With September declared as Right to Information month, RTI Officers in their bid to promote transparency in government affairs held an educative session on the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) for staff of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) in the Ashanti Regional Office on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

The RTI Officer of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, Samuel Agyemang Duah took the participants through the genesis of the Act, stating that it was birthed to complement Article 21(1)(f) which states that all persons shall have the right to information.

He reiterated that the Act which was passed in March 2019, empowers citizens and foreigners to access information from public institutions and also puts those placed in authority in check for accountability.

RTI Officers Mr. Emmanuel Asare and Mr. Kwaku Agyei Owusu of Oforikrom Municipal Assembly and Kumasi Metropolitan Assemblies respectively, engaged the participants on how to access information using the standard application form.

They also indicated that although we have access to information, information that will endanger the life or physical safety of an individual, public safety, national security, national economic interest and international relations with any other country cannot be accessed.

The interactive session allowed the participants to ask questions where Mr. Saani Nurudeen, the Flagship Programmes Officer asked if the law makes provision for those who leak information, that is, individuals that wilfully disclose information.

Mr. Asare in response read section 81 which states that officers or individuals who wilfully disclose such information are liable to sanctions of a fine or term of imprisonment or both.