By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, June 5, GNA – Hajj Muhammad Amir Kpakpo Addo, General Secretary, Federation of Muslim Councils, has called on religious leaders to intensify public education on corruption, describing it as both a crime and a betrayal of trust.
He said churches and mosques had a responsibility to help promote transparency and accountability in the management of Ghana’s petroleum revenues by reminding citizens and public officials of their moral obligations.
“Faith leaders must use their platforms to teach that corruption is not just a crime; it is a betrayal of trust. Every Friday and Sunday, we must remind our people that Ghana’s oil belongs to all of us, including generations unborn,” he said.
Hajj Addo made the call at a stakeholder engagement organised by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) for Muslim and Christian groups in Accra, on the theme: “Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in Ghana’s Petroleum Revenue Management.”
He described PIAC’s work in monitoring and reporting on petroleum revenue management as critical to sustaining public confidence in governance and ensuring that oil revenues benefited all Ghanaians.
Drawing on Islamic teachings, Hajj Addo said public office and public resources were sacred trusts that leaders would be held accountable for.
“As a faith leader, I see this work through the lens of Amaanah (trust). In Islam, public office and public resources are a sacred trust. Allah will question every leader about how they managed what was entrusted to them.”
He said the Holy Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad emphasised honesty, justice and trustworthiness, adding that transparency and accountability were not only civic duties but also acts of worship.
Hajj Addo commended PIAC for serving as Ghana’s “moral compass” on petroleum revenue management since 2011 through its annual and semi-annual reports, which had helped citizens better understand how oil revenues were managed.
Faith groups were represented on PIAC because they provided a moral and ethical perspective on the use of petroleum revenues, reminding leaders that the resources belonged to all Ghanaians, including future generations, he noted.
On the involvement of religious groups in governance, Hajj Addo said faith groups did not seek to determine government policy but rather to promote values that strengthened public accountability.
“Faith groups do not aim to run governance. We remind government that public funds are a trust, and a trust requires honesty. That is not partisan; that is moral common sense,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to work together to ensure that Ghana’s petroleum wealth translated into improved livelihoods and sustainable development for present and future generations.
Mr Richard Ellimah, Chairman of PIAC, said the engagement was intended to update religious bodies on the Committee’s activities and obtain feedback from a constituency that played a significant role in national development.
“We do not want a situation where the representative you sent here will come and spend three whole years and not get back to you. So, it is a way of updating you on our work and taking feedback from you on what we are doing,” he said.
Mr Ellimah noted that more than 90 per cent of Ghanaians identified as Christians or Muslims, making faith-based organisations an important partner in promoting accountability and transparency.
He urged religious leaders to use their influence to speak against abuses in petroleum revenue management and to encourage citizens to demand responsible stewardship of the nation’s resources.
“When you speak, government listens, and we hope that you will increasingly lend your voices to discussions on how petroleum revenues are utilised,” he added
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Hafsa Obeng