Avoka says RTI Bill is important to Parliament

Mr Cletus Apul Avoka, the Majority Leader on Wednesday denied stories in some section of the media that the Right to Information Bill currently before Parliament was not the priority of Parliament.

The Majority Leader stated at a press conference at Parliament House that, the Bill had gone through a number of processes and was now before a joint Committee of Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Communication.

He said Parliament and for that matter Members of Parliament considered any attempt to develop and strengthen the country’s democratic development including the RTI as very important.

His denial followed a press statement by Civil Society Organisation issued and signed by Mr. Mahama Zakaria, the Northern Regional Coordinator of the RTI, that said "the Coalition is calling on the leadership of Parliament to make the RTI bill part of its agenda for its next sitting which is expected to start in May 2012.”

The statement alleged that the Majority Leader had said the Bill was not of importance to Parliament that was why it had been delayed.

Mr. Avoka said, in 2010-2011 the Joint Committee collated public views from Takoradi, Koforidua, Kumasi and Accra on the bill, adding that there was the need to take time to do the right thing than to rush to pass it which might in the end be an exercise in futility.**