‘Political gimmicks’ – Minority jabs government over handling of RTI law

The government has been criticised for its failure to operationalise the Right to Information Law after President Akufo-Addo assented to it in May 2019.

The government had outlined a roadmap that would guide the laws coming into force in January 2020.

A commission was supposed to be set up with the due appointment of a commissioner. This has, however, not happened.

Speaking to JoyNews, the Ranking Member on the Constitutional and Legal and Affairs Committee of Parliament Inusah Fuseini argues the Akufo-Addo-led administration was never interested in implemented the RTI.

He said the government only sought to gain publicity with its passing of the then 17-year-old Bill. “I think it is political gimmick,” he told JoyNews’ Kwesi Parker Wilson.

He added that the government has gone silent on matters relating to the RTI because they do not want to be held accountable.

“With the Corruption Perception Index already marking down this government, it would be catastrophic if the RTI comes into full effect because people would now have the legal authority to demand documents,” the Tamale Central MP said.

How much will it cost to implement RTI?

A research conducted by the House found that it will cost the state GH¢750 million to implement the RTI over the next half-decade.

“The overall expenditure for establishing the Right to Information Commission and its administrative cost is the total addition of all components of cost,” the research found.

“These costs are the costs incurred in paying salaries to all personnel and the cost involved in acquiring logistics, maintaining assets and rent as well as the cost of employing the Executive Secretary to efficiently manage and operate the office.”

The research added, however, that if any of the underlying assumptions should change, the estimated cost will also be adjusted.

Source: Myjoyonline.com