May 27, 2016 By Mohamed Massaquoi
President Ernest Bai Koroma has launched the second National Action Plan for the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and used the event to encourage Sierra Leoneans to meaningfully contribute towards the process because it is geared towards improving governance and effective service delivery.
The president re-affirmed his commitment to run an open, transparent and accountable government that would continue to work closely with all stakeholders, including the media, civil society and other state apparatus, adding that he was proud to note that his government, through the OGP, is among the first to establish an open data portal in Africa as well as a single treasury account for fiscal accountability.
‘’Government is now publishing 70% of all mining and agricultural contracts, just as it is in the process of passing into law a records management bill which will support the right to access information pursuant to our first National Action Plan.
“I want to take this opportunity to announce that the development of the second OGP National Action Plan of Sierra Leone has commenced and it will end by June 2016. I am urging all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government and Civil Society to continue to work together and effectively participate in the process.
The process will undoubtedly afford Government another window of opportunity to address issues and concerns that may be worthy of inclusion within the second National Action Plan, to that end all citizens are advised to engage the OGI/OGP Secretariat to have their say in the process,” he said.
Director of OGP, Madam Khadija Sesay, said they have outlined series of activities as strategy to engage citizens on the OGP process in the country, adding that they would embark on stakeholders consultations, organise round table meetings with heads of MDAs and strengthen regional and district consultations.
“We will organise regional sensitisations in Bo, Kenema and Makeni and with a validation meeting in Freetown where the president will address stakeholders on the OGP process over the years. We are very pleased with the support from government and civil society and media partners in the implementation of OGP in the country,” she asserted.