On February 5, 2025, Akuoko Richard, an RTI officer stationed at the Nkoranza North District Assembly, Busunya, organized an informative RTI sensitization session at the Busunya Senior High School’s assembly hall. The event aimed to raise awareness about the Right to Information (RTI) Act and its critical role in fostering transparency and accountability within public institutions. The session targeted both students and staff, emphasizing how they could utilize the RTI Act to access information from public and private institutions.
During the event, Akuoko Richard explained the core principles of the RTI Act, which empowers citizens to request information from institutions, promoting openness in governance. He discussed the step-by-step process for submitting requests, the legal timelines within which information should be provided, and the associated costs for accessing certain types of information. Additionally, he highlighted the circumstances under which information could be withheld, particularly in the case of personal matters or confidential details.
The session also focused on providing clarity about the practical application of the RTI Act, making it relatable to the students and staff. Akuoko outlined the procedures for handling refusals to access information, including possible grounds for such decisions and how applicants could appeal them. By the end of the session, participants gained a deeper understanding of their rights and the mechanisms available to ensure that public institutions remain transparent and accountable.
The sensitization concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, where students actively participated and expressed their newfound knowledge of the RTI Act. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many students remarking on the importance of being informed about their rights. The event proved to be a successful initiative in empowering the next generation to actively engage in democratic processes and hold institutions accountable through the use of the RTI Act.
