RTI Commission Engages Stakeholders on Information Access, Misinformation

The Right to Information (RTI) Commission has engaged stakeholders on the effectiveness of the Right to Information Act and the challenges confronting its implementation, with calls for measures to close existing gaps in the law and improve access to public information.

The engagement, on the theme, “Upholding information integrity in the digital age: The role of access of information in addressing information disorder,” held as part of activities marking RTI Month, brought together representatives of public institutions, the media, civil society organisations, the diplomatic community and other stakeholders to discuss access to information and information integrity in the digital age.

A key feature of the engagement was a panel discussion on the effectiveness of the RTI law, during which participants examined the extent to which the legislation had achieved its objectives since its implementation.

The panel discussion ongoing

The panel also identified existing lacunae and practical challenges in the application of the law, including difficulties in accessing information from public institutions, delays in responding to requests and gaps in institutional compliance.

The panellists subsequently proposed measures to fill the identified gaps, strengthen implementation and make the RTI regime more responsive to the needs of citizens.

The discussions formed part of broader efforts to examine the role of access to information in combating misinformation, malinformation and other forms of information disorder, particularly in the digital era.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Shamima Muslim, said access to reliable public information was critical to enabling citizens to establish the truth in an environment where false information could spread rapidly.

She said the theme for this year’s RTI Month, which coincides with the International Day for Universal Access to Information on September 28, placed information integrity at the centre of public discourse.

According to her, the growing use of artificial intelligence and digital platforms had made it easier for misinformation and misleading content to circulate before facts could catch up.

She cited a video that had circulated purporting to show President John Dramani Mahama, his brother and other government officials endorsing a Cryptocurrency platform, as an example of how quickly misleading content could spread.

Madam Shamima Muslim said the RTI was, therefore, not merely a legal entitlement, but a practical tool for building public trust.

She urged public institutions to take responsibility for the entire process of an RTI application by maintaining proper records, making frequently requested information readily available and ensuring that information officers complied with statutory timelines.

“Government cannot ask citizens to rely on facts while making those facts unnecessarily difficult to find,” she said.

She further urged public officials to provide accurate information and explain decisions in language that citizens could understand.

The Deputy Presidential Spokesperson also charged the media to exercise greater responsibility in the dissemination of information by verifying claims, providing context and avoiding the publication of unsubstantiated information.

She noted that although access to information was essential, it did not by itself resolve every question about the truthfulness of information, making verification and media literacy equally important.

Madam Shamima Muslim said the effectiveness of the RTI regime should ultimately be measured by the experience of people seeking information, including students conducting research, journalists seeking to verify facts and business owners trying to understand decisions affecting them.

She commended the Chairperson, Commissioners, Executive Secretary and staff of the RTI Commission for their work, while acknowledging the challenges confronting the institution.

She said efforts must be made to address those challenges because of the importance of the Commission to Ghana’s democratic development.

The engagement also featured cultural performances by Kwanpa, with a presentation of a song by renowned Ghanaian ethnomusicologist, Dr Ephraim Amu, emphasising the shared responsibility of citizens in national development.

The event formed part of the Commission’s public education activities aimed at deepening understanding of the right to information and encouraging citizens and institutions to make effective use of the RTI framework.

In a keynote speech by President John Dramani Mahama, read on his behalf by his Legal Advisor, Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, he urged public institutions to provide timely access to accurate information and maintain proper records to strengthen public trust.

Madam Marietta also urged the media to verify claims and provide adequate context before publication, noting that journalists have a greater responsibility because many people consider information from the media and social media to be true.

“Public officials must regard access to information as part of their duty to serve. That calls for timely responses, accurate records and a willingness to explain decisions in a language that people can understand. At the same time, access alone does not settle every question of truth.

We must strengthen the ability of citizens to assess information critically. And the media has a vital role in this. In your publications, you must check the claims that you make and provide context before publishing.”

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