Sierra Leone’s Open Government Partnership focal person, Mr. Kalilu Totangi yesterday made a virtual presentation to Cabinet on the country’s Third National Action Plan (NAP 3 – 2019 – 2021).
As part of the OGP process in every member country, governments commit to implement reforms around governance issues including but not limited to fiscal transparency and accountability, and these commitments form the National Action Plan. This Action Plan was delivered through a sustained and co-creation engagement involving government, civil society organizations, the media, and citizens across the country.
The National Council for Civic Education and Development (NaCCED) has been charged to coordinate the process with the Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. Mohamed Rahman Swaray serving as Ministerial Lead.
The current National Action Plan has 8 commitments and 34 milestones, which includes: Access to Justice, Education, Duty and Tax Waivers, Beneficial Ownership, Access to Information, Gender, Open Parliament and Records and Archives Management. The commitments are implemented by relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) for a two-year period. At the end of each year, the OGP Global support Unit in Washington DC supports the country coordinating office to review the process.
This Open Government partnership is one of NaCCED ‘s pillars which aims to secure concrete commitments from the government to promote transparency, empowercitizens, fight corruption and harness new technologies to strengthen and promote open governance.
The implementation of this plan offers the Government of Sierra Leone invaluable opportunity to improve consultation and engagement of key governance players such as civil society organizations, the media, relevant MDAs, and citizens generally.
By Patricia Conteh and Hannah Jimmy
