Independent body should enforce Right to Information Law – Ameyibor

An independent body should be the enforcement organ of the Right to Information Bill, Mr FrancisAmeyibor, a member of the Coalition on the Right to Information-Ghana, said on Thursday.

He was speaking at a public forum organized by the Western Regional Coalition on the Right to Information at Takoradi.

Mr Ameyibor said the Independent enforcement organ should also serve as an appellate tribunal to which persons could turn when dissatisfied.

This, he said, would ensure that the procedures are not expensive and cumbersome.

Mr Ameyibor therefore suggested the establishment of an independent information commission to implement the Bill.

He said maximum disclosure is the overriding principle of any effective freedom of information law but the Right to information Bill is weak on this point.

Mr Ameyibor said the preamble falls short of emphasizing this principle, which is further undermined from numerous exemptions.

He said the limitation on the Bill could be justified only if it is reasonably necessary for the protection of the public interest or the rights and freedoms of others.

This is because the right to information is a fundamental human right guaranteed under the constitution, he said.

Source: GNA