General News of Tuesday, 31 December 2019

Source: classfmonline.com

Information Ministry updates directors on RTI operationalisation strategy

Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah with some of the participants Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah with some of the participants

The Ministry of Information has held a day’s workshop in Accra for Chief Directors on the operationalisation strategy for the Right to Information (RTI) Law ahead of its implementation in January 2020.

The one-day meeting was also to enable the chiefs to share ideas on the final preparations toward the operationalisation of the Act.

Discussing possible challenges anticipated during the implementation stage, officials of the ministry outlined interim measures required to counter the hurdles.

The Chief Directors were drawn from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) across the country.

The RTI law seeks to give effect to Article 21 (1) (f) of the 1992 Constitution, which states: "All persons shall have the right to information subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary for a democratic society".

The ministry has already been working on a roadmap which includes the recruitment of RTI officers, establishing information centres in all government offices, the establishment of the RTI Commission and completion of various administrative protocols.

The Act, which takes effect from 2 January 2020, is expected to make it easier for persons to request for and receive information from public institutions in Ghana.