Ghana’s Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has shared insights on the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act 2019-2023. Speaking at a public forum, Mr. Nkrumah shed light on the challenges and successes the country has faced in the three years since the passage of the landmark legislation.
The Public Forum, held under the theme “Three Years of the Right to Information Implementation – Ghana’s Journey so Far,” on Wednesday, December 23, 2023, provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the progress made and the hurdles encountered in realizing the objectives set by the RTI Act 989, which was passed by Parliament on May 21, 2019.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah highlighted one significant challenge that has impacted the implementation process, the issue of budgeting. He noted that the initial budget of Ghc 105 million required for the full setup of information units across over 600 government offices nationwide by January 2020 was not fully availed.
However, only Ghc 15 million was released, affecting the timely and comprehensive implementation of the act.
“Indeed Ghc 15m was released to start the implementation of the act with a number of information units and the RTI Commission among others and that affected early implementation,” he stated.
“Lessons for the future include the fact that specific sourcing of finance needs to be earmarked for such fiscally demanding legislation to ensure full operation from the start date,” Minister Oppong Nkrumah emphasized.
The RTI Act, enshrined in the 1992 Constitution under Article 21 (1) (f), serves as a guarantor for the public to access information from both public institutions and relevant private agencies.
The legislation aims to make it easier for the public to enjoy the benefits of the right to access information, as provided by the 1992 Constitution.
Despite the positive strides, Mr Oppong Nkrumah acknowledged that the RTI Act, while providing for the right of access to information from public agencies, does have limitations.
Certain classes of information, as dictated by legal tenets, are withheld from the public. This includes classified information on the Presidency, Cabinet, law enforcement and public safety, among others, which may be exempted from public exposure.
Discussions at the Public Forum highlighted the need for ongoing communication and cooperation to address issues and improve the implementation of this important legislation, ensuring that the public’s right to information is fully realised.