CoST Sekondi-Takoradi Introduces Infrastructure Analytical Dashboard for Prompt Access to Information

The quest to strengthen local infrastructure governance has called for a stakeholders meeting organized by Infrastructure Transparency Initiative (CoST Sekondi-Takoradi) to solicit inputs from stakeholders to develop an Infrastructure Analytical Dashboard (IAD) and Electronic Infrastructure Monitoring Tool (E-IMT) for smart access to information. The Coordinator of CoST Sekondi-Takoradi, a sub-national chapter of CoST International, Mr. Isaac Aidoo pointed out that the meeting is to accord stakeholders avenue to make inputs into the new interface of the infrastructure analytical dashboard. He said the existing analytical dashboard is text oriented which usually takes a lot of time in its assessment. He revealed that the new addition to the interface would improve its features such as the time in assessing projects, the agency responsible as well as other relevant information within the shortest time.

He indicated that CoST works with 67 data points with 40 proactive and 27 reactive disclosures, adding that the proactive disclosures include project reference number, project owner, sector or subsector, project name among others. He further explained that the reactive disclosures involve project officials and roles, project brief or feasibility with other features.
Mr. Aidoo mentioned that CoST has four main features namely disclosure, which deals with publication of project and contract data into public domain; Assurance, which handles validation of technical data, making its comprehensible; Multi-stakeholder working which is concerned with constructive engagement between government, the private sector and civil society, with Social Accountability focusing on empowering citizens to hold duty-bearers accountable using disclosed data.

He explained that the features of IAD ensure that the purpose, scope, impact and costs and execution of infrastructure projects is open and accessible to the public and disclosed in a timely manner. The programme consultant, Nana Basie of LoGig Company Limited pointed out that the new interface of the IAD would give its audience detailed information at a glance. He said it would have both text and pictures which will give more information adding that if people do not understand and process data, it makes infrastructure transparency useless. He indicated that the engagement of all stakeholders was to make them own the interface so that when it is finally presented, it would not be different from the proposed inputs from the stakeholders. He mentioned that the new interface would be Assembly specific for all the operational districts under the CoST programme. He said it would enable the public monitor their projects as well as compare with other Metro, Municipal or Districts Assemblies and ask relevant questions for prompt service delivery in infrastructure.
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