The Right To Information Unit of the Savannah Regional Coordinating Council (RTIU-SRCC) recently organized a vital sensitization session on the Right To Information Act 2019 for the Regional Education Directorate of the Savannah Region. The initiative forms part of an ongoing effort to provide comprehensive knowledge about the RTI Act 2019, focusing on its implementation, modes of access, and the roles of public officers in its enforcement.
Mrs. Mabel Judith Micah, the Regional Director of Education, delivered the opening address, emphasizing the need for a thorough understanding of the RTI Law. She highlighted that the Act serves as a tool for transparency and accountability in public institutions.
During the presentation, Vincent Agyapong-Mensah, the RTI Officer, urged officers to refrain from actions that might infringe upon applicants’ constitutional right of access to information, which could result in sanctions specified in the Act. He cited recent examples of actions and inactions by public officers and institutions, along with the subsequent sanctions. Agyapong-Mensah also stressed that no institution is exempt from the RTI Law and underlined the importance of diligence in carrying out their duties. The Act’s primary goal is to promote transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness in the daily operation of public institutions and relevant private organizations.
Agyapong-Mensah assured the officers that the Act is not designed to target public officers but to encourage a culture of inclusiveness, fostering transparency and accountability through the exercise of the fundamental human right of access to information, a right that public officers also enjoy. The session featured a high level of interactivity, enabling questions and discussions.
In her closing remarks, Mrs. Mabel Judith Micah expressed her appreciation for the enlightening session and pledged compliance with the Act to promote transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness within the Regional Education Directorate.
This sensitization program exemplifies the Savannah Regional Education Directorate’s commitment to transparency and accountability in public institutions within the region, ensuring that public officers are well-informed about their roles in upholding the principles of the RTI Act 2019.