Implementation of RTI Law: HeFRA, Keta assembly getting stubborn - The Chronicle News Online
The article highlights significant resistance from certain public institutions toward the Right to Information Law, specifically their refusal to accept seconded Information Officers. This non-compliance has led to administrative penalties for bodies like HeFRA and the Keta Municipal Assembly, as they fail to grant the public access to requested information. The Minister emphasizes that these officers are funded centrally, meaning institutions face no financial burden for compliance, making their rejection of these staff members a deliberate obstruction of transparency rather than a logistical necessity. Despite these challenges, the implementation of the RTI law has generated substantial public interest, with request volumes increasing dramatically over recent years. The majority of these requests originate from the Greater Accra region, indicating strong civic engagement and a growing reliance on the law for accountability. While a significant portion of applications has been granted, the government aims for universal compliance and efficiency, signaling that current progress, though promising, is still incomplete and requires broader institutional cooperation to achieve its full potential. This development is highly relevant to open data as it underscores that legal frameworks alone are insufficient for transparency; operational buy-in from public sector entities is critical. The push for an Online Records Management System and regional satellite offices represents a strategic shift toward digitizing and decentralizing access, which are foundational steps for robust open data ecosystems. Ultimately, the article illustrates that successful open data initiatives depend on overcoming administrative bottlenecks and ensuring that public institutions actively facilitate, rather than hinder, the flow of information to citizens.
Source: thechronicle.com.ghPublished on 2023-05-12
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