{
  "id": 16174496,
  "title": "Finance Ministry denies withholding ABFA data from PIAC",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/finance-ministry-denies-withholding-abfa-data-from-piac",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-23T10:38:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "3News",
    "slug": "3news",
    "url": "https://3news.com/news/finance-ministry-denies-withholding-abfa-data-from-piac"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Finance Ministry has rejected allegations that it withheld data on how the Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) has been used from the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC). On Friday, October 23, 2026, the ministry provided a statement asserting it had forwarded petroleum receipts and distribution data to PIAC, alongside explanations of the administrative processes managing ABFA funds, including those reserved for the Accra–Kumasi Expressway. This response followed a PIAC statement made on October 21, which claimed the ministry had excluded ABFA utilization figures from its 2026 semi-annual report. The ministry argued that the absence of ABFA data in PIAC's report should not be misconstrued as evidence of information withholding. They noted that their officials had taken part in PIAC's virtual validation workshop and met with the committee in person to provide a comprehensive briefing on petroleum revenue receipts, distribution, and ABFA allocation processes. In reference to the Accra–Kumasi Expressway project, the ministry cited paragraph 572 of the 2026 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review, which states that all funds for the project, including the total ABFA realized in 2026, have been earmarked and will be disbursed upon contract award. The ministry defended this decision, stating it was in line with PIAC's earlier suggestion to focus resources on infrastructure projects with significant economic impact, such as the expressway. They also denied claims that District Assemblies had been deprived of their share of ABFA funds, emphasizing that the 5% statutory portion allocated to the District Assemblies Common Fund is paid directly from the Consolidated Fund, a point previously communicated to PIAC. The ministry reiterated its commitment to supplying PIAC with all data required to carry out its oversight role and to maintain transparency in public accountability concerning petroleum revenues, promising ongoing disclosure of pertinent information in official fiscal documents.",
  "summary": "The Ministry of Finance has denied claims it withheld ABFA data from PIAC, explaining that funds were ring-fenced for the Accra–Kumasi Expressway based on committee recommendations.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
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      },
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        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/russia-ready-for-talks-on-plans-for-final-ukraine-deal-not-truce-putin",
        "published": "2026-10-23T08:00:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Finance Ministry rejects claim it withheld ABFA data from PIAC",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/finance-ministry-rejects-claim-it-withheld-abfa-data-from-piac",
        "published": "2026-10-23T11:13:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}