By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, June 3, GNA – Public officials who unlawfully deny access to information must be held personally liable and surcharged, Mrs Mary Awelana Addah, Executive Director of Transparency International Ghana, has said.
She explained that shifting the burden of sanctions from institutions to individuals would significantly reduce non-compliance with the Right to Information Act and promote accountability within the public service.
Mrs Addah made the call in Accra at the launch of the West African Right to Information Implementation Report and Stakeholder Dialogue, organised by TI Ghana.
The report forms part of a broader regional assessment under the SIKIA project, which examined the implementation of RTI laws across the West African sub-region.
Addressing participants, Mrs Addah said persistent bureaucracy, unjustified denial of requests, and weak enforcement mechanisms continued to undermine effective access to information.
“The best is that we sanction people. If we sanction people, then they will stop delaying the process,” she stated.
She stressed that individuals responsible for violations must bear the cost rather than institutions.
She noted that in many cases, RTI officers were not solely responsible for denials, as decisions could originate from higher authorities within public institutions.
“In some instances, the request is processed by the information officer, but the head of the institution decides not to release the information. We must identify who is responsible and ensure that such persons are held accountable.” Mrs Addah added.
She suggested that penalties, including fines, could be deducted directly from the emoluments of officials found culpable, drawing parallels with Ghana’s surcharge and disallowance regime.
According to her, enforcing personal liability would serve as a deterrent and encourage public officials to comply with disclosure requirements.
Mrs Addah also highlighted structural challenges affecting RTI implementation, including excessive red tape, high reproduction fees, and limited public awareness about the law.
She said although the RTI Act represented a significant milestone in promoting transparency and accountability, its impact remained constrained by weak enforcement and low utilisation by citizens.
“We expect citizens and civil society to actively demand information, but the level of engagement has not been encouraging,” she said, calling for intensified education and awareness campaigns.
The Executive Director underscored the role of the RTI Commission in addressing grievances and enforcing compliance, noting that the Commission had in some cases compelled institutions to release information and sanctioned unjustified delays.
She, however, urged citizens to go a step further by seeking redress in the courts where necessary, emphasising that access to information was a constitutional right.
“Access to information is not just about receiving documents. It is a powerful tool to promote good governance, strengthen democracy, and build trust in public institutions,” she said.
Mrs Addah called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that RTI laws moved beyond legislation to effective practice.
She emphasised that without strong enforcement and accountability mechanisms, the promise of transparency would remain unfulfilled.
Participants at the event, including representatives from civil society organisations, government agencies, and regional partners, discussed key findings from the report and explored practical measures to enhance compliance across the sub-region.
The discussions also touched on the need for the passage of the RTI Legislative Instrument in Ghana to provide clearer guidelines for implementation and improve disclosure practices.
GNA
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong