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The Right to Information Commission held a Public lecture at the Bonokyepem Hall in Techiman, the Capital of Bono East Region, and educated the various heads of institutions, the media, teachers, students, and the general public on the Right to Information Act, 2019 Act (989) on 7th December 2021,

The lecture was dubbed; "Your Right to Access Information and the Role of the Commission; The Role of Heads of Institutions in the Implementation of the RTI Act."

The Executive Secretary, Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq. began his presentation by indicating that, the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana has already given individuals and institutions the power to access any information they need from public institutions. However, the problem has always been the process one has to go through to access the information he or she requires and that is why the RTI Act, 2019 (Act 989) was passed into law, to provide for the implementation of the constitutional right to information held by a public institution, subject to the exemptions that are necessary and consistent with the protection of the public interest in a democratic society, to foster a culture of transparency and accountability in public affairs.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission implored that for one to access information, the act envisages the person to exercise that right through a written application and the applicant must be clear and concise so that the information can be identified by the institution. Also, the applicant has to indicate the medium he or she wants information. He reiterated that the applicant is not mandated to indicate the reason(s) for his or her application even though, the individual must give reason or reasons for urgency where the application is to be treated urgently.

He stated that in as much as the RTI Act gives everyone the right to access information, there are exemptions to the information that can be given out as stipulated in Section 5 to Section 16 of the RTI Act, 2019 (Act 989). However, Section 17 of the Act permits institutions to disclose information for the protection of public interest in spite of such information being exempted for disclosure.

Mr. Yaw Sarpong Boateng Esq. alluded to the fact that for the smooth implementation of the RTI Act, the Act mandates all public institutions to have an Information Officer who will serve as a liaison officer between the institutions and those that may apply for information.

Mr. George Padmore Mensah, the Chief Director of the Bono East Regional Coordinating Council exalted the RTI Commission and admonished Heads of Institutions, Heads of various Departments and units as well as everybody that was present to be apostles of the RTI Act, 2019 (Act 989) so that others may understand and follow the law when seeking for information. He assured the Commission that his outfit will do everything within his means for an excellent Implementation of the RTI Act in the Bono East Region.

Prior to the public lecture, the Commission led by the Executive Secretary had paid a courtesy call to the Paramount Chief of Techiman, Oseadeyor Akumfi Ameyaw IV were the chiefs and the queen mothers had commended the Commission for its great works of making sure people are abreast with the RTI Act and advised the commission to continue such works to promote transparency and accountability in the public sector.

The Commission which is mandated to sensitize the public on the RTI Act, 2019 (Act 989) before the lecture they engaged the public and radio stations in Techiman.

As part of the RTI Commission's national sensitization programs, the Commission sensitized the public in the Ashanti Region, Western North Region, Greater Accra Region, Ahafo Region, Bono Region, and Bono East Region on the RTI Act, 2019 (Act (989).