The culture of administrative opacity in public institutions has faced a direct challenge as the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry (MoTAI) recently opened its doors to a rigorous examination of the Right to Information (RTI) Act to bridge the gap between the statutory requirements of Act 989 and the daily reflexes of civil servants.
In a strategic sensitization workshop chaired by the Chief Director of MoTAI, Mr. Noah Tumfo – representing the Sector Minister, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare – the Ministry signaled that its future as a trade facilitator is inextricably linked to its ability to be an open book.
“MoTAI hosted a pivotal Right to Information (RTI) sensitization workshop aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability within public institutions. The workshop brought together management and staff from the Ministry, along with representatives from the Right to Information Commission”
Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry
Mr. Tumfo presided over a session that focused on industrial modernization requiring a more predictable and transparent bureaucratic environment, noting that for investors, agribusiness conglomerates, and local SMEs, the ease of doing business in Ghana is often dictated by the accessibility of information.
For the Ministry, training its staff to handle information requests as a professional duty rather than an administrative burden is a step towards removing the friction that has historically slowed down trade negotiations and industrial planning.
The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Vincent Appau Bediako, a lead specialist from the Right to Information Commission (RTIC). His role was to serve as a technical bridge, translating the broad democratic ideals of the RTI Act into practical, operational guidelines for MoTAI staff.
The core of the session focused on the legal framework for information requests, but the underlying narrative was the dismantling of the gatekeeper mentality that often characterizes high-stakes ministries.
Under the guidance of the RTIC, participants explored the specific timelines, documentation standards, and legal exemptions that define the RTI landscape. This was not a theoretical lecture; it was a tactical drill designed to ensure that when a citizen or a corporate entity files a request, the Ministry’s response is prompt, legally compliant, and helpful.
Mr. Bediako emphasized that transparency is the most effective tool for building public trust, particularly in a ministry tasked with managing the nation’s agribusiness and industrial expansion.
Mandate For Accountability
For Chief Director Noah Tumfo, the workshop represented a top-down mandate for a culture shift, as the leadership made it clear that accountability is not an optional extra but a core performance metric.
Convening the Ministry’s management and staff alongside the RTIC was to acknowledge that in 2026, the global trade community judges a nation not just by its infrastructure, but by the integrity of its public institutions.
The session allowed for a rare level of internal dialogue regarding the tension between “confidential trade data,” and “the public’s right to know.” Staff members were encouraged to voice concerns about the logistics of information retrieval and the protection of sensitive industrial secrets.
This interactive approach ensures that the resulting transparency model is not a fragile policy but a resilient, well-understood workflow that can withstand the pressures of high-volume information demands.
According to MoTAI, the most significant portion of the day was dedicated to the practical application of Act 989 where staff engaged in simulations and Q&A sessions designed to solve the “procedural knots that often lead to delays in information disclosure.”
The goal was to create a seamless interface where information flows out of the Ministry as efficiently as industrial policy is developed within it.
The workshop highlighted that the RTI Act is a protective shield for civil servants as much as it is a tool for the public, emphasizing that by following a clear, legally defined path for disclosure, MoTAI staff can avoid the ambiguity that leads to administrative paralysis.
The training ensured that every officer, from middle management to frontline staff, understood their role in the chain of accountability, making sure that the Ministry’s commitment to agribusiness and industry is matched by its commitment to democratic governance.
“The interactive session allowed staff to ask insightful questions and engage in lively discussions, gaining practical knowledge on how to apply the RTI Act in their daily operations”
Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry
As Ghana’s industrial sector scales up to meet the demands of regional and global markets, the information economy becomes a critical component of trade, and MoTAI’s proactive stance on RTI sensitization is a recognition that the Ministry must lead by example.
If the state expects transparency and quality standards from the private sector – as evidenced by the GSA’s recent engagements with the AGI – it must first demonstrate those same values in its own operations.
The sensitization session chaired by Mr. Noah Tumfo is the first step in a broader institutional audit, empowering staff with the knowledge to handle RTI requests accurately to reduce the risk of legal challenges and reputational damage.
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