By: Hannah Dadzie
Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has tasked the Right to Information Commission not to shield any public institution and individuals that fall foul of the Right to Information Act.
Speaking at the official launch of the Commission’s Office, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah asked the Commission to discharge its duty diligently and efficiently to safeguard the integrity of the Right to Information Act.
“Do not hesitate to call out and even sanction public institutions that fall foul to the RTI ACT, you have been identified as a person of truth and integrity and persons who are familiar with the considerations of the law and I’m confident that you will discharge your duties efficiently and effectively ” he indicated.
He said the significant milestone in implementation and the office space demonstrates the government’s commitment to transparency and accountable governance and the fight against corruption.
The Right to Information Commission established under section 40 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) is to promote, monitor, protect and enforce the right to information in the country.
The new office would serve as the operating headquarters of the Commission. It would facilitate the right of access to information, promote and sustain awareness of the citizenry and the obligations of institutions to disclose information.
The Commission intends to spread its tentacles to all the regions and districts and has trained five hundred and thirty-nine officers across the country to assist in the dissemination of information.
Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah charged the Commission to work efficiently to ensure transparency, accountability in governance of the country.
The opening of this Head Office is a significant milestone in the implementation road map.
“May I take the advantage to admonish you to step up the public education requirements as imposed on you by law, so that more and more people will know the function of the RTI Act and how to access it” Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said.
Executive Secretary of the Right to Information Commission, Yaw Sarpong Boateng assured Ghanaians that the Commission would always be on course, fair and independent in exercising its mandate.
“What we are actually here for is to promote and protect the Right to Information. When people have challenges from applications in public institutions, that is when they come to the Right to information Commission. Our assurance is that, we will be fair and independent in the exercise of our function, that one we have given Ghanaians that assurance, so they should utilize the law and also expect us to act accordingly” Mr. Boateng Sarpong said.
As part of the launch there was a media forum which provided the opportunity for Journalists to interact with stakeholders on how to strengthen the right of access to information.
Panelists at the forum asked the media to be abreast of the Act, to help educate the public to hold leaders accountable and eliminate secrecy with the governance system.
