Right to Information: Tool for Effective Civil Society Participation

During one of my recent Salvage-Right to Information outreaches, an initiative of Salvage International; a development research and advocacy non-governmental organization, to reach civil society especially young people and create awareness among them on the Right to Information, I noticed none of them knew or had heard “Right to Information” ever before, many struggled to make some meaning out of it by breaking the words down- I admired their effort to try to know after my team and I had whet their appetite.

Before that day I perceived civil society had very little or no interest in national issues but got to understand that governments had failed to communicate to or effectively engage civil society at all levels to ensure patriotism, ownership and collaboration with government to implement policies and the like. Again, many felt they were far from contributing their quota to national development specifically policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation, these findings were gathered through a discussion and feedback after presentation on the Right to Information.

I have read that, Parliament initially indicated it will conduct consultative processes to engage local communities and ordinary citizens for the purpose of raising awareness on the Right to Information Bill and also allow inputs- I have not come across a single soul in many local communities in Greater Accra who were consulted.

Imagine a Ghana where all persons are well informed on the nation's policies, projects, grants and loans secured, what informs the drawing of our budget and how can we be part of it? Don't you think it will mute many hear-says and rumours? How many people own or have even set eyes on copies of the Right to Information Bill- in both urban and rural Ghana? Will there be translations in other languages to enable others understand the whole concept, see the need and access information? Government could make their work easy too by reaching the people with information through the media – as transparent as possible so no one doubts our processes. I commend efforts so far by past and present governments to “Meet the Press” and clear the air on national development issues.

What is slowing down the passage of the Right to Information Bill? Why is Parliament not communicating reasons why the process is dull? Why hasn't government put the Bill on their website for people to access, download and be knowledgeable on their Right to Information?

People are ready to join forces to help build this great nation, are we ready to equip them with requisite and adequate information to enable their effective participation? The first bold step to ensure our reach to information, effective civil society participation and nation building lies in the enactment of the ever expected Right to Information Bill before Parliament.

Cecil Ato Kwamena Dadzie (Salvage International)