Ghana Integrity Initiative Holds Workshop to Boost Transparency and Accountability.

Tamale: The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), through its Enhancing Civil Society Coordination for the Open Government Partnership (OGP) in Ghana project, has conducted a sensitisation and awareness campaign workshop for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the Northern Region. The workshop, supported by the European Union, was part of a series of campaigns focusing on the OGP National Action Plan five, highlighting Ghana's commitment to transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance.According to Ghana News Agency, about 40 CSOs, including the Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA), RUWA-Ghana, Inspire to Act, and Simba Ghana, participated in the workshop. The attendees were introduced to the National Action Plan co-creation process and explored global case studies and best practices related to OGP Action successes. The event featured group discussions and presentations on promoting responsible governance and active citizen participation at the local level.Mr. Jacob Tetteh Ahuno, the Programmes and Research Officer at GII, stated during the workshop in Tamale that the initiative aimed to enhance the capacity of CSOs regarding advocacy and engagement strategies. The goal was to enable effective interaction with key stakeholders to advance OGP commitments within selected decentralised agencies. He emphasized the importance of integrating OGP principles into CSOs' programming and public engagement efforts, such as media outreach and community discussions.The workshop also facilitated the development of a collaborative action framework to serve as a structured plan for CSOs and government coordination in implementing and monitoring NAP five at the local level. Participants recommended that Assemblies prioritize making their meetings open to the public, raise awareness of the medium-term development plan, and emphasize media engagement and information dissemination following general assembly meetings.Mr. Mohammed Shani Iddrisu, the Local Focal Person for OGP, reiterated the role of OGP in promoting responsible leadership and connecting governance with the citizenry. Alhaji Masud Aziz Rauf, the Executive Director of RUWA-Ghana, commended GII and its partners for the engagement, expressing optimism about its impact on sustainable development in the Assemblies.