Ghanaian Regional Ministers Hail Right to Information Commission

Regional Ministers from Ghana's Ashanti and Bono regions have lauded the establishment of the Right to Information Commission (RTIC) and its regional offices, viewing it as a significant advancement for democracy in the country.

Mr. Joseph Addae Akwaboah, Bono Regional Minister, and Dr. Frank Amoakohene, Ashanti Regional Minister, both emphasized that free and unimpeded access to information is crucial for upholding the rule of law and promoting open governance. They made these remarks during separate meetings with Ms. Genevieve Shirley Lartey, the Executive Secretary of the RTIC, who was touring the commission's offices in their regions.

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Democratic governments serve at the pleasure of the people and which meant that the people must be always involved and carried along by the sharing of information to ensure that they are part of the system.

Dr. Amoakohene highlighted that democratic governments operate at the behest of the people, necessitating citizen involvement through information sharing to ensure they feel part of the governance system. He encouraged the commission to intensify its public awareness campaigns.

Mr. Akwaboah added that while the commission is vital for accountability and transparency, it must be careful not to overstep its mandate and become an "inquisitorial outfit." Ms. Lartey stated her visit was to assess the performance of the commission's staff and offices since she assumed her role a year ago, as part of her monitoring and evaluation duties. The RTIC was established in 2019 under Act 989, with the mandate to promote, protect, monitor, and enforce the right to access information in Ghana.

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irrespective of the vital importance of the commission to ensure accountability and transparency in governance, care must be taken not to abuse the mandate and turn the commission into an inquisitorial outfit.