Applicants only need to justify urgency, not why they want information – RTI Commission

Vincent Appau Bediako, Senior Manager at the Enforcement, Investigation and Compliance Department of the Right to Information (RTI) Commission, has outlined the requirements for applicants seeking information under the RTI Act. He clarified that applicants are not obligated to provide reasons for their desire to access information, except when the request is deemed urgent.

In such cases, a reason for the urgency is necessary, informing the institution of the pressing nature of the request, though not the purpose behind it. This approach, Bediako argued, is designed to prevent manipulation and safeguard the right to information. Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show, Bediako also highlighted the authority of the RTI Commission to impose administrative penalties on public institutions and private bodies that fail to comply with their statutory obligations.

He noted that the RTI law has shifted the mindset of some public servants who previously resisted providing information. According to Bediako, public entities should not withhold information because it belongs to the state and serves the public interest. He urged citizens to utilize the proper channels under the RTI law when seeking information and to report any instances of improper denial to the Commission.

The Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), established under the Constitution, aims to foster transparency and accountability in governance by allowing the public access to information of public interest. Bediako acknowledged that while initial challenges existed in obtaining information from public institutions, the law's implementation has markedly improved the situation.

He strongly encouraged the public to leverage the RTI framework to assert their right to access information and to hold public entities accountable for their actions.