The Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information at UNESCO, Tawfik Jelassi has extoled Ghana for the passage and the implementation of the Right to Information (RTI) law.
According to him, the law is a success story and a model of achievement in Africa.
Mr. Jelassi attributed this achievement to the law’s effectiveness in ensuring citizens’ access to public information and promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
“In Ghana, the Right to Information Act was adopted in 2019. It was developed with input from all major stakeholders, including journalists, civil society organizations and academia,” he noted.
He lauded Ghana at the 2024 global conference of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) at the Alisa Hotel in Accra yesterday.
In commending Ghana’s success, Mr. Jelassi recognized the country’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and public participation, which serves as a positive example for other nations in Africa and beyond.
Highlighting the importance of access to information as a fundamental right, the assistant DG mentioned that African countries have increasingly adopted legal frameworks that grant citizens the right to access public information, which is crucial for transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in governance.
“The significant progress in Africa to adopt and implement Access to Information laws underscores the increasing recognition across the continent that access to information is crucial for good governance, transparency, and citizen empowerment,” he stated.
He also pointed out the initiatives in Ghana and Uganda that have enhanced transparency and accountability in governance.
He noted that since 2010, Africa has made remarkable strides in adopting and implementing Access to Information (ATI) laws and added that in 2010, only five African countries had ATI laws in place and today that number has grown to 29.
He further noted that the progress shows that there is a growing understanding across the continent of how important it is for governments to provide citizens with access to public information.
The event brought together global leaders, policymakers, and activists to discuss the vital role of access to public information in fostering transparency, accountability, and citizen empowerment.
The focus of this year’s Global Conference is to emphasize the need for comprehensive and free access to public information across all levels of government.
This according to the assistant DG, is crucial for upholding theI principle that access to information is a right that should be provided by all public entities.
Info Minister Advocates Citizen Engagement At IDUAI
The Minister for Information, Ms Fatimatu Abubakar, has called for the continued mainstreaming of access to information as a tool for participatory governance in all countries.
“Access to information empowers citizens. It provides the foundation for informed participation in decision-making, allows for the scrutiny of government actions, and fosters a culture of accountability,” Ms. Abubakar emphasized.
She emphasized the importance of transparency and public engagement in achieving democratic and developmental goals.
The event was on the theme: “Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector.”
Ms. Abubakar noted that the Right to Information Act was passed in Ghana in 2019, and since then, the nation has made great progress toward greater transparency.
She pointed out that this year’s theme, “Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector,” was both timely and relevant.
