By Eric Ahianyo & Benjamin Makafui Attipoe, Accra
President John Dramani Mahama has met with representatives of various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at the Presidency to discuss the formation of a Governance Advisory Council, a key pledge from his 2024 election campaign to bolster accountability and transform governance in Ghana.
President Mahama elaborated on the proposed council’s mandate, emphasising its crucial role 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 during the meeting.
“President Mahama believes 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”, a statement to the Press after the meeting stated.
As promised during his campaign, the President expects 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. He explained that this 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.”
Senior Presidential Advisor for Governmental Affairs, Dr. Valerie Sawyerr, has been tasked with leading the government’s effort to establish the Council.