Open Government Parternship meeting ends with call for accountability, transparency

[RUCCI]

A two-day Open Government Partnership (OGP) Africa Regional meeting reached its climax in Dar es Salaam yesterday with participants asking African governments to enhance transparency, citizen participation and accountability.

Twaweza executive director, Aidan Eyakuze, who was one of the participants said amongst major deliberations at the meeting was transparency in governance and maximising the truth by both African governments and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

Mr Eyakuze, who was giving a summary of the meeting deliberations, said that encouraging dialogue between governments, CSOs and the general public was of paramount importance.

“It is difficult to agree in every issue, but it is important to inculcate the culture of dialogue if reaching a consensus is anything to go by,’’ he added.

In his closing remarks, minister of State in the President’s Office—Good Governance, Mr George Mkuchika, said Tanzania and other countries need to have an informed society.

He said in such a situation, “leaders will be accountable and transparent to their citizens because we need to be proactive in providing information to our people,’’ he said.

“In so doing, we will be able to minimise complaints from citizens at the same time maximise transparency and accountability,’’ he added.

In his opening remarks on Wednesday, President Jakaya Kikwete underlined the need for openness by African leaders, but also stressed that it was important to consider limitations of the freedom because it was difficult to guarantee it absolutely.

The CSOs also asked the government to rapidly consider revisiting the recent legislation on Statistics, Cybercrime, Access to Information.


Source: The Citizen