RTI to take centre stage of National Constitution Week

Accra, April 24, GNA - The Right to Information Bill takes centre stage at the Ninth annual Constitution Week celebration which would be from April 28 to May 4 throughout the country, a statement in Accra stated on Friday.

A panel of eminent citizens, including the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu; Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu; Minister of Information, Mrs Sabah Zita Okaikoi; Mr Akoto Ampaw from the Ghana Bar Association and Nana Kobina Nketsia, a traditional ruler, would lead a roundtable on Tuesday, April 29 at the Kofi Annan International ICT Centre. Other speakers would be Mr Kofi Quantson, a security expert; Mr Kofi Marrah of the World Bank Country Office in Accra, Professor Kwame Karikari from Media Foundation for West Africa and Nana Oye Lithur, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.

They would discuss the Bill and collect ideas on the changes proposed by the RTI Coalition.

The 9th Constitution Week organized by the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) is on the general theme: "Beyond Elections: Citizens' Participation and Government Accountability." It would focus on the Right to Information Bill, Election as an Essential Element of a Democratic Society, and the Challenges of Building a Culture of Effective Citizens' Participation in the Contemporary Democratic Dispensation.

Other activities earmarked for the celebration include discussions, debates and theatre performances to ensure that "the Constitution becomes a living document embossed on the minds and hearts of the people for the attainment of democracy and good governance in Ghana". Other national programmes include national championship of the Constitution Game competition and inaugural lecture on April 28 to be delivered by Chief Femi Falana, President of the West African Bar Association. The celebration is to enable Ghanaians to participate in discussions, debates, theatre performances and other activities on the Constitution to make it "a living document embodied on the mind and heart for the attainment of democracy and good governance". It is also as a result of an urgent demand for knowledge and information on the Constitution to accelerate the growth and sustenance of democracy and constitutionalism. 24 April 09