The Coalition on the Right to Information has issued a communiqué
calling on government to pass the Right to Information Bill currently
in parliament.
The coalition says President Mills should honour the promise made to
the people of Ghana by taking expedient steps to pass the right to
information bill as a pre-requisite for good governance, respect for
human rights and the rule of law.
The communiqué was issued at a workshop to educate stakeholders on the
right to Information in the Eastern Regional capital Koforidua.
The communiqué says the absence of a specific law to enforce the right
to information as enshrined in the 1992 constitution under Article 21
clause 1 (f) significantly undermines the enjoyment and full right of
this fundamental human rights.
The coalition believes that if an effective law is passed, it will go
a long way to consolidate the county's political stability by
promoting dialogue and mutual understanding and facilitate development
by enabling the people to participate in planning, monitoring and
implementation of development process.
The coalition among other issues said that the right to information
law is crucial in fighting corruption in the public system.
The coalition further requested that certain parts of the current bill
be revised.
It said the law should provide an independent body to oversee its
implementation and promote a culture of openness.
Placing this vital function with the Attorney General, the coalition
said, tends to undermine the potential efficacy of the law and
contradicts international principles governing such laws.
It said the right to information law must have the creation of
efficient mechanisms for accessing information by providing a
reasonable timescale specifically 10 days to make a decision of an
application.
It added that government should be committed to educating the public
to the right to information law. It is the hope of all stakeholders
especially the Coalition on the Right to Information that the law
would be passed to help in the country's democratic process.
Story by Benjamin Henaku/Myjoyonline
Source: myjoyonline - Myjoyonline.com
