Obuasi, June 21, GNA - Participants at a workshop, on Capacity Building on Budget and Mineral Royalties for the District Assemblies, have criticized some district chief executives (DCEs) for not being transparent in the disbursement and utilization of the resources. The participants, mostly assembly members from the Obuasi and Bekwai municipalities in the Ashanti Region, said some of the DCEs do not involve assembly members in the utilization of funds for development projects.

The workshop, which was attended by finance, budget and planning officers of the two assemblies, and Publish What You Pay (PWYP), a civil society organisation, was aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of the natural resource revenue of the assemblies.

It was organised by the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) in collaboration with KASA-Ghana, both civil society organisations, in line with the expectation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

The assembly members who were contributing to a discussion on whether local communities have a stake in the management of natural resource revenue at the district level, were emphatic that some DCEs have "become untouchables and autocratic" in the use of revenue. Among the topics treated include, "budget as a tool for beating the local resource curse", "civil society and social accountability in the natural resource revenue management" and "revenue tracking, why and how"?

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr John Alexander Ackon, Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive, noted that mineral royalties that accrue to the mining communities to improve their lot are insufficient. "As a State, we are guilty to the hardships mining operations mete out to mining communities. We have to seek the welfare of the mining communities first as a nation," he said.

Dr Steve Manteaw, Campaign Co-ordinator for (PWYP)-Ghana pointed out that mineral resources revenue generated in Obuasi do not commensurate with the quality of life of the people. "The benefits of mining industry have been nationalised while the consequences are localised," he said, and called for increased share of royalties to host communities.

Mr K.K. Senchery, Bekwai Municipal Planning Officer, called on ISODEC to liaise with private investors to help exploit the mining potentials of the area for the benefit of the people.