Sunyani: Mt Stephen Owusu, the Head of the Legal Unit of the Right to Information (RTI) Commission, has emphasized the need for a robust partnership with the media to boost public understanding and awareness of the Right to Information Act. He underscored that the media is a crucial ally in sensitizing the public about their rights to information and in supporting the commission's operations.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Owusu highlighted the commission's reliance on media channels to educate the public about its mandate, thereby encouraging the application and utilization of the RTI law. During an interview in Sunyani, he remarked, "We need effective media partnership if we are to reach out to the masses and help them understand the RTI Act."
Mr. Owusu, along with Miss Genevieve Shirley Lartey, the Executive Secretary of the RTI Commission, recently visited Mr. Joseph Addae Akwaboa, the Bono Regional Minister, during their tour of the Bono Region. The purpose of the visit was to familiarize themselves with the operations of the regional office and seek the minister's support for the commission's activities in the area.
He reiterated the commission's commitment to strengthening transparency and access to information, stating, "The RTI Commission has come to stay." Despite being operational in the region for nearly three years, Mr. Owusu acknowledged the ongoing need to further educate the public on the RTI law.
Mr. Osbon Adomako Akuoko, the Bono Regional Head of the RTI Commission, noted that the regional office, established on October 9, 2023, aims to promote transparency, accountability, and fairness in public discourse. He explained that the office in Bono was one of the first regional offices set up outside Accra, Kumasi, and Bolgatanga.
Mr. Akuoko expressed optimism about the commission's expansion within the region and beyond. He emphasized that public institutions must recognize that the information they hold belongs to the public, considering themselves only as custodians. While citizens have the right to access information, he mentioned that exemptions exist within the 1992 Constitution and the RTI Act to protect both the applicants and the information-holding institutions.
He concluded by urging public institutions and the public to deepen their understanding of the RTI Act to foster openness, accountability, and responsible information sharing.