Pass The Right To Information Bill To Ensure Transparency And Information  Flow

Despite public outcry over a decade to make the public and citizens have unrestricted access to useful public information by seeking to pass the Right to Information bill has suffered unjustifiable postponement and undue delay to this relevant bill to the course of our democracy, these delays to the passage of the RTI into law give an impression the political class has fears of interference and hence the feet dragging in seeing to it that action is expedited on the right to information bill.

Passing the Right to Information Bill into law has suffered too many postponement after major stakeholders and civil society groups have all finished submitting memoranda, and rules and regulations regarding how and what information can be accessed for public consumption and education since 2010 has still not gone past the third stage to get a presidential ascent to make it a law.

At the early stages of the former President Kuffour’s second term, that was in 2005. When the proposal for such a law was started, past and present governments have only paid lip service to its implementation leaving Ghanaians wonder when this bill will become part of our statutes.

The recent statement by Hon K. T. Hammond suggesting opposition to the law and the Majority Leader Hon. Kyei Mensah Bonsu that parliament cannot be pressured to pass the bill is a clear case of political class’ opposition to the bill hence the delay.

We, therefore, wish to make a passionate appeal to all who matter in this crusade to rise up against opposition and further delay of the passing of this bill into law.

The right to information bill if passed into law can guarantee information flow and transparency in our governance, and help in our fight against corruption, a major threat to our socio-economic well being and development.

Its relevance to our democracy, development, transparency, fight against corruptions and ensuring accountability cannot be pushed aside because the politicians are not comfortable with its implementation, rather we as Ghanaians and citizens should be happy to be aware of what is going on in government with the passing of the Right to Information Bill into law

It will open up government to public view and scrutiny and also give Public and Citizens access to process, procedures, and decisions relating to the works of government and its agencies.

The right to information is a right to transparency and accountable governance and an incentive against corruption in our institutions and governance. #sayyestoRTIinghana.

Signed
Felix Djan Foh.
President. Piran.gh
0244691605
Signed
James Kwaku Dumenyah
Coordinator. Piran.gh
0244891147