The Right to Information Commission has imposed a fine of GHC30,000 on the Audit Service for their failure to release requested data to private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu.

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Mr Kpebu's inquiries centered on whether the Audit Service Board had followed due process in the recruitment of 150 new employees, as mandated by constitutional Article 189(2).

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Specifically, Kpebu sought information regarding whether the Board had consulted with the Public Services Commission, as well as whether they had declared vacancies and advertised them in national newspapers, as prescribed by Article 3(1) of the Audit Service Scheme of Service 2020 and Article 7(a) of the Collective Agreement between the Audit Service and the Public Service Workers Union.

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Mr Kpebu's information requests extended to various aspects of the recruitment process, including the number of applicants, shortlisted candidates, interview details, composition of the interview panel, interviewee score sheets, the final report presented to the Audit Service Board, appointment letters of successful candidates, academic and professional qualifications, application letters of the successful applicants, and any associated recruitment expenses.

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Regrettably, the Audit Service did not respond to Kpebu's requests, prompting him to elevate the matter to the RTI Commission.

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The RTI Commission, in its judgment, imposed a fine of GHC30,000 on the Audit Service due to their failure to provide the requested information and their non-responsiveness to the Commission's correspondence.

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The penalty must be paid to the Commission within 14 days from the date of receiving this decision and may incur additional default penalties.

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