He noted that many citizens remained unaware of the provisions of the law, stressing the need to deepen public education to improve understanding and utilisation of the Act.

Speaking in an interview with journalists in Sunyani during a working visit to the Bono Region, Mr. Owusu explained that increasing public awareness would strengthen enforcement and effective implementation of the law.

Mr. Owusu, together with Ms. Genevieve Shirley Lartey, Executive Secretary of the RTI Commission, and other officials of the Commission, were in the region to acquaint themselves with the operations of the regional office.

As part of the visit, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Mr. Joseph Addae Akwaboa, the Bono Regional Minister, and sought his support to strengthen the activities of the Commission in the region.

Mr. Owusu emphasised that under the existing legal framework, citizens had the right to request information from public institutions.

According to him, the law also applies to private institutions that receive public funds or perform public functions.

He disclosed that the Commission had already undertaken institutional sensitisation programmes and planned to expand public education campaigns to district and community levels.

Mr. Owusu said the RTI Commission had consistently carried out awareness campaigns since 2023, including outreach programmes in churches and mosques, to educate the public on the provisions of the Act.

He explained that such campaigns were usually intensified during August and September, which are observed annually as RTI Month.

Despite the efforts, he expressed concern that public understanding and utilisation of the Act remained low, indicating that more public education was required.

Mr. Addae Akwaboa commended the Commission for establishing an office in the Bono Region and pledged support for its activities.

He expressed confidence that with the necessary support, the regional office would make significant impact in promoting access to information and public accountability.
Meanwhile, Mr. Osborn Adomako Akuoko, Bono Regional Head of the RTI Commission, highlighted logistical challenges confronting the office.

According to him, the constraints had affected the office’s ability to effectively extend its activities to the Bono East and Ahafo regions as expected.