Congregants of the New Life Seventh Day Adventist Church in the Sunyani Municipality received extensive education on the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2019 (Act 989) during the church’s Global Youth Day celebration held on Saturday, 21st March 2026. The sensitisation programme, led by RTI Officer Ebenezer Bannor, formed part of ongoing efforts to deepen public understanding of the law and promote transparency, accountability, and participatory governance through community engagement. The initiative empowered participants with practical knowledge on their right to access information from public institutions and encouraged active civic participation in democratic governance.
Addressing the congregation, Mr. Bannor explained the key provisions, exemptions, and procedures under the RTI Act, stressing that every citizen has the legal right to request information from public institutions either verbally or in writing. He noted that applicants are not required to provide reasons for requesting information and indicated that institutions are mandated to respond within one to fourteen days. He further explained that in urgent situations, applicants may request expedited processing, which could allow access to information within forty-eight hours where justified. According to him, the RTI Law remains an essential tool for strengthening public trust and improving responsiveness in governance.
The sensitisation session featured a highly interactive engagement as participants raised questions and expressed concerns regarding access to public information and the responsibilities of public institutions under the law. Discussions focused on response timelines, the obligations of institutions to facilitate access to information, and the available remedies when requests are denied or delayed. Mr. Bannor provided detailed clarifications on the legal framework governing RTI requests and highlighted the important role of the Information Officer in assisting citizens to navigate the process of accessing information.
Participants expressed appreciation for the insightful and practical education delivered during the programme, describing it as timely and empowering. In his closing remarks, the RTI Officer encouraged members of the church to make effective use of the RTI Law as a means of promoting openness, accountability, and inclusive governance. He emphasized that informed and active citizen participation is vital to strengthening democratic governance and ensuring that public institutions remain responsive to the needs and interests of the people.
