Ghana Ministry of Finance denies withholding petroleum fund data

Ghana’s Ministry of Finance has rejected claims that it withheld data regarding the utilization of the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) from the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC). The dispute arose following the release of PIAC’s 2026 semi-annual report, which stated the committee could not complete its assessment of petroleum revenue allocations due to missing information.

PIAC Chairman Richard Ellimah noted that the lack of data on ABFA and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) allocations has restricted the committee’s ability to evaluate expenditure, particularly concerning infrastructure projects like the Accra-Kumasi Expressway. Ellimah described the lack of compliance as “clearly legal infractions” and indicated that PIAC intends to consult the Attorney-General, as the committee lacks the independent power to compel compliance with the Petroleum Revenue Management Act.

In response, the Ministry of Finance maintained that it has provided petroleum revenue receipts, distribution data, and explanations of fund management. The Ministry stated that its officials participated in virtual and in-person meetings with PIAC and argued that the exclusion of specific utilization data from the report should not be interpreted as evidence of withholding information.

Ghana’s petroleum receipts reportedly rose by 52 percent to US$561.41 million in the first half of 2026, compared to US$370.34 million during the same period the previous year.