Ghana MPs Rally African Parliaments for Stronger Partnerships to Deepen Anti-Corruption Reforms
Ghana’s Parliament has called on legislatures across Africa to strengthen collaboration with anti-corruption institutions, civil society organisations, and the media to promote transparency, accountability, and effective governance systems across the continent.
The appeal was made by Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Vice Chair of Parliament’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus and Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, during the African Open Government Conference held in Rabat, Morocco.
Addressing delegates at the launch of the African Network of Open Parliaments, Hon. Acquah stressed the need for African governments to move beyond symbolic commitments to open governance and embrace practical reforms that empower citizens and institutions to demand accountability.
“The Open Government Partnership framework must go beyond symbolism. Civil society organisations must be empowered to play their watchdog role effectively in promoting transparency and accountability,” he stated.
The three-day conference brought together parliamentarians, policymakers, development partners, civil society groups, and governance experts from 16 African countries to discuss strategies for strengthening participatory democracy and improving citizen engagement across the continent.
Hon. Acquah urged African legislatures to build stronger institutional relationships with anti-corruption bodies such as Transparency International and national audit institutions to improve governance oversight and monitoring mechanisms.
He further underscored the importance of collaboration between parliaments and the media, noting that public access to information remains critical in deepening democratic accountability.
According to him, Ghana’s Parliament has implemented several reforms under the Open Government Partnership framework that could serve as useful models for other African countries.
These include the establishment of a bipartisan OGP Caucus, the implementation of an Open Parliament Action Plan, live telecasts of parliamentary proceedings, and the introduction of a digital dashboard to monitor governance commitments and reforms.
“These initiatives are helping to deepen citizen participation and improve transparency in parliamentary processes,” he noted.
Speaking at the launch of the African Network of Open Parliaments, the Deputy Speaker of Morocco’s House of Representatives said the new continental platform would enable African parliaments to exchange best practices in transparency, data management, and parliamentary documentation.
He explained that the initiative would also encourage the adoption of digital technologies to strengthen democratic governance, enhance citizen participation, and improve youth engagement in parliamentary affairs.
Ghana joined the Open Government Partnership in 2011 and has since gained international recognition for its governance reforms under the leadership of Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
Parliament was ranked first in West Africa in the Africa Open Parliament Index in 2022 and maintained the position in 2025, while also placing second overall in Africa behind South Africa.
The Rabat conference focused on promoting African-led governance solutions, strengthening participatory democracy, encouraging peer learning among countries, and advancing governance reforms tailored to the realities of the African continent.
Source: expressnewsghana.com
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