The implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Bill will cost government about ¢750 million over the next five years.
A research conducted by Parliament says the cost is in reference to establishing and operating an office for the RTI Commission in the next five years.
According to the research, the overall expenditure for establishing the Right to Information Commission and its administrative cost is the total addition of all components of cost.
The research added, however, that if any of the underlying assumptions should change, the estimated cost will also be adjusted.
Chairman of Parliament’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Ben Abdallah Bandah, explained that people may have to, in some instances, pay for the information they are seeking, especially when it comes to the reproduction of information.
He said the charges will be determined by the Fees and Charges Act and will be based on the volume of information that an applicant requests for.
Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said government is committed to passing the Bill into law and is willing to explore ways in raising the needed resources to meet the Constitutional obligation.
He disclosed that government is going through all the processes of ensuring that the necessary resourcing and staffing are put in place before the Bill is passed.
