RTI Bill: GJA calls for an independent implementation c’ssion

President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Roland Affail Monney has called for an independent body to see to the implementation of the Right To Information Bill (RTI), if passed into law.

According to him, the current provision which gives the Attorney General the powers to oversee implementation does not augur well for the public, for whom the law is meant.

“We think that there is no fundamental difference between the Attorney General (AG) and government,” he said on TV3 on Friday, July 26, 2013.

“So we are advocating for an independent commission to look at the implementation of the proposed law,” he stressed.

He expressed concerns about the 90-day period within which a request for information will be granted, asking authorities to consider Nigeria’s example.

“This duration should be looked at because Nigeria has a 7-day waiting period within which one can obtain information.”

The Bill is before Parliament and already President John Mahama has given assurance that he will assent it immediately it is passed.