A well-informed public is crucial for holding leaders accountable – Akufo-Addo on strides with Ghana’s RTI law

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to make governance more open, accountable, and responsive to the needs of the people.

He said this in a statement read on his behalf by Education Minister Yaw Osei Adutwum at the global conference of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI in Accra on Tuesday, October 1.

The President highlighted Ghana’s strides in advancing access to information, particularly through the passage of the Right to Information (RTI) Act in 2019.

He reflected on the importance of political will in realizing this fundamental right, emphasizing that “a well-informed public is crucial for holding leaders accountable and ensuring meaningful participation in governance.”

The Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information for UNESCO, Tawfik Jelassi also acknowledged Africa’s strides in advancing the right to information.

He extolled Ghana for the passage and the implementation of the RTI law and indicated that the law is a success story and a model or standout achievement in Africa.

Tawfik Jelassi attributed this achievement to the law’s effectiveness in ensuring citizens’ access to public information and promoting transparency and accountability in governance.

The Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar also emphasized the role of technology in enhancing public access to government data, mentioning initiatives such as the GhanaToday.gov.gh platform and the upcoming Online Records Management System (ORMS), which will digitize the Right to Information application process.