Member of Parliament for Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfrom Sylvester Tetteh has called on the Right to Information Commission to as a matter of urgency, embark on an intensive education of the law across the country.
For Mr. Tetteh, the move will not only help the commission to lessen burden on itself but also get the citizens informed on the law and other processes required in requesting an information from the commission.
“There are information that people need but the education on the law and the office is small. When the education is enhanced, people will get to know that there are rights and responsibilities when it comes to making request from the commission”, Mr. said to Noel Nutsugah, host of Statecraft on Zylofon FM.
Mr. Tetteh further argued that, after the Bill was passed into law, people were of the opinion that you can just walk into someone’s office and demand for information, saying the law has everything to make it function, that is why it behooves the commission to ensure that even the lay man on the street knows the processes of requiring an information.
He explained that “It is not as if after the law is passed, you can meet your MP or Minister, or MMDCEs and ask them about what goes on in there office, NO. People must know what to do and that is why they must be educated”.
“If people don’t know how to get information using the structures, then what is the essence of passing the law and even appointing people to man offices”, he asked.
Mr. Tetteh who doubles as the Vice Chairperson for select Committee on Ghana’s Parliament also hinted that there are plans for the commission to move contents of the RTI Law onto the internet where people can access information at the comfort of their home, adding that course contents are being worked on so that the law can be taught in schools.
Although he agreed that fees being charged on applicants will serve as an impediment, he believes it is a corrective measure to prevent people who may want to use the opportunity to abuse it.
“I think the law has its teething problems but as time goes on it shall be smoothened. And again, money should not be an impediment to accessing information, however it will serve as corrective measure for abuse”.
The RTI commission must do a lot of education to help people know about the law, come down to people’s level so that they can know how to make request to the commission, they will not feel cheated and if this happens people can now write to their local assembly for information, he advised.
“This will enhance good governance and fight corruption”
