'Nothing must stand in the way of RTI - Ata-Akyea

Koforidua, Oct. 31, GNA - Mr Ata-Akyea, Member of Parliament (MP) for Akyem Abuakwa South, has indicated that since the Constitution recognizes the need for a Right To Information (RTI) regime in the country to enhance the democratic dispensation, nothing must stand in its way.

He said current rhetoric about the RTI remained vague until the law was passed to ensure that systems and structures were put in place to facilitate its smooth implementation for the growth of the country's democracy.

Mr Ata- Akyea who made the remark at a meeting with a team from the Eastern Regional Coalition on the RTI in Koforidua at the weekend, noted that when passed, the law would clear all rumours and misconceptions since people would be well- informed to make contributions towards socio-economic development.

He said Members of Parliament (MPs) were interested in ensuring that their constituents and for that matter Ghanaians as a whole had the full benefit of the constitution to improve upon their well-being and would therefore give a strong voice for the passage of the bill.

Mr Edmund Quaynor, Regional Coordinator of the RTI Coalition, said the Coalition had raised concerns on certain aspects of the bill currently before Parliament ,mentioning the appeals process and the fee structure as some of the concerns.

He appealed to the MPs to take a critical look at those concerns because experience in some countries had shown that although the law existed, it was not effective because of some unfavourable clauses.

Mr Quaynor mentioned the appeals process whereby people could only appeal to the Minister or seek redress at the Supreme Court as an example and wondered how people in the remotest areas could have the confidence and the logistics to go to Accra to make an appeal.

GNA