President John Dramani Mahama has taken a significant step toward fulfilling one of his flagship 2024 campaign promises by initiating consultations for the formation of a Governance Advisory Council, aimed at promoting transparency and accountability in Ghana’s democratic space.
A statement from the Office of the President revealed that civil society organisations recently met with President Mahama to deliberate on the structure and mandate of the proposed Council. The body, once established, will function as an independent oversight mechanism, advising government on pressing issues such as corruption, human rights, and overall governance standards.
“This council is a commitment to the Ghanaian people — a promise to foster a more transparent and accountable government,” President Mahama emphasized in the release.
The Council is expected to include a broad cross-section of Ghanaian society, drawing membership from religious and traditional leaders, academia, labour groups, civil society organisations, and everyday citizens. Its core mandate will include publishing an annual public report assessing the state of governance, corruption levels, and the protection of human rights in Ghana.
To ensure effective implementation, the President has appointed Dr. Valerie Sawyerr, Senior Presidential Advisor for Governmental Affairs, to lead the government’s efforts in setting up the Council.
The initiative has been hailed by civic actors as a bold move towards restoring public trust in government institutions and entrenching democratic accountability.
