Govt working on the Right to Information Bill

Accra, Aug. 14, GNA-Government is keen on ensuring that the public have access to information and the Executive arm is, therefore, working hard to place before Parliament for consideration the Right to Information Bill.

The Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice is working feverishly to fine-tune details and intricacies of the Bill to ensure that it was well executed.

Mrs. Oboshie Sai-Cofie, Minister of Information and National Orientation, on Tuesday disclosed these at the opening of a two-day international conference on information and "infopreneurship," in Accra on Tuesday.

The two-day conference on the theme: "Information as a Resource for Personal Development, Organisational growth and Wealth creation," would enable the public to understand the key role of information as a resource in the lives of all progressive people and organisations. Mrs. Sai-Cofie said the "the Commissioner of the Statute Law Revision is working to ensure that the enforcement of this law when passed to guarantee the right of the public to information, and also uphold the associated tenets of our constitution and the sovereign rights of the nation."

She said the right to information law must expand the frontiers of good governance and those of the rule of law, both of which would assist to promote freedom of speech and expression.

Mrs. Sai-Cofie said the theme was apt and that that increased opportunities in knowledge-based economies amidst intense competition had raised the profile of information as crucial asset for individuals, organisations and governments.

"One needs also to have adequate and relevant information available in real time to enable one to take advantage of opportunities all around," she said.

The Minister expressed the hope that the conference would help people to get new ideas and strategies for efficient gathering and dissemination of information. Mrs. Comfort Ocran, Chief Executive Officer of Legacy and Legacy, a human capital development organisation, co-organisers of the conference with the Ministry, said the event would explore the relationship between the need for, sources and use of information. Speakers for the conference included Dr. Mensa Otabil, Senior Pastor of the International Central Gospel Church, Kweku Sintim-Misa, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sapphire Ghana and Albert Ocran, CEO of Combert Impressions. 14 Aug 07