RTI Commission reaffirms commitment to transparency, accountability
THE Right to Information (RTI) Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening transparency and accountability in public institutions, assuring citizens of greater access to information as guaranteed by law.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Ms Genevieve Shirley, said the Commission would “work harder to strengthen compliance with the RTI Act so that citizens can access the information they seek from institutions with ease.”
She made the remarks in Accra yesterday at the launch of the Commission’s 5th Anniversary celebrations, held under the theme: “RTI @ 5; Championing Transparency and Accountability through Access to Environmental Information in a Digital Era.”
Ms Shirley explained that since its establishment in 2020, the Commission had focused on promoting openness, empowering citizens to participate in governance, and holding institutions accountable.
The anniversary, she noted, is not only a moment of celebration but also “a call to action” to reflect on achievements, challenges, and the shared responsibility of building a transparent society.
Planned activities for the milestone she said include stakeholder engagements, media interactions, a national conference, team-building events, and a thanksgiving service as the climax. Ghana will also join the global community to observe the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) 2025 under the theme: “Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age.”
On compliance, Ms Shirley urged public institutions to be proactive by publishing information on their websites to ease access for citizens and reduce the number of formal RTI requests.
She added that designated information officers across institutions were receiving training to strengthen compliance with the law.
Touching on finances, she explained that administrative penalties imposed on defaulting institutions are not punitive but serve as a legally approved revenue stream alongside budgetary allocations and donor support.
She urged institutions to comply with the penalties to support the Commission’s expansion, including establishing more regional offices.
Adding to this, Head of Legal at the RTI Commission, Mr Stephen Owusu, announced that two new regional offices will be opened in Cape Coast and Tamale by the end of the year to bring services closer to citizens.
BY STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG
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