GNA NATIONAL SERVICE PERSONNEL SENSITISED ON RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT
Some 2025/2026 National Service Personnel of the Administration Department of the Ghana News Agency (GNA) have been sensitised on the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989). The sensitisation exercise, held on Thursday, 13th August 2026, was led by the Agency’s Right to Information Officer and formed part of efforts to deepen awareness of citizens’ right to access information held by public institutions. The engagement sought to equip the personnel with knowledge of the RTI framework and demonstrate its relevance to transparency, accountability and informed participation in public affairs.
The RTI Officer took participants through key provisions of Act 989, including the right of individuals to request information, procedures for submitting requests, responsibilities of public institutions and categories of information that may be exempt from disclosure. She explained that the RTI framework provides a lawful mechanism through which citizens can obtain credible information from public institutions, subject to the exemptions stipulated by law. The Officer also emphasised the importance of responsible use of information and encouraged participants to familiarise themselves with the procedures for exercising their right effectively.
The interactive session provided an opportunity for the National Service Personnel to seek clarification on practical issues relating to access to information. Participants particularly enquired whether information could be requested from public institutions for academic and research purposes, including theses, dissertations and other research projects. In response, the RTI Officer explained that individuals could make information requests for legitimate academic and research purposes, provided such requests complied with the requirements of the Act and did not involve information protected by lawful exemptions. The discussion enabled participants to better appreciate how the RTI framework can support education, research and informed decision-making.
The sensitisation exercise strengthened participants’ understanding of their right to access information and the responsibilities associated with exercising that right. The engagement further highlighted the important role of Information and RTI Officers in bridging the gap between public institutions and citizens by providing guidance, facilitating lawful access to information and promoting responsible information management. By empowering young professionals with knowledge of the RTI Act, such engagements contribute to building an informed citizenry capable of using credible public information to support research, engage constructively with institutions and contribute to transparency, accountability and sustainable community development.
