After years of spending Ghana’s petroleum revenue, it is emerging that oil-funded projects in the Oti region are delivering mixed results, with some nearing completion, others abandoned midway, and a few failing to serve their intended purpose despite significant public investment.
This emerged during a recent project inspection tour by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), which is mandated to monitor and evaluate the use of Ghana’s petroleum revenues.
The committee visited several projects funded through the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) across the region to assess their status and impact on local communities. The inspection revealed recurring challenges, including stalled construction works, poor project siting, inadequate stakeholder consultation, and concerns over value for money.
Speaking after the tour at the Committee’s event dubbed “Time With PIAC”, PIAC Technical Director, Mark Agyemang, said while some projects have provided benefits to residents, others have been undermined by funding constraints and implementation challenges that have limited their effectiveness.
Nkonya, Biakoye District: Road Rehabilitation Project Stalled Since 2022
One of the projects inspected was a road rehabilitation project in the Biakoye District aimed at improving connectivity among three communities within the Nkonya enclave.
According to PIAC, the project involved spot patching and levelling of road surfaces. While work was successfully completed within Nkonya township, construction came to a halt before extending to the remaining beneficiary communities.
Mark Agyemang disclosed that no contractor has been on site since 2022. The project reportedly received about GH¢1.5 million in petroleum revenue allocations. However, PIAC’s findings indicate that portions of the funding were used to settle outstanding debts, leaving insufficient resources to continue the work.
Residents acknowledged improvements on the completed sections of the road, but the committee noted that the delay has significantly increased the eventual cost of completing the project due to inflation and rising construction costs.
Nkonya, Biakoye District: Completed Market Abandoned Due to Flooding
The committee also inspected a 40-unit market facility comprising stores and a shed within the district. Although the project has been completed, traders have largely abandoned the facility because of persistent flooding and design challenges.
PIAC found that the height and design of the roofing system allow rainwater to enter the stores during heavy rains. As a result, traders dealing in clothing and other water-sensitive goods have been unable to operate from the facility.
Ironically, the market now serves more as a venue for church programmes and overnight religious activities than as a centre for commercial activity. The committee further learned that local authorities and community members were not adequately consulted during the planning stage. District officials indicated that alternative locations with more vibrant trading activity would have been better suited for the project.
Jasikan: Regional Education Directorate Staff Bungalows
In Jasikan, the committee inspected two staff bungalows being constructed for the Oti Regional Education Directorate. The facilities form part of efforts to provide accommodation for senior officials following the creation of the Oti Region.
PIAC found that one of the bungalows had been substantially completed and partially handed over for use. However, some outstanding defects remain unresolved because the contractor’s liability period has already expired.
The committee advised regional authorities to formally engage both the contractor and relevant government institutions to facilitate the completion of the remaining works.
While acknowledging the quality of the structures, PIAC questioned whether the large parcel of land allocated to the bungalows represented the most efficient use of public resources. According to the committee, the land could potentially have accommodated additional housing units to serve a larger number of education officials.
Jasikan: Regional Education Directorate Administrative Block Near Completion
The committee also inspected an administrative block being constructed for the Regional Education Directorate. The project was found to be nearing completion, with only finishing works remaining.
Officials on site informed PIAC that work had reached the final stages and that the contractor was awaiting the delivery of tiles from Kumasi before completing the project.
Once completed, the facility is expected to strengthen administrative operations within the regional education sector and provide office space for staff.
The Bottomline
Beyond the physical state of the projects, PIAC’s inspection highlighted broader concerns about how petroleum revenues are translated into development outcomes.
The committee noted that while millions of cedis have been invested in infrastructure across the region, the effectiveness of such investments depends not only on funding but also on proper planning, stakeholder engagement, project supervision, and timely completion.
The findings from the Oti Region serve as a reminder that the success of petroleum-funded projects should ultimately be measured by their functionality and impact on communities rather than their mere existence.
