Major concerns over the right to information bill latest. Jul 15, 2018 a days sensitization workshop on right to information rti bill has been held in yendi. Jul 17, 2016 20160717 the longawaited right to information bill which has been in parliament for more than a decade may not be passed into law after all, as parliament does not appear eager to pass it. Rti bill will be law before parliament rises akufoaddo. The ghana anticorruption coalition gacc has reiterated the countrys fight against corruption will continue to be hampered if the right to information bill is not passed. Right to information bill ghana pdf provide a precis of the work that chri has been doing in ghana on rti issues. Issued by the right to information coalition the coalition on the right to information, ghana has noted with great concern his excellency john dramani mahamas comments on ghanas right to information rti bill in an interview on dw tv political talk show called conflict zone on october 7. An option paperzero draft introduction the ghana right to information bill, 2010 seeks to provide for the implementation of the right to information guaranteed under article 211f of the. Analysis of ghanas right to information bill centre for law and. In 2003, the government of ghana prepared the first draft of the right to information rti bill to give effect to the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental right to information. Tamas meszerics, chief observer of the european union election observation mission eu eom for the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections in ghana. Ghanas parliament has failed to pass a right to information bill despite years of promises by the president and government leaders. Issued by the right to information coalition the coalition on the right to information, ghana has noted with great concern his excellency john dramani mahamas comments on ghanas right to information rti bill in an interview on dw tv political talk show called conflict zone on october 7, 2015. Absence of rti law mockery anticorruption coalition.
This book also has a pictorial representation on an a2 poster. To set up an online repository of legal information from ghana, towards the promotion of rule of law, judicial accountability and good governance in ghana and africa. Ghana committee approves right to information bill freedom info. In ghana, the rti is a constitutionally guaranteed right enshrined under article 21 1 f of the 1992 constitution, which provides that. The right to information is guaranteed and entrenched in the constitution.
Ghana doesnt need rti bill casely hayford the publisher. Ghanas constitution of 1992 with amendments through 1996. Forum on the right to information bill held in yendi. The draft model freedom of information bill was considered by senior officials at their meeting in november 2001, held at marlborough house, london. Supreme court decisions ghana legal information institute. Office of information commissioner report to the queensland legislative assembly no. The effort was to create the needed awareness to ensure that. However, while the legal framework is necessary, it is not sufficient to ensure real access to public sector information by the public. The content of the act rests on the welfare principles that recognize that the interest of the child shall be. Ghanas human rights court gives life to the right to information. Following some degree of consultations with civil society, the bill was finally laid before. They are entitled to clear explanations of the laws and irs procedures in all tax forms, instructions, publications, notices, and correspondence. A critique of the draft right to information bill, ghana.
Ghana alternated between civilian and military governments until january 1993, when the military government gave way to the fourth republic of ghana after presidential and parliamentary elections in late 1992. The centre for law and democracy cld has released an analysis of ghana s 2018 right to information bill, which is now before parliament. Providing information in a timely manner on government activities can expose corruption at its birthing stages and ensure that the path of the looted money is traced, says right to information. However, the ghana right to information bill currently before parliament is very weak in this direction and could take more than half a year in certain situations before a request for information is granted. The content of the act rests on the welfare principles that recognize that the interest of the child shall be central in all matters concerning the child. The objects for which the ghana legal information institute ghalii was formed are. This issue will examine the history of human rights and survey some of the key debates about how these rights should be applied in current realworld situations. Human rights advocacy centre to simplify the process in this book lawmaking process in. Following months of advocacy by civil society groups, in march parliament passed the right to information bill, which had languished for 20 years. In the book, the introductory part covers the historical overview of ghanas legislature and the composition of the parliament of ghana. The coalition on the right to information, ghana is a group of civil society organisations and human rights activists working to promote good. License of an exclusive economic right may be granted in writing, orally or inferred by conduct. This memorandum analyses the draft right to information bill of the republic of ghana draft law. The paper argues that the passage of the right to information bill into law carries with significant opportunity for the development of sdi.
This comment contains article 19s analysis of the draft right to information bill of ghana draft bill, which has been prepared by the government. Right to information empowers every citizen to seek any information from the government, inspect any government documents and seek certified photocopies thereof. The european union deployed an election followup mission efm to ghana on 5 september 2019. Implementing child rights and protection law in ghana. What is right to information right to information wiki. In a way, ghana needs to catch up to be internationally credible and. Cic online new website of the central information commission for filing complaints and appeals arising from use of the right to information act, 2005. The republic of ghana is a member of the united nations and the african union. The ghana right to information bill, 2010 seeks to provide for the implementation of the right to information guaranteed under article 211f of the constitution of the republic of ghana, 1993. Digital preservation, freedom of information foi, right to information rti information infrastructure. Anybody can apply to any government agency or body for access to information, according to the right under the right to information bill. Ghana s ambassador to france, anna bossman has called on ghanaians, especially government to stop shielding corrupt. Rti bill commissioned by the institute of economic affairs iea ghanas.
Ghana is about to enact a right to information law now the right to inform ation bill to provide a legal framework fo r making public sector information accessible to th e public. The centre for law and democracy cld has released an analysis of ghanas 2018 right to information bill, which is now before parliament. Casely hayford downplayed the significance of passing the rti bill, arguing that since the constitution guarantees those same rights the bill would have offered, its passage was unnecessary. The bill is meant to put in effect, article 21 1 f of the 1992 constitution of the republic of ghana which states that all persons shall have the right to information.
This bill is to enable citizens to hold government accountable to ensure that there is a high level of transparency in governance of the country. Dopt the department of personnel and training, ministry of personnel, public grievances, and pensions, is charged with being the nodal agency for the right to information act, 2005. Oct 16, 2011 in the bill, anybody including noncitizens has the right to apply to access information as stated in article 21 1 f of the 1992 constitution of ghana. It is the responsibility of the government to make available general information on governance and any person applying for information may do so. The information professionals role in the right to. Jun 12, 2018 the centre for law and democracy cld has released an analysis of ghanas 2018 right to information bill, which is now before parliament. Model freedom of information bill the commonwealth. The law is intended to foster more transparency and accountability in public affairs. Apr 15, 2016 one of those issues is the right to information. Two satellite images encompassing most of ghana reveal extensive flooding. Is it plausible to suppose we can reach a truly universal agreement on what human rights are. It is an initiative taken by department of personnel and training, ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions to provide a rti portal gateway to the citizens for quick search of information on the details of first appellate authorities,pios. Americans with disabilities act ada information materials can be provided in alternative formats. The government also invited civil society organizations to provide input and revisions to the osp bill in.
Powers of search and arrest surrender, suspension and cancellations of mineral rights 67. Ghana and the information cannot be obtained in any other way. Suspension or cancellation of mining lease or restricted mining lease 70. The effort was to create the needed awareness to ensure that effort being made to pass the bill was expedited. Freedominfo ghana parliament ends without rti legislation. Bearing in mind the civil society campaign of many years for adoption of. The bill was tabled before parliament on february 5, 2010 and it was specifically allocated to. The draft law was prepared by the department of the attorney general and. However speaking on citi fms news analysis programme, the big issue, mr. The most flooded rivers are the white volta and its tributaries.
One of the best is chapter 12 of our constitution that guarantees a free and independent media. Article 211f of the constitutions provides that all persons shall have the right to information, subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society. Introduction this memorandum analyses the draft right to information bill of the republic of ghana draft law. Mar 06, 2018 20180306 president nana addo dankwa akufoaddo has served notice he will give impetus to his fight against corruption by impressing on parliament to pass the right to information bill rti.
The preamble indicates that the rti bill is meant for implementing the right to. The united states of america, united kingdom, south africa, kenya, nepal, etc. Ghana the world factbook central intelligence agency. European union election followup mission ghana 2019. Right to information coalition, ghana home facebook. The draft law was prepared by the department of the attorney general and was subsequently forwarded to the ministry of information to circulate for public comment. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact oeo through the. The ghana right to information bill, 2010 news ghana. A right to information activist says parliaments delay in passing the right to information bill for ghanaian citizens may be due to politicians misconstruing of the law as one for the media and their fear that it will give too much power to the media. Right to information act 2005 mandates timely response to citizen requests for government information. A parliamentary committee in ghana has advanced an amended right to information bill for consideration by the full parliament. It was first adopted by sweden in 1766 and finland in 1951. Ghana is about to enact a right to information law now the right to information bill to provide a legal framework for making public sector information accessible to the public. Ghana is a unitary presidential constitutional democracy with a parliamentary multiparty system.
In may the president signed it into law, with implementation expected to begin in january 2020. Right to information also empowers citizens to official inspect any government work or to take the sample of material used in any work. The government also invited civil society organizations to provide input and revisions to the osp bill in 2017 and the right to information bill in 2018. Timely disclosure of information is fundamental to the efficacy of any right to information legislation. Minerals and mining act natural resource governance institute. Many advocates and commentators prior to the passage of the rti act, pointed to a draft.
Forum on the right to information bill held in yendi ghana. Here is some general information about you new host country the flag the coat of arms the national anthem maps data on ghana introduction geography climate people education history ghanas presidents government and political conditions economy foreign relations links the flag of ghana. All persons have the right to information subject to. An author has the right to transfer ownership in the economic right to the work by assignment, testamentary disposition or operation of law. Issued by the right to information coalition the coalition on the right to information, ghana has noted with great concern his excellency john dramani mahamas comments on ghana s right to information rti bill in an interview on dw tv political talk show called conflict zone on october 7, 2015. Ghanas ambassador to france, anna bossman has called on ghanaians, especially government to stop shielding corrupt. The revised model freedom of information bill was considered and endorsed by commonwealth law ministers at their meeting of 1821 november 2002, held in kingstown, st vincent and the grenadines.
The crux of this publication how a draft bill becomes a law is then discussed. Analysis of right to information bill centre for law. Right to information law not for media alone coalition. In the bill, anybody including noncitizens has the right to apply to access information as stated in article 21 1 f of the 1992 constitution of ghana. The view on the left taken on 12 september 2007 shows river systems throughout the length and breadth of the small country swollen compared to conditions in june right before the rainy season started. A days sensitization workshop on right to information rti bill has been held in yendi. The right to information is not a new on the continent. A levy is imposed on every device capable of copying a work protected by. The analysis welcomes the fact that ghana is finally moving forward to adopt this key piece of democratic legislation. Taxpayers have the right to know what they need to do to comply.
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