Mahama urged 6th Parliament to approve RTI bill, pointing out that stakeholders are highly disappointed over his government’s inability to do so
Outgoing President Mahama has urged Parliament to quickly approve the controversial Right to Information (RTI) Bill, before it is finally dissolved midnight of Friday, January 6, 2017. The Bill which has been in Parliament for about 10 years now, has still not been passed into law, as a result of the controversial dynamics of getting it done.
Delivering his final State of the Nation Address yesterday, President Mahama urged the Parliament to approve RTI bill, pointing out that public and civil society organizations, are highly disappointed over his government’s inability to do so.
I must however say that, the public and Civil Society Organisations are disappointed in our inability to pass the Right to Information Bill.
He urged them to look into the issue as stakeholders are still hopeful that the bill will be passed into law, before the end of the 6th parliament.
Having heard from the outgoing President, Minority Speaker of Parliament Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu however, replied that Parliament might not be able to effect any changes in their current state. The minority speaker who will soon lead the majority, emphasized the Parliament’s inability to make significant last minute moves. He however assured that the 6th Parliament will do what is right in pursuing the highly significant RTI Bill.
The Majority in recent times, have accused the minority of not making efforts to see to the passing of the RTI Bill into law. The majority have complained that many Minority MPs leave the chamber in their numbers when the matter comes up, denying the house the needed quorum to deliberate on the Bill. There have also been reports that the Minority still had issues with some clauses in the implementation of the Bill.
But the minority has rubbished claims that it is against the passage of the Bill. Speaking to Citi News, Deputy Minority Leader, Dominic Nitiwul, reiterated the minority’s commitment to the passage of the Bill despite the little disagreements on some clauses.
So far, there have not been any new development on the issue. With barely 12 hours to the dissolution of the 6th Parliament, stakeholders are yet to receive any new information on the controversial RTI bill.
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