President John Dramani Mahama has initiated steps toward the establishment of a Governance Advisory Council, meeting with representatives of various Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at the Presidency to deliberate on the proposed body’s formation and mandate.
The meeting, held at Jubilee House, aligns with a key pledge from President Mahama’s 2024 election campaign, aimed at enhancing accountability, transparency, and inclusive governance.
In his remarks, President Mahama underscored the Council’s central role in monitoring and advising government on critical national issues including human rights, corruption, and the state of governance.
“This council is a commitment to the Ghanaian people — a promise to foster a more transparent and accountable government,” he said.
A statement released after the engagement emphasized the President’s vision of building a governance structure that draws on the experience and integrity of stakeholders from civil society, religious groups, traditional leadership, academia, labour unions, and ordinary citizens.
“President Mahama believes that by bringing together the wisdom and expertise of civil society, religious leaders, traditional authorities, academia, labour, and ordinary Ghanaians, we can create a powerful mechanism for ensuring that our governance truly reflects the values and aspirations of our nation,” the statement read.
As promised during his campaign, the President expects the Governance Advisory Council to operate independently, producing an annual report on human rights, corruption, and governance in Ghana. The report will be made publicly accessible and will serve as a guiding document for government action and reform.
“This annual report will not be just another document gathering dust on a shelf,” President Mahama said during his campaign. “It will be a living, breathing instrument for change — holding us accountable and pushing us to do better on issues ranging from human rights violations and corruption to media freedoms and the fight against torture and crime.”
To ensure the successful implementation of this initiative, Dr. Valerie Sawyerr, Senior Presidential Advisor for Governmental Affairs, has been tasked with leading the process of establishing the Council.
The move has been widely welcomed by governance experts and civic advocates, who view it as a step toward restoring public trust in institutions and reinforcing democratic accountability.