News Guide Africa

Tag: Right To Information (RTI)

  • RTI exemptions bar release of NLA-KGL report to media – Political Strategist opines

    RTI exemptions bar release of NLA-KGL report to media – Political Strategist opines

    Public commentary surrounding the Right to Information (RTI) request for the Interministerial Committee Report on the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and KGL Technology Limited deal has drawn strong pushback from political strategist and academic Dr. Razak Kojo Opoku.

    Dr. Opoku has criticized investigative outlet The Fourth Estate for pushing to access the report, arguing that statutory exemptions under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) explicitly restrict the disclosure of active government deliberations and sensitive commercial negotiations.

    According to Dr. Opoku, KGL Technology Limited, the primary private entity involved in the renegotiations, has not even received a copy of the report, despite formal applications submitted to state authorities.

    “KGL Technology Limited, which is directly the main subject of the review and renegotiation of its contracts with the National Lottery Authority, does NOT even have a copy of the Interministerial Committee Report,” Dr. Opoku stated. “This implies that KGL is doing financial renegotiations with government without a copy of and access to the Interministerial Committee Report on the NLA-KGL deal.”

     

    He emphasized that ongoing discussions between the state and KGL are governed directly by directives issued by the Executive.

    “The ongoing financial renegotiations between government and KGL are strictly guided by the letter issued by the Office of the President dated 7th April 2026 under the signature of the Secretary to the President, Callistus Mahama (PhD),” Dr. Opoku explained. “So, if KGL… has NO copy of the Interministerial Committee Report, why must Fourth Estate, which was not copied and also NOT even a party to the review and renegotiations of the NLA-KGL deal, be given a copy simply because of the RTI Act?”

     

    Citing specific provisions of Act 989, Dr. Opoku outlined why the document remains legally protected from public disclosure, pointing to Sections 5, 6, 10, 11, and 13, which safeguard presidential advice, cabinet deliberations, trade secrets, and state negotiation strategies.

    “NOT all information can be given or accessed under the Right to Information Act, 2019,” Dr. Opoku asserted. “Under Section 10, information is exempt where it contains trade secrets, financial or technical information, or procedures and instructions relating to negotiations being carried on by or on behalf of the State, the disclosure of which could affect the integrity or stability of the financial system or cause disruption of business.”

    Dr. Opoku further rejected arguments invoking the public interest override under Section 17 of the Act, stating that the underlying contracts have already been confirmed as legal by state authorities.

    “The contracts have been accepted by government as legal per the official letter issued by the Office of the President,” he noted. “They do NOT pose an imminent and serious threat to public safety, health, or morals, nor do they involve a miscarriage of justice or an abuse of authority.”

     

    Calling for a deeper understanding of information access laws among media practitioners, Dr. Opoku urged journalists to thoroughly examine statutory limitation clauses before pursuing RTI requests for active state negotiations.

    “Journalists should understand that before you write an application to access information under Section 18, make sure that you are clearly well educated to the fullest understanding and appreciation of Sections 5 to 17 of the same RTI Act,” Dr. Opoku concluded.

     

     

  • Fighting Sexual Corruption in Schools Requires Collective Effort – Dr. Aurelia

    Fighting Sexual Corruption in Schools Requires Collective Effort – Dr. Aurelia

    A lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Communication, Dr. Aurelia Ayisi, has called on all education stakeholders to join forces to combat sexual corruption in schools. Dr. Ayisi made this call during a 3-day training workshop for 30 journalists from across the country in Accra, organized on the topic “Sexual Corruption on the use of the Right to Information Law” (RTI).

     

    According to Dr. Ayisi, the fight against sexual corruption in schools cannot be won by the Ghana Education Service (GES) alone. She emphasized the need for a collective effort from all stakeholders, including policymakers, educators, parents, and the broader community.

     

    To effectively address the issue, Dr. Ayisi proposed that the Education Ministry establish stringent rules and regulations prohibiting teachers and headmasters from engaging in sexual relationships with students. She also stressed the importance of strict enforcement of these regulations.

     

    Furthermore, Dr. Ayisi suggested that organizing training sessions for students and teachers would help them understand the implications of such actions and the need to avoid them. She expressed optimism that with these measures in place, the incidence of sexual exploitation in Ghanaian schools could be significantly reduced.

     

    Dr. Ayisi’s call to action highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing sexual corruption in schools and ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.

  • About 30 Journalists undergoing training to strengthen capacity on accountability journalism

    About 30 Journalists undergoing training to strengthen capacity on accountability journalism

    The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has stepped up efforts to promote accountability in Ghana with a new training programme aimed at strengthening investigative reporting skills.

    About 30 journalists selected from the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Northern Regions, last week, took part in the first phase of the programme at the Sunlodge Hotel in Accra. The initiative will continue with sessions on the Right to Information (RTI) law, data journalism and fact-checking.

    Experts from Transparency International Ghana, Corruption Watch and the Fourth Estate led the opening sessions, which focused on tracking financial corruption, safeguarding sources and applying Ghana’s key anti-graft laws.

    “Our mission is to nurture a new generation of fearless and ethical investigative journalists dedicated to the public interest,” said Rosemond Aryeetey, MFWA’s senior manager for Media for Democracy and Good Governance. “Specifically for this training, we brought journalists together from selected regions in Ghana to upscale them and enhance their capacity when it comes to reporting on corruption issues, teaching them the skills and knowledge to expose corruption and promote transparency and accountability from duty-bearers.”

    The programme also tackled the mental strain of investigative reporting. Fourth Estate journalist Seth J. Bokpe stressed the need for resilience and professional support, warning that newsroom pressures and the intensity of corruption investigations “can be overwhelming and take a serious toll on mental health.”

    Kweku Lartey Obeng, component manager at GIZ Ghana, described the journalists as “unsung heroes of democracy” and cautioned that “corruption robs the nation of our very future… it steals opportunities from our children, drains resources meant for development, and dashes the hopes of our youth.” He challenged participants to put their new skills into action: “Our expectation is very simple: that the skills and tools you acquire here will translate into impactful stories; stories that inspire change, expose wrongdoing, and hold power to account.”

    Participants said the workshop sharpened their investigative skills, expanded their knowledge of legal frameworks and underscored the importance of mental health in journalism. One attendee summed up the call to action: the training “reinforced that every journalist must embrace investigative work to expose wrongdoing and demand accountability.”

    The programme, supported by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) through the Participation, Accountability, Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) project and run in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, continues MFWA’s long record of promoting transparency, ethical reporting and citizen participation.