Special topics
Improving Transparency to Tackle Corruption in Ghana: From Commitments to Actions
A Post-London Anti-Corruption Summit Follow-up Dialogue
Venue: Alisa Hotel, Accra – Ghana
Date: June 14, 2016
Background Note
In the first week of April 2016, the Ghana EITI and OGP organized a two-day Beneficial Ownership (BO) consultation workshop with state and non- state actors as part of the process to ensure Ghana maintains a public register on BO – an EITI requirement to be adhered to by January 2020, an OGP commitment to be implemented by 2017 and at the same time a requirement to be satisfied by Ghana under the Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).
The workshops were timely as the President of Ghana was anticipated to make beneficial ownership and other anti-corruption commitments at the UK anti-corruption summit earlier this month. At the same time, the Panama papers leaks had heightened beneficial ownership disclosure as an important measure to deter corruption and transfer pricing, especially in resource rich countries.
After the workshops, a group of CSOs and other relevant government agencies organized follow up meetings to ensure the government of Ghana made concrete commitments on BO during the summit. Some CSO members were invited by the Office of the President to provide comments and suggestions on Ghana’s official communique to the summit which was accepted and published at the summit. The government of Ghana has taken a bold step to move forward its national anti-corruption agenda by making concrete commitments during the summit to establish a public beneficial ownership register, increase fiscal and public procurement transparency, increase transparency in commodity markets, and strengthen asset recovery, amid others.
Whiles these commitments have been viewed as an important step to tackling corruption and also to ensure better governance in all sectors, it is important for responsible agencies to build consensus to effectively implement these commitments in a timely manner. As a result, this event is being organized to discuss and clarify the necessary actionable it/ems required to ensure a smooth implementation of the government’s commitments by all responsible agencies.
Agenda
| From Commitments to Actions: Post London Workshop | |
| 9am – 9:30am | Arrival and Registration |
| 9:30am – 9:45am | Introductions and Agenda Review
Presenters: Ghana EITI & OGP |
| 9:45am – 10:15am
|
Session 1: Overview of the Commitments versus Ghana’s International Commitments/Protocols
Why these commitments and its importance – Beneficial Ownership – Public Procurement and Fiscal Transparency – Commodity Trading Transparency
Presenters: Daniel Batidam, Government Adviser on Governance, Office of the President, Ghana |
|
10:15am – 10:45am
|
Session 2:
Ghana’s National Anti-Corruption Action Plan – What should Citizens Expect?
Presenters: Hon Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader of Parliament, Ghana |
| 10:45am – 11:00am | Q & A |
| 11:00am – 11:15am | Tea/Coffee break |
| 11:15am – 12:15pm | Session 3: Panel Discussion and follow up questions
Implementing the Commitments: What should citizens expect? – What are the required regulatory and administrative reforms needed? – What are the potential challenges? – Timing of implementation
Panelists: – Mr. Samuel Sallas-Mensah – CEO, Public Procurement Authority – Mrs. Jemima Oware, The Ag. Registrar General – Prof. Thomas Akabzaa, Chief Director, Ministry of Petroleum – Dr. Steve Manteaw, Co-Chair (Moderator), Ghana EITI
(All TBC) |
| 12:20am – 1:20am
|
Session 4: Panel Discussion and follow up questions
Tackling Corruption: The fight against corruption in Ghana
– Ms. Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, Attorney General and Minister of Justice – Hon. Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Minority Leader, Parliament – Daniel Kaufmann PhD., President, NRGI – Daniel Batidam, Government Adviser on Governance, Office of the President, Ghana – Samson Lardi Ayenini, (Moderator), Joy FM, Accra
(All TBC) |
| 1:20pm – 1:50pm | Wrap up and next steps – What needs to be done?
Ghana EITI and OGP Secretariats |
| Lunch and Departure | |
Source: Penplusbytes.org
