President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo has reaffirmed the Ghana’s commitment to make governance more open, accountable, and responsive to the needs of the people.
He highlighted the strides in advancing access to information particularly through the passage of the Right to Information (RTI) law.
President Akufo-Addo made the remarks in a statement read by the Minister for Education and Chairperson of the Ghana’s Commission to UNESCO, Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum at the opening ceremony for the 2024 global conference of the International Day for Universal Access to Information at Alisa hotel in Accra yesterday.
The theme for this year’s celebration: “Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector,” underscores the critical role that access to information plays in democratic governance and citizen empowerment, he emphasized.
He reflected on the importance of political will in realizing this fundamental right, emphasizing that a well-informed public is crucial for holding leaders accountable and ensuring meaningful participation in governance.
President Akufo-Addo further called for public officials to embrace a culture of openness, ensuring that information is not hoarded but shared freely as a public good.
He urged the proactive dissemination of data by government institutions and recognized the need to invest in digital platforms to enhance transparency.
Beyond transparency, the President stressed the importance of citizen participation, which he described as the “oxygen of democracy.”
President Akufo-Addo outlined efforts to decentralize decision-making, strengthen local governance, and create platforms for marginalized groups, including women, youth, and rural communities, to engage in public discourse.
As Ghana advances its digital infrastructure and expands mobile coverage to underserved areas, the President reiterated his commitment to ensuring that no citizen is left behind in the information age.
Acknowledging that challenges remain, such as delays in information access, civic education and public awareness of their rights among others, the President called for continued collaboration among government agencies, civil society, the media, and the private sector to build a future where access to information is a reality for all Ghanaians, not just a legal right.
President Akufo-Addo urged all stakeholders to use the International Day for Universal Access to Information as a rallying cry for greater transparency, participation, and accountability, emphasizing that this is a continuous journey that will shape Ghana’s democratic future.
