Vice Chair of Ghana Parliament’s OGP Caucus and MP for Akim Oda, Hon. Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has called for closer collaboration between governments and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to advance open governance within the African continent.

Hon. Acquah made the remarks at the launch of the African Network of Open Parliaments, which took place in Rabat, Morocco, alongside the three-day conference attended by delegates from 16 African countries.

In his statement, Hon. Akwasi Acquah stressed that the Open Government Partnership (OGP) framework must move beyond symbolism, with civil society playing an active watchdog role in promoting transparency and accountability.

He also encouraged stronger cooperation between parliaments and the media to improve public awareness of governance reforms.

Highlighting Ghana Parliament’s reforms, he cited 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. He said these initiatives could serve as models for other African countries seeking to deepen transparency and citizen participation.

At the launch of the network, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Morocco said the initiative would enable African parliaments to collaborate more effectively by exchanging best practices in transparency, data management, and documentation. He added that the network would also promote the use of 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 earned 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 Morocco conference brought together policymakers, civil society organisations, and development partners to promote participatory democracy, strengthen citizen engagement across Africa, and foster peer learning and the adoption of African-led approaches grounded in African realities.