Executive Director of the Third World Network Africa has said, the interest of Ghana will best be served if the legislature delays the passage of essential bills and agreements for adequate citizen input.

According to Dr. Yao Graham, passing important and complex agreements such as oil contracts in 48 hours amounts to an abuse of discretion.

“It is travesty. What happens when the oil is finished,” he quizzed on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Thursday.

Corruption, as manifested in a recent Joy News Documentary, ‘Leaking Oil’, only betrays the lack of citizen participation and open processes leading to the award and execution of the contracts, Dr. Graham revealed. 

Leaking Oil catalogues misappropriation of oil revenue.  

Among other things, the documentary highlights the sorry stories of dams in Nakori and Douri in Upper West region. 

The dams meant to aid poor communities in the region, have been terribly done even though they are estimated to cost 875,000 cedis.

In another instance, 81m cedis road projects turned 395m cedis upon completion. These roads are in terrible states despite the huge cost.

Read more: Hotline Documentary: ¢81m road projects turn ¢395m after completion

This defeats the purpose of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act. 

In 2011, Parliament passed the Petroleum Management Act that mandates up to 70 percent of oil proceeds go into the national budget.

These funds, according to the law, are to be channeled to development in key sectors such as education, health and water infrastructure among others. 

The incidents of corruption show a defeat in the purpose of the law. 

Read more : Update: Hotline Documentary -The completed ¢875k dam that exists on paper

But Dr. Graham says these incidents can be stemmed, if Parliament opens up its processes to adequate public participation.

According to him, such participation gives Parliament enough ideas to fashion laws which adequately protect the interest of the citizens. 

Presently such consultations are limited.

“The process is inadequate. The process must be impersonal. We need an accountable process rather than people mourning after the fact.

Dr. Graham argued that birthing quality laws also depends on adequately resourcing Parliament.  

“How well resourced is Parliament to oversee the agreements,” he asked.

He called on the Parliamentarians to also show enough commitment in protecting the interest of Ghana when considering bills.

Mr. Graham has also advised the government on the appropriate steps to take, following the revelations contained in Leaking Oil documentary. 

According to him, investigations into the projects which have stalled, must swiftly be carried out. 

“Those responsible must be sanctioned. People must know that there are consequences for abusing public funds.”

He also wants the government to complete the projects which have stalled. As they serve an important purpose for the local community.