RTI fostering transparency in the job of public officers

The 2024 International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) has ended with a call for stakeholders to remain steadfast in efforts promoting transparency, accountability and inclusive governance through access to information.

Making the call on Wednesday in Accra, the Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, highlighted the importance of information to democracy and the bridge between governments and the governed.

“Together, we are building a future where access to information serves as the foundation for a more inclusive, resilient and empowered society,” she stated.

Earlier in the event, she noted that since the enactment and implementation of Ghana’s Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), significant progress had been made to improve transparency, and ensure citizens’ right to request and receive information from public offices.

“Through the efforts of the Information Services Department (ISD) and the Right to Information Commission, we have witnessed a growing awareness of the importance of access to information, with various public institutions implementing robust frameworks to comply with the law,” she added.

The Minister, however, acknowledged that more work was needed to make access to information a routine part of governance.

“Our work is far from done. We must ensure that government agencies actively publish key documents and records, fostering a culture of openness beyond mere compliance. The goal is not just to provide information upon request but to proactively share knowledge that can inform public discourse and foster meaningful participation,” she stated.

To achieve this, she said, the government had embarked on several initiatives aimed at making information more accessible to citizens and ensuring that public participation becomes a cornerstone of policy-making.

Remarkable strides

For his part, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Mr Tawfik Jelassi, noted that Africa had made remarkable strides in adopting and implementing Access to Information (ATI) laws since 2010.

He said, “In Ghana, the Right to Information Act was adopted in 2019. It was developed with input from all major stakeholders, including journalists, civil society organisations and academia. This collaborative approach has greatly benefited society as a whole.”

According to him, the law has been instrumental in uncovering misconduct, with journalists and civil society organisations relying on it to fulfil their information requests.

“Ghana’s experience exemplifies how quality legislation can be created while fostering a sense of collective ownership,” he added.