Forum calls for passage of Right To Information Bill

Participants at a forum organised by the Mission of Hope in collaboration with Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative at Zebilla, at the weekend, called on Parliament to speed up the passage of the Right to Information Bill.

The participants, made up of chiefs, queen mothers, party leaders, Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) and the Butchers Association among others, stressed that “the bill when amended and passed into law will afford the citizens the right to request for official information thereby removing speculations and mistrust”.

They advocated that the passage of the bill into law would also lead to transparency and accountability and further provide citizens with the requisite knowledge about the distribution of resources at both local and national levels.

“It will also provide citizens the opportunity to participate in decision making and implementation of activities and programmes that affect their lives. The law will mandate state organizations and institutions to periodically publish their performances and challenges for public understanding”.

The participants also indicated that the passage of the bill into law would give maximum freedom and protection to the present and future generations.

“Currently, we are suffering in getting information about our country and it is affecting our lives. We need to press for the passage of the law on the right to information in order to set our children free from bondage”.

Mr Awal Nashim, one of the participants, said the bill was not for the benefit of one particular group of people but the general public.

He backed his assertion with an opinion on the construction of the Bolgatanga-Navrongo road where the government was to build it into a dual carriage road but information on the project was disseminated late when the site contractor had begun making a single lane although they protested for expansion, it was too late.

According to the participants, there should be an independent information body, which should have sufficient powers to oversee the implementation of law rather than the Attorney General’s office.

Participants indicated that chargeable fees or deposit was not necessary in respect to accessibility of public information as stipulated in the current bill and should be amended before its passage into law.

They stated that the time frame for providing information to the public should be limited to, not more than two weeks so as to make the law more efficient.