As part of a fact-finding mission on Ghanaian Parliamentary Operations by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in partnership with the House of Democracy Partnership (HDP), a delegation from NDI and HDP visited the Right to Information Commission on February 22, 2024.
The visit aimed to deepen the delegation’s understanding of the information landscape in Ghana, current threats to transparency, and how government institutions are working to promote access to public information and also allow HDP, NDI, International Republican Institute (IRI) and U. S. Congressional staff to learn more about the internal operations, relationships with outside organizations like the RTI Commission.
The Executive Secretary for the Right to Information Commission, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq., and the General Manager for Policy, Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Mr. Kofi Amoah Sarpong, welcomed the delegation on behalf of the Commission and engaged them in a productive discussion about the Commission’s efforts since 2020 to implement the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989).
During the meeting, the delegation had the opportunity to learn about the Commission’s strategies to enhance public awareness of the right to information, streamline its processes, and establish regional offices to facilitate information access across the country. These efforts exemplify Ghana’s commitment to strengthening transparency and promoting good governance.
Ghana has made significant strides in recent years to improve access to public information, and the visit by the NDI and HDP delegation offers an excellent opportunity to showcase these advancements.
As Ghana continues to prioritize transparency and access to public information, engagement with international institutions like the NDI, HDP, and the International Republican Institute (IRI) provide valuable insights and expertise. The fruitful exchange of ideas between the delegation and the Right to Information Commission will undoubtedly contribute to Ghana’s democratic development and strengthen its reputation as a leader in promoting accountability and transparency in governance.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.ccom/Kwabena Nyarko Abronoma
