Ghana Reaffirms Commitment to OGP Principles
The Senior Presidential Advisor, Yaw Osafo-Maafo, has reiterated the government’s strong commitment to the principles of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), emphasizing efforts to improve governance, democracy, and transparency in Ghana.
Speaking at a Multi-Stakeholder Consultative Workshop on the Delivery of Public Infrastructure in Accra, he highlighted the government's progress under the OGP framework, particularly through the implementation of four National Action Plans.
Notable achievements have been made in several thematic areas, with a focus on transparency and accountability. Key among these is the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor under the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
In 2019, the government also created a legal framework for the Beneficial Ownership regime under the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992). This regime mandates the disclosure of beneficial ownership information, fulfilling a commitment made by countries implementing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
This was followed by the passing of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), which became operational in January 2020, marking a significant step towards improving government transparency and accountability.
Achievement/challenges
Hon. Yaw Osafo-Maafo highlighted the government's commitment to innovation and technology. He noted that the Ghana Open Data Policy, initially set to be finalized by 2018, has led to increased access to government data, supporting various data-driven initiatives.
Ghana's efforts in implementing impactful, sustainable, and innovative commitments have been recognized, with the country receiving three awards in 2021 and 2023 for its achievements in Africa and the Middle East.
However, Hon. Osafo-Maafo acknowledged that these advancements have not come without challenges. Budgetary constraints have posed significant obstacles, often leading to delays in the full implementation of commitments within their original timeframes. As a result, many projects have had to be rolled over.
Looking ahead, Ghana is currently in its first year of implementing its fifth National Action Plan. As part of this, the government is focused on developing a specific commitment aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability in the delivery of publicly funded infrastructure projects.
Hon. Osafo-Maafo stressed that Ghana is taking advantage of a one-year window provided by OGP member countries to finalize this commitment, which will include clear milestones, actionable steps, and a validation roadmap.
“Our objective is to co-create and finalize an Infrastructure Transparency Commitment, guided by stakeholder feedback, to ensure greater transparency and accountability in infrastructure governance,” the Senior Presidential Advisor who doubles as the Chairman of the OGP Steering Committee said.
The workshop, which brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, was part of ongoing efforts to refine the country’s approach to public infrastructure delivery and ensure that it aligns with international standards of transparency and accountability.
The Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a global multilateral initiative founded in 2011, dedicated to promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance. By harnessing the power of new technologies and innovation, OGP encourages governments to adopt principles that ensure openness and integrity in governance processes.
Since signing onto OGP in 2011, Ghana has worked towards embedding the values of transparency, civic participation, public accountability, and innovation across multiple sectors. In 2023, Ghana embarked on the implementation of its 5th National Action Plan (NAP 5), which has been the most rigorous plan to date, involving a broad range of stakeholders and diverse engagement mechanisms to develop commitments.
The OGP provides a unique window within which an additional commitment can be included in the already submitted national action plans. As Ghana is in her 1st year of implementation of NAP 5, It is imperative that Ghana seizes this window to incorporate a specific commitment focused on transparency and accountability in the delivery of publicly funded infrastructure projects.