We've received 1,053 RTI requests, 838 approved - Ghanamma.com
The Right to Information Secretariat demonstrates substantial progress in Ghana’s transparency efforts, granting the majority of public requests despite systemic hurdles. This high approval rate reflects the institution’s commitment to serving citizens, primarily journalists and civil society groups, who actively utilize legal mechanisms to access government data. By maintaining hundreds of information units nationwide, the Secretariat ensures broader geographical accessibility to these critical records. However, the implementation faces significant challenges on the demand side, where citizens often lack understanding of the legal framework. To address this, the government emphasizes public education to help individuals navigate the law effectively. Improving this understanding is crucial for maximizing the utility of open data, as it empowers users to formulate valid requests and reduces unnecessary deferrals or rejections based on legal technicalities. This context highlights the vital intersection between legislative history and practical data availability. Although the Right to Information Bill faced decades of delays before passing, its current operation proves that legal frameworks must be paired with active public engagement. For the open data community, this underscores the importance of not just releasing information, but also educating the public on how to request and use it, thereby strengthening democratic accountability and data-driven governance.
Source: ghanamma.comPublished on 2023-05-12