GHEITI launches Audit Reports on the Mining Sector

Accra, Nov. 15, GNA - Deputy Finance Minister, Mr Seth Tepker, has launched Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI) aud= its reports covering 2006-2008 with a call on stakeholders to use the information to police the exploitation of natural resources.

In a speech read for him at the launch, Mr Tepker said for Extractiv= e Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) to be effective key stakeholder= s, including civil society, private sector and selected MDAs should be able to evaluate and interpret the results. "These discussions would signal our willingness to be responsible an= d accountable for extractive sector revenues. We are convinced that it is o= nly through creating awareness among relevant stakeholders that maximum benef= it would be derived from these publications," he said. The EITI was launched by the UK Prime Minister Tony Blair at the Wor= ld Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in September 2002. The initiative encourages, governments, extractive companies, international agencies and NGO's to work together to develop a framework to promote transparency of payments in the extractive industries. The EITI therefore seeks to create that missing transparency and accountability in revenue flows from the extractive industry. Mr Tekper said the EITI initiatives provided opportunities to addres= s existing shortfalls within institutions and complement government's effor= ts to reduce corruption.

"The reports point to various weaknesses within the extractive secto= r revenue institutions. They therefore provide solid basis for probing furt= her existing institutional weaknesses and the urgent need to strengthen them,= " he said. The Deputy Minister urged all MDAs affected by the findings and recommendations to ensure the necessary corrective measures were put in place as soon as practicable. Mrs Philomena Johnson, a representative of Civil Society, appealed t= o the Government to adhere to calls from the public to ensure transparency in the management of revenue from the oil resources. 16 Nov. 10