Accra: The Right to Information (RTI) Commission has levied an administrative penalty of GHS20,000 on several prominent public institutions, including the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, 37 Military Hospital, and the Ghana Police Service. These institutions have been fined for their failure to submit their 2025 annual reports as mandated by the RTI Act.
According to Ghana Web, the institutions were penalized for violating Section 77(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), which obliges public institutions to submit annual reports on their RTI law implementation. Despite reminders published in the Ghanaian Times on January 20, 2026, and the Daily Graphic on April 24, 2026, these institutions did not fulfill their statutory obligations.
The RTI Commission's statement, issued on August 5, 2026, also listed other notable institutions such as the Ghana Armed Forces, Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI), Office of the Special Prosecutor, University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and the National Communications Authority as being liable for the penalty.
The Commission highlighted the importance of annual reports submitted by public institutions as they contribute significantly to preparing a consolidated report for Parliament. It emphasized that the defaulting institutions must pay the penalty within 14 days of receiving formal notice, warning that failure to do so would result in further enforcement actions.
The RTI Commission reiterated that adhering to the reporting requirements under Act 989 is a legal obligation for heads of public institutions, not a discretionary choice. This enforcement action is part of broader efforts to enhance transparency, accountability, and access to information within Ghana's public sector.