SHAI-OSUDOKU DISTRICT ASSEMBLY SENSITISES PROCUREMENT OFFICERS ON RTI LAW
The Shai-Osudoku District Assembly has sensitised its procurement officers on the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2019 (Act 989), to strengthen their understanding of their obligations under the law and promote transparency in public procurement. The sensitisation programme, held on 10th June 2026, focused on equipping officers with the knowledge and skills required to appropriately manage information requests relating to procurement processes and records, while ensuring that information legitimately exempt from disclosure, including commercially sensitive bid information, is adequately protected.
The training covered the legal foundations of the RTI Act and its relationship with procurement law, categories of procurement information subject to disclosure, procedures for receiving, recording and responding to RTI applications, statutory timelines and permissible extensions, as well as the consequences of non-compliance. Participants also examined practical scenarios drawn from various stages of the procurement cycle, including tender evaluation, contract awards and payment records. The facilitator emphasised that procurement activities, which involve the use of public resources, are of significant public interest and therefore require a strong commitment to transparency, accountability and proper records management.
The role of the Information Officer in facilitating access to information was also highlighted. Participants were taken through the importance of collaboration between the Information Officer and procurement staff in identifying, retrieving and processing information requested by applicants. The RTI Officer encouraged officers to treat RTI response deadlines with the same level of discipline as procurement deadlines, stressing that the timelines prescribed under the law are mandatory procedures and not optional requirements. She further encouraged the Assembly to proactively disclose relevant procurement information, noting that publishing tender results, evaluation criteria and contract award details where appropriate can reduce the need for formal RTI applications while strengthening public trust.
The sensitisation programme reinforced the importance of the RTI Act, 2019 (Act 989), in advancing open governance by enabling citizens to access information held by public institutions and participate more meaningfully in public affairs. Effective implementation of the law within procurement processes will enable the Shai-Osudoku District Assembly to respond to information requests promptly, safeguard legitimately exempt information, minimise disputes and appeals, and enhance confidence in the management of public resources. The initiative therefore represents an important step towards building a culture of openness, accountability and responsible governance at the local government level.
