News
RTI Bill, a camouflage to protect public officials?
Dear Editor,
Allow me to use your space to express my views on an issue that has been a bother personally and to some well meaning Ghanaians.
The Right to information Bill (RTI) which was finally passed into law on May 21 ,2019 makes Ghana 24 out of 54 countries in Africa to have that law.
The Act provides individuals and institutions with information about public officials and institutions. This act was compiled with lots of expertise because it was produced by a committee of legislatures who make the law, with most of them being legal practitioners.
This bill was subject to review by a group of Ghanaians who were championing this course before it was finally passed. It is commendable that after about two decades the bill which was before parliament has been passed.
I, however, think that the Act carries the following “weaknesses” and must be checked.
The appointment of the commission, that is looking at objectives of this Act which is to put our leaders on their toes in aspects of corruption, embezzlement, and immoral acts. Here is the case that all the members of the commission are appointed by the president according to section 48(2) ” The members of the Board shall be appointed by the president in accordance with article 70 of the Constitution ” which makes the effectiveness of the information officers questionable (ie. They will protect public officials and institutions).
Again, these officers are immune to any legal actions from anyone according to section 74(1)” An information officer is not liable to any action, claim, suit or demand whether criminal or civil for an omission or action taken by that information officer who, in the course of duty provides information to an applicant or in compliance with the provisions of this Act”. This in a way makes section 36 of this Act futile. Therefore making the commission officers fully protected as well as public officers and institutions.
Also, the protocols to get these information are too many. And even with that, your fate is with these officers who were appointed by that same person you want information about. This is because according to section 43 clause 2(d)” dismiss an application if it considers the application to be frivolous or vexatious ” and who determines the frivolousness, it is the commission?
I hope that some of these concerns which are not exhaustive would be addressed for an effective and fairly applicable law.
Adelaide Adu-Gyamfi
Level 300 student, Ghana Institute of Journalism
News
Minister of Health appeals to Tamale Teaching Hospital striking doctors
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has appealed to the striking doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) to calll off the suspension and come to the negotiation table.
However, he refused to apologise as demanded by the striking doctors.
The doctors after a meeting yesterday have withdrawn emergency services following the dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital.
This follows an unannounced visit to the hospital by the Minister on Tuesday.
The Minister made the appeal when addressing the media in Accra on Today, April 24 2025.
According to him, dialogue is the only way out to resolve the issue, adding that he was ready collaborate with them.
“I am prepared for us to come around the table and discuss whatever we need to discuss,” Mr Akandoh said.
“My humble appeal to my wonderful medical doctors and health professionals at Tamale Teaching Hospital is that I am the first person to take care of your interests. Therefore, let’s call off the strike and let’s all regroup and strategise going forward,” he concluded.
News
Health Minister donates medical equipment to Tamale Teaching Hospital, pledges commitment to reforms
The Minister for Health Kwabena Miintah Akandoh has reiterated government’s commitment to address long-standing challenges in the health sector, describing the health system as one that requires urgent reform and collective responsibility.
He made these remarks during a donation of some essential medical equipment and supplies to the Tamale Teaching Hospital on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
The donation included a wide range of equipment such as ECG machines, ICU ventilators, cardiac monitors, anesthesia machines, infant incubators, and essential
Consumables amounting to about 35 items.
Among the items highlighted were
Emergency Health Equipment (EHE) sets, nebulizer sets, and medical-grade towels.
The Health Minister acknowledged the difficult working conditions health professionals continue to endure and emphasized that government efforts alone would not be enough to resolve systemic issues.
He called for unity across the health sector and urged all stakeholders, including medical doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, to work together to ensure that the country’s limited resources are used efficiently.
He noted that the wellbeing of the ordinary Ghanaian should be central to healthcare delivery, cautioning against practices that marginalize the underprivileged due to resource scarcity. According to him, every Ghanaian life is valuable, and the system must reflect that belief in both policy and practice.
Mr.Akandoh stressed that his leadership approach is rooted in humility, collaboration, and respect for all health workers. While acknowledging that change may come with challenges, he maintained that cooperation is key to achieving lasting improvements in the sector.
The Minister pleaded with health professionals in the Tamale Teaching Hospital to call off the strike and regroup to strategize on more effective ways to address their concerns through dialogue and collaboration with relevant authorities.
The donation to the Tamale Teaching Hospital forms part of a broader national initiative to modernize medical infrastructure and enhance service delivery in Ghana’s healthcare.
