Corruption Watch Ghana has uncovered how several key state and private institutions, including the Ghana Police Service, parliament, the judiciary, and the Attorney-General’s Department, have been fined heavily for violating the Right to Information (RTI) law.

According to its latest investigative report, released on Monday, September 29, a total of about GH₵ 5.6 million in penalties has been imposed by the RTI Commission (RTIC) on more than 60 institutions for refusing or failing to provide information requested by citizens.

The findings show that the Ghana Police Service alone has already paid GH₵ 450,357 in fines, while the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) owes GH₵ 30,000.

Parliament has settled GH₵ 53,785, the Judicial Service has an outstanding GH₵ 100,000, the Attorney-General’s Department owes GHS 50,000, and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has paid GH₵ 200,000.

Outside the core governance agencies, the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) topped the list with the heaviest single fine of GH₵ 1.365 million. Other significant penalties include GH₵ 260,000 paid by the Ministry of Education, GH₵ 150,000 by the Lands Commission, and GH₵ 60,000 by the Ghana Audit Service. The Public Procurement Authority (PPA) still owes GH₵ 100,000.

The report, titled “Saga over RTI: Millions paid as penalty”, reveals that taxpayers’ money is being used by public institutions to settle these fines. It further notes that the RTIC issued the penalties in more than 70 determinations against at least 60 separate organisations.

In terms of frequency, the Ministry of Education emerged with the highest number of penalties (four), followed by the Ghana Police Service with three. Ten other bodies, including the Ghana Education Service (GES), Judicial Service, Lands Commission, PPA, Ministry of Energy, and Department of Urban Roads, have each been fined twice.

Corruption Watch explained that many of the institutions fined are the very ones that should be promoting access to information.

“Some key governance institutions, which should promote access to information, are either refusing or failing to comply with the Right to Information (RTI) law by denying access to information requested by citizens,” the report said.

The six-month investigation, conducted between February and July 2025, was carried out by Corruption Watch Ghana, an initiative of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), in partnership with Transparency International Ghana, Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, the Africa Center for International Law and Accountability, and media partners Joy FM and Adom FM. The project is supported by the European Union.