Coalition demands immediate passage of Right to Information Bill

The Coalition on the Right to Information has issued a communiqué calling on government to pass the Right to Information Bill currently in parliament.

The coalition says President Mills should honour the promise made to the people of Ghana by taking expedient steps to pass the right to information bill as a pre-requisite for good governance, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

The communiqué was issued at a workshop to educate stakeholders on the right to Information in the Eastern Regional capital Koforidua.

The communiqué says the absence of a specific law to enforce the right to information as enshrined in the 1992 constitution under Article 21 clause 1 (f) significantly undermines the enjoyment and full right of this fundamental human rights.

The coalition believes that if an effective law is passed, it will go a long way to consolidate the county's political stability by promoting dialogue and mutual understanding and facilitate development by enabling the people to participate in planning, monitoring and implementation of development process.

The coalition among other issues said that the right to information law is crucial in fighting corruption in the public system.

The coalition further requested that certain parts of the current bill be revised.

It said the law should provide an independent body to oversee its implementation and promote a culture of openness.

Placing this vital function with the Attorney General, the coalition said, tends to undermine the potential efficacy of the law and contradicts international principles governing such laws.

It said the right to information law must have the creation of efficient mechanisms for accessing information by providing a reasonable timescale specifically 10 days to make a decision of an application.

It added that government should be committed to educating the public to the right to information law. It is the hope of all stakeholders especially the Coalition on the Right to Information that the law would be passed to help in the country's democratic process.

Story by Benjamin Henaku/Myjoyonline