Group appeals to Parliament to pass Information Bill

Participants at a focus group discussion in Koforidua have appealed to Parliament to pass the Right to Information Bill (RTI) with the necessary amendments to make it more beneficial to the ordinary citizens.

The group called for the simplification of the mode and format for requesting for information and the response under the law so that illiterates could take advantage of the law.

This came to light at a focus group discussion on the RTI organized by the Eastern Regional Branch of the Coalition on the Bill for representatives of selected institutions and organizations in the Eastern Region on Wednesday.

The groups include the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) of the Trade Union Congress, Local Council of Churches, media personnel, Ghana National Association of Teachers-Ladies (GNAT-LAS) and representatives of some Civil Society Organizations.

The group suggested that the law should make it possible for the response to be communicated to the enquirer in the language that he or she understands to enable the vast majority of the illiterate population to also benefit from the law.

The group suggested that an independent organization be established to implement the RTI law to help insulate that office from unnecessary political interference in the work of the organization.

The group also called for the implementing body to be decentralized with offices in all the districts to help prevent the situation where people would have to travel to seek redress.

The group suggested to Parliament to ensure that the final law provides a frame work for the resolution of an appeal at the district level because a referral to the Supreme Court would make the law a preserve for the elite in the society.

This is because the ordinary citizen, who needs the support of the law most, would not have the courage and the necessary resources to take up issues at the Supreme Court.

Source: GNA