OccupyGhana threatens to escalate disallowance retrieval dispute to RTI Commission
OccupyGhana, a prominent Civil Society Organization (CSO), has issued a stern warning to the Auditor-General (AG) over its delay in furnishing the group with a report on the retrieval of GHS 2.2bn disallowance between 2017 and 2020. The group has threatened to escalate the matter to the Right to Information Commission if the AG fails to provide the report within the stipulated seven-day deadline.
In a rejoinder to a statement by the AG on the retrieval of the said amount, OccupyGhana expressed frustration over the undue delay in the release of the report, despite assurances by the AG that it had completed the report and would soon make it available to the CSO. The group noted that its repeated requests for the report have been ignored, prompting it to take the drastic step of escalating the matter to the Right to Information Commission.
The Right to Information Commission is a body set up to promote transparency, accountability, and good governance in Ghana by providing citizens with access to information held by public institutions. The commission is mandated to receive and investigate complaints of violations of the right to information and to impose appropriate sanctions on institutions that fail to comply with the law.
The AG’s office is responsible for the prosecution of criminal cases and the provision of legal advice to the government. The office is also responsible for the collection of revenues on behalf of the government and the management of the country’s legal affairs. The delay in releasing the report has raised concerns among citizens and civil society groups about the transparency and accountability of the government’s financial management.
The issue of financial accountability is a crucial one for Ghana, a country that has seen its fair share of corruption scandals in recent years. The government’s efforts to combat corruption and promote transparency have been praised by international organizations, but there are concerns that more needs to be done to ensure that public officials are held accountable for their actions.
OccupyGhana’s threat to escalate the matter to the Right to Information Commission is a clear signal that civil society groups are not willing to sit idly by while public officials delay or refuse to release information that is crucial for ensuring transparency and accountability. The group’s actions are likely to put pressure on the AG’s office to release the report promptly and to comply with the country’s Right to Information law.
The issue of financial transparency and accountability is a critical one for Ghana, and the actions of civil society groups such as OccupyGhana are essential for holding public officials accountable for their actions. The government must ensure that public institutions comply with the Right to Information law and that citizens have access to the information they need to hold their leaders accountable. The AG’s office must take prompt action to release the report to OccupyGhana to avoid further escalation of the matter.
