By: Hannah Dadzie
Ghana has marked its maiden International Day of Universal Access to Information after the passage of the Right to Information Act, with a call on stakeholders to sensitize the public to understand the Act for informed decisions.
The day which is celebrated globally was spearheaded by the Right to Information Commission and supported by UNESCO.
The Commission said it has planned to roll out massive sensitization programmes, and also visit some selected schools to engage students on the Act.
Speaking at the ceremony in Accra, Executive Secretary of the Right to Information Commission, Yaw Boateng Sarpong, appealed for adequate resources to facilitate its mandate to ensure transparency and accountability in governance.
To ensure that access to information becomes top notch in all countries, the International Day for Universal Access to Information was proclaimed on October 15, 2019 at the 74th UN General Assembly to be held every September 28.
In Ghana, the day was observed as part of a week-long Right to Information week celebration by the RTI Commission to promote access to information.
It is expected that the National Commission for Civic Education, NCCE, the media, CSO’s and other stakeholders educate the public to understand the RTI Act.
The Executive Secretary of the Right to Information Commission, Yaw Sarpong Boateng, said since the passage of the RTI Act, the Commission has received 16 applications to be reviewed for further action.
He made an appeal to the public to send more input.
“The coming into force of the law and the attendant inauguration of the RTI to information Commission has opened the door of access to information, that hitherto remained inaccessible to many Ghanaians, the Commission has received some 16 applications for review from individuals who have applied for information from various public institutions, The task assigned to the Commission by ACT 189 is enormous, however the Commission is very much poised” Mr. Sarpong Boateng said.
Chairman of the National Media Commission, Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo said availability of information can make a difference in every individual citing the miscommunication about the Takoradi pregnant woman’s incident, and underscored the relevance to clarify information before publication.
“Many Ghanaians do not appreciate the essence to the right to Information, very genuine to the question of absence to information, a typical example was the incident from Takoradi, of the woman, was the woman pregnant, was she kidnapped, but as the information began to emerge people are beginning to question why did the woman did what she did. Sometimes we are compelled to make certain comments that we live to regret when the full details of the information have been made available to us, and that is why the Right to Information Act must be respected. “Mr. Ayeboafo stated.
The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong said the RTI Act is a requisite for good governance and sustainable development.
“The implementation of the RTI Act has taken off smooth despite difficulties in general and difficulties that the COVID-19 brought to our way of life, we continue with efforts to sustain the progress and to protect the right to Information as provided by ACT 989. The Government of Ghana acknowledges the support of all the stakeholders and commits to ensure the RTI is fully implemented.” Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Charles Abani commended the RTI Commission for the massive work within the short period of existence and pledged his Organization’s support to fully operationalize the Act.
