Ensuring smooth passage of RTI Bill

Ghana’s image will be enhanced as the shining star of Africa’s democracy, should it pass into law the Right To Information (RTI) Bill, says Ms Pansy Tlakula, South Africa’s Electoral Commission Chairman.

She said government is the custodian of information on behalf of the people, and access to information will promote good governance, transparency and accountability.

Ms Tlakula, who is also the African Union Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, made the remarks in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sideline of an RTI seminar organized by the Ghana’s RTI Coalition for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), media practitioners and the academia in Accra.

She urged the Executive, Parliament and CSOs, to work hand-in-hand to ensure the smooth passage of the law.

She said such a law should be implemented by an independent arbiter to ensure that the citizenry’s right to information is protected.

Ms Tlakula said the Coalition had done well in its advocacy over the past 13 years to get the law passed, and assured members that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

She advised them to keep the line of communication between them and law-makers and government opened at all times.

She said so far 13 African countries, namely, South Africa, Uganda, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Liberia, Niger, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire, have passed the RTI. GNA