Principal Advisor on Emerging Issues pays working visit to Ghana’s Open Government Partnership
On Tuesday, 15th April 2025, the Principal Advisor on Emerging Issues, Open Government Partnership (OGP), Mr. Joseph Foti from Washington DC paid a working visit to Ghana’s OGP to learn and understand the implementation of activities in line with achieving the key commitments in the 5th National Action Plan (NAP-5) and to provide the necessary support needed. The visit which coincided with the maiden OGP Steering Committee meeting was held at the conference room of the Public Sector Reform Secretariat (PSRS).
The Principal Advisor engaged with some members of the OGP Steering Committee. Present at the meeting were the chairman, Hon. Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tempane Constituency and Minister of State, Public Sector Reforms; the co-chair, Madam Mary Awelana Addah, Executive Director, Transparency International Ghana; and Hon. Emmanuel Bedzrah, MP for Ho West Constituency and Coordinator of the OGP Caucus in Parliament.
Other members of the Steering Committee present were Dr. Eric Oduro Osae, Director-General, Internal Audit Agency; Mrs. Thelma Ohene-Asiamah, Director at PSRS and OGP Point of Contact; Dr Stephen Manteaw, Co-Chair, Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative; Ms. Mina Mensah, Director Africa, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative Africa Office; Mrs. Lucille Hewlett Annan, Commission Secretary, National Commission for Civic Education; Dr. Winifred Nafisa Mahama, Acting Director, Information Services Department; Dr. Alex Amankwah -Poku, Head of Budget Development, Ministry of Finance; Mr. Henry Mnomey, Legal Officer, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice; Mr. Prince Selikem K. Kulevome, Director, Career Management and Development, Office of the Head of Civil Service; and Mr. Joseph Abbey, Director, Policy Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring and Evaluation, PSRS;
Also present were Mr. Denis Gyeyir, Africa Senior Program Officer, Natural Resource Governance Institute; Mr. Mohammed Tajudeen Abdulai, Program Officer, SEND Ghana; and Ms. Esther Ahulu, Program Manager, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative/Right to Information Coalition.
In her opening remarks, Hon. Lamisi Akanvariba, was honoured to receive the Principal Advisor to Ghana for a discussion on what the OGP had been engaged in within the period regarding the implementation of the commitments in the NAP-5. “I am committed to advancing transparency, harnessing technology and innovation, fostering civic participation, and strengthening accountability in governance”, she said.
The Minister of State together with the co-chair jointly indicated that they were committed to spearheading the OGP agenda in 2025 and beyond by working closely with members of the OGP Steering Committee to set a positive image in innovation, openness and establish reforms across public institutions in Ghana.
She intimated that the visit evidenced the pivotal role that Ghana was playing in the Global OGP community.
Mr. Joseph Foti on his part, extended his heartfelt gratitude for the warm reception. He indicated that the Global OGP was excited about Ghana’s progress and effort towards the implementation and achievement of the key commitments in the NAP-5. According to him, the visit was to learn about the key priorities and challenges associated with the implementation of the NAP-5. He was glad to hear that Ghana’s OGP had played a critical role, achieved notable successes and had become a leader within the regional body of the OGP.
Members of the Steering Committee shared brief comments and provided relevant information on efforts being put in place by the implementing agencies with support from the CSOs towards the achievement of the various commitments in the NAP-5.
The issues regarding key challenges associated with the implementation of NAP-5 was expressed by members of the OGP Steering Committee. Key among such challenges was mobilizing resources (financial and technical) towards achieving the commitments in the NAP-5. Some of the members suggested further lobbying should be done at various levels for the funding of OGP activities so that Ghana could achieve all the commitments contained in the NAP-5.
The discussions ended fruitfully with the call on OGP Ghana to continue its efforts at providing the necessary support towards achieving the NAP-5 and possibly hosting the next regional OGP summit in Ghana.