Use Right to Information law to hold duty bearers accountable – MFWA
Ghanaians have been urged to take advantage of the Right to Information Law to seek information from public institutions whenever necessary.
A total of 478 public institutions have established information units and designated RTI officers.
Investigative journalists are prone to physical and digital attacks while unravelling sensitive information and holding public officials accountable.
Such attacks stem from agents of officials who fear coming under public scrutiny.
Project Coordinator at the Media Foundation for West Africa, Kwaku Krobea Asante, says journalists should seek solace under the Right to Information Law.
He was speaking at a training session about the Right to Information Law.
“The law empowers citizens. No longer will journalists or citizens go to public offices and beg for information. It gives the citizens power to stand behind the law and push and call for the fundamental human rights to information,” he said.
Citizen groups and journalists in the Ashanti Region who participated in the training are expected to hold duty bearers in their communities accountable.
“We live in a society where the people seeking accountability sometimes become targets. Sometimes the work you are doing may be making a public official unpopular. We advise journalists to be careful of how they conduct themselves in public spaces. Sometimes, it is not just about the physical attacks, but digital attacks,” he advised.
Source: Ghana News
