From Olando Daniel
The Legal Resources Centre, a non-governmental organization focusing on human rights, has organised a two-day co-creation workshop in Ho, Volta Region, aimed at Civil Society Organizations operating within Ghana’s justice sphere.
The objective was to collaboratively draft a justice commitment for Ghana, centered around two key areas: the passage of Ghana’s Community Service Bill into law and the operationalization of paralegals across the nation.
Once approved, these justice commitments will be integrated into Ghana’s 5th Open Government Partnership (OGP) National Action Plan (NAP) through an amendment. The Open Government Partnership is an international initiative promoting governmental transparency, citizen participation, accountability, and the adoption of new technologies for better governance. Ghana has been a member since 2011, aligning with its constitutional principles and values.
Since its membership, Ghana has developed and implemented four National Action Plans aimed at fostering open and accountable governance. The 5th National Action Plan, submitted in December 2023, focuses on achieving an integrated mental health system to bolster transparency, accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness in mental healthcare.
Programme Officer at the Legal Resources Centre, Enock Jengre, emphasized the absence of justice-related commitments in Ghana’s previous National Action Plans. Recognizing the critical role of justice in Ghana’s development and democratic consolidation, Civil Society Organizations advocated for the inclusion of justice commitments in the 5th National Action Plan through an amendment.
He highlighted the forthcoming process of drafting justice commitments in alignment with the language of the Open Government Partnership. This process will involve consultations with state and non-state actors in the justice sector, including the Ministry of the Interior and the Legal Aid Commission, to ensure comprehensive input and review before adoption.
The National Open Government Partnership Coordinator and Steering Committee member, Thelma Ohene-Asiamah provided insights into Ghana’s journey in developing and implementing five successful National Action Plans, detailing the mechanisms for commitment implementation and monitoring.
Grassroot Justice Network Officer for Ghana, Sylvester Appiah-Honny, urged participating Civil Society Organizations to recognize their contribution to the development of the justice commitment as a significant milestone. He emphasized their role in shaping Ghana’s inaugural justice commitment within the Open Government Partnership framework.
The workshop facilitated extensive discussions on the co-implementation of Ghana’s Justice commitment, aiming to strengthen the Grassroots Justice Network through networking opportunities and collaborative sessions. Ultimately, the Open Government Partnership seeks to enhance responsiveness, accountability, and inclusion across all aspects of justice systems.
Source: www.ignewss.com|Ghana