Month: October 2024

A delegation from the Philippines Freedom of Information (FoI) Secretariat made a significant working visit to the Right to Information (RTI) Commission of Ghana on 3rd October, 2024. The visit aimed to glean insights on the implementation of Ghana’s Right to Information law, exploring its challenges, opportunities and best practices to inform the drafting of the Philippines’ own RTI law.

The Head of delegation, Ms. Krizia Casey P. Avejar, emphasized the importance of this learning exchange, noting that the FoI Secretariat operates under an Executive Order from the Philippine government, which prioritizes public access to information even before an official RTI law is established. This proactive approach reflects the Philippine government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., Executive Secretary of the RTI Commission of Ghana, praised the Philippine government’s dedication to FoI initiatives despite the absence of a formal law. He remarked that it is rare for a government to demonstrate such commitment before legislation is enacted.

The RTI Commission’s management, including Stephen Owusu Esq., Head of Legal; Kofi Amoah Sarpong, Head of PPBME; Vincent Opoku, Head of Finance; Kate Swanzy, Board Secretary; Francis Wayem, Senior Manager, PPBME; and Elizabeth Segbefia, Manager, Enforcement, Investigation and Compliance (EIC) shared crucial insights into the challenges faced in Ghana, particularly issues related to bureaucratic resistance within certain institutions.

The Executive Secretary stressed on the necessity of establishing an Independent Body once the Philippine RTI law is passed to mitigate potential conflicts with other government agencies. He also detailed the organizational structure of the RTI Commission, highlighting the roles of various departments and the processes for dispute resolution, including the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms.

The visit underscores a collaborative spirit in the pursuit of transparency and the importance of learning from each other’s experiences in governance. As the Philippines moves forward with its RTI law, the insights gained from Ghana’s journey will be invaluable in crafting effective policies that promote access to information for all citizens.

Members of the Philippine’s delegation includes; Ms. Krizia Casey P. Avejar (Head of Delegation) Chief Communications and Capacity Development Division, Freedom of Management Office Information-Program (Presidential Communications Office); Ms. Hennesy D. Ozawa, (Project Development Officer II) – Compliance Monitoring Division, Freedom of Management Office Information-Program (Presidential Communications Office); Ms. Sabrina Anya A. Feliciano (Project Development Officer I) Compliance Monitoring Division, Freedom of Management Office Information-Program (Presidential Communications Office); Ms. Germie Ann Caber (Executive Assistant II), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Operations and Support (Presidential Communications Office) and Ms. Rainnie F. Emano (Administrative Officer I) Records Management Section (Presidential Communications Office)

The International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) 2024 hosted by Ghana has successfully ended yesterday. This momentous event that brought together esteemed individuals and organizations to promote transparency and access to information. The two-day conference, held at the Alisa Hotel, North Ridge, Accra on 1st and 2nd October, 2024 was a collaborative effort between UNESCO and the Government of Ghana with an oversight Planning Committee made up of UNESCO, Ministry of Information, Ghana, the Right to Information Commission of Ghana, other State Agencies and Civil Society Organizations.

This year’s celebration was themed “Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participating in the Public Sector.” The event featured keynote addresses, high-level panel discussions, and parallel sessions that explored various aspects of access to information.

The event on day 1, commenced with an IDUAI handover ceremony led by Hon. Fatimatu Abubakar, Minister of Information of Ghana and H. E. Kelth MacMahon, Deputy High Commissioner of UK to Ghana. A video presentation on the IDUAI preceded the welcoming remarks by Hon. Fatimatu Abubakar and Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information (UNESCO).

Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education of Ghana, on behalf of President H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo delivered the keynote address. A high-level panel discussion followed, focusing on “Advancing Access to Information in Government Institutions and the Role of Civil Society.” Other panel discussions explored “Digital Transformation as an Enabler for Access to Information,” “The Role of Commissioners in Mainstreaming Public’s Right to Know,” which featured the Executive Secretary of the Right to Information Commission of Ghana, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq. and “Empowering Societal Change: Transparency, Access to Information, and Citizen Participation.”

The day two of the event began with a keynote address by Juan Barata, International Expert in Freedom of Expression and Access to Information (Spain), on “Public Interest Override and Mainstreaming of Access to Information.” Panel discussions covered topics such as “Adoption of the Accra Statement,” “Sharing Best Practices from Africa and Small Island Developing States,” “Mainstreaming for Agenda 2030 and Strengthening Media,” and “Mainstreaming Access to Information for Vulnerable Groups.”

These discussions brought together experts from various countries, including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Gabon, Zambia, Spain, Mexico, South Africa among other countries. They shared best practices, challenges and opportunities in promoting access to information, particularly for vulnerable groups such as women, youth.and persons with disabilities.

The conference concluded with closing remarks by Fatimatu Abubakar, Minister of Information of Ghana, and Tawfik Jelassi, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information (UNESCO). The IDUAI 2024 celebration in Ghana successfully promoted access to information, setting the stage for continued collaboration and progress in this vital area.

Namibia, as part of its strategic move to strengthen its newly passed Access to Information Law, the Namibian Ministry of Information and Communication Technology has today, 20th September, 2024 paid a working visit to the Right to Information Commission of Ghana. The purpose of the visit was to learn about the Commission’s best practices and processes in regulating access to information in Ghana.

The Namibian delegation, led by officials from the Ministry and the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), engaged in a comprehensive discussion with the Right to Information Commission led by the Executive Secretary, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq. and other management members namely; Stephen Owusu Esq., Head of Legal, Kate Swanzy, Board Secretary, Mr. Vincent Opoku, Head of Finance and Vivian Tetteh, Head of Tribunal. The focus areas included how the Commission accepts and processes applications, the challenges encountered, and the decision-making process.

The Ghanaian Commission shared its experience in implementing the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), providing the Namibian delegation with valuable insights. The Executive Secretary also presented the Commission’s annual reports for 2021, 2022, and 2023, highlighting the importance of public education and sensitization to ensure better compliance with the law.

The Namibian delegation was advised to prioritize the establishment of their regulatory office and also ensure that the Independence of the regulatory office is not compromised. The Executive Secretary implored the Namibian delegation to consider joining the African Network of Information Commissions (ANIC) and the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) to further enhance their knowledge and experience.

The Commission assured the Namibian delegation of its readiness to share experiences and other training practices between the Commission and the regulatory office when finally established by the Namibian government.

This collaborative effort between the Namibian government and the Right to Information Commission of Ghana is very essential since it fosters international cooperation in the field of access to information and will aid Namibia to set properly its regulatory office with a believe that as Namibia sets up its own Information Commission, the lessons learned from Ghana’s experience will undoubtedly contribute to the successful implementation of their new Access to Information Law.

The Namibian delegation comprised of Mr. Shasimana Uugulu – Deputy Director: Production, Mr. Fillemon Johannes – Deputy Director: ICT Development, Ms. Ruusa Ntirde – CRAN, Mr. Reagan Malumo – Deputy Director: Audio Visual and Ms. Jacky Hindjou -1st Secretary to the Namibian High Commissioner to Ghana.