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Source:savannanews24.com/Hamza Lansah Lolly:
The RTI Coalition and RTI Action Campaign Group have lauded the H.E. President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo for taken strong action in getting the Right to Information (RTI) Bill laid before parliament.
The RTI Bill was laid before Parliament by the Deputy Attorney General, Joseph Kpemka after a Cabinet approval.
The Bill has since been referred to the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of Committee of Parliament.
Parliament has begun the consideration of the Right to Information (RTI) Bill which has been in the House since 2013.
The right to information is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the country’s 1992 constitution and recognized as a right under International Conventions on Human rights. The bill will give substance to Article 21(1) (f) of the Constitution which states that “All persons shall have the right to information subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society”.
According to the RTI Coalition and its Action campaigners, the Bill, presented to Parliament was in partial fulfillment of the promise made to Ghanaians by H.E President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to have the near two decades old Bill laid and passed before Parliament rises in March 2018.
In a press release, the Coalition said, “the action taken by H.E the President to present the Bill to Parliament is a signal that the President is committed to the passage of the RTI Bill. We however note that the Bill has gone through similar processes in 2010, 2013 and 2016 without being passed by successive Parliaments”.
Read below is the Press Release:
PRESS RELEASE!!!
THE RTI COALITON AND THE RTI ACTION CAMPAIGN GROUP WELCOMES THE PRESENTATION OF THE RTI BILL BEFORE PARLIAMENT
The RTI Coalition and the RTI Action Campaign Group welcomes the important step taken by Executive to table the RTI Bill in Parliament at the last sitting of the House which ended on Friday, March 23rd 2018.
The Bill, presented to Parliament was in partial fulfillment of the promise made to Ghanaians by H.E President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to have the near two decades old Bill laid and passed before Parliament rises in March 2018.
Following this promise, the RTI Coalition and the RTI Campaign Action Group initiated a coordinated campaign for the speedy passage of the Bill and activated a 10 Day Countdown for government to, at the minimum table the RTI Bill before Parliament rose on Friday, 23rd March 2018.
The action taken by H.E the President to present the Bill to Parliament is a signal that the President is committed to the passage of the RTI Bill. We however note that the Bill has gone through similar processes in 2010, 2013 and 2016 without being passed by successive Parliaments.
We take note that the Bill has been referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Communications Committee of Parliament which has to decide whether or not the Bill will be considered under a certificate of urgency. Whatever the decision in this regard, the RTI Coalition and the RTI Campaign Action Group will be monitoring the processes very closely when Parliament resumes in May. In the interim the Group will undertake a series of capacity building activities to increase the knowledge of media and citizens on the content and benefits of the bill.
While we commend government for this effort, we would like to call on Parliament to expedite action on the Bill and ensure its passage during the second meeting of Parliament.
God Bless Ghana!
#PassTheRTIBillNow
ACCRA, MARCH 26, 2018
The RTI Campaign Group is a collaboration between the RTI Coalition, ADISS and a number of CSOs and individuals:
- H. Kwasi Prempeh – Ghana Centre for Democratic Development
- Linda Ofori-Kwafo – Ghana Integrity Initiative
- Samson Lardy Anyenini – A-Partners @ Law
- Ace Ankomah – Occupy Ghana
- Mina Mensah – Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
- Kofi Bentil – IMANI-Ghana
- Kojo Asante – Ghana Centre for Democratic Development
- Seth Abloso – RTI Coalition
- Beauty Narteh – Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition
- Bernard Avle – Citi FM
- George Osei-Bimpeh – SEND-Ghana
- Afia Pokua – Adom FM
- Shamima Muslim – Alliance for Women in Media
- Manasseh Azure Awuni – Joy FM
- Frederick Asiamah – Corruption Watch
- Daphne Lariba Nabila – Legal Resources Centre
- Abigail Larbi – Media Foundation for West Africa
- Gabriel Bennarku – Ghana Coalition for NGO’s in Health
- Ugonna Ukaigwe – CSO Platform on SDG’s
- Gloria Hiadzi – GIBA
- Alex Tetteh – Centre of Employment for Persons with Disability
- Jonathan Osei Owusu – POS Foundation
- Naa S. Sekyere – TUC
- Caroline Boateng – Graphic Communications Group
- Bright Sowu – GACC
- Abigail Gyimah – Ghana Integrity Initiative
- Volunteers
Source:savannanews24.com
