Accra: Transparency International Ghana (TI-Ghana) has called for stronger enforcement of the Right to Information (RTI) Act and the enhancement of accountability mechanisms to bolster anti-corruption efforts and improve transparency in governance.
According to Ghana News Agency, the organization highlighted that the weak implementation of existing legal and institutional frameworks continues to limit citizens' access to public information and undermines efforts to combat corruption, despite reforms adopted across Ghana and other African countries. Mr. Bright Sena Ayivi, Assistant Programmes Officer of TI-Ghana, emphasized these concerns during a national advocacy engagement held in Accra under the 'Stopping Impunity for Corruption through Enhanced Accountability' (SICA) project.
Mr. Ayivi noted that findings from a TI-Ghana study on RTI framework implementation in selected West African countries revealed persistent barriers to accessing public information, including details on high-profile corruption cases. He remarked, "As citizens, we often do not know what happens to corruption cases after investigations and prosecutions begin. This project seeks to build a database and a community of practice that will enable us to track such cases and ensure accountability."
The SICA project, executed by TI-Ghana in collaboration with the Transparency International Secretariat in Berlin, aims to establish a community of practice across 11 African countries to promote anti-corruption reforms, strengthen accountability systems, and improve monitoring of high-level corruption cases. Mr. Ayivi explained that the initiative seeks to address challenges in obtaining information on the progress and outcomes of corruption-related prosecutions while using existing accountability mechanisms, particularly the RTI regime, to empower citizens to demand information and monitor government actions.
The study emphasized that corruption remains a significant threat to development in the West African sub-region, highlighting the need for stronger transparency and accountability measures. It covered Ghana, Liberia, and Togo, identifying low public awareness of RTI laws as a key challenge, especially among ordinary citizens and grassroots communities. Mr. Ayivi pointed out that knowledge and use of the RTI law are largely concentrated among civil society organizations, journalists, and media practitioners.
Other challenges identified include bureaucratic resistance, administrative bottlenecks, and delays in processing information requests. Excessive bureaucracy and difficulties navigating public institutions were found to discourage citizens from seeking information. The study also cited fees associated with information requests as a barrier, particularly for vulnerable and low-income citizens.
Furthermore, the study found that many public institutions fail to proactively disclose information, releasing it only after formal requests had been submitted. Mr. Ayivi stressed, "We should not wait for citizens to demand information before making it available. Public information belongs to the people and should be proactively disclosed to promote transparency and accountability."
The report also pointed to inadequate digital infrastructure, poor internet connectivity, and centralized RTI systems as factors limiting access to information, particularly in remote communities. It noted that some public officials perceive information requests as personal attacks rather than legitimate exercises of citizens' rights.
Mr. Ayivi called for continuous training for information officers and other duty-bearers to improve understanding and implementation of the RTI regime. He recommended strengthening the enforcement powers of the RTI Commission, expanding public education, reducing administrative barriers, improving digital infrastructure, and promoting proactive disclosure of public information.
Additionally, Mr. Ayivi advocated for a coordinated national anti-corruption framework to harmonize existing laws and strengthen the prosecution and monitoring of corruption cases. He underscored the importance of collaboration among accountability institutions, including the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the Financial Intelligence Centre, and urged authorities to expedite the passage of the Legislative Instrument (LI) to support the implementation of the RTI Act.
Mr. Stephen Owusu, Head of Legal at the RTI Commission, expressed concern over the growing reluctance of some institutions, particularly security agencies, to fully comply with the RTI Act five years after its implementation. He reiterated that while certain categories of information might be exempt from disclosure under the law, no public institution could exempt itself entirely from the provisions of the Act.
Mr. Owusu noted that public awareness and utilization of the RTI law have increased significantly, with individual citizens now accounting for most applicants, compared to the early years when requests were largely submitted by media organizations and civil society groups. He mentioned that work on the draft LI has largely been completed and is undergoing review by the Commission's governing board before submission to Parliament. Mr. Owusu expressed optimism that the LI would be passed before the end of the year.