Multi-Donor Budget Support (MDBS) Annual Review and Consultative Group (CG) Meetings

1. Multi-Donor Budget Support (MDBS) Annual Review and Consultative Group (CG) Meetings June 19, 2012 GOOD GOVERNANCE ASSESSMENT OF UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES Presenters: Mr. Suleiman Ahmed (MoJ & AGD) Mr. Kamil Kamaluddeen (UNDP) (Governance Working Group Co-Leads)

2. The Underlying Principles of Good Governance under the MDBS • Continuing peace and respect for human rights, the rule of law, democratic principles, and the independence of the judiciary; and • Good governance, accountability of the GoG to the citizenry, and integrity in public life, including the active fight against corruption • (Source: Framework Memorandum between the Government of Ghana and Development Partners – Multi-Donor Budgetary Support Programme, May 19, 2008, page 3)

3. Key Issues • Access to Justice and Human Rights • Strengthening the Parliament • Decentralisation • Consolidating Peace and Security • Integrity and Anti-Corruption Measures • Elections Update

4. Access to Justice, Human Rights & Judicial Reform Progress in pertinent areas: • Expanding Access with special attention to the under-served and under privileged categories. • Strengthening Capacity: prosecutorial and administrative capacity enhancement. Specialized skills acquired to deal with new challenges - money laundering, drugs, cyber fraud, etc • Legal empowerment of the poor - through intensified interactive public education, increased use of ADR and LAS, addressing pre-trial detention, prison decongestion, etc. • Human Rights monitoring improved substantially – State of HR Report 2011 released, a baseline HR survey and a gender equality assessment in process, and a UPR report prepared. • More cases reported to CHRAJ.

5. Access to Justice, Human Rights & Judicial Reform Key Challenges: • Addressing discrimination: homophobia, stigmatization and marginalization • Prisoner right issues – remand prisoners; juvenile detentions; pregnant women; HIV/AIDS • Under-funding for Legal Aid Scheme and justice sector

6. Strengthening the Parliament • Parliamentary business conducted with increased level openness and consensus. 83 Plenary sessions, 216 Committee Sittings, 10 PACs. • Nineteen (19) Bills passed -enabling critical areas of good governance, democracy, and accountability: transition; peace council: petroleum management; biosafety; anti-money laundering, etc. • Several loan and credit agreements reviewed including Master Facility Agreement Chinese loan of US$3.0 billion for infrastructure. • Oversight improved – effective use of state resources. PAC held public sittings on Auditor-General’s Reports.

7. Parliamentary Strengthening Outstanding Challenges • Non-engagement with Executive in Budget formulation • Low capacity of Committees • Limited access to quality and timely data • Inadequate research infrastructure

8. Decentralisation: Progress • Constitutional review process reviewed the process of selection of DCEs and DA members with the possibility of a change into a more competitive selection process • Activation of Interministerial Coordinating Committee for overseeing decentralization reform process as well as cross-functional task-forces on decentralization • Composite budget system rolled out to all MMDAs shifting oversight over financial allocations to the decentralized level • Work on legal amendments to clarify, harmonize and consolidate multiple laws into one comprehensive decentralization Act is progressing

9. Decentralization: Challenges • Realignment process for Ministries has not yet started fully, resulting in confusion in some Ministries and their staff. • Regions have not yet clearly demarcated roles and responsibilities in the new set-up. • Lack of understanding and appreciation of the nature and benefits of decentralization reform leading to slow implementation and low level of engagement. • Low mobility manifested in serious difficulties in attracting qualified staff to rural assemblies. • Limited systematic coordination, stock taking and information flow on the overall decentralization reform process between the key Ministries and Agencies. • Limited attention on performance monitoring particularly also for the aspect of service delivery monitoring in a decentralized context.

10. Peace and Security • National Council in place with passage of National Peace Council Act, 2011(Act 818) • Efforts ongoing to ensure peace during 2012 elections through dialogue, conflict prevention, mediation, etc. • Other issues being addressed – intra and inter-party conflicts; media sensitization; advocacy for passage of Broadcasting Law; de-politicization of crime.

11. Peace and Security: Challenges • Adherence to Political Parties' Code of Conduct by all. • Intemperate language; sectional politics; etc. • Proliferation of small arms • Low intensity conflicts • Politicization of narcotic drugs and crime

12. Integrity and Anti-Corruption Measures Focused efforts on strengthening legal framework and institutions: • National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) laid in Parliament and referred to relevant Committee. • Public Officers Code of Conduct Bill before Cabinet • EITI for Oil and Gas sector signed unto. • Four L.I.s laid before Parliament – Anti-Money Laundering Regulations; Audit Service Regulations; Others • Increased civil society engagement, public interest in anti-corruption issues.

13. Integrity and Anti-Corruption: Challenges • Corruption perception and public cynicism still high. • Underfunding of anti-corruption agencies and activities. • Many important anti-corruption bills and instruments still pending: Whistleblower (Amendment); Right to Information; Regulations on Public Office Holders. • Lack of corruption prevention strategies in MDAs. • Implementation of PAC’ recommendations including ARICs. • Improving and sustaining fiscal discipline

14. Elections Update • 2012 Elections • BVR technology successfully introduced. • Registration completed. Provisional data: • 13.5 million voters registered. • 16,487 recorded during mop-up • 476 prisoners registered. • Key next steps • Exhibition of Voters Register - First week in August • Nomination of Candidates - September • Election - December, 2012 (tentative)

15. Elections Update: Calendar Issues Outstanding Issues • Cleaning and processing of the captured data for exhibition. • Registration of Foreign Service Officers and Ghanaians working in international organizations . • Engagement of political parties on the verification of Voters system for Election Day. Potential Risks to Elections Calendar • Delays in the release of funds for planned activities • Cooperation of stakeholders on voter verification system (VVS)

16. Assessment “The underlying principles of good governance have been upheld during the period under review”

17. THANK YOU!