The Right to Information Commission (RTIC) brought the year 2024 to a close in grand style with a festive 9 Lessons and Carols ceremony, held on Friday, 20th December 2024.
The event this year took a special turn, marked by an inspiring sermon delivered by the Executive Secretary, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq.
The Executive Secretary’s sermon centered “Humility and Gratitude”, emphasizing the importance of these values in our personal and professional lives. His words resonated deeply with the audience, comprising Board Members, Management and staff of the Commission.
The ceremony was a beautiful blend of scripture readings, carols and prayers, all of which contributed to a warm and convivial atmosphere.
The highlight of the evening was the after-party, which saw the Board Members, Management and staff come together to celebrate the holiday season. The atmosphere was filled with laughter, music and camaraderie, as colleagues and friends mingled and exchanged warm wishes coupled with secret Santa.
In the remarks of the Executive Secretary, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., he expressed his gratitude to the staff and management for their hard work and dedication throughout the year. He also wished everyone a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
The 9 Lessons and Carols ceremony was a fitting conclusion to the year’s activities at the RTIC. It served as a reminder of the importance of humility, gratitude, teamwork and values that are at the heart of the Commission’s work.
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.
A delegation from the Open Government Partnership (OGP) paid a working visit to the Right to Information Commission (RTIC) on June 20th, 2024, to discuss the implementation of the 5th National Action Programme (NAP5) and Ghana’s potential leadership role in OGP activities in Africa.
The visit aimed to enhance access to information through the right to information law and explore ways for Ghana to take a leading role in OGP activities in Africa. The delegation expressed interest in the passage of the Commission’s Regulations for the Legislative Instrument (LI), a key activity under NAP5, and proposed new frameworks for engagement to promote OGP activities beyond the Executive arm of government.
The Executive Secretary of RTIC, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., updated the delegation on the progress made towards preparing the Regulations for the LI and assured them of the Commission’s commitment to ensuring its passage. He also suggested routing the request for Ghana to take a leading role in OGP activities through the African Network of Information Commissioners (ANIC) and extended an invitation to the OGP to participate in the upcoming International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) commemoration in Ghana.
The visit marked an important step in strengthening the collaboration between OGP and RTIC, with implications for enhancing good Governance, Transparency, Accountability, mitigating corrupt practices and demonstrates the commitment of both organizations to ensuring the successful implementation of NAP5 and promoting access to information in Ghana and Africa.
The delegation led by Thelma Ohene Asiamah, Director at the Public Sector Reform Secretariat and local representative of OGP, included Tarik Nesh-Nash, Coordinator for Africa and the Middle East for OGP, Mukelani Dimba, Information Regulator from South Africa, and Ato Bessa-Simon, Programme Officer at the Public Sector Reforms Secretariat, was received by the Executive Secretary and other management members of the Commission.
Day 2 of the 15th International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) commenced with an address by Blanca Lilia Ibarra Cadena, Commissioner for National Institute of Transparency, Access to Information and Personal Data Protection (INAI) of Mexico, recapping Day 1 and outlining expectations for Day 2. The day proceeded with working groups focused on enhancing access to information worldwide.
The ICIC working groups tackled various topics, including the Transparency by Design Working Group, presented by Warren Seddon, Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), Freedom of Information (FOI) Director and Cibelle Brasil, Access to Information Director, Director of Brazil, which discussed reporting on transparency. The Training Working Group, led by Blanca Lilia Ibarra Cadena, presented on digital training platforms. The Law Cases Working Group, led by Adrián Alcalá Méndez, delved into relevant cases, while the Gender and People in Vulnerable Situations Working Group, led by María Gracia Andía, presented on access to information for vulnerable groups.
A panel discussion on the future of the ICIC conference was moderated by Toby Mendel, featuring panelists were Blanca Lilia Ibarra Cadena, INAI Chairperson, Andrew Ecclestone – Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington Daren Fitzhenry – Information Commissioner’s Office, UK and Pansy Tlakula – South Africa Information Regulator and African Network of Information Commissions chairperson.
They discussed the conference’s impact and future directions. The host nation for the 16th ICIC conference in 2025 was announced as Germany.
The Right to Information Commission of Ghana is actively participating in the conference, engaging with international experts and sharing experiences in promoting transparency and accountability. The Commission’s participation demonstrates its commitment to upholding the right to information and promoting open governance in Ghana.
The Right to Information (RTI) Commission of Ghana is participating in the 15th International Conference of Information Commissioners in Albania from 3rd June, 2024 to 5th June, 2024. The conference brings together Information Commissioners from around the world to share best practices and discuss challenges in promoting access to information and transparency.
The Ghanaian delegation, led by the Board Chairman of the Commission, Justice (Rtd) K.A. Ofori Atta, includes Deputy Chairperson, Mrs. Elizabeth Asare, Executive Secretary, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., and General Manager for Tribunal, Ms. Vivian Tetteh. On the first day of the conference, participants heard opening speeches from Commissioner Besnik Dervishi, Information and Data Protection Commissioner (IDP), the National Supervisory Authority of the Republic of Albania and ICIC Host Authority 2024 and Adrian Alcalá Méndez, on behalf of National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information and Personal Data Protection’s (INAI’s) Chairperson and ICIC chairperson, as well as a welcome address from Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama.
Keynote speakers were Giuseppe Busia, President of the National Anti-Corruption Authority, Italy and Darian Pavli, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights who gave his speech virtually. The panel discussions which took place after the keynote addresses discussed topics such as Empowering Vulnerable Groups through Access to Information and The Role of Civil Society and the Media in promoting Access to Information and Transparency. Parallel sessions focused on Proactive transparency through digital tools and open data initiatives and Striking a balance between Access To Information (ATI) and data protection rights in the digital realm. A UNESCO panel discussed “Mid-way through the implementation of the 2030 Agenda: Monitoring and Reporting on SDG 16.10.2”, a goal related to ensuring public access to information.
The conference provides a valuable opportunity for the Right to Information Commission of Ghana to learn from international experiences and share its own best practices in promoting transparency and accountability in Ghana.
In a significant achievement for Ghana and a testament to the country’s commitment to transparency and accountability, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., the Executive Secretary and a Member of the Governing Board of the Right to Information Commission of Ghana, has been elected as the Vice Chairperson of the African Network of Information Commissions (ANIC).
The election took place on the 24th of May 2024 during the General Assembly meeting of ANIC held in Johannesburg, South Africa. This election highlights Yaw Sarpong Boateng’s expertise in the field of information governance and underscores Ghana’s leadership in promoting access to information and upholding the right to information.
ANIC plays a crucial role in advancing the implementation of access to information laws across the African continent. As Vice Chairperson, Yaw Sarpong Boateng will be at the forefront of shaping policies, fostering collaboration among member countries, and advocating for greater transparency in governance.
Under his leadership as the Executive Secretary, the RTI Commission of Ghana has been instrumental in ensuring that citizens have access to public information, holding public institutions accountable, and strengthening democratic principles in the country.
Yaw Sarpong Boateng’s election as Vice Chairperson of ANIC is not only a recognition of his individual capabilities but also a reflection of Ghana’s dedication to promoting good governance and transparency at both the national and continental levels. His wealth of experience and commitment to the principles of openness and accountability will undoubtedly contribute to the work of ANIC in advancing access to information rights in Africa.
Yaw Sarpong Boateng’s election as Vice Chairperson of ANIC is a proud moment for Ghana and a significant milestone in the promotion of access to information across the African continent. His leadership will undoubtedly inspire others to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability, paving the way for a more open and democratic society in Africa.
The Right to Information (RTI) Commission of Ghana paid a working visit to the Australian High Commission, Ghana on May 8th, 2024. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways by which the two institutions could work together to promote the effective implementation of Ghana’s RTI Act.
The delegation from the RTI Commission was led by Mr. Kofi Sarpong, the General Manager for Policy Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring and Evaluation. He provided an overview of the RTI Act, 2019 (Act 989) and the Commission’s efforts to sensitize citizens about the law.
The delegation was received by Penny Dennis, the Deputy High Commissioner, and Benito Woeko, the Political and Research Officer at the High Commission. Ms. Dennis commended the Commission’s massive work to ensure the law is properly utilized by the people, particularly the inclusion of some private organizations under the draft legislative instrument that is going to be passed into law.
Mr. Sarpong presented copies of the RTI Commission’s 5-year strategic plan and 2022 annual report to the High Commission’s to provide them with detailed information on the activities the RTI Commission has undertaken, and what it intends to do over the next five years. While noting that the High Commission is primarily focused on capacity building, Ms. Dennis expressed interest in engaging the RTI Commission through the Australian Public Service Commission’s online training programs and other capacity building opportunities for the staff of the RTI Commission.
The meeting concluded with the Australian High Commission assuring the RTI Commission of its support whenever possible, underscoring the importance of the RTI law and its effective implementation in Ghana.
The Executive Secretary of the Right to Information Commission (RTIC), Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq. on 23rd April, 2024 paid a working visit to the Ashanti Regional Minister to initiate a partnership aimed at advancing the implementation of the Right to Information law (ACT 989).
Hon. Simon Osei Mensah, along with the Coordinating Director, Emelia Botchwey, warmly welcomed the RTIC team and expressed their appreciation for recognizing the potential impact of this collaborative effort. The meeting discussed strategies to reinforce the Right to Information law, which guarantees citizens access to public information and enhances transparency and accountability in governance.
The partnership between the RTIC and the Ashanti Regional Minister’s office holds significant promise for promoting good governance and empowering citizens to exercise their right to access information. With both institutions working in unison, this collaboration aims to expedite the implementation of the Right to Information law across the region.
Present at the meeting were; Mr. Kofi Sarpong, Stephen Owusu Esq., Mr. Vincent Bediako Appau, and Ms. Akosua Serwah Sarpong of RTIC. Additionally, Gloria Temmah Gambrah, the Special Assistant for the Minister, participated in the discussions.
