The Dean of the School of Communication Studies at the Wisconsin University College, Professor Kwame Karikari, has urged the government to provide the required structures needed to boost the smooth implementation of the Right To Information (RTI) law.
“The important thing is setting up the infrastructure for the effective and efficient implementation of the law by appointing as early as possible the commissioner, support staff for commission, appointment of board, the chair and members of the board of governing body for implementation of the law, provide infrastructure and other facilities,” he stressed.
Speaking on the sidelines of a civil society stakeholders forum on the Right to Information Act 2019 (Act 989), Prof. Karikari expressed excitement about advancement of professional journalism with introduction of the Act and noted how progressive and how much journalists could improve their work with its implementation.
“Regardless, media persons should not exceed their expectations by assuming the law can help them achieve short deadlines as far as content creation and information generation for publication and dissemination are concerned.
“It is progressive law, we hope to implement efficiently and effectively, I think provisions provide you an opportunity to improve work because it enhances advancement of professional journalism, however, you must not think you can use the law to achieve short deadlines.
“The law requires when you seek information, there is a certain time period within which you can access information, daily deadlines are not necessarily what the law is about but for media content and reporting issues that do not require immediate deadlines.
“The onus falls on mass media and the National Commission on Civic Education to accrue necessary resources for thorough education of public about the law, the citizenry to make effective and efficient use of right need education, acquire knowledge and empowered to seek information of interest to them.
“The mass media must take it up as duty to educate and sensitise the public about the law, I think the National Commission on Civic Education should also be requested to look for resources to engage in widespread and thorough education and sensitisation of the citizenry on right to information law that has been passed,” Prof Karikari postulated. -ghanaweb.com
