Reform Description

We propose the development and operationalisation of an Online Access to Information Portal. This reform seeks to provide citizens with a convenient, accessible, and secure platform to submit Right to Information (RTI) requests in accordance with the RTI Act, 2019 (Act 989). The portal will serve as a centralised interface for tracking requests, providing timely responses from public institutions, and generating data for monitoring compliance and performance.

This reform also complements ongoing national efforts led by the Information Services Department (ISD), the Government Communications Office, and the Right to Information Commission (RTIC). These include nationwide capacity-building initiatives, the establishment of the National Information Contact Centre (info311), and inclusive stakeholder consultations to support the drafting of the RTI Regulations.

Problem(s) Addressed by Reform

The proposed action seeks to address several specific public problems:

1. Limited Access to Information: Many citizens face challenges accessing public information due to bureaucratic delays, lack of knowledge about the RTI process, or physical barriers, particularly in remote areas. The online portal will offer a convenient and equitable means for all Ghanaians to exercise their right to information.

2. Low Public Awareness and Engagement: Despite the passage of the RTI Act, public understanding of the law and its procedures remains low. This reform supports ongoing awareness efforts by providing a practical tool that encourages citizen participation and educates users on their rights.

3. Inefficiencies in the RTI Request Process: The current manual system for processing RTI requests can be slow, opaque, and inconsistent across institutions. A centralized digital platform will streamline request handling, improve response times, and promote accountability in service delivery.

4. Weak Transparency and Accountability Mechanisms: In the absence of a transparent and trackable system, it is difficult to monitor how public institutions comply with the RTI law. The online portal will generate data for performance tracking, thereby enhancing oversight and institutional accountability.

5. Exclusion of Vulnerable Populations: Marginalised groups, including persons with disabilities and those in rural areas, often have the least access to public information. By incorporating accessible design features and promoting digital inclusion, the reform helps bridge the information gap and promote inclusive governance.

The proposed action—developing and operationalizing an online portal for access to information—represents a significant step toward addressing the public problems identified because it introduces a transformative, scalable, and sustainable solution to improve transparency and public access to government-held information.

1. Digitization for Wider Reach: By leveraging digital infrastructure, the reform overcomes geographic and physical barriers, enabling citizens across all regions, including rural and hard-to-reach areas, to submit and track RTI requests remotely and conveniently.

2. Increased Efficiency and Transparency: The portal will standardize and streamline the RTI request process across all public institutions, reducing delays, eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy, and introducing an auditable trail of requests and responses. This significantly improves institutional accountability.

3. Data for Oversight and Policy Improvement: With built-in analytics, the portal will generate real-time data on compliance rates, response timelines, and common information requests, offering the Right to Information Commission (RTIC) and stakeholders evidence to evaluate performance and inform policy decisions.

4. Support for Inclusive Governance: The portal will be designed with accessibility features—such as multilingual support, voice navigation, and visual aids—to ensure inclusivity, particularly for persons with disabilities and low-literacy populations. This supports the broader goal of participatory and equitable governance.

5. Public Awareness Catalyst: The digital platform will serve as both a request tool and an educational hub, offering resources on citizens’ RTI rights and institutional obligations. It will thus reinforce ongoing public education and capacity-building efforts, helping to cultivate a culture of transparency and active citizenship.

In essence, this reform operationalizes the RTI Act in a practical, citizen-friendly way and exemplifies the government’s commitment under OGP to make governance more open, responsive, and accountable.

Relevance to OGP Values

The proposed action—developing and operationalizing an online access to information portal—is directly aligned with the core Open Government values of transparency, public accountability, and civic participation in the following ways:

1. Transparency:
The portal will provide a centralised, user-friendly platform for citizens to access information held by public institutions. By enabling digital submission and tracking of Right to Information (RTI) requests, it increases visibility into government operations, decisions, and resource allocation. It also ensures that key documents and datasets are made proactively available, reducing information asymmetry between the state and the public.

2. Public Accountability:
The portal will institutionalise clear timelines and tracking mechanisms for responding to information requests. This helps ensure that public officials and institutions are held accountable for fulfilling their obligations under the RTI Act. It also allows oversight bodies such as the Right to Information Commission to monitor compliance, identify bottlenecks, and take corrective measures where necessary.

3. Civic Participation:
By lowering the barriers to requesting public information—especially for people in remote areas, persons with disabilities, and marginalised groups—the portal empowers more citizens to participate in governance processes. Access to timely, credible information is essential for informed public debate, community advocacy, and meaningful engagement in policy-making and development planning.

In sum, this action strengthens democratic governance by fostering a more informed, engaged, and empowered citizenry while reinforcing institutional responsiveness and openness.

Intended Results

By the end of the implementation period, the intended results of the action are as follows:

1. Operational Online RTI Portal: A fully functional and user-friendly online platform will be developed and launched to allow citizens to submit, track, and receive responses to RTI requests conveniently and securely from anywhere in the country.

2. Increased Access and Usage: A significant increase in the number of RTI requests submitted digitally, especially by individuals in remote areas, persons with disabilities, youth, and other underserved groups, due to the enhanced accessibility of the platform.

3. Improved Responsiveness and Transparency: Enhanced efficiency and timeliness in how public institutions respond to RTI requests, with improved documentation and monitoring of compliance with timelines and obligations under the RTI Act.

4. Strengthened Legal Framework: Passage and enforcement of the Legislative Instrument (LI) to operationalise Act 989, providing standardised procedures and clearer guidelines for implementing institutions.

5. Capacity and Awareness Enhanced: Broader awareness among the general public and improved capacity among public officers to use the portal and uphold their obligations under the RTI law.

6. Integration with Existing Systems: Synergistic integration of the online portal with existing mechanisms like the National Information Contact Centre (info311) to ensure a seamless citizen experience and centralised data collection.

7. Evidence-Based Reporting and Monitoring: Availability of real-time data and analytics from the portal to support monitoring, evaluation, and policy-making related to access to information and governance.

These results are expected to significantly advance transparency, strengthen public accountability, and deepen civic participation in Ghana’s democratic processes.

Milestones

1. Development and Testing of the ATI Portal
- Conduct stakeholder consultations to validate portal features and user needs.
- Design and develop the online portal to facilitate RTI requests.
- Integrate features for accessibility (e.g., multilingual support, disability access).
- Conduct system testing, including user acceptance testing, to ensure functionality and security.
- Pilot the portal in selected Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

2. Training and Capacity Building of RTI Officers
- Identify and select RTI officers and focal persons from targeted public institutions.
- Organise hands-on training workshops on the use of the ATI portal and handling digital requests.
- Develop user manuals and technical guides to support post-training operations.
- Establish a helpdesk or support mechanism for troubleshooting and assistance.

3. Launch of the Online ATI Portal
- Organise a national event to officially unveil the ATI portal.
- Engage the media and civil society actors to amplify the launch.
- Present live demonstrations of the platform’s functionalities.
- Disseminate launch materials, including press kits, brochures, and social media content.

4. Public Awareness
- Roll out a nationwide multimedia campaign on how to use the ATI portal.
- Translate awareness materials into local languages and accessible formats (Braille, audio, etc.).
- Conduct regional outreach programs in partnership with District Information Offices, CSOs, and community media.
- Target students, persons with disabilities, journalists, and rural communities in the sensitisation drive.

5. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
- Set up indicators and benchmarks to measure portal usage and RTI request processing.
- Monitor response times, user satisfaction, and institutional compliance.
- Collect feedback through user surveys and stakeholder engagement sessions.
- Prepare quarterly reports and share learning outcomes with stakeholders and the OGP community.

Is Civil Society Involved?

Yes.

Civil society is actively involved in both shaping and implementing the action. Specifically:

1. Shaping the Reform: Civil society organisations (CSOs) were engaged through stakeholder consultations during the drafting of the Legislative Instrument (LI) to operationalise the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Their inputs helped shape the design, accessibility features, and user-oriented functionalities of the proposed online Access to Information (ATI) portal.

2. Implementation: CSOs will play a key role in public awareness campaigns and community outreach efforts. They will help translate key information into local languages, educate citizens on how to use the portal, and monitor the responsiveness of public institutions to RTI requests. Some CSOs will also support training activities and advocacy for transparency and accountability.

Their participation ensures the reform remains people-centred, inclusive, and aligned with the core values of open government.