Deputy Information Minister visits Upper East

Navrongo (U/E) Oct. 28, GNA - The Ministry of Information will soon embark on a nationwide education campaign to solicit public views and support for the Right to Information Bill.

The aim is to subject the bill to wider public scrutiny and debate so that it will become acceptable to the vast majority of the people when passed into law after the necessary parliamentary procedures. Mr Andrews Awuni, a Deputy Minister of Information, said this on Tuesday when he addressed heads of departments and a cross-section of workers at Navrongo in the Kassena-Nankana District as part of a four-day visit to the Upper East Region.

He said the idea behind the introduction of the bill is part of the government's commitment to ensure that the people have unimpeded access to public information to ensure good and accountable governance. "We want to build a new culture of accountable governance. This new culture is to ensure that this country will never go back to the culture of silence," Mr Awuni said

He said problems of corruption, poverty and low moral in the society must be tackled with a unity of purpose, irrespective of political differences.

He urged the heads of departments to support the government's efforts to generate more local revenue by ensuring the judicious use of public resources and cutting down waste.

Mr. Awuni said, while the government fully appreciates the difficult conditions under which most Ghanaian workers find themselves, workers should not relent in their efforts to make lasting impact on the lives of the people.

He gave the assurance that the government is working hard to put in place policies and programmes that would put the economy back on track. Mr Awuni later interacted with students of the Navrongo campus of the University for Development Studies and assured them that the government has no intention of closing the University's medical school, but rather would strengthen its facilities to ensure the highest academic standards.

He said a Spanish grant has been approved for the rehabilitation of the Tamale Hospital that will provide facilities for the UDS medical school.

He said money is also being provided under the GETFUND to build a hostel near the hospital for the medical students.