At long last, the Liberian government has officially launched the 5th National Action Plan for the Open Government Partnership (OGP). This plan is designed to foster integrity, transparency, accountability, and good governance, with a core goal of reducing corruption and minimizing waste within the government.
The OGP is a multilateral initiative that encourages national and sub-national governments to make commitments toward promoting open governance, fighting corruption, and improving overall governance. It was formally launched on September 20, 2011, during a UN General Assembly meeting, with heads of state from eight founding governments.
Liberia joined the Open Government Partnership in 2011, committing to adhere to international standards for Good, Open, and Responsive Governance. The current government is dedicated to building on the progress made under the 2020-2022 National Action Plan, while also addressing gaps identified in the implementation report for that period.
In collaboration with civil society and the Open Government Partnership, the Government of Liberia has drafted the Liberia Action Plan for 2025-2027.
During the launch of the OGP, Senate Pro Temp Madam Nyonblee Kangar Lawrence emphasized that the unveiling of Liberia’s 5th National Action Plan underscores the country’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and participatory governance. She stressed the importance of collective efforts between the government, civil society, and development partners to uphold these values, ensuring a brighter future for Liberia. She also called on all stakeholders to work together in support of open government principles.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Open Government Partnership and Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Information, Jonny Tarkpah, acknowledged that Liberia had skipped several years of commitment to the OGP. He described the launch as a significant milestone for good governance in Liberia. Tarkpah also highlighted the five key thematic areas of the OGP: Transparency, Accountability and Integrity, Citizen Participation and Inclusion, Policy Reforms, and E-Governance. These principles and values form the foundation of the OGP.
Finally, Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah reaffirmed the government’s dedication to the principles of the Open Government Partnership and called on all government spending entities to ensure compliance with the OGP standards.
