News
Right to Information Law: a framework to combat corruption?
Dear Editor,
Over the years, journalists, civil society and anti-corruption advocates have campaigned for the passage of the Right to Information (RTI) Bill and argued that the inexistence of the law inhibits people from knowing what is happening in public institutions, and this breeds corruption.
Even though the right to information is a basic right enshrined in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, it took decades for the country to promulgate the RTI to provide the legal framework for the implementation of the constitutional right to access information from public institutions.
After years of long winding parliamentary processes, the bill was finally passed on March 26, 2019 and assented to by President Nana Dankwa Akufo-Addo on May 21, 2019.
The Act explains the procedures for access to official information, and also highlights some exemptions.
From section five (5) to 17 of the RTI Act, 2019 (Act 989) is about information exempted from the Act, which include information for the President, Vice President or Cabinet.
Others are related to public safety, law enforcement, economic information of third parties, personal matters, parliamentary privilege, issues affecting international relations and security of the state.
Just like other critics of the Act, I also hold the view that some of the exemptions raise question over whether or not sections of the law could be a deliberate cover up for wrongdoings of public institutions or governments.
For instance, the section 10(f) in the Act exempts the disclosure of information where “the information contains questions or methodology to be used in an examination, recruitment or selection process and the release is likely to jeopardise the integrity of that examination, recruitment or selection process.”
Despite the use of public safety as an excuse to conceal wealth of public information, the Act recognises the principle of utility as it is stated in the section 17 (1) that, if the benefits of disclosure of the information outweigh the harm that disclosure will cost and it is of public interest, then the information is not exempted from disclosure.
Persons who have taken a closer look at the Act suggest there are too many exemptions that do not provide an enabling environment to assess public institutions and subject them to proper scrutiny to help fight corruption.
Even as public education on the law is gathering momentum, there have been calls for a review of the exemptions in the Act. Those that do not qualify the “harm and public interest” test be expunged.
Meanwhile, Parliament was yet to approve fees applicable to the request of public information under the Act. That must also be fast tracked.
Cinderella Arhinful-Mensah
Student, Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ)
Music producer M.O.G Beatz has confirmed that the copyright infringement issue between him and musician Charles Nii Armah Mensah has been fully resolved.
In a statement released on Thursday, 11 December 2025, he described the resolution as an important step toward protecting creative work and promoting fairness in the music industry.
He noted that the matter had been settled peacefully and expressed optimism about stronger respect for artistic rights going forward.
M.O.G Beatz thanked his legal team for their support during the process.
He expressed gratitude to Mr. Seidu and Mr. Kojo Spio for their guidance and encouragement, adding that many others stood by him and helped underline the importance of safeguarding the rights of creators.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Global Africa Summit: Jane Reindorf urges policy makers to remove barriers discouraging investment
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Investment Network, Jane Reindorf, has urged policy makers to remove barriers that discourage investment in Ghana.
She made the appeal during the two-day Global Africa Summit held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra from December 11-12.
The Global Africa Summit is an initiative of the Africa Investment Network designed to unite Africa and its global diaspora under a shared vision of economic collaboration and sustainable development.
The summit provides a platform for governments, investors, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss opportunities that can accelerate growth across the continent.
Held in major cities across the world, the summit focuses on promoting trade, investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
It also highlights the critical role of diaspora capital and partnerships in unlocking Africa’s potential in sectors such as technology, renewable energy, agriculture, finance, tourism, and the creative economy.
Reindorf speaking to journalists at the summit, explained that the forum was created to explore opportunities for trade and investment in Ghana across different sectors.
She noted that although the country was showing visible development, a more supportive environment would help attract and retain investors, especially those from the diaspora.
She observed that people in the diaspora come to Ghana through different experiences and journeys, and a friendly business climate would help sustain their interest.
She stressed that investors mainly look for places where their capital can grow and make meaningful impact.
In her view, cultural attitudes, politics, and personal biases sometimes block opportunities in Ghana even though investors focus more on the strength of business prospects than on political issues.
She pointed out that a diaspora investor with about 200 million dollars could easily choose Kenya or South Africa if Ghana failed to create a favourable environment.
For her, government must work to keep investment coming into Ghana instead of losing it to other countries.
Reindorf shared that the next day of the summit would include reflections on the event and discussions on investment opportunities in Africa’s “sixth region,” the diaspora.
She explained that these conversations would look at how remittances can be turned into productive investments rather than being used only for family support.
She added that entrepreneurs would present bankable projects to both in-person and virtual investors as part of efforts to link ideas with funding.
She described this as the moment “the magic happens,” and expressed appreciation for the support of the network’s investment partner, John Morris.
Reindorf highlighted that African Americans, Brazilians, and Caribbean communities form a strong base of potential investors.
She said the Africa Investment Network hopes to engage these groups and direct their interest toward Ghana by building the right platform.
She noted that during her first visit to Ghana, she assessed the market and saw clear potential to attract investment through stocks, bonds, projects, and direct ventures.
She explained that this was the type of platform the organisation aims to strengthen to support Ghana’s investment drive.
By: Jacob Aggrey
