Ghana Right to Information Law (Rti Act 2019, (Act 989)) Implementation: The Role of Monitoring and Evaluation, A Case Study of Right to Information Commission in Accra Metropolis

Abstract

The study examines the role of monitoring and evaluation in the implementation of Ghana’s Right to Information Policy by the Right to Information Commission in Accra Metropolis. The study adopted the descriptive research design with a quantitative approach. It used a closed-ended questionnaire with a sample size of 125 participants. The study revealed that 79.2 percent of the respondents in Accra metropolis are aware of the RTI act. A further 67.2 percent of the respondents in Accra metropolis have never read the RTI provision in Act 989. Also 83.2 of the respondents indicated the RTI Act 989 provides for the right to access public information. The study further shows that M&E in management decision making, M&E accountability towards right to information, M&E resources are economically utilized, M&E activities are carried out within schedule, Application of M&E tools in RTI implementation enhance effective implementation of monitoring and evaluation mechanism applied by the commission to implement the Right to Information Commission in Accra Metropolis. The study revealed that there is lack of clear understanding of the procedures and process involved in requesting information from state institution or agencies, lack of qualified staff to enforce the act on the various agencies and departments of the state, inappropriate behavior on the part of institutional heads in terms of compliance to the RTI Act 989, slow release of funds from central government to the commission for effective implementation of the RTI Act, and lack of in-service training that will enhance the knowledge of the staff who are implementing the RTI Act. The Right to Information Commission should organize annual workshops to train its staff on the procedures and process involved in requesting information from public institutions.