Accra: Journalists and other media practitioners have been urged to leverage the Right to Information (RTI) law to foster accountable governance in the country. Mr. Zakaria Tanko Musah, a Lecturer at the University of Media, Arts, and Communication - Institute of Journalism (UniMAC-IJ), emphasized the importance of the RTI law as a tool for advocating and enhancing accountability at all governance levels.
According to Ghana News Agency, the RTI Law was enacted by the Ghanaian Parliament on March 26, 2019, after nearly two decades of efforts. This legislation has placed public institutions under scrutiny, making them more aware of their actions. Mr. Musah conveyed this message during a three-day training session organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) for 30 journalists selected nationwide. The MFWA, a regional independent non-governmental organization, works with national partner organizations across 16 West African countries and is recognized for its significant role in media development and freedom of expression.
The training was part of the MFWA's initiative, 'Countering Corruption through Accountability Journalism and Improved Freedom of Expression.' Mr. Musah reminded participants that public institutions are required to appoint an information officer and that media practitioners should not face barriers in obtaining information, except where the law explicitly provides exceptions. He urged journalists to be persistent in seeking information, especially when officials use propagandist tactics.
Mrs. Aurelia Ayisi, a lecturer from the University of Ghana's Department of Communication Studies, facilitated a session on 'Gender-differentiated corruption.' She encouraged journalists to examine the influence of power dynamics and gender relations on corrupt practices and to report such issues thoroughly. The training covered various topics, including media law, ethics, and gender-differentiated corruption.
The initiative is part of the Participation, Accountability, Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) program, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It is co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by GIZ in collaboration with Ghana's Ministry of Finance. The final session, focusing on Data Journalism and Fact-Checking, is expected in January. Participants expressed gratitude to MFWA and encouraged continued advocacy for governance accountability.
