Information
Officers and District Coordinating Directors (DCD) from Municipal and
district assemblies in the Northern Region have been sensitized on the Right to
Information (RIT) law. The training was to expose the technocrats at the
assemblies to the law and also their responsibilities and duties under law.
They were also taken through procedures involving in accessing information
under the RTI law.
The two days training was organized by Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)
in Tamale with supported from the DW academy.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday May 21, 2019 signed into law the Right To Information, RTI, Act.
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 subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society.”
Participants were taken through Introduction to RTI law, measures to increasing Public Awareness of the RTI Law and defining target groups and appropriate messages.
Explaining the rationale for the training to Zaa News, Programs Officer, Media and Good Governance Ms Adizatu Moro Maiga said the DCD and ISD officers needed the necessary capacity to ensure that the law is functional.
The citizens, Ms Adizatu said have to be empowered to know and be able to use the law to request information from the assemblies.
This, she noted will ensure pro-activeness and accountability in the local governance system.
The training she added was part of a big project MFWA is implementing to support government efforts I letting technocrats know about the law.
She admitted the challenges journalists go through in getting information from the assemblies, especially from the political heads.
She was optimistic that once the various heads including Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives are made known to the law, journalists challenges in getting information will be address.
