Ghana has become the first African country to host the world in the International Day for Universal Access to Information in Accra. The global event has seen government representatives from all walk of life storm the land of gold to showcase what their respective countries do to champion access to information.

The 2024 edition of the International Day for Universal Access to Information is being observed under the theme Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector.

In an exclusive interview with Yaw Sarpong Boateng-Executive Secretary, Right to Information Commission(Ghana) who doubles as Vice chairperson of the African Network of Information Commissioners said Ghana’s constitution fully backs the UNESCO and UN bylaws on Access to Information which fall under the human rights law. This empowers everyone citizen to reach out for an information of any sort once the right procedures are followed.

Mr. Sarpong Boateng urged institutions that be, to do well in championing database to keep track of needed information and make same available such that anyone who may be in need will them will easy. To make this possible, we need to take advantage of digitalization, he noted.

He stressed that regardless of one’s location, they should be able to reach for information at all times saying, affordable internet data stand tall to make this feasible and flexible.

Lucy Ndungu, former commissioner Access to Information-Kenya, praised Ghana for its efforts in ensuring access to information especially in the past four years. A good example for other African countries to emulate. Being the first time in Africa is positive and comes with enormous benefits, she learnt.

Just as Ghana, Miss Ndungu said Kenya has the right to information enshrined in its constitution with the aim of disseminating information right from the top to bottom.
Meanwhile, she was bothered about proper systems which will make people in authority channel information to the ordinary person in society. A challenge she hoped the nations would overcome in the near future once the desire for this is properly nurtured.

Chance Kalolokesya who is the deputy director for Civil Political Rights(DDCPR) of the Malawi Human Rights Commission also told MBN TV that his country has been making some progress in the past four years as well but unlike Ghana where there are some administrative penalties, Malawi is yet to get there. In any case, about eight public institutions are on with vigorous campaign to sensitize members of their respective staff to better understand the concept.

The two days event began yesterday, 1st October and ended today, 2nd.