Concerns over funding constraints and operational challenges at Ghana’s Right to Information regime have come into sharp focus, as lawmakers push for stronger enforcement of citizens’ access to public information.
Members of the Parliamentary Caucus on Open Governance Partnership have called on the Right to Information Commission to scale up its operations and ensure that access to information is guaranteed across the country without obstruction.
The call was made during a working visit to the Commission in Accra, where the Caucus assessed its performance and ongoing challenges.
Chairman of the Caucus and Member of Parliament for Ho West, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, emphasised that access to information should not be treated as optional but as a fundamental human right critical to democratic governance.
He urged the Commission to intensify public education and visibility efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability within public institutions.
However, officials of the Commission highlighted persistent structural constraints hindering their work. Executive Secretary Genevieve Shirley Lartey revealed that inadequate funding and lack of permanent office accommodation continue to affect operations.
Despite these setbacks, she noted that the Commission has made progress under the National Action Plan, including public education campaigns, development of information materials, and steps toward finalising regulations to operationalise the law.
The Legislative Instrument (LI), which is expected to strengthen enforcement of the Right to Information Act, is set to be resubmitted to Parliament after further stakeholder consultations, according to Governing Board member Chris Dougan.
Technical Advisor Kweku Sersah-Johnson added that a comprehensive communication strategy had been developed to improve nationwide awareness and understanding of the law.
The Caucus maintains that addressing these operational gaps is essential to achieving the broader goals of the Open Government Partnership—particularly enhancing citizen participation, promoting open data, and strengthening anti-corruption efforts.
The visit underscores growing parliamentary scrutiny of transparency institutions, as Ghana seeks to deepen democratic accountability through effective access to information.
