Speaking at the African Open Government Conference in Rabat, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Vice Chair of Parliament’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus and Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, urged African lawmakers to strengthen ties with anti-corruption agencies, including Transparency International and national audit institutions.
He emphasized that partnerships between governments, parliaments and civil society groups are essential to improving governance oversight, monitoring systems and public accountability across Africa.
According to Hon. Acquah, the Open Government Partnership framework must go beyond symbolic commitments, insisting that civil society organisations should actively serve as watchdogs in the promotion of transparency and accountable leadership.
The Ghanaian legislator made the remarks during the launch of the African Network of Open Parliaments, held alongside the three-day conference attended by delegates from 16 African countries.
He also advocated stronger collaboration between parliaments and the media to enhance public understanding of governance reforms and increase citizen participation in democratic processes.
Highlighting reforms undertaken by Parliament of Ghana, Hon. Acquah pointed to the establishment of a bipartisan OGP Caucus, the implementation of an Open Parliament Action Plan, live broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings and the introduction of a digital dashboard to monitor governance commitments.
He noted that Ghana’s experience could serve as a model for other African countries seeking to promote transparency, openness and citizen engagement in governance.
At the launch of the continental network, the Deputy Speaker of Morocco’s House of Representatives said the initiative would create opportunities for African parliaments to exchange best practices in transparency, data management and parliamentary documentation.
The Moroccan official further indicated that the network would encourage the use of digital tools to strengthen democracy, improve citizen engagement and keep young people informed about parliamentary activities across the continent.
Ghana joined the Open Government Partnership in 2011 and has since gained international recognition for its governance reforms under Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
Ghana’s Parliament ranked first in West Africa in the Africa Open Parliament Index in 2022 and maintained the position in 2025, while placing second in Africa behind South Africa.
The conference in Morocco brought together policymakers, civil society organisations and development partners to promote participatory democracy, strengthen citizen engagement and encourage African-led governance solutions tailored to the continent’s realities.
