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Challenges of implementing the extractive industries transparency initiative (EITI) in Nigeria and Ghana

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Summary:This dissertation examines the challenges faced by Nigeria and Ghana in implementing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global framework aimed at combating the "resource curse" by promoting transparency in natural resource governance. Through a qualitative comparative case study, the research analyzes secondary data, including EITI reports, government documents, and academic literature, to assess political, institutional, and societal barriers to effective EITI adoption. Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil exporter, and Ghana, a major gold and emerging oil producer, were among the first African nations to join the EITI. Despite early adoption, both countries grapple with systemic challenges. Nigeria’s struggles include entrenched corruption, weak enforcement of audit recommendations, and limited sub-national outreach, exacerbated by reliance on outdated legal frameworks like the NEITI Act (2007). Ghana faces funding constraints, delays in report dissemination, and gaps in stakeholder engagement, particularly with artisanal miners and local communities. While Nigeria’s reforms emphasize technological integration and federal-level transparency, Ghana’s focus on legislative frameworks and digital platforms highlights divergent approaches shaped by their unique political economies. The study reveals that EITI’s impact hinges on contextual adaptations, robust multi-stakeholder collaboration, and institutional capacity. Both nations demonstrate that transparency alone is insufficient without enforceable accountability mechanisms and grassroots inclusion. Lessons from their experiences underscore the need for tailored strategies addressing corruption, legal gaps, and community participation. The findings advocate for stronger governance structures, enhanced civil society roles, and localized interventions to translate EITI’s principles into equitable resource management and sustainable development.
Main Authors:Pedro, Clayton Zola Da Piedade
Subject:EITI Resource curse Transparency Extractive industries
Year:2025
Country:Portugal
Document type:master thesis
Access type:restricted access
Associated institution:Universidade de Lisboa
Language:English
Origin:Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa
Description
Summary:This dissertation examines the challenges faced by Nigeria and Ghana in implementing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global framework aimed at combating the "resource curse" by promoting transparency in natural resource governance. Through a qualitative comparative case study, the research analyzes secondary data, including EITI reports, government documents, and academic literature, to assess political, institutional, and societal barriers to effective EITI adoption. Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil exporter, and Ghana, a major gold and emerging oil producer, were among the first African nations to join the EITI. Despite early adoption, both countries grapple with systemic challenges. Nigeria’s struggles include entrenched corruption, weak enforcement of audit recommendations, and limited sub-national outreach, exacerbated by reliance on outdated legal frameworks like the NEITI Act (2007). Ghana faces funding constraints, delays in report dissemination, and gaps in stakeholder engagement, particularly with artisanal miners and local communities. While Nigeria’s reforms emphasize technological integration and federal-level transparency, Ghana’s focus on legislative frameworks and digital platforms highlights divergent approaches shaped by their unique political economies. The study reveals that EITI’s impact hinges on contextual adaptations, robust multi-stakeholder collaboration, and institutional capacity. Both nations demonstrate that transparency alone is insufficient without enforceable accountability mechanisms and grassroots inclusion. Lessons from their experiences underscore the need for tailored strategies addressing corruption, legal gaps, and community participation. The findings advocate for stronger governance structures, enhanced civil society roles, and localized interventions to translate EITI’s principles into equitable resource management and sustainable development.