Franklin Cudjoe, founding president of IMANI Africa, has called for a transformational approach to governance through the proposed Governance Advisory Council announced by President John Dramani Mahama.
Addressing the gathering, Cudjoe proposed a structured framework to be implemented by the Council, focusing on real-time citizen engagement, openness, and progressive performance evaluation of public officials.
“They should sign on to a framework of openness and stakeholder co-creation of a defined vision for their department or sector”
Franklin Cudjoe, Founding President of IMANI Africa
He stressed that the Council should serve as the pivot around which accountability is demanded and measured from public officials. Among the key elements of his proposal was the need for ministers and chief directors to adopt a defined vision that is developed collaboratively with stakeholders.
Cudjoe’s proposal included a strong emphasis on transparency, calling on public officials to “commit to open data and radical transparency,” suggesting this should become the foundation for institutional reform.
He also recommended that ministries and departments should host monthly hybrid town halls – accessible both physically and virtually – where the public can directly engage in dialogue on procurement, performance tracking, operational updates, and evaluations.
“Any answers not immediately available shall be made available within a week,” he added.
Participation and Feedback
To enhance civic participation, Cudjoe proposed a digital enrolment system that would allow citizens who join the town halls to become part of a stakeholder group aligned with each department’s vision.
Once enrolled, these citizens would contribute meaningfully to shaping departmental outcomes.
“Every month, a poll shall be taken to take the pulse of the stakeholder group,” he said, noting that only those who attend at least one townhall within the period would be eligible to participate.
He further suggested that a six-month milestone should be set to acknowledge progress made by public officials, allowing for public recognition as well as constructive feedback. This approach, according to him, is not a replacement for existing auditing and financial management systems but a complementary method that could rejuvenate their relevance.
“Our hope is that it will invigorate them, bring the essence in them to the fore and make them more meaningful to citizens”
Franklin Cudjoe, Founding President of IMANI Africa
Vision and Implementation
President Mahama met with representatives of various civil society organisations to reinforce his campaign promise to institutionalise accountability and improve public sector performance in Ghana.
The President emphasised the independent nature of the proposed council and its responsibility to monitor governance performance across key areas. “This is a key promise from my campaign, which is intended to enhance accountability and transform our governance system.”
He noted that the Council will function as an independent watchdog, specifically focusing on “monitoring human rights, corruption, and overall governance in Ghana.”
He further explained that “an annual report on human rights, corruption, and governance will be key to transparency and progress,” adding his commitment to creating a transparent, accountable government that reflects the values of the “beloved” country.
The final segment of the meeting saw CSO leaders recommend a four-member team to lead further consultations.
The team includes Alhaji Tanko of STAR-Ghana, Dr. Valerie Sawyerr, Mrs. Beauty Emefa Nartey, and Franklin Cudjoe himself. Their mandate is to receive submissions, review proposals, and determine feasible ways of implementing the Governance Advisory Council.
If the Council proves unworkable in its intended form, the group is also expected to recommend its revision or abandonment.
President Mahama’s administration has already signaled strong interest in incorporating the inputs of civil society into institutional reforms, and the formation of this review group may represent the first of several steps toward delivering on his governance commitments.
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