The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has organized a training for journalists on the Auditor-General's Performance Audit Report on the operations of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA). The training, held in Accra on September 28, 2026, aimed to strengthen media reporting on accountability, regulation, and value for money in the downstream petroleum sector. The GACC partnered with the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) and Transparency International-Ghana (TI-Ghana), with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The training featured a presentation on "Understanding the Performance Audit Report on the Operations of the NPA", followed by a deeper examination of key audit findings by the Ghana Audit Service. Participants also took part in an open forum for questions, clarifications, and discussions on the audit report. As part of the practical session, journalists worked in groups to develop story ideas from selected findings in the NPA audit report.
Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Audit Service, Mr. Samuel Frimpong-Manso, emphasized the importance of the initiative, noting that it was crucial to examine the operations of the NPA and its role in regulating the downstream petroleum sector. He highlighted the significance of petroleum products to Ghana's economy, including transportation, power generation, domestic and industrial use, and fishing.
The NPA's responsibility to regulate the downstream petroleum sector effectively and economically is critical, according to Mr. Frimpong-Manso. The Authority's mandate includes licensing, monitoring, and enforcing official standards among petroleum service providers, while ensuring consumer protection, accountability, product quality, and safety.
The performance audit was undertaken to assess whether the NPA's operations were aligned with its legal mandate and regulatory responsibilities. Mr. Frimpong-Manso explained that the engagement with journalists was particularly significant, as it provided an opportunity for the Ghana Audit Service and its partners to share the audit findings with stakeholders, especially the media.
ACEP's Policy Lead for Petroleum and Conventional Energy, Mr. Kodzo Yaotse, also made a presentation on the NPA audit report. Participants presented their group work and received feedback, and the training ended with a post-evaluation and closing remarks by the GACC. The initiative forms part of a project titled "An Anti-Corruption Initiative for Enhancing Governance and Accountability".
The training aimed to enhance journalists' understanding of the NPA Performance Audit Report and strengthen their capacity to report on its findings and follow up on the implementation of recommendations. Mr. Frimpong-Manso expressed hope that the engagement would contribute to more informed reporting on the NPA audit and broader public discussions on accountability and the effective use of public resources.
Key points
- The GACC training aims to strengthen media reporting on accountability and regulation in Ghana's downstream petroleum sector.
- The training covered the Auditor-General's Performance Audit Report on the operations of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
- The initiative seeks to build partnerships in the fight against corruption and promote transparency and accountability.
