A new investigation by Corruption Watch has revealed that several key state institutions, including the Ghana Police Service, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Parliament, the Judiciary, and the Attorney-General’s Department, have been fined millions of cedis for violating the Right to Information (RTI) law.
The six-month investigation, conducted between February and July 2025, found that more than 70 determinations by the RTI Commission (RTIC) have led to fines totalling about GHC5.6 million against at least 60 public and private institutions.
According to the report titled “Saga Over RTI: Millions Paid as Penalty”, the Ghana Police Service has already paid GHC450,357 in fines, while CHRAJ owes GHC30,000. Other violators include the Parliamentary Service (GHS53,785 paid), Judicial Service (GHC100,000 outstanding), Attorney-General’s Department (GHS50,000 outstanding), and SSNIT (GHC200,000 paid).
The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) topped the list with the heaviest fine of GHC1.365 million, while the Ministry of Education paid GHC260,000. The Lands Commission and the Public Procurement Authority were fined GHC150,000 and GHC100,000, respectively.
The report also raised concerns that state institutions have been using taxpayers’ money to pay these fines, undermining the spirit of the RTI law.
In terms of frequency, the Ministry of Education recorded the highest number of penalties with four, while the Ghana Police Service received three.
Other repeat offenders included the Ghana Education Service, Judicial Service, Lands Commission, Ministry of Energy, and the Urban Roads Department.
Corruption Watch, an initiative of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) and its partners, noted that the findings underscore a disturbing trend where governance institutions meant to ensure accountability are instead failing to comply with transparency laws.
