We are determined to pass RTI Bill into law – Bagbin

Majority Leader, Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has assured that the Legislature is more determined to pass the Right To Information (RTI) Bill, 2015 into law before the dissolution of the 6th Parliament by end of October, 2016.

Bagbin who is also the Leader of Government Business gave the assurance when presenting the Business Statement of the first week of the 4th Meeting of the 4th Session of the 6th Parliament of the 4th Republic on the floor of the House on Tuesday.

On November 12, 2013, the RTI Bill, 2015 was tabled before the 6th Parliament and was subsequently referred to the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee for consideration and report to the plenary.

The Committee presented its report to the House in December 2014 recommending 157 clauses of amendments to the Bill.

In March 2016, Parliament began the consideration of the Bill with the proposed amendments by the Select Committee. Between March and June, 2016, Parliament had considered 29 out of the 157 clauses of amendments.

However, Parliament suspended the consideration of the RTI Bill to make room for some other Bills they described were very much of interest to the nation.

The Right To Information Coalition which is championing the passage of the Bill has since then voiced its displeasure about the way Parliament is handling the Bill.

On Tuesday, October 11, 2016, some members of the Coalition stormed the various streets leading to the Parliament of Ghana and demanded from the Speaker and the legislators to pass the RTI Bill, 2015 before the dissolution of the 6th Parliament.

But the Majority Leader who is also the MP for Nadowli/Kaleo constituency briefing Members on the Business Statement of the House said “Mr. Speaker, I want to emphasize on the RTI Bill. It is very crucial. The Committee is proposing that we finish this Bill before we rise by the end of this month.”