Ghana Police Fined GH¢100k For Flouting RTI Commission’s Directives

The Right to Information Commission(RTI) has fined the Ghana Police Service an amount of GH¢100,000 for refusing to comply with a directive on information release.

The order requires a respondent to grant an applicant access to the requested information.

The case involves the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Africa, which had sought information from the police on the status of cases involving police brutality.

Despite addressing the request to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the law enforcement agency completely disregarded it.

In a statement, the RTI Commission highlighted the respondent’s failure to make decisionsapplicant’slicant’s request, along with their disregard for the Commission’s letter.

“Based on the respondent’s failure to make decisionsapplicanapplicant’s application lodged with it, the respondent has clearly failed to perform its obligation under Act 989. This is coupled with its failure to respond to the Commission’s letter received by it.

“Such a posture by the respondent is not to be encouraged as it is an affront to the right of access to information enshrined under Article 21(1) (f) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and affirmed by Act 989 and same ought to be disapproved in strong terms.

“For this reason, an administrative penalty of GH¢ 100,000.00 is imposed on the respondent, and this shall be payable to the Commission not later than 14 days after receipt of this decision of the Commission by the respondent.

“The penalty so imposed shall attract an additional default penalty rate of 10% on the principal penalty sum of GH¢100,000.00 in the event of default for any additional 14 days thereafter,” portions of the statement said.