The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has said requests for information from public institutions have increased, with the majority of requests focusing on the economy, making it the topmost on the list following the operationalized Right To Information (RTI)Act.
Responding to questions on the floor of Parliament from colleague MPs on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, the Minister said; “24 of the request was received for the ministries and agencies related to the Finance sector, 22 of them were on public safety, 21 of them were on the social services sector, 10 were on the administrative sector, that is the Attorney General’s department, Information Ministry, and other administrative departments. 8 of them were focused on the infrastructural sector, that is, roads and related sectors.”
“Mr Speaker, In 2021, 51 of the requests were focused on the economic sector, 29, were on the infrastructure sector, 27 were on the administrative sector, 19, on the social services sector. 2022 is still just around the 1st quarter. By the time I return to the chamber, I’ll bring that report.”
According to the sector minister, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, 233 information requests have been filed so far.
The RTI Act was introduced in 2019 to help give access to information in the public sectors as it is the constitutional right of a citizen and foster democracy and transparency. It began operation in January 2020.
Background
Procedure for Access
The following are the application procedures one is expected to follow in order to apply for access to information in a public institution inclusive of Ministry of Aviation. This provision is stipulated in Section 18 of the RTI Act 2019, Act 989 as stated below:
Application to access to information
(1) an application to access information held by a public institution shall
(a) be made in writing to the public institution,
(b) contain sufficient description or particulars to enable the information to be identified,
(c) indicate the form and manner of access required,
(d) state the capacity of the applicant to satisfaction of the information officer to whom the application is made, if the application is made on behalf of another person,
(e) state the name of the applicant, an address to which a communication or notice can be sent,
(f) provide identification of the applicant; and
(g) be signed by the applicant.
(2) Where an applicant is unable to make the application in writing due to illiteracy or a disability, the applicant may make the request orally.
(3) Where a request is made orally under subsection (2), the request shall be reduced into writing by the information officer to whom the applicant is made, who shall give a copy of the written request as recorded and as duly authenticated to the applicant.
(4) Where the applicant is illiterate, and the request has been reduced into writing, the information officer shall
(a) clearly and correctly read and explain the written request to the
understanding of the applicant in accordance with the Illiterates` Protection Act ,1912 (Cap 262);
(b) ask a witness to endorse on the face of the request that “the request was
read to the applicant in the language the applicant understands and the applicant appeared to have understood the content of the request“; and (c) ask the applicant to make a thumbprint or mark on the request.
(5) Where an application does not sufficiently describe the information required,
the public institution to which the application is made shall so inform the applicant and offer the applicant the necessary assistance to identify the information.
(6) Where a public institution receives an application for access, part of which is
exempt, the information officer shall disclose to the applicant as much of the information as can reasonably be separated without disclosing the exempt part.
(7) For the purpose of this section, the reference to “writing” in subsection (3)
includes electronic form and “Braille”.
