Mo Ibrahim Quotes

In a democracy, citizens pass judgment on their government, and if they are kept in the dark about what their government is doing, they cannot be in a position to make well-grounded decisions.

I will run an open government that speaks with honesty, seeks opinion, listens to its citizens.

Advocacy groups and voters are not wrong to push candidates to declare their position clearly on policy issues. That is good citizenship. Hard questions should be asked of every candidate, every politician. And those public servants should be prepared to answer, but in their own words.

In the 21st century, the countries that thrive will be the ones where citizens know their voices will be heard because the institutions are transparent.

Using cold facts and figures, leaders throughout the West must become more transparent with their citizens in explaining their decisions and their choices in global markets.

No one in government should ever think that the citizens they work for can't or won't scrutinize their actions.

Obama has already rejected the bright sunlight of public knowledge, which is democracy's great disinfectant and cure.

We must remember that democracy works when given time to develop, mature and deliver. People must have access to information for informed debate. Government institutions must treat citizens fairly, and with dignity, while responding to their needs.

We as citizens should hold our government accountable for word and deed.

Self government cannot work if the people do not know what their rulers are doing and why.

… a right-minded and true-hearted statesman who has had as much sovereign power placed in his hands as you have placed in mine should regard himself as the servant of the Senate; and often of the people as a whole; and sometimes of private citizens, too.

The overarching purpose of access to information legislation … is to facilitate democracy. It does so in two related ways. It helps to ensure first, that citizens have the information required to participate meaningfully in the democratic process, and secondly, that politicians and bureaucrats remain accountable to the citizenry.

Citizens need to know how their countries are being run so that they can hold governments and big business to account.

As citizens, we have to co-create good governance, we cannot outsource it and hope to be passively happy consumers. Like everything worth its while, good governance must be earned.

And I would like to have a good, productive relationship with members of the City Council, but I'm not going to allow them to undermine what the people's choice was and what the people want, which is change.

Where civil society thrives, governments operate with more transparency and accountability. This creates a tangible impact on the lives of everyday citizens.

We have to reform the entire political process. It's got to start with leadership by example.

The disconnect between what people think and what the political leaders are actually doing is something that we really need to start raising.

Good governance depends on ability to take responsibility by both administration as well as people.

After Barack Obama won the 2008 presidential election, I was heartened to see him issue an Open Government Initiative on his first full day in office.

Dishonesty in government is the business of every citizen. It is not enough to do your own job. There's no particular virtue in that. Democracy isn't a gift. It's a responsibility.

It is scrutiny by the general public that keeps the powerful honest.

Democracy is not just voting for your leaders; it's really premised upon ordinary citizens understanding the issues.

I'm one who demands a lot from people. I'm not afraid to look at alternative ways in city government. That's what I've done in my two years and will continue to do in the next four.

The Transparency Bill is something we should all support - practical steps in promoting an open and accountable democracy.