New leadership took office at the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) this week, with Richard Ellimah elected Chair to steer the body responsible for monitoring Ghana’s petroleum revenue management.
The move, announced following a members’ vote on Wednesday, 12 November 2025, places a seasoned civil society actor at the helm of the committee for the next year as PIAC renews efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of oil and gas proceeds.
“The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) has elected a Natural Resource Governance Analyst and Community Analyst, Mr. Richard Ellimah as Chair to serve a one-year term from November 2025 to November 2026.”
Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC)
Mr. Ellimah assumes the chairmanship from Constantine K. M. Kudzedzi, Esq., as the committee embarks on a fresh cycle of oversight and stakeholder engagement.
Mr Ellimah brings almost two decades of civil society experience focused on natural resource governance and community development.
PIAC described him as a Community Activist, Development Planner, and Natural Resource Governance Analyst, with deep experience in Ghana’s resource sector.
His election reflects the committee’s preference for leadership grounded in grassroots engagement and technical knowledge of extractive sector dynamics, an asset as PIAC continues to scrutinise compliance with the Petroleum Revenue Management Act.
Vice chair and strengthened membership
Alongside Mr Ellimah’s elevation, the committee elected Mr Edward Afriyie, a Biomedical Scientist representing the Association of Chans Industries and the Chana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as Vice Chairperson for a one-year term.
The leadership changes are part of a broader renewal of PIAC’s membership following a formal swearing-in ceremony that preceded the election.
Ahead of the leadership vote, five members were sworn into PIAC by Mr Samusi Arkhurst, Coordinating Director, Technical at the Ministry of Finance, acting on behalf of the Honourable Minister.
The newly sworn-in members represent a cross-section of institutions involved in transparency, accounting, journalism, legal affairs, extractive sector oversight, and traditional authority.
They include representatives from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Ghana, the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana, the Ghana Journalists Association, the Ghana Bar Association, and the National House of Chiefs.
The replenished membership is intended to strengthen PIAC’s technical capacity and broaden its reach in holding petroleum revenue managers to account.
Priorities and mandate under new leadership
Commenting on his election, Mr Ellimah expressed appreciation and committed to continuity and improvement.
“He expressed appreciation to members for the confidence reposed in him and pladged to build on the solid foundation laid by his predecessors to fulfil the mandate of PLAC in promoting transparency and accountability in the management and use of petroleum revenues.”
Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC)
Under his stewardship, PIAC is expected to intensify monitoring activities, improve community-level reporting on petroleum benefits, and engage more robustly with state institutions and the public to ensure revenues are used for national development.
Established under Section 51 of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA), 2011, PIAC’s statutory remit is to monitor and evaluate compliance with the PRMA and to publish periodic reports on the management and use of petroleum revenues.
Its oversight includes tracking allocations to stabilisation and savings funds, scrutinising government spending of petroleum receipts, and communicating findings to citizens.
The committee’s work is central to maintaining public trust in how oil and gas resources translate into social and economic benefits.
With a renewed leadership team and freshly sworn members, PIAC faces immediate tasks in consolidating internal systems, updating its strategic priorities, and sharpening its engagement with communities affected by petroleum activities.
The committee’s success will depend on clear reporting, timely investigations, and sustained dialogue with stakeholders across government, industry and civil society.
Mr. Ellimah’s background in community advocacy and resource governance positions him to bridge technical oversight with grassroots accountability, a combination that PIAC will likely emphasise as it navigates the coming year.
READ ALSO: Dr. Baffour Called for Sustained Economic Stability to Redeem the ‘Familiar Budget Trend’
