The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has lauded Parliament for passing the Right to Information Bill despite years of delay.

In a statement, the party also applauded the boldness of the executive in accepting to pass the bill into law.

The Bill has been on the Parliamentary and Executive shelves for over two decades with the political class playing hide and seek with civil society organization over the need to pass the bill.

It was first introduced in 1999 but was withdrawn from Parliament and sent to the executive for further deliberations.
Governments have since promised and failed to pass the bill into law.

On assumption into office in 2017, the Akufo-Addo led government also promised to pass the law and help in the fight against corruption.

It failed to meet initial deadlines it gave to complete deliberations and to pass the bill raising fears the RTI Bill will suffer the same fate.

However on March 27, the Bill was finally passed and is awaiting presidential assent.

RIGHT TO INFORMATION LAW IS A SUNSHINE

The Progressive People’s Party will like to applaud Parliament of Ghana for passing the Right to information Bill into Law albeit with few lacunas. We further applaud the boldness of the Executives in finally accepting the challenge to pass this bill into law during their tenure of office, a novelty other regimes could not do. Individuals, media houses, civil societies and other groups that campaign vigorously for 22 years to get this bill passed must equally be commended.

We implore the Attorney General to immediately work on the Legislative Instrument (LI) that will aid the successful implementation of the law.

This Law will bring about transparency in all government dealings and offer the citizenry the opportunity to monitor government policy and project from the beginning to end. It will also help curtail corruption and nepotism in the public sector.

The media and people of Ghana and must take advantage of this law and turn it into a sunshine in government deals and agreement for the benefit of all.

As we applaud the government for a good job done, we caution government not to engage in delay tactics regarding the Legislative Instrument that will make this law functional.

Murtala Mohammed

National Secretary-PPP