Cape Verde Launches New National Transparency Unit
Cape Verdean Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho has announced the establishment of a new national unit dedicated to government transparency, monitoring, and evaluation. The initiative, revealed during a parliamentary debate on governance on Monday, aims to align the nation with global best practices in public accountability.
A Three-Month Countdown to Oversight
Prime Minister Carvalho stated that the new entity is currently in the preparation phase and is expected to be fully operational within three months. The unit will serve as a central hub for tracking the executive branch\’s performance and ensuring integrity in public administration.
“A framework will be developed where government goals and results will be available at all times for monitoring and tracking the level of implementation,” Carvalho explained. In addition to internal monitoring, the Prime Minister announced the creation of a formal “complaint and reporting mechanism” designed to give citizens a direct voice when interacting with state agencies.
Political Friction Over Accountability
The announcement met with immediate skepticism from the opposition. The Movement for Democracy (MpD), which moved to the opposition benches following the elections in May, questioned the effectiveness of the new measures. MP and deputy floor leader Celso Ribeiro argued that internal units are no substitute for legislative oversight.
“The Prime Minister can create whatever units he wants, but it is to parliament that he must be accountable,” Ribeiro said, drawing unfavorable comparisons to Carvalho’s previous administrative initiatives during his tenure as Mayor of Praia.
Audits Underway Across Ministries
Defending the government\’s agenda, Carla Lima, parliamentary leader of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), emphasized that the administration is already taking steps to root out inefficiency. She confirmed that comprehensive audits are currently underway across all government ministries.
“The responsibility of governing also includes clarifying what was found and correcting whatever is necessary,” Lima said.
This push for transparency follows a significant shift in Cape Verde’s political landscape. The PAICV secured an absolute majority in the May 17 elections, ending a decade of MpD rule. The current 72-seat parliament consists of 37 PAICV deputies, 33 from the MpD, and two from the Independent and Democratic Cape Verdean Union (UCID).
Image: Pexels – Lajos Kristóf Kántor
