Corruption Watch Ghana has revealed that several key state and private institutions, including the Ghana Police Service, Parliament, the judiciary, and the Attorney-General’s Department, have faced substantial fines for violating the Right to Information (RTI) law.
The latest investigative report, released on Monday, September 29, indicates that the RTI Commission (RTIC) has imposed about GH₵ 5.6 million in penalties on more than 60 institutions for refusing or failing to provide information requested by citizens.
The findings show that the Ghana Police Service alone has paid GH₵ 450,357 in fines, while the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) owes GH₵ 30,000. Parliament has settled GH₵ 53,785, the Judicial Service has an outstanding GH₵ 100,000, the Attorney-General’s Department owes GH₵ 50,000, and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has paid GH₵ 200,000.
Among non-governmental entities, the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) received the heaviest single fine of GH₵ 1.365 million. Other notable penalties include GH₵ 260,000 paid by the Ministry of Education, GH₵ 150,000 by the Lands Commission, and GH₵ 60,000 by the Ghana Audit Service. The Public Procurement Authority (PPA) still owes GH₵ 100,000.
The report, titled “Saga over RTI: Millions Paid as Penalty”, highlights that taxpayers’ money is being used by public institutions to settle these fines. The RTIC issued the penalties in over 70 determinations against at least 60 organisations.
In terms of frequency, the Ministry of Education topped the list with four penalties, followed by the Ghana Police Service with three. Ten other bodies, including the Ghana Education Service (GES), Judicial Service, Lands Commission, PPA, Ministry of Energy, and Department of Urban Roads, were fined twice each.
Corruption Watch Ghana noted that many of the institutions fined are ironically the very ones mandated to promote access to information.
“Some key governance institutions, which should promote access to information, are either refusing or failing to comply with the Right to Information (RTI) law by denying access to information requested by citizens,” the report said.
The six-month investigation, conducted between February and July 2025, was carried out by Corruption Watch Ghana, an initiative of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), in partnership with Transparency International Ghana, the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, the Africa Center for International Law and Accountability, and media partners Joy FM and Adom FM. The project is supported by the European Union.
Source: Clara Seshie
