The Right to Information (RTI) Commission fined The Ghana Airport Corporation Limited (GACL) 200,000 for disobeying orders to grant access to information.
In response to a letter from GACL's managing director, Pamela Djamson-Tettey, dated September 7, 2023, the Commission made its conclusion.
As instructed by the Commission, the MD had asked for an extra week to compile and deliver facts to Raymond Acquah, head of research at JoyNews.
The Commission voiced its displeasure with GACL's delay in supplying the necessary information in a letter dated September 20, 2023 and bearing reference number RTIG/RF/voL4/856.
On February 3, 2023, and February 16, 2023, respectively, the Commission issued directives outlining the format in which the information should be submitted and emphasising that the material was already accessible.
The Commission granted GACL the sought one-week delay while respecting the idea of justice.
In a letter dated August 23, 2023, it flatly denied GACL's request for a release of the administrative fine of $200,000 levied by the Commission.
The Commission cited GACL's lack of cooperation in following its earlier recommendations as justification for its conclusion.
The Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) gives the Commission the authority to impose administrative fines on entities that fail to uphold their commitments under the Act, and the Commission saw this as an intentional attempt to obstruct the implementation of the Act.
The Commission informed GACL to make the payment in accordance with the Commission's instruction in a letter signed by Executive Secretary Yaw Sarpong Boateng, stating that it lacks the authority to waive the already imposed penalty of $200,000 in fines.
The controversy started when JoyNews asked for access to the agreement between GACL and Frontiers Healthcare Services, which is in charge of managing COVID-19 testing at the airport.
GACL declined to release this information, citing Section 10 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), which permits exclusions when specific requirements are met.
The contract, according to GACL, contained material that was exempt from disclosure, including trade secrets and financial information that would be worth money.
-By Hilda Mentle|thetransporteronline24|Ghana
