President John Dramani Mahama has lamented the delay in the passing of the Right to Information Bill, indicating that he does not know the progress of deliberations on the bill so far.
“We have put in legislation aside from the constitution to guarantee access to freedom of information. I must say, unfortunately, it will go down in history as the legislation that has taken the longest in parliament. Cabinet approved it, we submitted it to parliament… I do not know where it is,” he told dignitaries at a conference in Paris organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on September 26.
Mr Mahama who was speaking on the role of access to information in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) noted that the Bill “has been at the Committee level, the Committee decided to go round and consult with some saying it is too liberal. Others too are saying it is too tight and so parliament is still working on it”.
He was, however, optimistic about its completion for citizens to have a legal basis for demanding information.
The Right to Information is a fundamental human right guaranteed by the country’s 1992 Constitution and recognised as a right under International Conventions on Human rights. The bill will give substance to Article 21 (1) (f) of the Constitution which states: “All persons shall have the right to information subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society.”
Meanwhile, a group calling itself RTI Coalition, Ghana, issued a statement prior to Mr Mahama’s address at the conference indicating: “President Mahama has not demonstrated strong commitment to the passage of the RTI Bill, despite his party’s promises in their 2008 and 2012 manifestos.”
“The RTI Coalition believes the selection of President Mahama to speak on such a day… presents an opportunity for the president to make concrete commitments on the passage of an effective and efficient RTI legislation before the current Parliament elapses in 2017.”
Source: classfmonline.com
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***barred word**** President
Is it possible that the RTI Bill could be at Bole Senior High School, specifically at the office of the school head? Loans are approved with the speed of light, executive-induced decisions are hurriedly sent to parliament and the Majority uses its numbers to bulldoze their way through. But you do not know where the RTI Bill is? Thanks so much, Mr head of State.
AND WHEN THE PRESIDENT IS TOLD HE IS INCOMPETENT, HE CONSIDERS IT AN INSULT. ? YOU APPROVED OF A BILL AND SEND IT TO PARLIAMENT AND YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE BILL IS. REALLY REALLY INCOMPETENT.
the RTI bill is due now and our ruling government must do everything possible to make it acceptable.Knowledge is indeed power and we need to know or have this RTI Bill, thank you
ALCOHOLIC PRESIDENT.MR WHISKY.
Our Leaders think they are smart but they are not. How can a President and Leader of a country approve a proposal , send it to Parliament and you are not chasing it up to ensure passage. You intentionally sabotage it. You know you are just not telling the truth. Tell this kind of stories to kids.
So, if you the president(the head of the countrya) does not know where this bill is than who are doom has a country.