Attafuah urges state institutions to promote dissemination of information

Accra, July 12, GNA - Professor Kenneth Agyeman Attafuah, Executive Director of Justice and Human Rights Institute on Saturday called for an open society for state institutions to promote the dissemination of information to the public.

He said in an open society the Executive, Legislature, Judiciary and other state institutions were proactive in the dissemination of information to the public and made government responsive and tolerant to ensure a transparent political society.

Prof. Attafuah made the call at the opening of a Training of Trainers workshop on Legal Education jointly organized by Civitas-Ghana, a Ghanaian NGO that promotes civic awareness and consolidation of democratic concept and Ghana Bar Association (GBA) with support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

It was to prepare law students, lawyers and educationists to promote a culture of democratic participation and respect for rule of law among Ghanaian youth in selected schools and deprived communities in Greater Accra Region.

Prof. Attafuah said no issue could be hidden in an open society unless it bordered on national security and did not promote the welfare of society.

"In an open society knowledge is imparted to everyone and in the Law School everyone has the opportunity to become a Judge or a Chief Justice but could not happen in an authoritarian and closed society," he said.

He urged the youth to endeavour to fight against bribery and corruption in the country and said it was unfortunate that the youth tended to address issues of alleged corrupt practices through unreasonable and violence means.

Prof. Attafuah said promotion of civic awareness, human rights, democracy and rule of law were contributory factors to the provision of a framework to develop the country. "We need to promote religious, cultural, political ideals and other forms of pluralism to create an open society and you must be active participants in the achievement of this objective," he added. Nii Osa Mills, President of GBA, urged the youth to unite and fight for the country's development. 12 July 08