Police Implementing the RTI Law – MFWA Urges Stakeholders

General News of Thursday, March 28, 2019

Source: awakenewsonline.com

2019-03-28

The Media Foundation for West Africa urged all stakeholders involved in the adoption of the right to information bill to remain vigilant as the law is pbaded.

The Foundation states that it is essential to give the indicated duration for the law to be activated as functional after its pbadage.

Parliament pbaded the Right to Information Bill on Tuesday, March 26, nearly 20 years after it was first drafted.

Despite the adoption of the law, the bill will not come into effect even when presidents will give their focus until early next fiscal year to allow budget allocations.

MFWA believes that this is of particular concern, as some officials tend to delay or show a lack of commitment.

"However, we want to warn that the real test lies in the implementation of the law, and therefore urge all stakeholders to remain vigilant. This precaution is particularly appropriate because of the provision differing from the application of the law at the beginning of the financial year 2020, without specifying the deadlines for setting up the structures and administrative systems necessary for its effective implementation, as requested by the Media Coalition on RTI. , "The MFWA points out.

In affirming its position on the issue, the Foundation stated that "it is clear that nine years after its first presentation to Parliament, despite several repeated and unfulfilled deadlines spanning three legislatures, the law has been reluctantly presented. As a result, the MFWA believes that the public, civil society organizations and the media will have to follow the implementation process with the same vigilance and the same campaigns to prevent the law on access to the Internet. information to become a legislative element of white elephants. "

Despite this concern, the Media Foundation for West Africa admitted that the adoption of the legislature had spurred the fight against accountability and corruption and reiterated that "As a legislative measure to promote accountability and strengthening the fight against corruption, the adoption of the RTI law, which was first developed in 1999, is certainly a positive development. "

MFWA cautiously welcomes RTI law in Ghana

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) welcomes the adoption of the Right to Information Bill by the Ghana Parliament and calls for an ongoing commitment to its implementation.

The law, which aims to make Article 21 (1) (f) of the Constitution guaranteeing the right to information, was pbaded on March 26, 2019, 19 years after the beginning of the process. As legislation to promote accountability and strengthen the fight against corruption, the adoption of the RTI Act, which was first developed in 1999, is certainly a positive development.

With the adoption of the law, Ghana has come close to correcting a fundamental loophole in its legal framework to fight corruption and good governance. It also fulfills a long-standing commitment as part of the Open Government Partnership Initiative signed by the government in 2011.

We congratulate the leaders and MPs, the media, the RTI Media Coalition, the Ghana RTI Coalition and other citizens who have played various roles in the pbadage of the RTI Bill. However, we wish to warn that the real test lies in the implementation of the law, and therefore invite all stakeholders to remain vigilant. This precaution is particularly appropriate because of the provision differing from the application of the law at the beginning of the financial year 2020, without specifying the deadlines for setting up the structures and administrative systems necessary for its effective implementation, as requested by the Media Coalition on RTI. .

The above concern, as well as section 13, which protects deliberation processes from disclosure under the ITRs, is a pitfall that must be monitored and addressed in order to move forward.

It is clear that nine years after his first appearance in Parliament, despite several delays and unfulfilled accomplishments between three legislatures, the law was reluctantly enacted. As a result, the MFWA believes that the public, civil society organizations and the media will have to follow the implementation process with the same vigilance and the same campaigns to prevent the law on access to the Internet. information to become a legislative element of white elephants.

RTI's experience in Burkina Faso is a typical example of politicians who have quieted public demands for access to information through a half-cooked law. Four years after the transitional administration of this country adopted a framework law RTI no.051-2015 / CNT, it has still not been made functional, because a subsidiary law promised to make it operational needs to be adopted.

Sometimes, too, when good laws are adopted, its implementation is thwarted by the lack of commitment of public officials accustomed to old methods of secrecy.

In light of Burkina Faso's experience and the fact that many other African countries have pbaded laws on the ITRs that have had very little impact on the promotion of transparent and accountable governance, we reiterate the need for continued engagement on outstanding issues related to Ghana's RTI Act. Therefore, we call on the media to remain very focused on the implementation process and to educate the public about their rights under the law.