Two hundred and fifty-four (254) state institutions have been penalised by the Right to Information Commission for violation of Section 77(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), which mandates every public institution to submit an annual report covering requests received, responses given, refusals, exemptions applied, and compliance measures to the Right to Information Commission.

In an eight-page press statement dated August 5, the Commission announced that each institution will pay an enforcement fine of GH¢20,000 under Section 84 of the RTI Act, 2019 (Act 989).

The Act grants the Commission power to impose administrative penalties on institutions that fail to comply with obligations under it.

“The Right to Information Commission ('“the Commission) hereby notifies the underlisted

Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and Metropolitan, Municipal and District

Assemblies (MMDAs) that an administrative penalty of Twenty Thousand Ghana Cedis

(GH¢20,000.00) has been imposed on each institution for failing to submit its 2025 Right

to Information Annual Report, as required under section 77(1) of the Right to Information

Act, 2019 (Act 989), parts of the statement read.

The fine comes on the back of several reminders published through state media houses within the first quarter of this year, which the affected institutions failed to comply with.

“The affected institutions failed to comply with this statutory obligation despite reminders

published in the Ghanaian Times on 20 January 2026 and the Daily Graphic on 24 April

2026.

“Annual reports submitted by public institutions constitute essential inputs for the

preparation of the Commission's consolidated Annual Report to Parliament,” the Commission added.

Consequently, all defaulting institutions are expected to pay the fine within fourteen days or risk facing escalated penalties.

“As the statutory deadline for submitting the 2025 consolidated Annual Report has elapsed, all

public institutions are required to put appropriate measures in place to ensure strict and

timely compliance with their reporting obligations in subsequent years.

“Each defaulting institution is required to pay the administrative penalty within fourteen

(14) days of receiving the Commission's formal notice. Failure to comply within the

stipulated period will result in further enforcement action in accordance with law”, it continued.

The Commission then went on to remind heads of public institutions that compliance with the reporting

requirements under Act 989 is a statutory obligation and not a matter of discretion, stressing its commitment to enforcing Act 989 and promoting transparency, accountability and access to information in Ghana.

Further penalties

If the institutions fail to pay the administrative penalty within the 14‑day deadline, the Right to Information Commission (RTIC) has several enforcement measures available under Section 84 of the RTI Act, 2019 (Act 989).

The Commission can apply to the High Court to enforce the penalty as a civil debt. This means the court can compel the institution to pay, just as it would in any other debt recovery case.

It also has the authority to impose additional sanctions, which may include higher fines or further directives to ensure compliance.

Another measure is naming and shaming. The Commission can publish the names of defaulting institutions in its annual reports, exposing them to public accountability and reputational damage.

Finally, in extreme cases, the Commission can refer the matter to the Attorney‑General for prosecution if there is evidence of deliberate obstruction or contempt of the Commission’s authority.

In a related development, the Ghana Education Service (GES), WBM Zion Senior High School, the National Pensions Regulatory Authority, and the Economic and Organised Crime Office were fined for violating their statutory obligations under the Right to Information.

In a formal press release signed by the Commission’s Executive Secretary, Genevieve Shirley Lartey, Esq, it indicated that it had discovered acts of non-compliance with laws governing citizens' right to information, hence the decision.

“The Right to Information Commission ("the Commission"), in the exercise of its statutory mandate under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), has determined many cases involving non-compliance with the Act and has taken enforcement action to uphold the law”, the statement noted.

According to the statement, the administrative sanctions were applied after thorough investigations were conducted in compliance with Act 989, which is designed to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance by ensuring that citizens can access public information, while also giving the RTIC teeth to enforce compliance.

“Following investigations, hearings, and determinations made in accordance with Act 989, the Commission has imposed administrative penalties amounting to Two Hundred and Twenty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC220,000) on four (4) public institutions for failure to comply with their statutory obligations under the Act”.

The penalties ranged from GH¢10,000 to GH¢100,000 per institution.