The Architects Registration Council (ARC), an agency under the Ministry of Works and Housing, has been fined $50,000 for refusing to comply with a Right to Information (RTI) Commission directive.
The committee had asked the ARC to provide access to the requested information, particularly on the extension of the council’s term by the relevant Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah. The Council’s Registrar, Dr. Emmauel Eyiah-Botwe, did not provide the necessary information to the RTI when requested.
In a response to the RTI, the Registrar stated that he had travelled out of town and was unable to provide such information. The Committee regrets that the same letter providing this information was signed by the same Secretary.
Citing the ARC’s non-compliance with Act 989, the RTI Committee stated that such conduct undermines the right to information enshrined in Article 21(1)(f) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. The Council condemned the behaviour and imposed an administrative penalty of £50,000.
If the default occurs within 7 days thereafter, an additional standard penalty of 10% of the principal amount of GHS 50,000.00 will be charged. Further, the ARC directed to provide the above information within 7 days.
