Hon. Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, has officially petitioned the Right to Information Commission (RTIC) over the failure of the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice to respond to his request for critical legal documents.
In a letter dated March 24, 2025, Assafuah outlined his frustration over the Ministry’s non-compliance with the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2019 (Act 989). According to him, he initially submitted an RTI request on February 12, 2025, seeking access to memos, letters, and internal correspondence from the Prosecution Department to the former Attorney-General regarding the discontinuation of certain legal cases.
However, after receiving no response within the 14-day statutory period, Assafuah filed a formal internal review request on March 3, 2025, as per Section 31 of Act 989. The law mandates a response within 15 days, but the Attorney-General’s Office has reportedly failed to comply.
Describing the situation as a violation of his constitutional right to access public information, Assafuah noted that the lack of transparency undermines accountability and good governance.
In his appeal to the RTI Commission, the MP requested:
- An investigation into the Attorney-General’s Office for failing to comply with the RTI Act.
- A directive compelling the office to provide the requested information or a legally valid reason for refusal.
- Enforcement of compliance with statutory obligations to prevent arbitrary denials of access to information.
Assafuah emphasized that ensuring transparency in government institutions is crucial for upholding justice and democracy. He urged the RTI Commission to take swift action in addressing the Attorney-General’s Office’s non-responsiveness.
The MP also indicated his willingness to cover any necessary processing fees for the request, signaling his commitment to obtaining the information in question.
