Corruption Watch Ghana has revealed that several state institutions, including key governance bodies, have been heavily fined for failing to comply with the Right to Information (RTI) law.
According to its latest investigation, these institutions have accumulated penalties totaling approximately GHS5.6 million for either refusing or failing to provide information requested by citizens, a violation of the very law meant to promote transparency and accountability in governance.
The extensive six-month investigation, conducted between February and July 2025, uncovered a troubling pattern of disregard for the RTI Act by several public entities.
“The investigation uncovered that the Ghana Police Service has paid GHS450,357, while the CHRAJ is yet to pay a fine of GHS30,000.
“Other key institutions that have violated the law are the Parliamentary Service, which has paid a fine of GHS53,785; the Judicial Service of Ghana, which is yet to pay a fine of GHS100,000; the Attorney-General’s Department, which owes a fine of GHS50,000; and the SSNIT, which has settled a fine of GHS200,000.”
Corruption Watch Ghana
Other key public institutions were also cited in the investigation. The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) was hit with the heaviest single penalty, paying GHS1.365 million.
The Ministry of Education followed with GHS260,000 in fines, while the Lands Commission was penalized GHS150,000.
The Ghana Audit Service paid GHS60,000, and the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) has a pending fine of GHS100,000.
Widespread RTI Violations Across Institutions
The investigation further revealed that the RTI Commission (RTIC), the regulatory body tasked with enforcing compliance with the RTI law, imposed these fines in more than 70 separate determinations, involving at least 60 different institutions.
In terms of frequency, the Ministry of Education emerged as the worst offender, recording four separate penalties.
“Ten other institutions have suffered two penalties each. They include the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Judicial Service, the Lands Commission, the PPA, the Ministry of Energy, and the Urban Roads Department.”
Corruption Watch Ghana
Corruption Watch Ghana stated that this consistent pattern of non-compliance points to a worrying trend where institutions designed to uphold public accountability are themselves undermining transparency.
These breaches of the Right to Information law deny citizens access to critical information about how public resources are managed, ultimately eroding trust in governance.
One of the most concerning findings in the report is that state institutions are using taxpayers’ money to settle these fines.
This means that instead of holding the individual officials responsible for the violations accountable, the financial burden is shifted back onto ordinary Ghanaians.
Corruption Watch Ghana emphasized that such practices defeat the very purpose of the RTI law, which was established to enhance transparency and ensure public funds are managed responsibly.
Instead, these fines are being absorbed into government budgets, creating a cycle where non-compliance has little to no personal consequence for the offending officials.
The Role of Civil Society in Promoting Accountability
The investigation highlights the vital role civil society organizations play in ensuring transparency in governance.
Corruption Watch Ghana, an initiative of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), collaborated with several partners, including Transparency International Ghana (formerly Ghana Integrity Initiative), Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), Africa Center for International Law and Accountability (ACILA), and major media outlets such as Joy FM and Adom FM.
Supported by the European Union, this collaboration has been instrumental in uncovering systemic gaps in the enforcement of the Right to Information law.
By shedding light on these violations, Corruption Watch Ghana has sparked a broader conversation about accountability and the urgent need for reforms within state institutions.
The organization stressed that access to information is a cornerstone of democracy and must be protected to prevent corruption and misuse of public resources.
Urgent Need for Reform
The findings raise pressing questions about the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms in Ghana. While the RTI Commission has imposed significant fines, the continued pattern of non-compliance suggests that the penalties alone are not sufficient deterrents.
Analysts argue that stricter measures, including holding individual officials personally liable for fines, could help curb violations.
Without such reforms, state institutions may continue to treat these penalties as routine administrative costs rather than serious breaches of the law.
Corruption Watch Ghana’s report serves as a wake-up call to both the government and citizens.
For the NDC-led administration, which came into power with promises of accountability and transparency, addressing these systemic failures will be a critical test of its commitment to good governance.
As the public grows increasingly frustrated with persistent corruption scandals and a lack of transparency, the enforcement of the Right to Information law will remain a key indicator of the government’s willingness to uphold democratic principles.
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