On Tuesday, February 4th, 2025, the Juaben Municipal Assembly’s Right to Information (RTI) Officer conducted a sensitization workshop for the Social Welfare staff in the Juaben, Ashanti Region. The session was aimed at familiarizing the staff with the key provisions of the RTI Act (989), which was passed in 2019, to enhance transparency and accountability in public institutions. The training sought to underscore the importance of the Act and equip workers with the knowledge necessary to promote open governance within their roles.
The RTI Officer, Prince Agyei-Mensah, welcomed the attendees and emphasized the critical role the RTI Act plays in fostering transparency within government institutions. He highlighted that the Act empowers citizens to access information from public institutions freely, without intimidation or undue barriers, which is crucial in building trust between the public and the government. Agyei-Mensah stressed that the training was part of a larger effort to educate all public institutions about their obligations under the Act to ensure good governance and improve service delivery.
During the session, Mr. Agyei-Mensah took the time to explain the formal process for requesting information under the RTI Act, noting that requests must be made in writing, clear, and concise, and could be submitted either electronically or on paper. However, he also made it clear that not all information is subject to disclosure. He outlined the various exemptions under the Act, including sensitive internal working documents, information related to national security, and details affecting international relations, which may be withheld to protect national interests.
The training concluded with an engaging question-and-answer segment, where the Social Welfare staff had the opportunity to seek clarification and share feedback on the application of the RTI Act in their daily work. The event was widely praised as a crucial step toward ensuring public institutions embrace the principles of transparency, accountability, and openness. The Juaben Municipal Assembly remains committed to fostering a culture of responsible governance by continually educating its staff and the public on their rights under the RTI Act.
