EU delegation to hand over equipment to EPA

The Attaché of Affairs of the European Union Delegation will hand over information management equipment to the acting Executive Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday 7th of June.

The equipment is to support the testing of the Compliance Monitoring System developed by the Accountability Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (ARAP).

The ARAP is providing EPA with Computers, tablets and drones, as well as other basic electronic equipment necessary to systematically record information on compliance and enable its analysis.

A statement issued by EU ARAP-Ghana signed by Seyram Awushie Agbemenya, the Programme Officer said Enhancing the compliance monitoring systems in a particular sector has been shown to be an effective way to prevent, deter and detect corruption.

Strengthening the compliance monitoring systems for the exploitation of natural resources is a high priority for the Environmental Protection Agency a key stakeholder for ARAP, given its lead role in environmental governance in Ghana.

It said the ARAP is supporting the EPA to develop an Innovative Compliance e-Monitoring System. The automated system is made up of different electronic tools to monitor permit holders: register permits, assess the risk of non-compliance, prioritize monitoring and visits to the sites, track record of visits and breaches etc.

Improved Information Management Systems are powerful instruments for a more accountable, transparent and open government, as well as for a better informed decision making processes.

ARAP is supporting this work stream in many stakeholders, in addition to EPA.

Key among these is the Office of the Attorney General, where an e-case register system has been developed and is being used in all the 10 regions across the country.

The new system developed is critical to inform the work of the Public Prosecutions Directorate as it provides real-time analysis and updated information on cases prosecuted, types of crimes, geographical areas, timeframe of prosecution, etc.

Taking this account, the ARAP is supporting the EPA to develop an Innovative Compliance e-Monitoring System. The automated system is made up of different e-tools to monitor permit holders: register permits, assess the risk of non-compliance, prioritize monitoring and visits to the sites, track record of visits and breaches etc.

The e-monitoring system has been developed and is going to be piloted (tested) in a first stage, in the mining sector and particularly in the Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly.

Following the evaluation and review of this initial pilot the system will be expanded to cover 3 other districts in a second stage. It is expected that in the long run, the monitoring system will be used across the country, in the mining sector and all other natural resources permits issued to be effectively monitored.

The Accountability, Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (ARAP) seeks to promote good governance in Ghana by reducing corruption and improving accountability and compliance to the rule of law.

The programme was designed to support national efforts on both, the supply and demand sides of the accountability and anti-corruption chain.

Strategies to be adopted to attain these goals include capacity building and support to key state institutions to be more accountable and better combat corruption as well as support to civil society and the media to enhance their lobbying and advocacy roles in the programme areas through STAR-Ghana.