General News of Monday, 12 January 2009

Source: GNA

Ghana to host access to information workshop

Accra, Jan. 12, GNA - Ghana would host a two-day workshop to share the findings of a legislative audit aimed at promoting public access to information in the Sub-region, a statement by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), said in Accra.

The CHRI is organising the programme from January 19 to 20, in Accra, with participants from civil society groups in Ghana, the Gambia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Liberia The audit was commissioned by the CHRI with support from Action Aid - International, the statement said. "There is broad international consensus that people's access to information from public bodies is crucial for the existence of any truly participatory and democratic system of governance.

The content of the workshop would focus on laws governing police functions; legislative and budgetary processes in the Parliament of Ghana; requirements imposed on political leaders and public officials to declare assets and liabilities and local governance systems," it said.