Maximizing The Benefits From Ghana’s Oil And Gas Resources To Combat Poverty:the Impact Of Public Policy Process

The current study seeks to provide a credible data and information to policy-makers to enhance the formulation and implementation of sustainable public policies that will meet the expectations of Ghanaians, especially the poor people. The full participation of the poor in decision-making processes could shape government policies and interventions that affect their lives directly or indirectly.This study is both qualitative and quantitative in nature, and the research survey was a focus on three (3) regions in Ghana Namely; Greater Accra, Western Region, and Upper West Region. The locations were selected as a symbolic representation of all Ghanaians on social and economic perspectives. Greater Accra is the nation’s capital and host of all groups, Western Region host the highest productive resources including the oil and gas find, and Upper West Region is the youngest and one of the poorest regions in Ghana. Respondents were interviewed mostly among rural and urban dwellers.600questionnaires were administered, and536completed questionnaires were returned as early as possible because of respondent’s high expectations and enthusiasm about the oil discovery. The study could not cover all the ten regions of Ghana, but proper arrangements were made to include all groups through their representatives residing in Accra. The assumption was that the concerns and voices of all the segments of the Ghanaian society were adequately covered in the study. A simple percentage calculation adopted in concluding the data. The total numbers of respondents, who strongly agree, agree, not sure, disagree, or strongly disagree, with the statements provided in the categories of the closed-ended interviews, were divided by the total number of questionnaires completed and multiply by hundred.The findings were that the discovery and subsequent production of oil in commercial larger quantities could not automatically shape the economic development agenda and combat poverty. Instead, it is the right strategic public policies and their implementation, monitoring and evaluation in a context that supports sustainable growth, minimizes welfare distortions and poverty reduction. Another striking indication was citizen’s mistrust of politicians which requires high-level discipline in public finance management, fair allocation of state resources and efficient government institutions. Furthermore, it was revealed that poor people were ready to participate in the decision-making process on policies and interventions that affect their living conditions as beneficiaries.