By Rachel Kakraba
The Right to Information Commission (RTI), is set to open two new regional offices in the Ashanti and Bono regions. The facilities will ensure services of the commission are brought closer to Ghanaians and also empower the public to seek information when the need arises.
Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah disclosed this at the launch of a five-year strategic plan for the Commission in Accra. He said so far, more than a thousand requests for information have been filed at various public institutions this year. He said there are plans to recruit more personnel to extend services to other public service infrastructure across Ghana.
The Right to Information Commission is set up under Section 40 of the Right to Information Act 2019, to see to the implementation of the Right to Information Act. Christened the “Pathway to Open and Transparent Governance,” the five year strategic plan, which spans 2023 to 2027, directs strategies and activities of the commission in carrying out its mandate under the Act.
The strategic plan will, among other things, deepen transparency and public accountability by duty bearers, make Ghana a model implementing country of the Right to Information Law in the West African Sub-Region and ensure compliance of the RTI law by all public and relevant private institutions, among others.
Launching the Plan, Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah applauded the Commission for its giant strides over the last three years.
He said public education will be stepped up on the law for many Ghanaians to be abreast of its existence. He said the commission will soon launch an online records management system that will allow the public to apply for information online and receive it online.
The Executive Secretary of the RTI, Yaw Boateng Sarpong, commended Ghanaians for responding well to the RTI law. He said the Strategic Plan is a well-thought-out plan to enable the commission to achieve the targets set for the next five years. He called for support in cash, kind, and technical services to enable the Commission to achieve its objectives.
GJA president Albert Dwumfour said the Right To Information Commission is one of the greatest things that has happened to Ghana’s democracy, for which reason it must be preserved. He said the GJA will do everything within its constitutional powers to support the survival, growth, and expansion of the RTI Commission to broaden access to information in Ghana.