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The CoST Sekondi-Takoradi Foundation, a chapter of the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (CoST), UK, has commissioned a national Infrastructure Transparency Index (ITI) survey to evaluate transparency levels within procuring entities in the delivery of public infrastructure.
The ITI is an initiative by CoST in collaboration with the Ghana Integrity Initiative, which is aimed at fostering greater transparency, accountability, and participation in Ghana’s infrastructure sector. The survey sought to independently evaluate transparency levels and the quality of governance processes among procuring entities in the delivery of public infrastructure at national and subnational levels.
It would calculate transparency scores for public infrastructure based on unique indicators, providing actionable insights to drive reforms, improve governance, and maximize the impact of infrastructure investments. Madam Victoria Araba Dennis, Executive Director of African Women International, and a member of the Multi-Stakeholder Group on CoST, speaking at the commissioning workshop in Takoradi, said the ITI survey was a significant step in advancing infrastructure transparency and governance in Ghana.
She said: “Infrastructure is the foundation upon which national development is built, and they are enablers of economic growth, social equity, and improved livelihoods. But for these investments to deliver their full benefits, they must be planned, executed, and managed transparently.” Unfortunately, the governance of public infrastructure in Ghana faced serious challenges, including project cost overruns, delays, abandoned projects, and cases of mismanagement, she added.
Madam Dennis said the ITI would, therefore, help to assess transparency levels and identify weaknesses in procurement and contract management. She added that by exposing those vulnerabilities, the ITI would ultimately help to drive reforms and mitigate corruption risks in infrastructure projects. “As we commission the national ITI Survey, let us recognize that transparency is the foundation of trust in government, in institutions, and trust in the public procurement system.
“When transparency thrives, corruption declines, efficiency increases, and public confidence grows,” Madam Dennis noted. Dr Matthew Kwaw Somiah, ITI Evaluation Team Member, giving an overview of the ITI framework, said the survey would evaluate procuring entities based on their transparency, institutional capacity, and citizen engagement practices.
He said the assessment would not only identify areas for improvement, but also serve as a roadmap for strengthening governance, institutional frameworks, and public accountability mechanisms in the infrastructure sector. Dr Somiah noted that the framework would evaluate four main dimensions including; enabling environment, capacities and processes, citizen participation, and information disclosure.
“This initiative will generate evidence-based insights that will help Ghana strengthen its infrastructure governance systems and highlight best practices while also identifying areas that require urgent improvement,” Dr Somiah said. Some selected entities and assemblies would be participating in this year’s survey in the Western region.
Source: GNA
