Parliament calls for stronger Africa-wide collaboration on anti-corruption, open governance

Parliament has urged African legislators to deepen partnerships with anti-corruption agencies, audit institutions, and civil society to strengthen accountability and governance across the continent. Mr Alexander Akwasi Acquah, Vice Chair of Parliament's Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, said collaboration must move beyond rhetoric at the African Open Government Conference in Rabat. According to a statement issued by Mr David Sebastian Damoah, Director, Media Relations, Parliamentary Service, to the Ghana News Agency on Monday, Mr Acquah said, "The Open Government Partnership framework must move beyond symbolism, with civil society playing an active watchdog role in promoting transparency and accountability."

The statement said the remarks were made at the launch of the African Network of Open Parliaments, a side event of the three-day conference that brought together delegates from 16 African countries. The statement highlighted Ghana's progress, pointing to the creation of a bipartisan OGP caucus, the rollout of an Open Parliament Action Plan, live broadcasts of parliamentary proceedings, and a digital dashboard to track governance commitments. Mr Mohamed Sabbari, the Deputy Speaker of Morocco's House of Representatives, said at the network launch that the initiative would enable African parliaments to exchange best practices in transparency, data management, and documentation.

The network would promote digital tools to strengthen democracy, enhance citizen engagement, and keep young people informed about parliamentary activities. Ghana joined the OGP in 2011 and has since gained international recognition for its open governance reforms under Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin. Parliament ranked first in West Africa in the Africa Open Parliament Index in 2022 and retained that position in 2025, placing second in Africa behind South Africa. The Rabat conference brought together policymakers, civil society organizations, and development partners to promote participatory democracy, strengthen citizen engagement, and encourage African-led approaches grounded in local realities.