The Ministry of Information has championed a pioneering initiative, putting the Access to Information Division (ATID) of the Information Services Department (ISD) at the forefront of organizational endeavours, in a monumental leap towards reinforcing Ghana’s commitment to transparency and accountability. This significant step was highlighted during a Public Forum on December 13, 2023, where Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah emphasized the ATID’s pivotal role in fortifying the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The comprehensive research initiative, commissioned by the Honourable Minister for Information in 2022, delves deeply into the processes that led to the passage, implementation, and enforcement of the RTI Act. During the Public Forum, Minister Oppong Nkrumah revealed key findings, shedding light on challenges encountered throughout the implementation journey.

Resource constraints, institutional cultural barriers, and delays in passing a Legislative Instrument were among the obstacles identified. Based on in-depth interviews and secondary data, the research provided valuable insights into Ghana’s transformative journey with the RTI Act. The Honourable Minister praised the collaborative efforts that resulted in the law’s passage in 2019, highlighting the exceptional framework established for transparency and access to information.
Among the panel were Dr. Winnifred Nafisa Mahama (Director of the Access to Information Division), Yaw Sarpong Boateng, Esq. (Executive Secretary of the Right to Information Commission), Zakaria Tanko Musah, Esq. (Lecturer/Private Legal Practitioner), and Hon. Alhaji Ben Abdullah Banda, Esq. (Presidential Co-ordinator, Zongo and Inner Cities Development Secretariat).

Dr. Winnifred Nafisa Mahama expressed excitement about the RTI Act’s progress, acknowledging challenges while emphasizing the need for ongoing efforts to ensure widespread public benefit. Stakeholders agreed on the importance of collaboration, structured approaches, and committed leadership in ensuring the RTI law’s continued success.

This research initiative, led by the Access to Information Division, emerges as a cornerstone in bolstering Ghana’s RTI Act implementation. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and lays the groundwork for strategic solutions, ensuring the law’s effective implementation and long-term impact on transparency and information access in the country.
