CSOs' Scorecard Unveiled: Evaluating Ghana's government performance

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has launched its first Scorecard, evaluating the Ghanaian government's performance across key sectors, including mining, petroleum, climate change, environment, and anti-corruption.

Presented by Samuel Bekoe, Executive Director of the Centre for Extractives and Development Africa (CEDA), during an event at Alisa Hotel, the Scorecard aims to promote public debate and improve transparency.

"This scorecard serves as a mirror reflecting governance gaps and realities, based on verifiable evidence," said Bekoe.

He stressed the need for not just promises but tangible implementation of policies to foster community transformation.

With the 2024 elections nearing, CSOs engaged political parties to scrutinise their manifesto commitments.

He emphasised that this is a call to action—a call to strengthen governance systems that protect Ghana's natural resources.

"It is a call to ensure that reforms do not stall after being announced. It is a call to make transparency the norm rather than the exception. Moreover, it is a call to build a governance culture where citizens can track not only what is promised but also what is delivered. Most importantly, it is a call for the government, civil society, and development partners to work together, rather than against each other, to achieve lasting solutions."

The Scorecard shows that while the government has made satisfactory progress, with scores above 25% in most areas, it scored slightly lower in Anti-corruption at 23.04%.

"We recognise that the government has four years to fulfil its manifesto commitments. Based on an expected pace of 25% implementation per year, it is anticipated that the government will reach full implementation within this period. So, it is fair to say that the government has made satisfactory progress in its first year, scoring above 25% in each thematic area, except for anti-corruption, where it scored 23. 23.04%," he added.

Bekoe called on the government to strengthen its anti-corruption efforts, warning that delays could impede successful implementation by 2028.

He clarified that the Scorecard is not a political judgment but a tool for accountability and informed public discussion.

By highlighting performance and areas for improvement, this initiative aims to spark positive change and boost governance in Ghana's natural resources and environmental sectors.

Ghana lacks consistent follow-through on policy implementation - CSOs

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Meanwhile, as the BBC moves the home of its Focus on Africa Podcast to Nairobi, GhanaWeb's Etsey Atisu connected with the host for an exclusive interview on The Lowdown. Watch it here: