislative capacity for effective extractive sector oversight. Despite the shifts in the legislature, RWI expects that the new parliament to afford many opportunities for discussions and capacity building.
Though planned oil policies and petroleum regulations will not meet their projected passage on December 16, 2008, the postponement will likely provide time for additional debate between civil society groups and the new parliament, and in turn foster informed and more effective oversight.
U.S. Said to Allow Drilling Without Needed Permits - The New York Times
Australia Gas Deal Renews Tension - Financial Times
Charged With Fraud, Nigeria's Ruling Party Leader Resigns - Reuters
Western Senators Propose Ban on Pacific Drilling - The New York Times
To Limit Corruption around Mining in Africa, Follow the Money - The Globe and Mail
Court Backs Oil Project - The New York Times
Transparency Increases, But There Is Still a Long Way to Go - The Phnom Penh Post
IMF Develops Project to Help Africa Deal with Illicit Trade - African Manager
Three-day Conference on Africa's Natural Resources Starts in Tanzania - Standard Times Press
After Oil Rig Blast, BP Refused to Share Underwater Spill Footage - ABC News
Finger-Pointing, but Few Answers at Hearings on Drilling - The New York Times
Complaints Over U.N. Prize Sponsored by Equatorial Guinea's Obiang - Reuters
Guide: Community-Company Grievance Resolution for Australian Mining Industry - Oxfam Australia (pdf)
Cote D'Ivoire: President for Life, and Then Some - The New York Times
In Midst of Massive Spill, Oil Industry Fighting Transparency and Accountability - Oxfam America
Leaked Oil Contracts in DRC Threaten Resource Wars and $10 Billion Rip-Off by British Company - Carbon Web
Contracts Confidential: Ending Secret Deals in the Extractive Industries
Contract transparency is sorely needed to improve the management of natural resource wealth. In a new report from RWI, authors Peter Rosenblum and Susan Maples delve into government and private sector objections to contract disclosure and make conclusions about what information may legitimately and reasonably be kept confidential, and how civil society institutions can better confront the challenge of secret deals.
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NEW TRANSLATION: Revenue Redistribution at the Local Level
Many resource-rich countries are attempting to compensate their producing regions through shares of resource revenues to be spent at the local level. In "Extractive Industries Revenues Distribution at the Sub-National Level," development economics consultant Matteo Morgandi presents a comparative analysis of international legislation for distribution of extractive revenues from across all levels of government. Prepared at the request of the Peruvian National Congress, the report studies the legislative practices of seven resource-rich countries to identify potential and address challenges. Please note that this report is now also available in Vietnamese.
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