Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has revealed that the Right to Information, RTI Bill has been approved by Cabinet and thus will soon be sent to Parliament for debate and approval.
Speaking at the Norway-Ghana Business and Investment Forum in Accra on Monday, March 19, Dr. Bawumia announced the approval of the bill by government and assured Ghanaians that it will be another effective tool in the fight against corruption.
“Cabinet has given approval for the Right to Information Bill to be laid in Parliament for debate and approval because it is very critical that we pass the Right to Information Bill. It is our hope that this will be an additional feather in our cup in the fight against corruption,†he said.
Although the Vice President did not make mention of the exact date the bill will be presented to Parliament, it is widely speculated that the RTI bill will be laid before Parliament on Friday, March 23.
Meanwhile, President Akufo Addo during the 61st Independence Day parade in Accra on March 6, 2018, has assured Ghanaians that his government will take the necessary steps to get the RTI passed in no time.
Background on RTI bill
It has been 19 years since the first Right to Information, RTI Bill was drafted under the auspices of the Institute of Economic Affairs, IEA in 1999.
The RTI Bill, which is expected to make information easily accessible by the media and Ghanaians to boost the fight against corruption, has been in legislation for several years now because successive governments have failed to implement it despite several assurances.
The Executive RTI Bill was subsequently reviewed in 2003, 2005 and 2007 but was never laid before Parliament until February 5, 2010.