Finance Ministry fined GH¢100,000 over ignored RTI request
The request was filed by journalist Wilberforce Asare, Editor of The Source newspaper
The Right to Information Commission has fined the Ministry of Finance GH¢100,000 for failing to respond to a request for details on emolument payments to former government appointees.
The request was filed by journalist Wilberforce Asare, Editor of The Source newspaper.
He had asked for information on payments made to former appointees who served in government between January 7, 2021, and January 7, 2025.
In a determination dated April 21, 2026, the Commission held that the Ministry breached the Right to Information Act, 2019, Act 989, by failing to respond properly to the request and to the Commission during the review process.
The decision was communicated to the applicant by email on May 15, 2026.
The Ministry later responded in a letter dated April 30, 2026, signed by its Chief Director, Patrick Nomo.
It said the information requested was not in its custody and advised the applicant to direct the request to the relevant institutions listed under Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution.
But the RTI Commission rejected that position.
It found that the information requested was not exempt under the RTI Act and was not frivolous or vexatious.
The Commission said public institutions are required to give written reasons when refusing access to information.
It held that the Ministry failed to comply with that duty.
According to the Commission, the Ministry’s conduct breached sections 23 and 27 of Act 989, as well as the general right to information under section 1 of the Act.
It also found that the Ministry breached section 70 of the law by failing to assist the Commission during the review process.
As a result, the Commission imposed an administrative penalty of GH¢100,000 on the Ministry.
The amount must be paid to the Commission within 14 days of receipt of the determination.
If the Ministry defaults, an additional 10% will accrue every 30 days.
The Commission also ordered the Ministry to provide the requested information to Mr Asare within seven days, with a copy sent to the Commission.
The RTI Commission further reminded the Ministry of its obligation to uphold transparency and accountability and to comply with lawful information requests.
Background
Mr Asare submitted the RTI request to the Ministry of Finance on October 7, 2025.
The request sought information on the status of Article 71 emoluments for the 2021 to 2025 period, covering the second term of the Akufo-Addo administration.
Under the RTI Act, a public institution is required to respond to such requests within 14 days.
After the Ministry failed to respond within the statutory period, Mr Asare filed an application for internal review on October 24, 2025.
By December 4, 2025, he had still not received a response to either the original request or the internal review application.
He therefore applied to the RTI Commission for a review, arguing that the Ministry’s silence amounted to a refusal under the law.
He asked the Commission to compel disclosure of the information, declare that the Ministry had breached the RTI Act and the Constitution, impose administrative penalties, and order the release of the information within seven days.
In his application, he argued that the Ministry’s failure to comply with the RTI law undermined transparency, accountability and public confidence in governance.
