GNECC on passage of Right to Information Bill in Ghana

The Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC) recognizes the right to information as a fundamental human right and the touchstone for all the freedoms necessary for the realization of both individual and national development aspirations. Indeed the Right to Information (RTI) is guaranteed by the Constitution which provides in Article 21(1) (f) that 'All persons shall have the right to information subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society'.

As a coalition committed to promoting the right to free quality basic education for all Ghanaian children, we have been committed to and have participated actively with other stakeholders in the campaign for the passage of the Right to Information Bill in Ghana. The Coalition is however concerned that despite the fact that a Right to Information Bill was first drafted by government in 2002, seven years later the people of Ghana are still waiting for the government to recognize this fundamental human right. A person's constitutionally guaranteed right to information is therefore left at the mercy of government officials in the absence of a legislative framework which provides for the processes and procedures to exercise the right to information.

The current situation has critical implications for the education sector at both the local and national levels, as beneficiaries of such a critical social services as education have little information and limited space to demand such information on the decisions and processes that go into shaping the capabilities of their wards for survival and living fulfilled lives in an increasingly difficult global economy.

The Coalition therefore calls on government to expedite action on the revision and passage of the draft bill in tandem with the NDC manifesto specifically highlighted on page 24 that; “The new NDC government shall enact into law the Freedom of Information Bill to facilitate access to official information, buttressing their commitment to disclosures.”' To raise all doubts of just paying lip service to such an important national issue, the Coalition is further calling on Government to come out with a road-map and clear timelines towards the passage of the bill into law.

While the Coalition admits that the process should not be rushed, we believe that seven years of drafting and revising a bill on RTI coupled with the opportunity to draw on several examples and best practices in both drafting and implementing such a legal provision from other countries, should prepare us adequately to not only pass the law but to put in place an efficient framework for implementation.

We also call on Parliament, as body with ultimate responsibility for ensuring that the existing legal framework with its provisions does not only guarantee citizens rights to them, but also that citizens enjoy these rights in an efficient manner, to support the call for the expeditious passage of the bill based on a clear and publicized road map with timelines.

The Coalition pledges its commitment to complement governments' efforts towards the revision and passage of the Draft Bill with adequate provisions that truly guarantees and creates the necessary legal and administrative framework for all Ghanaians irrespective of race, gender and class to enjoy the right of access to information 'subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society'.

Signed
Leslie Tettey
National Co-ordinator
(On behalf of the Executive Council)