Media Foundation For West Africa Organizes Training On RTI For Media And Citizens In Ashanti Region
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A non-governmental Organization, Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), has organized a training workshop on the Right to Information Law for media and citizens in the Ashanti region over the week at Miklin Hotel. Kumasi.
Addressing participants during the training, the Fact-Check Lead, Mr. Kwaku Krobea Asante said the RTI law was first enacted by the parliament of Sweden in 1766, Finland in 1954, US, 1966, Norway in 1970 and Ghana passed it into law in 2019 under His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The law, according to Mr. Asante has exempted private some institutions but focus mainly on public and other private institutions that uses public funds.
Explaining how one can applied for any information from the required institution, stressed that the law permits every Ghanaian to demand for any information he or she seeks to have but was quick to state that…the require time limit for applicant to have access to information after application is submitted is 14-working days.
He also revealed that request for information may be in writing, electronic and oral. However, personal information in the RTI law is exempted.
Mr Asante averred that when an applicant refused of information from any institution, the person can write to the Right to Information Commission to intervene on behalf of applicant.
Addressing participants, he highlighted challenges confronting the RTI law; mentioned lack of awareness, training of information officers, record keeping and storage of information, lacuna on number of days public institution supposed to respond to an applicant, and conflict with other existing laws.
According to him, the series of training workshop for citizens on RT Laws also held in the Ahafo Ano North Municipaland Offinso North Municipal and Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, bringing together over 200 participants.
The training workshop has it funding and supported from OSIWA.
He noted also that, in our quest to progressively become abreast with the law and acquire swift response, applicants can also apply online or manual…but we must be transparent, and always be on point with the information you seek to receive.
In conclusion, participants were grouped into four category and answered a sample application form for access to information under the RTI Act 2019 (Act 989)
