Author: RTI IT

The management of the Right to Information Commission has commenced a 3 day management retreat to discuss and finalize the Strategic short and long term vision for the Commission.

Opening the program on Wednesday the 29th of March 2023, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., noted that it was imperative for the Commission’s management to meet regularly to keep themselves up to date on the activities of the Commission.

He stressed that such retreats afford leadership the opportunity to take a retrospective look at the previous year’s performance, put mechanisms in place to address challenges that the Commission faced and plan for the future

The Executive Secretary in his remarks enumerated some priority issues that needed to be addressed. These include:
•Departmental Work plan and achievements so far

•Presentation and Discussion on Employee Engagement Survey Responses

• Presentation of short and long term Strategic Vision/Goals of each Department

•Strategic Plan of the Commission II

• Any other related matters

On the 2nd day of this all important retreat, management was joined by the Senior Managers for effective discussions on the work plans of their various departments.

Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., implored management and senior managers after the discussions and presentations to ensure that they effectively communicate the collective and agreed upon targets to their various departments and units. This is to ensure all staff would work together towards the common goal for the growth of the Commission

The Executive Secretary thanked management and senior managers for their immense support over the years that has enhanced the work of the Commission and called on members of management to continue putting in their best for the Commission.

The retreat is expected to continue and end on the 31st of March, 2023.

The Minister of Information and Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on 10th May, 2023 paid a working visit to the Right to Information Commission ( “The Commission”) to ascertain thus far, the progress of the Commission in the implementation of the Right to Information law, 2019 (Act 989)

The Commission, led by its Board Chairman, Justice (Rtd) K. A. Ofori-Atta and other members of the board including the Executive Secretary of the Commission, welcomed the Minister. The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq. briefed the Minister on the progress made by the Commission since its establishment.

Emphasising on the progress of the Commission, the Executive Secretary outlined the following:
The recruitment of staff for the Commission. The Commission has so far sensitized Ten (10) out of the Sixteen (16) regions in the country as well as some Public Institutions and relevant Private Bodies. The Commission plans of opening Regional offices for the Bono and Ashanti Regions which is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2023. The Commission has participated in International Conference of Information Commissioners, the Executive Secretary Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq. being elected as an Executive Member of the African Network of Information Commissions. The various determinations of the Commission and administrative penalties imposed on institutions that are not in compliance with Act 989 and the Commission’s orders among others.

Mr. Yaw Sarpong Boateng indicated that the Commission, in its quest to be flexible and not make things too complex, has employed the use Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to settle some cases that has come before it.

Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., further indicated that the Attorney General’s Department issued a fiat for the Commission to have prosecutorial powers to enable it prosecute offences under Act 989. To this end, the Commission in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Department trained some staff to undertake the role as prosecutors.

The Minister was enthused with the work of the Commission and commended the governing board and management of the Commission for such an impressive output.
The Minister was accompanied by Dr. Nafisa Mahama, Head of Access To Information(ATI) Division and other staff of the Information Ministry.

On 23rd February, 2023, the Executive Secretary of the Right to Information Commission, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., attended a One Day Seminar organised by the Department of Communication Studies (University of Ghana), as the quest speaker on a topic: “Journalism and the Right to Information Act: The Journey so Far.”

Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., gave a brief background of the Right to Information(RTI) law and outlined some of the successes the Commission has achieved and the challenges it is facing in the implementation of the law.

He noted that even though the Commission’s resources are very limited, it has not detered it in it’s engagement with the general public as part of it’s promotional activities.

The Executive Secretary indicated that, in 2020, only 50 public institutions filed their reports. However, due to the mass education on the law by the Right to Information Commission, the institutions increased from 50 to 289 in 2021 and it is expected to further increase in 2022 after the deadline of the submission of annual reports. He further noted that the Commission has since January 2023 intensified its monitoring and enforcing efforts to make sure institutions comply with the law.

The Seminar was both virtual and in person and was well patronised.

Other Speakers were Mr. Kwaku Krobea Asante (Programmes Manager for Media Foundation for West Africa), Mr. Zakaria Tanko Musah (Lawyer and a Lecturer) and was moderated by Dr. Theodora Dame Adjin-Tettey.

PRESS RELEASE

26th January, 2023

Pursuant to Section 77 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), the Commission, hereby requests all public institutions to submit a written report on the activities of public institutions under Act 989 to the Commission on or before the 1st of March 2023 or suffer penalties thereof.

Persuant to Section 75 (1) of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), the Right to Information Commission hereby notify the general public that, Parliament has approved the fees and charges related to the cost associated with access to information.

The fees and charges approved by Parliament can be found in the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022, (Act 1080).

Below is the details of the approved fees to cover the cost associated with application for, or access to information.

The Right to Information Commission of the Republic of Ghana has climaxed its RTI week celebration 2022 with a public lecture on 28th September, 2022 at Alisa Hotel, North Ridge, Accra.

On the 8th September, 2022, the Right to Information Commission launched its RTI week celebration for the year 2022 and outlined activities that the Commission sought to undertake as part of its Right to Information week celebration climaxing it with a public lecture and that coincides with the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) which is set aside by the United Nations to celebrate Access to Information across the globe.

This year’s IDUAI celebration is themed: “Artificial Intelligence, E-Governance and Access to Information”. This is aimed at encouraging institutions and individuals to appreciate the use of technology to enhance easy access to information all in a bid to push for greater participation of the public in our governance system.

The Chairman for the Right to Information Commission, Justice K. A. Ofori-Atta in his opening remarks implored participants to make good use of technology despite the challenges one may face in adopting in to the technological world. He reiterated that IDUAI offers a befitting platform to join hands with the rest of the world, under auspices of the United Nations Organisation, to commemorate the right of access to information and admitted that, the theme for the celebration is very apt since it align the Commission’s thinking with the current trends of the technological era.

Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., who is the Executive Secretary of the Commission admonished that, the theme: ” Artificial Intelligence, E-Governance and Access to Information ” offers an opportunity for stakeholders of right to information to focus deliberations on dominant technological trend that affects every facet of life and thus, the Commission relied on the theme for its RTI week celebration for 2022.

Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., implored that Artificial Intelligence should be incorporated into school curricula to equip future generation since estimates suggest that, by 2065, 65% of children in primary school will work in positions that have not yet been created. He further indicated that, persons with disability are mostly disadvantaged. However, with the use of artificial intelligence, they stand to benefit greatly in the governance process.

The Executive Secretary concluded by saying AI is able to predict loopholes and also makes it easier to reduce errors and so, it is the mandate of public institutions to develop the necessary tools to assist the nation in e-governance.

The Deputy Minister for Attorney General and Justice, Hon. Diana Asonaba Dapaah, Mr. Charles Abani, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana and Mr. Abdourahamane Diallo (UNESCO Ghana Representative) commended the RTI Commission for their great work even with limited resources. They equally pledged their support to the Commission in all they do.

Dr. Nafisa Mahama who represented the Minister of Information, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah emphasised that the Ministry of Information recognises the support of all stakeholders in making sure that the implementation of the RTI law is smooth in Ghana.

On Monday, 26th September, 2022, the Right to Information Commission as part of its 2022 RTI week celebration hosted its stakeholders at office of the Commission situated at No.4 Osu Badu Link, Airport West Residential in Accra.

The purpose of hosting the stakeholders was to engage them on the “Implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), the Challenges so far since the passage of the Right to Information law in 2019, Solutions to the challenges, Achievements of the Commission since the operationalisation of the RTI law, and the Way Forward.”

The chairman of the Commission, Justice K. A. Ofori-Atta in his welcoming address expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their numerous support in making sure the RTI law is being implemented smoothly and assured stakeholders to as well use the forum to spilt out whatever challenges they have encountered as part of exercising their right of access to information as well as some success stories worthy of sharing about the implementation of the RTI law.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., on behalf of the Commission spelt out some of the achievements the Commission has chalked so far such as being able to sensitise most of the regions in Ghana on a zonal basis, the Commission embarking on institutional sensitisations, educating the public through radio and TV programmes, stakeholders engagements, RTI week celebration to create awareness among others. Mr. Boateng reiterated that the challenges of the Commission are numerous but the most paramount is funding. He said funding has been a constraints on the implementation processes.

As part of Monitoring, Enforcement and Compliance, the Executive Secretary indicated that the Commission has published Guidelines for the preparation of Information Manual and has distributed them also to the various institutions. He emphased that, to deepen the implementation of Act 989, the Commission is working fervently to put before Parliament a draft Legislative Instrument (L.I) for the further operationalisation of Act 989 among others.

Speaking to the applications received by the Commission in 2021, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., said the Commission received 31 applications for review from institutions and individuals. Out of the 31, the Commission has made 20 determinations, 7 he said has been settled and 4 have been withdrawn by the applicants.

Going forward, the Executive Secretary said the Commission will intensify its publicity, work towards the passing of its L. I among others.

There was a panel discussion to discuss the implementation of the RTI law and its related matters which featured the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., Mr. David Oppon-Kusi, Board Member of the Commission, Dr. Nafisa Mahama (Access to Information Division), Patricia Adusei Poku (Data Protection Agency), Gloria Afia Ahiadze (Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association) and Abigail Larbi (Media Foundation for West Africa)

On Saturday, 17th September, 2022, the Right to Information Commission as part of its RTI week celebration for 2022 embarked on a health walk through the principal streets of Accra with placards educating the public on the right to information law. This was climaxed with health screening exercise and sports activities at the Odadeɛ Alumni center in Accra.

The health walk was held as part of the promotional activities the Commission is using to create awareness of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) and the RTI week celebration for 2022 which ends on 28th September, 2022 with a public lecture at Alisa Hotel.

Hundreds of Ghanaians including the Board chairman of RTIC and members of the RTI Commission, management and staff of the RTI Commission, staff of the Information Services Department (ISD), staff of the Information Ministry of Ghana,VRA ladies and well-versed Trainer Bea The Bully, among others were present.

The Executive Secretary of the RTI Commission, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., speaking to the media indicated that, aside long life, good health is what will make every individual achieve his or her dreams. He said that “With good health, one can work as many hours as he desires to make wealth and also put food on their tables, one of the tools to acquire good health is by exercising which made the Commission include a health walk exercise as part of its activities to mark the 2022 RTI week celebration.”
The Executive Secretary used the opportunity to thank the sponsors who through their benevolence made the health walk and health screening successful.

A special thanks to all our sponsors.

On 8th September, 2022, The Right to Information Commission launched its Right to Information Week Celebration for the year 2022.

The Executive Secretary, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., in his address to the press indicated that the Board of the Right to Information Commission in 2021 instituted an annual RTI Week celebration decked with noteworthy activities.

In view of this, the Commission will mark its 2nd RTI Week with the following activities;

The 2022 RTI week celebration began with a Press Conference on 8th September, 2022 at the Commission’s office at Airport West Residential Area, Accra.

This will be followed by a Health Walk on Saturday, 17th September, through the principal streets of Accra and will be climaxed with Medical Screening exercise at the Odadeɛ Alumni and Mentorship Centre, Madina, Accra.
On 25th September, 2022 there will be a “What Do You Know” Quiz in the GTV Studios, Ring Road Central, Kanda, Accra.

On Monday, September 26, the Commission will hold a Stakeholder Conference at the Commission’s office, No.4 Osu Badu Link, Airport West Residential Area, Accra.

On Wednesday, 28th September, 2022 ,the Commission will conclude its week celebrations with a Public Forum at Alisa Hotel, North Ridge in Accra. This coincides with the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), which is each year set aside by the United Nations to celebrate Access to Information across the globe.

The theme for this year’s IDUAI celebration is “Artificial Intelligence, E-Governance, and Access to Information” which is aimed at encouraging institutions and individuals to appreciate the use of technology to enhance easy access to information all in a bid to push for greater participation of the public in our governance system.

The Chairman of the Commission, Justice K.A Ofori Atta launching the Right to Information Week celebration for 2022, admonished the media to aid in the education and promotion of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) in order for the general public to be carried along in the smooth implementation of the Act.

Members of the Governing Board of the Commission were present at the press conference.

The Right to Information Commission (The Commission) as part of its mandate, has intensified the education on Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) across the various government institutions in the country.

In view if this, the Commission, yesterday, 1st June, 2022 sensitised the Energy Commission to know their rights and obligations under Act 989.

The sensitisation, which was both virtual and in-person, was done for both management and staff. The resource person and Head of Legal, Regulatory, Governance and Research Department, who led the RTI Commission for the sensitisation, Stephen Owusu Esq., gave the general overview of Act 989 and spoke on responsibilities of public institutions under Act 989, exemptions to the right to information, among others.

Management of the Energy Commission commended the RTI Commission for the great work it is doing to make sure citizens and even non-citizens alike are abreast of provisions of Act 989.