The Office of the Attorney-General (AG) and Minister of Justice have granted the Right to Information (RTI) Commission a fiat, or legal authorization, to pursue violations of the RTI Law.
By the end of September of this year, the Director of Public Prosecutions will have trained commission personnel on prosecution under the RTI Act, 2019 (Act 989) in this respect.
Yaw Sarpong Boateng, the executive secretary of the RTI Commission, said this yesterday in Accra during a session on civil society views on the implementation of the RTI Law.
According to him, such a provision would guarantee the prompt prosecution of violators and give the law's execution purpose.
Additionally, he claimed, it would relieve the A-G of some of his legal offence prosecution tasks.
Forum
The event was put on by the STAR Ghana Foundation's (SGF) Rebuilding Civic Space Project in collaboration with the non-governmental organisations Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA) and Ghana Friends (GV).
Its goals were, among others, raising awareness among the general public about the difficulties associated with implementing the RTI Law and mobilising support for greater public accountability.
Mr. Boateng said that the commission was ardently collaborating with the Ministry of Information to provide a proposed Legislative Instrument to Parliament that would reinforce Act 989's operationalization.
He stated that a group was now deliberating the proposed draught regulations, and they should be prepared for submission to the A-Office G's shortly.
He said that a number of stakeholder interactions would be held to get feedback from a wide swath of the public.
The RTI Coalition has already provided suggestions through the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) for consideration and inclusion.
Guidelines
According to Mr. Boateng, the commission has provided directions to 600 entities for the release of information manuals by relevant public institutions and commercial bodies, in accordance with its mandate.
He explained that was done to make sure public institutions followed the law and disclosed information and had current information guides.
Currently, Mr. Boateng noted, 291 public entities have issued their information guides.
"In the same vein, public institutions are required to produce and publish annually guides including up-to-date material that should comply with the commission's criteria, and in the spirit of proactive disclosure, "He said.
Further reminding public entities, the executive secretary said: "Practising proactive disclosure of information would serve as an arsenal to counter corruption and promote answerability to the public "
yearly report
In the commission's 2021 Annual Report, Mr. Boateng provided some specifics, stating that, in compliance with Section 77 of Act 989, 189 public institutions filed reports to the commission.