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Parliamentarians Call For Greater Access To Information

15 July 2004

 Adjetey
Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana launched the meeting.
Commonwealth Parliamentarians meeting in Accra, Ghana, agreed that free access to government information is vital for the development of an informed and functional democratic society. They advocated the development of a basic set of standards to which the Commonwealth could aspire in promoting access to information.  

The Study Group on Access to Information, which met from 5 to 9 July 2004, comprised some 20 members from the Parliaments and Legislatures of Fiji Islands, India, Nigeria, South Africa, and Trinidad and Tobago, British Columbia and Scotland who participated in the event hosted by the Parliament of Ghana. The Study Group was jointly organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the World Bank Institute.  

The delegates noted in their recommendations that: "Freedom of information is a fundamental human right, and a cornerstone of democracy and good governance. Recognition of this key right is essential to empowering all members of society, including Parliamentarians, to strengthen Parliamentary democracy, to reversing practices of government by the few and to improving the relationship between Parliament and the media." They believed that these measures will promote transparency in governance. 

Among other proposals drafted by the group are that public bodies should be required by law to publish and disseminate a wide range of key information in a manner easily accessible to the public; that urgent steps be taken to review and, as necessary, repeal or amend, legislation restricting access to information; and that the public should be made aware of their right to access information. 

During the study tour, the delegates shared their experiences in the promotion, adoption and implementation of freedom of information legislation and regimes.  

The meeting was launched by Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana. He said: "Opening windows for more freedom to access information has enabled civil society to prevent the misuse and waste of public funds, and prevented governments from gravitating towards despotism."  

Delegates interacted with World Bank representatives through video conferences. The Study Group was assisted by representatives from the CPA Secretariat, the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative and Article 19, a UK-based non-governmental organisation involved in human rights. The Study Group recommendations are available on the CPA website at http://www.cpahq.org/.

 

CNIS -    the Commonwealth News and Information Service Issue 192   14 July 2004

 

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