Right to Information Bill goes through second reading
The Right to Information Bill, 2016 inched closer to its promulgation yesterday when it went through the second reading in Parliament.
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It is now left with the third reading for the bill to be passed.
The purpose of the bill is to provide for the right of citizens to obtain official information from public institutions and private entities performing public functions.
It also provides for the qualifications and conditions under which the information can be obtained.
The Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, moved the motion for the second reading of the bill, and was seconded by the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Magnus Kofi Amoatey.
Assurance of passage
The Majority Chief Whip, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, gave an assurance that Parliament would do its best to pass the bill.
"I can assure you that we will do whatever we can to get the bill passed.
"Whatever it takes to get this bill passed before we rise, Parliament will definitely do so," he said.
Deputy Minister
Moving the motion, Dr Ayine said the bill would improve access to information and ensure transparency in governance.
Besides, he said, it would empower the citizens to participate in the governance process.
Committee's report
Presenting the report of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Amoatey said the bill sought to afford the public the opportunity to partake in policy formulation and other decision-making processes.
He said the bill was to also empower citizens to hold public institutions accountable for their actions and inactions to ensure that their interests were protected.
Background of the Bill
A Right to Information Bill was drafted in 1999. The draft was reviewed in 2003, 2005 and 2007 but was never presented to Parliament for passage.
On February 5, 2010, a Right to Information Bill was presented to the Fifth Parliament and referred to the Joint Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Communications for consideration and report. However, the consideration of the bill was not finalised before the Parliament's term ended.
The bill was again presented to Parliament on November 12, 2013, and it was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for consideration and report. The committee presented its report to the House in December 2014.
The bill was read the second time in July 2015, and due to the exigencies of the House and the need to expedite action, the bill was withdrawn and a new one reintroduced in Parliament on October 18, 2016. Thereafter, the bill was referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for consideration and report.