THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION COMMISSION SENSITIZES PRISONS OFFICERS

The Right to Information (RTI) Commission on Friday July 5, 2024, sensitised prison officers on the Right to Information Act 2019 (Act 989) at the Prison Interdenominational Church, Cantonments in Accra.

The RTI Act, 2019 is to give constitutional right to access to information held by public institutions, subject to the exemptions that are necessary and consistent with the protection of the public interest in a democratic society, to foster a culture of transparency and accountability.

The officers from the Enforcement, Investigation, and Compliance (EIC) unit of the RTI Commission introduced prison officers to the requirements of a public institution like the Ghana Prison Service, which are enshrined in Act 989, such as the need to establish an Information Unit that should be headed by an information officer, an up-to-date information manual to be published on the institution’s website, and the requirement for public institutions to submit an annual report to the RTIC.

They highlighted on the need to make information accessible to applicants and the application process or procedures in which an applicant can apply or request for an information from a public institution.

They also explained why certain information known as ‘exempt information’ pursuant to Act 989, should be protected by public institutions from reaching the public. They also touched on the fees allocated for the reproduction of information, and also pointed out that the poor and disabled persons in our society are excluded from the reproduction fee.

The Director of Prisons in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr. Samuel Akolbire thanked the RTI officers for the sensitization and stressed on the need to extend it to the other prison facilities across the country.

Present were the Director of Prisons in charge of Technical; Mr. Robin Asamoah Fenning, the Greater Accra Regional Commander; Mr. Edward Fifii Acquah, the Commanding Officer of Prisons Headquarters; DDP. Kwaku Ali Ababio, the head of the Information Unit; DSP. Irene Pieteson Arthur, deputy Information Officer; DSP. Stephen Okai Aboagye and officers from the Prisons Headquarters, Camp Prison, Prisons Officers Training School and the Senior Correctional Center.

Others were Sharon Ackuaku,Benedicta Biney, Prince Adofo, Deborah Nkyei-Perkoh and Richard Owusu Frimpong, all from the Enforcement, Investigation and Compliance department of RTI Commission.

Report by : DSP. Irene P. Arthur