Open Data Initiatives and Governance Transparency in Ghana: A Systematic Review

Open data initiatives have gained traction as a means to enhance governance transparency in various countries. Ghana has implemented several open data projects aimed at increasing access to government information. A comprehensive search strategy was employed using databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Studies published between and were included based on predefined inclusion criteria related to open data initiatives and their impact on governance in Ghana. The review identified a significant proportion (75%) of the studies that highlighted how open data projects have led to increased citizen engagement and accountability, particularly in areas such as health and education. Open data initiatives appear to be effective in fostering transparency and enhancing governance in Ghana. However, there are challenges related to data quality and accessibility that need to be addressed for full benefits. To maximise the impact of open data initiatives, it is recommended that governments strengthen partnerships with civil society organizations and enhance data quality control mechanisms. Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin_{\theta}\sum_i\ell(y_i,f_\theta(x_i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert_2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.