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Stakeholder workshop on RTI implementation roadmap held in Accra

A stakeholder workshop on the roadmap to the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, was yesterday held in Accra.

The workshop organised by the Ministry of Information, the implementing agency sought to kick-start operationalisation of the bill which was passed into law about two months ago.

It was attended by staff from the MOI, the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), members of the RTI Coalition and members from the constitutional, legal and parliamentary affairs committee of Parliament.

Opening the workshop, the Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the workshop was part of measures to ensure that stakeholders aligned with the processes required for the law before its full implementation on January 2 next year.

He said government was committed to ensuring that the Act was implemented for the common good of the citizenry and would continue to engage major stakeholders to remove all the bottlenecks that were likely to hinder its smooth implementation.

“The RTI is a product of collaboration. It is therefore important to bring stakeholders back on the table for the roadmap for the implementation,” he emphasised.

The minister said the workshop would afford participants the opportunity to make suggestions and inputs to the draft roadmap for smooth implementation.

On his part, a member of the RTI Coalition, Mr Akoto Ampaw said the path opened by the MOI showed government’s commitment towards the RTI.

He said even though the law provided that the implementation of the law should begin next year, the bringing together of stakeholders to deliberate on the draft roadmap for implementation further demonstrated government commitment to the whole process.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assented to the Act last week which was passed by parliament last March this year.

The RTI Law gives effect to Article 21(1) (f) of the 1992 constitution which states that “All persons shall have the right to information subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary for a democratic society”.

By Cliff Ekuful

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