Dr Osei Yaw Adutwum a representative of the president among some leaders at the IDUAI 2024
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to transparency and citizen participation.
In a speech delivered on behalf of the President by Education Minister Yaw Adutwum, at the 2024 International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) global conference which was held in Accra, on October 1, 2024, under the theme “Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector”, the President reflected on the passage of the Right to Information Act as a landmark achievement in Ghana’s democratic journey, stating, “Access to information is the lifeblood of democratic participation.
“It is through transparency that we can hold leadership accountable and ensure that the voices of all Ghanaians are heard.”
He outlined the progress made in digitizing public services and enhancing access to information through initiatives such as the Ghana Digital Transformation Agenda.
He stressed the need for public institutions to move beyond compliance and promote openness, adding, that “Access to information must be inclusive. It must reach every corner of the country, including our most remote communities.
“That is why we have extended fiber optic networks to underserved areas and expanded mobile network coverage to connect even the most isolated populations. I am determined to ensure that no Ghanaian is left behind in the information age.”
The two-day events were held from October 1-2, 2024, and have been jointly organized by UNESCO and the Government of Ghana and drew key stakeholders from around the world to discuss the importance of data transparency and citizen engagement in modern governance.
In her address, the minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, highlighted the role access to information plays in fostering participatory governance.
She emphasized that access to information empowers citizens, enables scrutiny of government actions, and fosters a culture of accountability, noting, “For any democracy to thrive, its citizens must be well-informed, and public sector institutions must be transparent and accessible.”
She announced new government initiatives aimed at further improving access to information, including the launch of an Online Records Management System (ORMS) that will digitize the application process for requesting information from public institutions.
She also praised the GhanaToday.gov.gh platform for providing real-time access to key government data and communications.
International representatives, including UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Tawfik Jelassi, and the African Union’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, Ourveena Topsy-Sonoo, called for continued global efforts to promote access to data as a cornerstone of inclusive governance and sustainable development.
AM/OGB
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