President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to foster a more transparent and accountable governance system.
That, he explained, was in line with his campaign promise to establish a Governance Advisory Council to act as a watchdog to bolster accountability and transform governance in the country.
A statement issued by the Presidency said Mr Mahama reiterated the pledge when he met with representatives of various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at the Presidency last Monday.
The meeting was to discuss the formation of the Governance Advisory Council, a key pledge from his 2024 election campaign.
Monitoring
President Mahama emphasised the crucial role of the council in monitoring and advising the government on critical issues such as human rights, corruption and overall governance.
“This council is a commitment to the Ghanaian people, a promise to foster a more transparent and accountable government,” President Mahama stated.
The statement said it was the conviction of President Mahama that by bringing together the wisdom and expertise of civil society, religious leaders, traditional authorities, academia, labour and ordinary Ghanaians, “we can create a powerful mechanism for ensuring that our governance truly reflects the values and aspirations of our nation.”
Watchdog
It said Mr Mahama expected the Governance Advisory Council to function as an independent watchdog responsible for producing an annual report on the state of human rights, corruption and governance in Ghana.
It said the report would be publicly accessible and serve as a guide for the government to evaluate its progress and address areas in need of improvement.
“This annual report will not be just another document gathering dust on a shelf,” the President stated during his campaign engagements in 2024.
“It will be a living, breathing instrument for change, holding us accountable and pushing us to do better on issues ranging from human rights violations and corruption to media freedoms and the fight against torture and crime,” the statement said.
It said Senior Presidential Advisor for Governmental Affairs, Dr Valerie Sawyerr, had been tasked with leading the government’s effort to establish the council.
