The implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) is a major step toward transparency and good governance in Ghana.
The Act empowers citizens to access information held by public institutions.
This promotes accountability, reduces corruption, and enables public participation in decision-making.
As a country, it strengthens democracy and builds trust between government and the people.
But RTI officers posted to various public institutions face several challenges.
In many cases, they lack the necessary resources, authority and institutional support to perform their duties effectively.
This affects their ability to respond to requests within the required timeframe.
As citizens, our patronage of the Act is still low. Many people are either unaware of their right to information or do not see the value in using it. More public education and awareness campaigns are needed to encourage citizens to exercise this right.
I propose that the title RTI Officer be changed to Information Auditor.
This new title will better reflect the role and give officers greater independence to carry out their work without undue interference.
Also, the mandatory 14-day response period sometimes conflicts with their other job schedules. Granting them more operational independence will help them meet these timelines.
The media must fully embrace the RTI Act and act as a watchdog.
There should also be proper institutional support and welfare provisions for RTI/Information Auditors at all institutions to ensure their well-being and effectiveness.
For Act 989 to achieve its purpose, we need stronger institutional backing, better public awareness and more respect for the officers tasked with implementing it.
Kobina Amoah.
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