The Ghana Police Service, CHRAJ, Parliament, the Judiciary, and the Attorney-General’s Department are among several key state institutions flagged for violating the Right to Information (RTI) law.

A recent exposé titled “Saga Over RTI: Millions Paid as Penalty” by Corruption Watch, a non-profit organization, brought this information to light. The Ghana Police Service has so far faced three fines, compared to four for the Ministry of Education.

The Ghana Education Service, Judicial Service, Lands Commission, Ministry of Energy, and the Urban Roads Department follow in that order. The exposé, conducted between February and July 2025, revealed that the RTI Commission (RTIC) had fined at least 60 public and private institutions a total of GHC5.6 million for breaching the RTI law. Providing a breakdown, the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) received the largest fine of GHC1.365 million. The Ministry of Education was fined GHC260,000, the Lands Commission GHC150,000, and the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) GHC100,000.

Corruption Watch noted that the Ghana Police Service has so far paid GHC450,357 of its debt, while CHRAJ owes GHC30,000. The Parliamentary Service has settled GHC53,785, the Judicial Service owes GHC100,000, the Attorney-General’s Department owes GHC50,000, and SSNIT has an outstanding balance of GHC200,000.

The Right to Information (RTI) is a framework that mandates citizens to request and receive information from government institutions. The report further indicates that these fines were settled using taxpayers’ funds.

Article 21(1)(f) of the 1992 Constitution grants every individual the right to information, provided its exercise does not threaten national security, public safety, privacy, or other democratic principles.

The RTI Bill was given legislative effect during the tenure of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, following its passage in 2019 as the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), marking a significant milestone in Ghana’s democratic evolution. It became operational on 2 January 2020 after President Akufo-Addo assented to the Act on 21 May 2019.

In 2023, the parliament received the 2022 report on the performance of the Right to Information (RTI) Act from the former Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, of the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Addressing Parliament, the former Minister emphasized the vital role of the Access to Information (ATI) Division of the Information Services Department (ISD) and the RTI Commission in ensuring the successful implementation of the RTI Act.

“We have made significant strides in enhancing the implementation of the RTI Act. The ATI Division of the ISD has embarked on five major tasks in the year gone by. Significant among these tasks are the recruitment and deployment of Information Officers, and the support to information units,” he added.

He emphasized that the government's commitment to accountability and transparency is evident in the inclusion of RTI compliance as Key Performance Indicators in the Chief Director's Performance Agreement. This step highlights the importance of upholding the principles of the RTI Act and promoting transparency within public institutions.

Regarding the accomplishments of the RTI Commission, the minister disclosed that the regulatory body had obtained prosecutorial authority from the Attorney General to take action against individuals and institutions that violate the RTI Act.

He lauded the Commission for conducting compliance surveys, handling review applications, and acquiring additional resources to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.

“Mr. Speaker, in terms of the work that the regulator has done, the RTI Commission has done in the year gone by, the regulator has secured the prosecutorial mandate from the Attorney General of the Republic, has also conducted compliance surveys, determined review applications that have come before it, secured additional logistics for its operations, promoted the Right to Information Act and its infrastructure and issued guidelines for the compilation and publication of information units,” he emphasised.

The Minister shared significant data on the number of information requests received by public institutions during the reviewed year. Out of the expected 683 institutions, 382 submitted annual reports to the RTI Commission, showing a 55% compliance rate. These institutions received a total of 783 applications, with 669 being approved, rejected, transferred, or deferred in accordance with the provisions of the RTI Act.

Mr. Oppong Nkrumah threw more light on the extended benefits Ghana stands to derive from the ATI Division. According to him, the ATI Division aims to implement the Online Records Management System to streamline the online application and request process. Additionally, he promised to present the legislative instrument for the RTI Act to Parliament before the end of the year.

Regarding the future initiatives of the RTI Commission, he mentioned their intention to establish field offices in Kumasi and Sunyani to provide services closer to the Ghanaian people. The Commission, he added will continue public awareness campaigns and strive to appoint Information Officers in the remaining 333 public institutions, subject to available funding.