Inadequate resources hampering RTI implementation

The Minister for Information Fatimatu Abubakar has outlined several significant challenges faced in 2023 during the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2019.
Presenting a statement to Parliament on the 2023 implementation of the RTI Act 2019, she stressed the need for increased financial resources and cooperation from public institutions to ensure the effective functioning of the RTI architecture.
She identified five primary challenges; inadequate financial resources, logistical constraints, attrition among RTI officers, limited cooperation from public institutions, and bureaucratic practices impeding the timely response to information requests.
According to her, the lack of adequate financial resources to undertake activities that ensure the effective functioning of the supply side of the RTI architecture, including quality assurance has been a major obstacle.”
She said, “Logistical constraints, particularly unreliable internet infrastructure, have also hindered the work of Information officers, especially in the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).”
The Minister also underscored attrition among RTI officers and stressing a notable number of resignations during the year.
“The reasons cited by the exited officers included traveling for further studies and job opportunities. This has reduced the number of RTI officers across various public institutions, making it difficult for the Division to provide back-end support to institutions,” she explained.
The Ministry, she said, also experienced challenges in getting some public institutions to comply with certain aspects of the law.
According to her, some heads of public institutions still sign-off responses to RTI requests contrary to Section 19 of the RTI Act, 2019.
She added that bureaucratic practices within public institutions have impeded the turnaround time for responses to information requests, further complicating the implementation process.
Fatimatu Abubakar called for increased budgetary allocations for both the RTI Commission and the ATI Division of the ISD to address the situation.
According to her, in the ensuing years, it is imperative that the budgetary allocations for the RTI Commission and the ATI Division are shored up to enable them to function effectively.
She emphasized the need for financial clearance to complete staffing and compliance measures.
“Financial clearance needs to be provided as a matter of urgency to enable the RTI Commission to complete the recruitment of its full complement of staff to resource its regional offices in Kumasi, Sunyani, and Bolgatanga.”
“Similarly, the ATI Division must replace exited officers and populate the outstanding 333 public institutions with information officers to ensure full compliance with the Act,” she stated.
She affirmed that the successful implementation of the RTI Act is crucial for promoting transparency and accountability in Ghana and stressed the need to overcome these challenges to ensure every citizen can exercise their right to information.
The RTI Commission, in 2023 received the annual reports of 322 out of an expected 683 institutions.
She said of the complying 322 institutions, 173 received applications for information; adding that those institutions in total received 1,749 requests
The Minister indicated that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) processed the highest number of requests, amounting to 115.
Out of the 1,749 requests received by the various public institutions, 1,225 were approved by the information officers of the public institutions representing 70% of the total number of applications received.
The total number of applications rejected various public institutions for varied reasons was 281, representing 16% of the total requests.
She noted that reasons cited for rejecting requests include exempt information and information not in the custody of the public institution.
She said 42 of the requests were transferred to other institutions for processing, 20 were deferred, 19 were partially granted and 162 were referred.
She informed the House that work would soon be completed on the Legislative Instrument (LI) for the RTI Act.
Mr Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business in Parliament, who commended the Information Minister for the timely presentation of the 2023 RTI Report, reiterated the government’s commitment to accountability and transparency.
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza, the Minority Chief Whip and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Adaklu, commended the Minister for complying with the time frame for the submission of the RTI Report to the House.
Mr Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, NDC MP for North Tongu, who said it took the nation more than 20 years to pass the RTI Bill into law, also commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for assenting to the RTI Bill.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Majority Chief Whip and New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, lauded the Yagbonwura and the Wa Naa for donating parcels of lands to the Information Ministry towards the construction of regional offices of the RTI Commission in the Savannah and Upper West regions.