Africa-Press – Cape verde. The Government has reinforced its commitment to making public administration more transparent, accountable and accessible, highlighting the intensive use of digital technologies to bring citizens closer to decisions and public resources. Minister Eurico Monteiro and Deputy Prime Minister Olavo Correia stressed that transparency is no longer an option and has become a fundamental requirement to strengthen trust between the State and society.
During the official opening of the activities related to Open Government Week, the event, promoted by the Ministry of State Modernization and Public Administration (MMEAP), was attended by representatives of the government, the private sector, academia and civil society, and was chaired by the Minister of State, Eurico Monteiro. The Government reaffirmed its commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and citizen participation.
In statements to the press, Eurico Monteiro stressed that transparency and accountability must no longer be mere principles and must become common practices in governance.
“We are absolutely convinced that the more intensive and widespread use of digital media, both for the provision of services and for the sharing of public information, is relevant. People have the right to know what the public administration is doing, what is being done with public money, with public resources.”
Although he acknowledges the progress made in the country, the minister admits that there is still much to be done so that all citizens have access to the most relevant data at the various levels of administration.
“There is still a long way to go before we have full access to all levels of administration, whether in direct and indirect administration, or in local government. (…) There is still a long way to go, but we are involved, committed to these principles, and I believe that we will be able to take very important steps in the coming period.”
Open Government
During the event, the workshop “More Open Cabo Verde – Building Paths” was also held, where representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Justice presented the commitments included in the second National Open Government Action Plan (2023–2025). The commitments made include promoting budgetary transparency, through the strengthening of the Transparency Portal, and the creation of instruments that facilitate the understanding of legal language, bringing citizens closer to the functioning of justice.
Open Government Week is an annual OGP initiative that aims to encourage governments to share good practices, promote reforms and deepen the involvement of civil society. In Cabo Verde, the event is used to give visibility to the measures adopted in the field of open and digital administration.
“The focus has been on public administration, which has been almost the main focus of this Government’s action in recent years. This Week is an opportunity for us to show people what we have been doing, so that they can not only know what is happening, but also demand a more effective and efficient response from the administration”, highlighted Eurico Monteiro.
In turn, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Olavo Correia, stressed that the country “has no alternative to open governance”, considering this “an irreversible path, a requirement” that imposes new challenges on Public Administration.
“We have no alternative to open governance. This is an irreversible path, a requirement. It is up to us to adapt to this new requirement. Transparency, effective delivery, interoperability, excellent and high-quality public service, provided at the right time, to citizens and companies. And ongoing accountability. Today, scrutiny is constant: all year round, every day, at every moment. We must be able to respond to this demand, and this exercise is extremely important.”
Olavo Correia also argued that, as the Ministry of Finance, our commitment is to be an example.
“We will move forward with a transparency portal and take all measures to ensure that our ministry is an example for all others, so that we can be a model country as an open, transparent government that serves citizens, families and women, on all the islands of Cape Verde, in the country and in the diaspora. It has to be more digital, right? In addition to being open, it must be digital.”
Launched in 2011 by the heads of state and government of eight countries, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) promotes transparency, accountability and citizen participation through innovation and the use of digital technologies. Cabo Verde became a member of the OGP in 2015 and has drawn up its first action plan for the period 2018–2020. The second plan, currently under implementation, runs from 2023 to 2025.
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