ATI law to guarantee transparency – MWEETWA

By Masauso Mkwayaya

Government says the Access to Information law is designed to protect citizens’ rights to access information on governance and public services and enhance the fight against corruption.

Information and Media Minister, CORNELIUS MWEETWA says government views access to information as a fundamental human right that should be legally guaranteed.

Mr. MWEETWA says government was driven to enact the law because citizens demanded more accountability and needed a tool to use.

He said this when he participated in a high-level panel discussion at the Global Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation Conference in Accra, Ghana.

Earlier, Ghanaian President NANA AKUFO-ADDO said access to information is a cornerstone of democracy.

President AKUFO-ADDO said he signed the ATI law in 2019 to ensure citizens have the right to access public sector information.

This was in a speech delivered on his behalf by Ghanaian Minister of Education OSEI YAW ADUTWUM.

And Ghanaian Minister of Information FATIMATU ABUBAKAR said access to information is crucial for democracy.

And UNESCO Deputy Director-General of Information TAWFIK JELASI also spoke at the event, stating that access to information empowers individuals with the knowledge to make informed decisions.