Expedite passage of RTI Bill – Coalition to government

The Coalition on the Right to Information, Ghana, has called on the Akufo-Addo-led government to expedite action towards the passage of the Right to Information (RTI) Bill.

The Coalition’s call was made in a six-point resolution adopted at a general meeting held on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at the International Press Centre to discuss the Coalition’s activities and review strategies to promote the passage of an effective Right to Information legislation in Ghana.

The Coalition decried the failure by the past administration to pass the Right to Information Bill 2016 despite all the efforts put into the review and amendment of the bill by the sixth parliament.

The Coalition also expressed concerns over the time, energy and resources that would be committed into fresh processes to enable the passage of the Bill and urged government to expedite action to enable the passage of the Bill within the first year of this administration.

The Coalition took cognisance of the promise made by the Vice President, H.E Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, at the Transparency International regional meeting in Accra in February 2017, assuring Ghanaians that the RTI Bill will be passed this year 2017 and hopes that this will not be a mere repetition of the promises made by the past administration.

The General Meeting, which had in attendance regional focal persons from nine regions of the country, also saw the swearing in of the following new members of the Steering Committee (SC) to serve for the next two years. The new SC members resolved to continue to work hard to ensure, not only the passage of the RTI Bill but also that Ghana has an effective access to information regime.

1. The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Africa office

2. The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII)

3. The Human Rights Advocacy Centre (HRAC)

4. The Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana

5. Perfecter of Sentiments (POS) Foundation

6. Centre for Employment of Persons with Disability (CEPD)

7. Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC)

8. SEND-Ghana

9. Ghana Journalists Association (GJA)

10. Seth Abloso (Individual Member)

Below is the full resolution:

RESOLUTION ADOPTED AT THE GENERAL MEETING OF THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION (RTI) COALITION AT THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS CENTRE, ACCRA, MARCH 29, 2017.

We the members of the Right to Information (RTI) Coalition, at the General meeting held at the International Press Centre, this Wednesday 29 March, 2017

• Having considered and adopted the Report of the Coalition's activities for the year 2016, express satisfaction at the support for the sustenance of the campaign for the passage of the RTI Bill in Ghana,

• Further express disappointment at the failure by the 6th Parliament of the 4th Republic to pass the RTI Bill, despite assurances from the Executive and the Leadership of Parliament

• Concerned about the need for the passage of the RTI Bill to enhance Democracy, Accountability and Development

• Observes that the attitude of governments towards the passage of the RTI Bill over the years has not been the best and that the tactics have been that of several promises that never materialises,

• Notes with cautious optimism, efforts so far initiated by the government of President Nana Akufo-Addo to ensure that a new RTI Bill is placed before Parliament, and

• Calls on H.E the President to ensure the early submission of the RTI Bill to Parliament for necessary action.

The Coalition renews its commitment and readiness, despite its disappointment and associated costs, to engage with and support Parliament for the early passage of the RTI Bill in Ghana.