The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) has elected Natural Resource Governance Analyst, development planner, and long-time community advocate, Mr Richard Ellimah, as its new Chairperson for the 2025–2026 term.

Mr Ellimah, who represents Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) on the committee, was elected on Wednesday, 12 November 2025. He takes over from outgoing Chair, Constantine K. M. Kudzedzi, Esq.

In a brief remark after his election, Mr Ellimah expressed gratitude to members of the committee for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to strengthen PIAC’s mandate.

“PIAC has built a solid reputation for promoting transparency in the management of Ghana’s petroleum revenues. I am committed to building on this foundation to ensure even stronger accountability,” he said.

With nearly two decades of experience in Ghana’s natural resource governance space, Mr Ellimah is widely respected for his work in policy advocacy, community engagement, and extractives-sector oversight.

At the same meeting, Mr Edward Yaw Afriyie, a biomedical scientist representing the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), was elected Vice Chairperson for the next one year. He succeeds Odeefuo Amoakwa Boadu VIII.

Ahead of the elections, five newly nominated PIAC members were sworn in by the Coordinating Director (Technical) at the Ministry of Finance, Mr Samuel Arkhurst, on behalf of the Finance Minister. The new members are:

Mr Christopher Opoku Nyarko – Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI)

Ms Sena Dake – Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG)

Mr Zamboanga Rufai Saminu – Ghana Journalists Association (GJA)

Ms Veronica Adigbo – Ghana Bar Association (GBA)

Nana Soglo Alloh IV – National House of Chiefs

The committee noted that the elections mark another step in strengthening its oversight work.

“Our mandate remains unchanged, to ensure the prudent, transparent, and accountable use of Ghana’s petroleum revenues,” the statement emphasised.

PIAC, established under Section 51 of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA) of 2011, has since 2011 served as a watchdog over how petroleum revenues are allocated, managed, and utilised.

The newly constituted leadership is expected to steer the committee through a crucial period as Ghana intensifies oversight of energy-sector revenues.