Chapter 8: Transparent and
Accountable Governance
Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA), 2010-2013
Final Draft – September 7, 2010
Joint Presentation by Dr. Robert Dodoo (Former Head of the Civil
Service, Chair of the Civil Service Council, NDPC Commissioner) and
Mr. Ian Myles (Head of Cooperation and CIDA Program Director,
Canadian High Commission)
September 23, 2010
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Part I
Overview: governance objectives,
major considerations, and critical
elements to move forward
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Broad Objectives
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Empower state and non-state bodies to
participate effectively in the National
Development Process
Ensure that Political, Economic and
Administrative authority is exercised in a
transparent and accountable manner
Ensure that public resources are managed
effectively and with integrity
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Major Considerations
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Progress on governance is key for all sectors
to reach their potential
Governance agenda will become more urgent
in the context of oil and gas revenue
Governance agenda includes a number of
complex and multifaceted issues
Requires collaboration and commitment from
a broad range of actors, including civil society
Cross-cutting issues
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Other Considerations
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Input from Line Ministries and other
stakeholder institutions
Cross-cutting Sector Policies (e.g. PSR,
Decentralization)
Constitutional Review process
Proceedings of the National Governance
Roundtable
Comments received from DPs
Review by Commissioners
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Focus Areas (15)
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Democracy and institutional reform
Local governance and decentralization
Special development areas
Public policy management
Public sector reform
Development communication
Women’s empowerment
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Focus Areas (15) – cont.
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Corruption and economic crimes
Rule of law and justice
Public safety and security
Access to rights and entitlement
National culture for development
International Relations
Evidence-based decision making
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Managing migration
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In addition to the 15 focus
areas…
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239 key issues
61 policy objectives
302 response strategies
Cross-cutting response strategies
Various implementing partners
(See MTNDPF Matrix, pp. 243-268)
8
Critical elements to move forward
in all focus areas
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Enhance access and participation
Clarify mandates, roles and relationships and ensure
coordination
Move forward with development and implementation
of enabling legislation and policy frameworks
Strengthen capacity of institutions and personnel
Enhance communication and awareness
Address resource issues and disparities
New Approach to Public Sector Reform
Role of NDPC
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Part II
Working Together:
Key areas for cooperation
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Identifying the areas for action
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Under each of the critical elements, some specific
areas for action have been highlighted through sector
level policy dialogue
These are drawn from the Working Groups for:
 Governance
 Decentralization
 Public Sector Reform
 Gender Equality
11
Working Together:
Enhance access and participation
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Active measures to enhance civil society participation
in governance – e.g. communication, resources,
networking
Access to justice for all: improved collaboration,
strengthened Alternative Dispute Resolution, legal
aid, criminal justice reform
Enactment and full implementation of Right to
Information Bill
Ongoing efforts to enhance women’s political
participation and address discrimination
12
Working Together:
Clarify mandates, roles and relationships
and ensure coordination
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Under the New Approach to Public Sector Reform,
coordinate reforms required for effective
implementation of the Ghana Shared Growth and
Development Agenda overall, and sector strategies
Improve coordination and collaboration across
governance institutions (i.e. Parliament, Judiciary,
Executive, Independent Governance Institutions)
Move ahead with Interministerial Coordinating
Committee on Decentralization and clarify roles of
Local Government Ministry, Local Government
Service, district and sub-district bodies
Strengthen mandates, roles and coordination towards
women’s equality
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Working Together:
Development and implementation of
legislation and policy frameworks
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Enactment of Transition Bill and implementation of
holistic transition reform before 2012 elections
Adoption and roll-out of National Anticorruption
Action Plan and transition of Serious Fraud Office to
Economic and Organized Crime Office
Continued electoral reforms, e.g. biometric voters’
registration, media accountability during elections
Implementation of Local Government Service Act and
National Decentralization Policy and Plan, including
transfer of staff
Implementation of National Plan of Action on
Domestic Violence
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Working Together:
Strengthening capacity of institutions and
personnel
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Strengthening capacity for governance institutions and
Parliament to perform respective mandates
Strengthening capacity for institutions to systematically
advance Gender Equality
Strengthening capacity for civil and public servants:
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in policy, planning, monitoring and evaluation skills needed
for middle income economy
in public financial management, local economic planning,
responsive service delivery in decentralized context
in strategic Human Resources planning and management
(e.g. performance)
15
Working Together:
Enhance communication and awareness
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Increased awareness and understanding of rights
and responsibilities through broad-based civic
education
Review and strengthen awareness campaign on laws
and practices regarding women’s rights
Collect and disseminate information on budgets and
service standards for transparency at all levels of
government
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Working Together:
Address resource issues and disparities
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Ensure that governance institutions can perform their
mandates and functions effectively through adequate
resourcing at national and local levels for:
 Parliament, Judicial, Executive
 Independent Governance Institutions
 Development Planning
 Monitoring & Evaluation
 Public information and communication
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Final thoughts
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New Approach to Public Sector Reform
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Role of the NDPC
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