INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO INFORMATION (IDUAI) 2024: A RESOUNDING SUCCESS IN GHANA
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.