Latest news with #PIAC
Zawya
3 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
AfDB flags East Africa for procurement fraud in projects
East Africa has been flagged as a hotspot for procurement fraud and other sanctionable practices in African Development Bank (AfDB)-funded projects, driven by a surge in the bank's financing to the region. The pan-African lender's Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption (PIAC) investigated 59 cases of sanctionable practices in 2024, of which 19, or a third, were in East Africa. Sanctionable practices are corrupt, fraudulent, coercive, or obstructive actions done in relation to any of the bank's funded projects, and may often lead to sanctions like temporary or permanent debarment of companies or individuals involved. The PIAC report blames the vices on increased funding from the lender in the region, especially in transport and energy projects.'PIAC examined the distribution of cases across different regions, revealing a large concentration of procurement fraud cases in the East Africa region,' AfDB said in its annual report.'This concentration can be attributed to the Bank's substantial investments in the East Africa region. This substantial investment in the East Africa region is an attractive target for fraudsters.' The region is followed by Central Africa, which recorded 12 such cases, followed by Southern Africa with 11 cases and West Africa with seven. The headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, investigated seven such cases, while the Northern Africa region had none. While several actions fall under the sanctionable practices category, they are dominated by procurement fraud, which last year constituted 81 percent of the investigated cases, some of which led to sanctions such as debarment. Procurement fraud is where bidders use falsified, forged or misrepresented documents in their bids to unfairly get contracts in projects. The majority of the cases were in the transport sector, which accounted for 41 percent of the investigated cases. Others were in water and sanitation, energy and power, and agriculture. The bank does not disclose the specific cases it investigates. In East Africa, one company with ongoing road projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, was debarred for engaging in procurement fraud in an AfDB-funded road construction project in Uganda. When a firm is debarred by the bank, it cannot participate as a contractor in any project funded by the bank or any other international development financiers such as the World Bank Group, the Asian Development Bank, and the Islamic Development Bank. The investigation also noted a surge in other integrity issues and malpractices, including a 'notable increase' in staff misconduct in East Africa last year, but the headquarters and Southern Africa, which have the highest number of staff, had more cases,16 and 11 respectively, against East Africa's four. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
13-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oil funds for ‘Big Push' will be efficiently used, Mahama tells Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC)
President John Dramani Mahama has assured members of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) that oil revenues earmarked for his proposed $10 billion 'Big Push' infrastructure initiative will be efficiently disbursed and managed. The President gave the assurance during a courtesy call by the PIAC members. Led by its Chairman, Mr Constantine K.M. Kudzedzi, the Committee members visited to congratulate the President on his recent election victory and discuss matters concerning the management of Ghana's oil revenues. President Mahama outlined his government's ambitious plan to invest $10 billion over the next five years, allocating $2 billion annually, into priority infrastructure projects across the country. These projects will target key sectors, including roads, major bridges, education, and health infrastructure, as well as areas vital for boosting productivity in the agriculture sector. He specified that agricultural projects under the 'Big Push' would encompass irrigation schemes, construction of farmer service centres, and support for agribusiness development. The President stated that the primary sources of funding for this significant policy initiative would be petroleum revenue and minerals royalties. Commending PIAC for its vital role, President Mahama praised the Committee's efforts in monitoring and ensuring transparency and accountability in the utilisation of Ghana's petroleum revenues. He highlighted PIAC as a commendable model for other countries seeking effective oversight mechanisms. President Mahama inaugurates committee for UGMC transfer to University of Ghana. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
CRTC hears debate on including a 'cultural element' in new definition of CanCon
OTTAWA — The federal broadcast regulator is considering whether it should include a "cultural element" in its new definition of Canadian content. Appearing before a Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission hearing Tuesday, the Public Interest Advocacy Centre said the CRTC should instead stick to its current approach, which looks at whether Canadians are employed in key creative positions. The consumers' group pointed out that the United Kingdom has a special institute to review and assess whether proposed cultural references in a production qualify as "sufficiently British." "We view a potential Canadian application of this approach, or any other cultural elements test, where a small group of people would be attempting to objectively define what and who is culturally Canadian, as being highly problematic," the advocacy centre said in a written copy of its opening statement. It also warned that production companies could exploit Canadian stereotypes to get around any "cultural element" test. "An American portrayal of how a Canadian character would speak or behave, for example, cannot be considered Canadian content," PIAC said. "It is merely a representation of the American cultural view of Canada." The CRTC's vice-chair of telecom, Adam Scott, asked the PIAC representatives whether Canadians wouldn't consider a miniseries about former prime minister Wilfrid Laurier to be more Canadian than one about former U.S. president Thomas Jefferson. Public interest articling fellow Aya Alshahwany responded by citing the hypothetical example of a big U.S. streamer making a movie about pop star Justin Bieber without any Canadians taking part in the production. "Using that to say, well, we made a documentary about a Canadian, this is CanCon now, I would have a really hard time digesting that as a Canadian to say, well, this is a reflection of my culture," she said. The CRTC has said that while it's leaning away from including a cultural element in its content test, it's open to hearing other viewpoints during the two-week hearing. The broadcast regulator has heard from others during the hearing who are in favour of including culture in the modernized definition of CanCon. The National Film Board, which appeared at the hearing Friday, has argued that now is the time to include cultural elements in the definition of Canadian content. It said in its prior written submission that not having a cultural element in the definition could result in harmful long-term consequences and risks erasing "what makes us who we are." It pointed to cultural tests used in countries such as Australia, France, Italy and the U.K. "These countries employ cultural elements alongside other criteria, such as nationality of key creative roles and ownership," the NFB said. It said those cultural elements include social or political relevance, how a way of life is depicted, and recognizable locations or figures, among others. "Our national screen culture has long operated on a definition of 'CanCon' that has excluded cultural elements. This approach has contributed to Canadians' inability to recognize when a story is of us," the NFB submission argues. The CRTC, which is looking at ways to modernize the definition of Canadian content, has heard differing points on how big U.S. streamers should contribute to the system. Netflix, Paramount and Apple pulled out of the hearing on the first day, and Motion Picture Association-Canada, which represents Netflix, Paramount, Disney and Amazon, argued foreign streamers shouldn't be expected to fulfil the same responsibilities as traditional broadcasters when it comes to Canadian content. The CRTC has ordered streaming services to pay five per cent of their annual Canadian revenues to a fund devoted to producing Canadian content. Multiple streaming services have launched legal challenges against that rule. Apple, Amazon and Spotify asked for and were granted a pause on their payments until the court process plays out. On Tuesday morning, U.K.-based sports streaming service Dazn told the hearing it shouldn't have to pay. Deidra Dionne, Dazn's vice-president in Canada, said such requirements are "not appropriate for international sports services" and make Canada an international outlier. "Our senior leadership continue to contemplate if the levies imposed make prioritizing growth in Canada a priority," she said. Geoff White, the executive director of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, who appeared after Dionne, took aim at Dazn and the other streamers in his remarks. "I just think there's an arrogance from the foreign streamers in terms of not showing up and arguing how their business models are so complicated and so different," he said. White urged the CRTC to "have that moral courage to stand up to the foreign streamers." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2024. Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ghana's Mahama courts oil investors, pushes for aggressive crude oil extraction
Ghana is urging investors to help boost oil production as the global push for decarbonization threatens to leave fossil fuel assets stranded. Ghana is encouraging increased oil production amidst global emphasis on decarbonization. President John Mahama highlighted the decline in oil output and the need for renewed investment during the Africa CEO Forum. Despite calls for expanding oil drilling, Ghana continues to uphold commitments to clean energy targets. Ghana is urging investors to help boost oil production as the global push for decarbonization threatens to leave fossil fuel assets stranded. President John Mahama made the appeal during the Africa CEO Forum held on Tuesday in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. 'Oil is in transition and so anybody who has any assets should be pumping like there's no tomorrow,' he said, signalling Ghana's readiness to welcome investors with open arms. 'We're rolling out the red carpet for anyone ready to drill.' Oil output declines Ghana's oil production has declined steadily over the last five years, largely due to limited investment in new exploration and field development. According to the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), Ghana's oil output fell to 48.3 million barrels in 2024, slightly below the 48.2 million barrels produced in 2023, and well down from a peak of 71.4 million barrels in 2019. Mahama attributed the decline in output to regulatory uncertainty, which he said drove some major players away. 'ENI was held in contempt and they had to move all their expatriate management to Cote d'Ivoire,' he noted, adding that now the company was 'back and they are drilling again'. Mahama's call to action echoes a growing sentiment among oil-producing nations, including recent appeals by U.S. leaders for increased domestic output. OPEC, too, has raised production levels, contributing to a roughly 13% drop in Brent crude prices this year, now hovering around $65.3 per barrel, per Bloomberg. Elected in December, Mahama has pledged to revive Ghana's struggling economy, which is still reeling from a debt crisis and rising cost of living. Reflecting on past government priorities, he said, 'The environment got a bit toxic. The government did not seem to prioritise the sector.'
Business Insider
02-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ghana's oil production falls for fifth consecutive year, according to PIAC report
Ghana narrowly missed matching its 2023 crude oil production levels, recording a marginal shortfall of just 0.01%, equivalent to 7,000 barrels. By the end of 2024, total crude oil output stood at 48,240,010 barrels, slightly below the 48,247,037 barrels produced in 2023. Ghana nearly matched its 2023 crude oil production, with a marginal shortfall of just 0.01% Total crude oil output by the end of 2024 was 48,240,010 barrels, slightly below the 2023 production of 48,247,037 barrels PIAC's 2024 Annual Report highlighted concerns about the declining production from the TEN Field The 2024 figure marks the closest Ghana has come to reversing the downward trend in annual oil production since 2019. PIAC releases 14th Annual Report on Petroleum revenue use This information was revealed in the 2024 Annual Report on the Use and Management of Petroleum Revenue, published by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC). The report—PIAC's 14th annual and 27th statutory submission—was officially launched on Tuesday, 29 April 2025. Presenting highlights of the report, PIAC Chairman Mr Constantine Kudzedzi disclosed that the Jubilee Field contributed the largest share of production, accounting for 66% of Ghana's total output. The Sankofa Gye-Nyame (SGN) and Tweneboa-Enyenra-Ntomme (TEN) fields accounted for 20% and 14% respectively. PIAC expressed concerns about the continued decline in production from the TEN Field, describing the field's output as the lowest among the three producing sites. The committee urged the government to undertake both technical and cost audits to determine the root causes of the declining performance. 'The TEN Field turned out the lowest production among the three producing fields, with substantially high production and development cost trends raising concerns about the viability of the field,' the report noted. Ghana Group contributes $89.44 Million in oil lifting The report further indicated that the Ghana Group contributed approximately $89.44 million in petroleum revenue through a total lifting of $73.91 million in 2024. This performance reflects ongoing challenges in optimising returns from Ghana's petroleum sector amid rising operational costs.
