On February 20, 2025, the RTI officer for the West Gonja Municipal Assembly, in collaboration with Empowerment for Life, organized a vital workshop at the Sawla-Tuna Kalba District Assembly aimed at raising awareness about the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The workshop, which brought together staff members from the assembly, focused on deepening their understanding of the RTI Act 989, a law that guarantees citizens the right to access government-held information. This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to ensure transparency and enhance public service delivery through better access to vital government information.
Led by Mr. Shirazu Hussein, the RTI officer for the West Gonja Municipal Assembly, the workshop covered several crucial aspects of the law. Key discussions centered on the procedures for accessing information, the exemptions to disclosure, and the obligations of public institutions in facilitating information sharing. The session emphasized the importance of open governance and how the RTI Act fosters a culture of transparency, which is critical in empowering citizens to hold public institutions accountable.
During the session, Mr. Hussein provided a comprehensive explanation of the RTI Act, detailing the process for submitting formal information requests. He underscored that citizens are required to fill out a standard application form to initiate a request. The workshop also addressed the issue of information exemptions, explaining that while certain information may be restricted, these exemptions are not absolute. In some cases, if the benefits of disclosure outweigh the risks of withholding the information, it can be made accessible to the public. This nuanced approach helps to balance transparency with the need for confidentiality.
The workshop concluded with a strong commitment from the Kalba-Tuna District Assembly to uphold the principles of the RTI Act. The assembly staff expressed their gratitude for the valuable insights provided during the session and pledged to continue supporting the law’s implementation. Additionally, a key takeaway from the workshop was the clarification that applicants are not required to disclose the reasons for their information requests, reaffirming the citizens’ right to access information freely without unnecessary barriers. The event marked an important step toward fostering a more transparent and accountable public sector in the region.
