The Right to Information (RTI) Commission has taken its public engagement to the Savannah Region capital to get the citizens involved in the implementation of the Right to Information Act (Act 989).
The public lecture, organised at Damongo brought together heads of various institutions, media personnel and some members of the general public.
Addressing participants, the Board Chairman of RTIC, Justice K A Offori Atta Rtd said the law was passed and assented by the president on 21st May 2019 and on 2nd January 2022 the law took effect and on 19th January 2022 the governing body was sworn into office.
He said by passing the RTI act 989 2019 Ghana became part of one hundred twenty four (124) countries to pass the RTI law and ranged 43rd out of 136 countries in the world.
He said institutions and agencies have a responsibility to assist in the effective functioning of the RTIC for effective public accountability.
In a public lecture the Executive Secretary of RTIC, Mr Yaw Sarpong Boateng explained into detailed the operations of the commission.
He also informed the representative of the Savannah Regional Committee on informations that can be assessed and those that are exempted under the act.
The Executive Secretary explained among others including information from President, cabinet or Vice President , National Security, Tax personals as informations exempted from this act.
He took the participants through the procedure to apply for informations, the fees involved and time period adding that if an institution did not respond to you after 14 days of application you have the right to report to the commission.
Addressing the media the Executive Secretary said the biggest challenge is beurocracy in information delivery adding that efforts are been made to reduce the current process for easy access to information.
He said they have expanded into Ashanti and Bono which means they are making progress in order to give the public opportunity to assess information at the local level.
He said since the beginning of the commission, they have received more than one hundred and fifty complaints which they have resolved which gives him a firm believe the public have a lot of confidence in the commission.
He concluded by saying that they will continue to do education and urged the public to believe in commission to give them the information they deserve.
Source: yagbonradioonline
