The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), in partnership with the Right to Information Commission (RTIC), held its first Right to Information (RTI) sensitization program for the year 2024, at the Omanye Aba Hall, AMA Head Office.
The Right to Information Act, passed by parliament and assented to by the President on 21st May 2019, guarantees the public access to information from public institutions and relevant private bodies.
Led by the RTIC in collaboration with the AMA RTI Unit, the sensitization aimed to educate and enlighten AMA staff about the Right to Information Law.
Miss Beatrice Twumasi, from the Enforcement Investigations and Compliance Department of the RTI Commission, provided a brief overview of the RTI Act 2019 (Act 989). She emphasized the responsibilities of public institutions under the act, including the obligation to generate, store, and provide accurate information. Additionally, she highlighted the need for public institutions to establish a Right to Information Unit headed by an Information Officer.
Lawyer Yaw Asiamah, facilitator for the sensitization, elaborated on the provisions of the Act guaranteeing public access to information from both public and relevant private institutions. He explained the procedures for accessing information and identified exempt information categories such as information for the president, cabinet, vice president, and law enforcement and public safety matters.
Lawyer Asiamah also clarified that while access to information is free, a fee of 28 Ghana pesewas, approved by Parliament through The Fees and Charges Act, applies to hard-copy document requests.