Operationalizing the Right to Information Act (GH0049)
Overview
At-a-Glance
Action Plan: Ghana Action Plan 2024-2028 (December)
Action Plan Cycle: 2023
Status:
Institutions
Lead Institution: Ministry of Information
Support Institution(s): Right to Information Commission, Right to Information Coalition, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Media Foundation for West Africa.
Policy Areas
Access to Information, Capacity Building, Regulation, Right to InformationIRM Review
IRM Report: Ghana Action Plan Review 2023-2027
Early Results: Pending IRM Review
Design i
Verifiable: Pending IRM Review
Relevant to OGP Values: Pending IRM Review
Ambition (see definition): Pending IRM Review
Implementation i
Completion: Pending IRM Review
Description
Problem to be addressed
● The Right to Information Law which was a major commitment under NAP-3 was eventually passed by the Parliament of Ghana in March 2019. The Right to Information Commission has since been established to oversee its implementation. The main challenge now is how to roll-out the administrative machinery for its implementation throughout the country.
The commitment
The commitment is in three-fold: 1. Create public awareness on the RTI Act, how it operates and obligations of public institutions. 2. Pass Regulations to fully operationalise the RTI Act. 3. Provide adequate funding for the implementation of the RTI Act.
Contribution of commitment to solving problem
● Effective implementation will guarantee citizen’s right to information regardless of their location, as provided for in the constitution of Ghana (Article 21(1)
Relevance of commitment to OGP values
The commitment is crucial to the realization of the OGP value of well-informed citizenry.
Milestone Activity with a verifiable deliverable | Start Date - End Date
IEC materials developed. Regulations to fully operationalize RTI Act drafted. | January, 2024 - December, 2024
Public awareness and public education initiated. Regulations laid before parliament. | January, 2025 - December, 2025
Additional 250 officers recruited, trained, and deployed to all public institutions. Public awareness and public education sustained. RTI Regulations passed. | January, 2026 - December, 2026
Citizens sensitised on RTI Act and making use of it Citizens sensitised on RTI regulations. | January, 2027 - December 2027