London: The Infrastructure Transparency Initiative programme (CoST) Sekondi-Takoradi has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first subnational programme of CoST to secure three prestigious awards at the Managers workshop and award ceremony held in London.
According to Ghana News Agency, the awards include the second position in the Open Contracting for Infrastructure Data Standard (OC4IDS) publication, first place in the participation category, and the overall Outstanding Award named in memory of Alfredo Cantero (1973-2019), a respected former CoST Board member. This is the first time CoST International has recognized the efforts of members publishing information under the OC4IDS, with CoST Jalisco (Mexico) taking the first position, followed by CoST Sekondi-Takoradi and CoST Malawi in third place.
The primary CoST Award, introduced in 2022 by the CoST International Secretariat, aims to celebrate the successes of CoST members. Mr. Isaac Aidoo, CoST Manager for Ghana, expressed his honor and gratitude upon receiving the prestigious Outstanding Award. He highlighted the journey of CoST Sekondi-Takoradi, which joined the initiative in 2018 and officially announced its membership on March 13, 2019, during Open Government Week.
Aidoo recounted how CoST Sekondi-Takoradi became the first subnational government to join the CoST initiative, demonstrating its commitment to infrastructure transparency. The program drew inspiration from Alfredo Cantero's work and the Honduras MSG's efforts, including their disclosure platform (SISOCS) and the training of citizen transparency commissions.
CoST Sekondi-Takoradi utilized a multi-stakeholder approach to achieve national consensus on infrastructure transparency commitments, aiming to improve public infrastructure governance at the national level. This achievement served as a catalyst for pursuing a National CoST programme membership for Ghana. Aidoo dedicated the award to Prof. George Ofori, Olive Kabakwariwe, Gilbert Sengudwa, and the MSG members of CoST Sekondi-Takoradi for their unwavering support.
He also remembered the former mayor of Sekondi-Takoradi, Mr. Anthony KK Sam, who led the city's involvement in CoST in 2019 and passed away during the COVID-19 period.
The Construction Sector Transparency (CoST) Initiative, a UK registered charity, works globally in 20 countries, including Ghana, to implement transparency and accountability reforms within the infrastructure sector. Initially piloted by the former Department for International Development, CoST later became an independent UK charity.
The Managers workshop in London brought together participants from 20 countries and the CoST International Secretariat to equip Managers with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage a CoST Member programme. The workshop provided an opportunity for member management teams to share lessons, discuss technical challenges, and develop strategies for better returns on public infrastructure investments.
Five members from three continents were selected for the CoST Awards 2024: Costa Rica, Jalisco (Mexico), Sekondi Takoradi (Ghana), Thailand, and West Lombok (Indonesia). The awards featured two categories, with CoST Sekondi-Takoradi winning the Outstanding Award named in memory of Alfredo Cantero.
In the Transparency category, the award recognized members' efforts to increase the scope, scale, robustness, or accuracy of data published regarding infrastructure planning and provision or the institutionalization of related processes. CoST Thailand won this award. The Participation Category award recognized efforts to establish constructive dialogue between government, civil society, and the private sector, which CoST Sekondi-Takoradi excelled in.
Madam Evelyn Hern¡ndez, CoST Head of Members and Affiliates, stated, "We want to commemorate Alfredo's life by honoring the work of CoST members each year."
