Public Hearing on Information Bill held at Takoradi

Takoradi, Aug. 5, GNA - Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister= , on Friday said the government is determined to pass the Right to Informatio= n Bill into law, contrary to opinions of a section of the society. He was speaking at a public hearing on the Right to Information, organized by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Constitution, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and Communications at Takoradi. Mr Aidoo said there is the need to mobilize more support for the passage of the Bill because information sharing is the most democratic medium and has the greatest potential of safeguarding and promoting democracy.

"Access to information encourages citizens to take active part in governance and contribute meaningfully to any development agenda", he sai= d. Mr Aidoo said people must, however, be responsible enough not to overstep the country's frontiers to send out a piece of information that could threaten national security and which could give economic advantage to the country's competing neighbours. He hoped that information seekers would use the right procedure and no= t use unfriendly posture to seek information. Mr Aidoo said public officials must also be willing to give informatio= n to seekers, provided there are no legal restrictions on the particular information demanded.