Dont hijack public information … President advises public officials

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana has urged public officials to view public information as a national resource rather than personal property. He emphasized the importance of embedding access to information into public sector institutions, encouraging proactive dissemination of information. President Akufo-Addo highlighted Ghana s progress in digitizing public services and creating open data platforms, but stressed the need for continued efforts to prioritize access to information in public sector reforms. The Minister of Information, Ms Fatimatu Abubakar, mentioned the enactment and implementation of Ghana s Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), which has led to enhanced transparency and citizens rights to request and receive information from public offices. She called for mainstreaming access to information within all public sector institutions, ensuring routine publication of key documents and fostering a culture of openness. The Acting Director General of Communication and Information at UNESCO, Tawfik Jelassi, stressed the significance of comprehensive and free access to public information across all levels of government. He emphasized that access to information should be a fundamental right for everyone, and effective implementation of laws is crucial to achieving this goal. In summary, President Akufo-Addo and other officials have called for a shift in mindset from secrecy to openness in governance, with a focus on making access to information a priority in public sector reforms. They highlighted the progress made in Ghana, but also acknowledged the need for continued efforts to ensure that access to information is a fundamental right for all citizens.

Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh
Published on 2024-10-02

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