With September declared as Right to Information Month, RTI Officers in their steadfast commitment to promoting transparency in government affairs held an educative session on the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) for staff of the Youth Employment Agency-Ashanti Regional Office on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

Mr. Samuel Agyemang Duah, RTI Officer of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council took the participants through the genesis of the Act, stating that it was birthed to compliment Article 21(1)(f) which states that all persons shall have right to information.

He reiterated that, the Act which was passed in March 2019 empowers citizens and foreigners to access information from public institutions and also put people authority in check for accountability.

RTI Officers, Mr. Emmanuel Asare and Mr. Kwaku Agyei Owusu of Oforikrom Municipal Assembly and Kumasi Metropolitan Assemblies respectively engaged the participants on how to access information using the standard application form and also indicated that although we have access to information, however, information that will endanger the life or physical safety of an individual, public safety, national security, national economic interest and international relations with any other country, the information cannot be granted access.

The interactive session allowed the participants to ask questions where Mr. Saani Nurudeen, the Flagship Programs Officer queried "Does the law make provisions for whistle blowers. That is, individuals that willfully discloses information (exempt)?"

Mr. Asare in response read section 81 that states that officers or individuals who wilfully disclose such information are liable to sanctions of a fine or term of imprisonment or both.