Whistleblower bill passed

Accra, July 27, GNA - Parliament on Thursday passed the Whistleblower Bill, which seeks to provide for the manner in which individuals may in the public interest disclose information that relates to unlawful or other illegal conduct or practice.

It also provides protection against victimization of persons, who make these disclosures and a fund to compensate individuals, who make the disclosures.

The Bill is in five main parts. The first part and second parts make provision for the disclosure of impropriety and procedures for making a disclosure, respectively.

The other areas covered by the Bill, include protection against victimization, establishment of a fund, sources of the money for the funds and the management and disbursement of the funds. According to the memorandum accompanying the Bill, it seeks to promote public spiritedness and a sense of nationalism.

Members had earlier said provisions of the Bill were consistent with the Constitution and would help to combat corruption and impropriety.

They submitted that the object and purpose of the Bill was to expose corruption and acts of impropriety generally. According to Members, such acts of disclosure had nothing to do with secrecy as it related to State laws on secrecy, which had been used in the past to encourage concealment of corruption and impropriety. Earlier in the day, the House passed the West African Examination Council and the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training Bills.