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Minister of Information, Mr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, gave an assurance that the campaign for the passage of the Right to information (RTI) Bill is likely to end between May and July 2017 with the possible passage of the bill
Minister of Information, Mr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, gave an assurance that the campaign for the passage of the Right to information (RTI) Bill is likely to end between May and July 2017 with the possible passage of the bill

Govt committed to passage of RTI Bill — Abdul-Hamid

 The Minister of Information, Mr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, has given an assurance that the campaign for the passage of the Right to information (RTI) Bill is likely to end between May and July 2017 with the possible passage of the bill.

“Per the calendar that we have sent to Parliament, it is in there that in the May to July 2017 Session of Parliament, the RTI Bill will be before them for debate and passage. It’s non-negotiable,” he said.

Mr Abdul-Hamid urged the media and other stakeholders pushing for the passage of the bill to remain calm, as both the Minority and the Majority members of Parliament had demonstrated their commitment to the passage of the bill before the close of 2017 to deepen the country’s democracy.

In his remarks at a ceremony to mark the World Press Freedom Day in Accra yesterday, he described a democracy without an RTI law as an anomaly and affirmed the government’s commitment to address it, as a matter of urgency.

He expressed optimism that with the extensive work done by the Sixth Parliament on the bill, and with the massive support demonstrated by the Minority in Parliament, the bill would be passed this year without compromise.

Press freedom day

World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1993 following a recommendation adopted at the 26th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) General Conference in 1991.

The day is celebrated annually on May 3 to increase awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It is also a day to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, evaluate press freedom around the world, defend the media from attacks on their independence and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

The 2017 edition is being marked on the global theme: “Critical minds for critical times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies”, while locally it is being marked on the theme: “Ghana still in search of  the Right to Information Bill and a Broadcasting Law: Is Parliament in a dilemma?’’

RTI will boost democracy

Referring to the Akan definition of democracy, which is literally translated as ‘Everyone has the right to share his views’ or ‘Say some and let me say some’, Mr Abdul-Hamid said the passage of the RTI Bill was non-negotiable if democracy had to be sustained or enhanced in Ghana.

He was of the opinion that the citizens could not be saying things or sharing their views on emptiness, saying that if something had to be said, it had to be statements of substance, which required that the beneficiaries of democracy needed to have accurate information.

The minister cautioned that while the RTI law would be passed, the media had to be mindful of their responsibility and be circumspect in the discharge of their duties as a service to the nation.

He was of the opinion that youthful exuberance and the privilege to be a journalist or a media practitioner were no opportunities or justifications to disrespect or malign people in the name of freedom of the press, freedom of expression, among other freedoms the inky fraternity enjoyed.

 Mr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid (middle) interacting with Mr Haruna Iddrisu (left), the Minority Leader in Parliament, and Nana Kwesi Gyan Apenteng, the NMC Chairman. Picture: BENEDICT OBUOBI

 

The RTI Bill

The RTI Bill was drafted in 1999 and reviewed in 2003, 2005 and 2007 but was not presented to Parliament until 2010, making it one of the oldest bills in the country.

The bill is expected to operationalise Article 21(1) (f) of the 1992 Constitution which states: “All persons shall have the right to information, subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary for a democratic society.”

Since the bill was introduced to Parliament on February 5, 2010, Parliament has talked, debated and vowed, referred it, moved it — anything except pass the aging bill.

Minority and Majority on RTI Bill

In their contributions at the ceremony, the Deputy Majority Leader, Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo, and the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, both affirmed the commitment of both sides of Parliament to collaboratively ensure the passage of the RTI Bill in 2017 and the Broadcasting Bill subsequently.

Both of them, in responding to the local theme for the celebration, which questioned if Parliament was in a dilemma on the passage of the bills, said that was not the case, as Parliament was ready and committed to the passage of the bills devoid of any political interests.

For her part, Ms Safo explained that hopefully the RTI  Bill had extensively gone through parliamentary processes in the Sixth Parliament and, therefore, less work and time would obviously be required to pass the bill.

She said the passage of the bill would enhance the right to information for all citizens, as mandated by the law.

Mr Iddrisu also debunked the notion that Ghana was in search of an RTI Law and a Broadcasting Law and said it would be better put as “Ghana is in the process of passing two legislation: the  RTI and the Broadcasting laws”, nor was Parliament  in a dilemma.

He noted the media and their stakeholders’ disappointment in the delay in the passage of the two bills and assured them of Parliament’s “commitment to pass into law these two important legislations”.

NMC’s remarks

In his remarks as the Chairman for the occasion, the Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, underscored the need to correct the misconception that the fight for press freedom was for the benefit of only journalists.

He explained that press freedom was for the benefit of the public the press was serving by empowering them to enjoy democracy.

“If press freedom dies, it is a precursor to the death of democracy in any country,” he said.

Nana Gyan-Apenteng, therefore, called on all stakeholders, particularly the public, to join the campaign to enhance and sustain press freedom in Ghana.

He was of the opinion that the absence of a right to information and broadcasting lawsmade the country’s democracy deficient.

He charged stakeholders to hold the government to account until the bills were passed.

GJA’s remarks

In his welcome address, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Affail Monney, said stakeholders had observed with joy that in spite of the challenges affecting media practice in Ghana, professional standards had moved a notch higher in an appreciable section of the media with the introduction of facts-checking journalism.

“Facts-checking journalism, if replicated across the media spectrum, will hopefully provide an effective cure for the perpetration of inflated rhetorics and the spread of pure lies by public figures, especially politicians.

“The GJA urges the media to uphold the ethics of the profession in high esteem, to continue to criticise to build and not to destroy,” he said.

Coalition on RTI

On behalf of the Coalition on the RTI Bill, a member, Ms Mina Mensah, applauded the local theme for the celebration, as it reflected the frustrations of stakeholders pushing for the passage of both bills.

She was optimistic that if Ghana would enjoy a vibrant free media, then the right to information was non-negotiable.

UN  message

In a statement issued to all UN member countries, the UN Secretary-General Mr António Guterres, called on world leaders to defend journalists and media houses across the globe, adding:

“A free press is crucial to counter misinformation prevailing today. Journalists go to the most dangerous places to give voice to the voiceless. Media workers suffer character assassination, sexual assault, detention, injuries and even death.

“ We need leaders to defend a free media. This is crucial to counter prevailing misinformation. And we need everyone to stand for our right to truth.”

 

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