However, the ghana right to information bill currently before parliament is very weak in this direction and could take more than half a year in certain situations before a request for information is granted. In ghana, the rti is a constitutionally guaranteed right enshrined under article 21 1 f of the 1992 constitution, which provides that. It was first adopted by sweden in 1766 and finland in 1951. Providing information in a timely manner on government activities can expose corruption at its birthing stages and ensure that the path of the looted money is traced, says right to information. The draft law was prepared by the department of the attorney general and was subsequently forwarded to the ministry of information to circulate for public comment. Ghanas human rights court gives life to the right to information. Ghanas parliament has failed to pass a right to information bill despite years of promises by the president and government leaders. The information professionals role in the right to. Two satellite images encompassing most of ghana reveal extensive flooding. The draft law was prepared by the department of the attorney general and. To set up an online repository of legal information from ghana, towards the promotion of rule of law, judicial accountability and good governance in ghana and africa.
Ghana is about to enact a right to information law now the right to inform ation bill to provide a legal framework fo r making public sector information accessible to th e public. Following months of advocacy by civil society groups, in march parliament passed the right to information bill, which had languished for 20 years. Right to information law not for media alone coalition. Ghana committee approves right to information bill freedom info. Ghanas ambassador to france, anna bossman has called on ghanaians, especially government to stop shielding corrupt. Digital preservation, freedom of information foi, right to information rti information infrastructure. License of an exclusive economic right may be granted in writing, orally or inferred by conduct. Supreme court decisions ghana legal information institute. The view on the left taken on 12 september 2007 shows river systems throughout the length and breadth of the small country swollen compared to conditions in june right before the rainy season started.
Following some degree of consultations with civil society, the bill was finally laid before. This comment contains article 19s analysis of the draft right to information bill of ghana draft bill, which has been prepared by the government. The united states of america, united kingdom, south africa, kenya, nepal, etc. The european union deployed an election followup mission efm to ghana on 5 september 2019. Bearing in mind the civil society campaign of many years for adoption of. In 2003, the government of ghana prepared the first draft of the right to information rti bill to give effect to the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental right to information. Ghana s ambassador to france, anna bossman has called on ghanaians, especially government to stop shielding corrupt. The ghana anticorruption coalition gacc has reiterated the countrys fight against corruption will continue to be hampered if the right to information bill is not passed. Minerals and mining act natural resource governance institute. An author has the right to transfer ownership in the economic right to the work by assignment, testamentary disposition or operation of law.
The coalition on the right to information, ghana is a group of civil society organisations and human rights activists working to promote good. Tamas meszerics, chief observer of the european union election observation mission eu eom for the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections in ghana. Article 211f of the constitutions provides that all persons shall have the right to information, subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society. Casely hayford downplayed the significance of passing the rti bill, arguing that since the constitution guarantees those same rights the bill would have offered, its passage was unnecessary. Jun 12, 2018 the centre for law and democracy cld has released an analysis of ghanas 2018 right to information bill, which is now before parliament. Issued by the right to information coalition the coalition on the right to information, ghana has noted with great concern his excellency john dramani mahamas comments on ghanas right to information rti bill in an interview on dw tv political talk show called conflict zone on october 7, 2015. Dopt the department of personnel and training, ministry of personnel, public grievances, and pensions, is charged with being the nodal agency for the right to information act, 2005. Freedominfo ghana parliament ends without rti legislation. What is right to information right to information wiki. Forum on the right to information bill held in yendi ghana. Right to information also empowers citizens to official inspect any government work or to take the sample of material used in any work. Apr 15, 2016 one of those issues is the right to information. Here is some general information about you new host country the flag the coat of arms the national anthem maps data on ghana introduction geography climate people education history ghanas presidents government and political conditions economy foreign relations links the flag of ghana.
It is the responsibility of the government to make available general information on governance and any person applying for information may do so. The ghana right to information bill, 2010 seeks to provide for the implementation of the right to information guaranteed under article 211f of the constitution of the republic of ghana, 1993. Ghanas constitution of 1992 with amendments through 1996. Jul 17, 2016 20160717 the longawaited right to information bill which has been in parliament for more than a decade may not be passed into law after all, as parliament does not appear eager to pass it. Ghana is about to enact a right to information law now the right to information bill to provide a legal framework for making public sector information accessible to the public.
Powers of search and arrest surrender, suspension and cancellations of mineral rights 67. The draft model freedom of information bill was considered by senior officials at their meeting in november 2001, held at marlborough house, london. Jul 15, 2018 a days sensitization workshop on right to information rti bill has been held in yendi. Suspension or cancellation of mining lease or restricted mining lease 70. Many advocates and commentators prior to the passage of the rti act, pointed to a draft. This memorandum analyses the draft right to information bill of the republic of ghana draft law. They are entitled to clear explanations of the laws and irs procedures in all tax forms, instructions, publications, notices, and correspondence. Issued by the right to information coalition the coalition on the right to information, ghana has noted with great concern his excellency john dramani mahamas comments on ghana s right to information rti bill in an interview on dw tv political talk show called conflict zone on october 7, 2015. The right to information is guaranteed and entrenched in the constitution. The ghana right to information bill, 2010 news ghana.
However speaking on citi fms news analysis programme, the big issue, mr. Implementing child rights and protection law in ghana. Right to information empowers every citizen to seek any information from the government, inspect any government documents and seek certified photocopies thereof. Forum on the right to information bill held in yendi. In a way, ghana needs to catch up to be internationally credible and. In the book, the introductory part covers the historical overview of ghanas legislature and the composition of the parliament of ghana. The centre for law and democracy cld has released an analysis of ghana s 2018 right to information bill, which is now before parliament. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact oeo through the. The content of the act rests on the welfare principles that recognize that the interest of the child shall be central in all matters concerning the child.
The preamble indicates that the rti bill is meant for implementing the right to. Anybody can apply to any government agency or body for access to information, according to the right under the right to information bill. Ghana and the information cannot be obtained in any other way. Introduction this memorandum analyses the draft right to information bill of the republic of ghana draft law. Right to information act 2005 mandates timely response to citizen requests for government information. Right to information coalition, ghana home facebook. The right to information is not a new on the continent. The effort was to create the needed awareness to ensure that. Model freedom of information bill the commonwealth. In the bill, anybody including noncitizens has the right to apply to access information as stated in article 21 1 f of the 1992 constitution of ghana.
Mar 06, 2018 20180306 president nana addo dankwa akufoaddo has served notice he will give impetus to his fight against corruption by impressing on parliament to pass the right to information bill rti. The effort was to create the needed awareness to ensure that effort being made to pass the bill was expedited. A right to information activist says parliaments delay in passing the right to information bill for ghanaian citizens may be due to politicians misconstruing of the law as one for the media and their fear that it will give too much power to the media. The government also invited civil society organizations to provide input and revisions to the osp bill in 2017 and the right to information bill in 2018. The objects for which the ghana legal information institute ghalii was formed are. A critique of the draft right to information bill, ghana. One of the best is chapter 12 of our constitution that guarantees a free and independent media. Issued by the right to information coalition the coalition on the right to information, ghana has noted with great concern his excellency john dramani mahamas comments on ghanas right to information rti bill in an interview on dw tv political talk show called conflict zone on october 7. The bill was tabled before parliament on february 5, 2010 and it was specifically allocated to. The crux of this publication how a draft bill becomes a law is then discussed. Analysis of ghanas right to information bill centre for law and. An option paperzero draft introduction the ghana right to information bill, 2010 seeks to provide for the implementation of the right to information guaranteed under article 211f of the. The centre for law and democracy cld has released an analysis of ghanas 2018 right to information bill, which is now before parliament. Rti bill will be law before parliament rises akufoaddo.
Analysis of right to information bill centre for law. Is it plausible to suppose we can reach a truly universal agreement on what human rights are. It is an initiative taken by department of personnel and training, ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions to provide a rti portal gateway to the citizens for quick search of information on the details of first appellate authorities,pios. Ghana the world factbook central intelligence agency. A days sensitization workshop on right to information rti bill has been held in yendi.
However, while the legal framework is necessary, it is not sufficient to ensure real access to public sector information by the public. The bill is meant to put in effect, article 21 1 f of the 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana which states that all persons shall have the right to information. This bill is to enable citizens to hold government accountable to ensure that there is a high level of transparency in governance of the country. Absence of rti law mockery anticorruption coalition. Office of information commissioner report to the queensland legislative assembly no. Rti bill commissioned by the institute of economic affairs iea ghanas. The content of the act rests on the welfare principles that recognize that the interest of the child shall be. Cic online new website of the central information commission for filing complaints and appeals arising from use of the right to information act, 2005. This issue will examine the history of human rights and survey some of the key debates about how these rights should be applied in current realworld situations. The analysis welcomes the fact that ghana is finally moving forward to adopt this key piece of democratic legislation. Ghana doesnt need rti bill casely hayford the publisher. Human rights advocacy centre to simplify the process in this book lawmaking process in.
In may the president signed it into law, with implementation expected to begin in january 2020. European union election followup mission ghana 2019. All persons have the right to information subject to. The paper argues that the passage of the right to information bill into law carries with significant opportunity for the development of sdi. Americans with disabilities act ada information materials can be provided in alternative formats. Taxpayers have the right to know what they need to do to comply. Major concerns over the right to information bill latest. The revised model freedom of information bill was considered and endorsed by commonwealth law ministers at their meeting of 1821 november 2002, held in kingstown, st vincent and the grenadines.
The republic of ghana is a member of the united nations and the african union. A parliamentary committee in ghana has advanced an amended right to information bill for consideration by the full parliament. This book also has a pictorial representation on an a2 poster. The government also invited civil society organizations to provide input and revisions to the osp bill in. Right to information bill ghana pdf provide a precis of the work that chri has been doing in ghana on rti issues. Ghana is a unitary presidential constitutional democracy with a parliamentary multiparty system. Ghana alternated between civilian and military governments until january 1993, when the military government gave way to the fourth republic of ghana after presidential and parliamentary elections in late 1992. Oct 16, 2011 in the bill, anybody including noncitizens has the right to apply to access information as stated in article 21 1 f of the 1992 constitution of ghana. The most flooded rivers are the white volta and its tributaries.
242 1257 1466 1084 539 381 318 87 902 1571 976 15 205 1334 332 1378 743 35 840 1283 1133 1370 1194 515 1006 801 769 1177 75 1008 292 228 1222 561