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Former editor of Public Agenda Newspaper, Dr Steve Manteaw has been elected as the new chairman of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee(PIAC). He will be ably assisted by Dr Thomas Kojo Stephens, a representative of the Ghana Bar Association on the Committee.
The election of the duo is a requirement under the Petroleum Revenue Management Act, (Act 815) which among others makes provision for the appointment of a Chairman to lead the affairs of the Committee.
Section 54 (4) of the PRMA states “The committee members shall elect their own chairperson from among the members at their first meeting”. In line with this provision, the reconstituted Committee which had its first meeting on the 15thof February, 2018 unanimously approved the two astute personalities steer the affairs of the committee for a year.
Dr. Steve Manteaw, the new Chairman of PIAC is a policy analyst with the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC). He has wide range experience in policy research and advocacy. Dr Manteaw serves on several national boards and committees, including the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI); who’s National Steering Committee he co-chairs. He is also a member of the National Steering Committee of the Open Governance Partnership Initiative hosted by the Public Sector Reform Secretariat.
Dr Thomas Kojo Stephens on the other hand has a Masters in Law (LLM) from Cornell University, New York, U.S.A. and a PhD in Petroleum Law, Policy and Regulation from University of Aberdeen, U.K.He practices with the law firm of Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co., is a consultant in the petroleum industry, and a lecturer in law at the University of Ghana, Legon where he lectures amongst others, Petroleum Law, Law of Equity and Succession, and Natural Resources Law.
The newly elected Chairman as a norm administered the Official Oath and the Oath of Secrecy to the representative of the Association of Ghana Industries and Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ing. Frederick Alipui who replaces Mr Charles Atuahene. Also sworn-in was Mr Joseph Winful of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG) whose tenure was renewed for another two years. The two were unavailable for swearing-in by the Deputy Minister on the 1st February, 2018.
The new Members were sworn in on the 1stof February, 2018 together with some continuing members who had their tenures renewed for two years having taken the Official Oath and the Oath of Secrecy administered by Hon Abena Osei–Asare, a Deputy Minister of Finance.
Mr Noble Wadzah representing Civil Society and Community-based Organisations, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II representing the National House of Chiefs and Alhaji Abdulai Alhassan representing the Federation of Muslim Council and Ahmadiyya Missions, Ghana (Muslim Group) are the new members who were sworn in. Members who had their tenures renewed for two years were Dr Steve Manteaw, representative of the Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), Dr Thomas Kojo Stephens of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and Mr Roland Affail Monney of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
Sub-committee Chairpersons
The various sub-committees of PIAC were also reconstituted and their Chairmen elected in accordance with the Committee’s Rules of Procedure. The Technical Sub-committee is chaired by Mr Kwabena Nyarko-Otoo, the representative of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) whilst the Communications and Public Affairs Sub-committee is chaired by Dr Roland AffailMonney. The Legal Sub-committee and the Finance, Procurement and Administration Sub-committee are chaired by Prof. Albert Fiadjo of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences and Alhaji Alhassan Abdulai of the Muslim Groups respectively.
Background
The maiden Committee of 11 members was inaugurated on the 14thof September, 2011 to commence work.Dr. Steve Manteaw and Dr Thomas Kojo Stephens are the fourth Chairman and Vice of PIAC respectively. The able duo took over the mantle of leadership of the Committee from Mr Joseph Winful (Chair) and Mr Kwame Jantuah (Vice) whose tenure ended last year. Mr Kwame Jantuah had also served as Vice to Prof. Paul Kingsley Buah-Bassuah who served as Chair from 2015-2016. The first Chairman of PIAC who led the Committee through its early challenging years was Major Daniel SowahAblorh-Quarcoo (Rtd), who represented the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG). He was ably supported by OsabarimbaKwesiAttah II as Vice Chair and representative of the National House of Chiefs on the Committee.
Source: PIAC
