What is the way forward for Africa?

The following blog originally appeared on OGP Africa.

“What will distinguish the Africa’s OGP plan?” was a question Alison Tilley posed to the participants at the first Open Government PartnershipThe Open Government Partnership (OGP) is a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on improving government transparency, ensuring opportunities for citizen participation in public matters, and strengthen... More Africa Regional Meeting.

“We all know the common challenges that we face together as Africans, these problems make Africa ‘One Country” said Alison, Executive Director, Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC) from South Africa. Alison pointed out the importance of Open DataBy opening up data and making it sharable and reusable, governments can enable informed debate, better decision making, and the development of innovative new services. Technical specifications: Polici... for Africa as a continent, as it faces poverty which grows day by day, impunity of unaccountable leaders and a legacy of corruption that has gripped the continent, adding that all leaders like transparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the pub... More until they have to govern.

“This data will us help distinguish Africa’s OGP plan, as OGP is for the people and our key to freedom. Our future depends on that, and that’s why we need access to information.” said Alison.

Photo credit: “Colors of a rainy morning” by Wajahat Mahmood via flickr