Pressure group OccupyGhana has once again exercised its right to information by writing to the office of the President, demanding an update on the status of the Draft Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2022. The group’s action, undertaken using the Right to Information (RTI) Law, seeks to hold the government accountable and ensure transparency in the legislative process.
Dated August 10, 2023, the RTI request serves as a reminder to the presidency about its commitment to take action on the draft bill. This follows OccupyGhana’s initial RTI request in February 2023, which was reiterated in May after the presidency deemed certain information as confidential and secret.
In the August 10 RTI reminder, addressed to the Secretary to the office of the President and copied to key stakeholders including the Chief of Staff, the Information Ministry, the Attorney General, and the Executive Secretary of the Right to Information Commission, OccupyGhana emphasized its queries:
- When does the cabinet intend to conclude deliberations and approve the Draft Bill?
- When is the Attorney-General planning to present the Draft Bill to Parliament?
The pressure group underscores the significance of Cabinet’s attention, endorsement, and subsequent transmission of the draft bill to Parliament for deliberation and passage into law. They highlighted the delay in the legislative process, which they argue contradicts the New Patriotic Party’s manifesto promise to enact the draft bill into law.
The group also referenced recent comments made by the Attorney-General in July, highlighting the urgency for comprehensive ethics regulation to govern the conduct of public officers. OccupyGhana’s advocacy aligns with the need to reinforce the asset declaration regime, aiming to address instances where public officers accumulate wealth that cannot be reasonably justified by their known economic means.
The resurgence of OccupyGhana’s campaign coincides with a recent incident involving the alleged theft of substantial amounts of money and personal effects from former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Abena Dapaah and her husband. The pressure group’s call for transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct in public office resonates amid such incidents.
OccupyGhana’s endeavor to champion legislative progress and ethical standards within public service underscores the vital role of civil society organizations in promoting good governance and holding authorities accountable.
