The Right to Information Commission has imposed administrative sanctions on about 254 public institutions, including Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, for failing to submit their 2025 Right to Information Annual Reports as required by law.
The Commission announced that each affected institution has been fined GH¢20,000 for breaching its statutory obligation to provide annual reports detailing the implementation of the Right to Information Act, 2019, Act 989.
In a statement released on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, the Commission explained that the penalties were issued under Section 77(1) of the RTI Act, which requires public institutions to submit annual reports on their activities and compliance with the legislation.
According to the Commission, the affected institutions failed to meet the reporting requirement despite several reminders published in the Ghanaian Times on January 20, 2026, and the Daily Graphic on April 24, 2026, urging them to fulfil their legal responsibilities.
The RTI Commission emphasised that annual reports submitted by public institutions play a significant role in the preparation of its consolidated report presented to Parliament, making timely compliance essential for strengthening transparency and accountability within Ghana’s public sector.
The Commission noted that the deadline for preparing and submitting the consolidated 2025 Annual Report had already elapsed, leaving it with no option but to activate enforcement measures against institutions that failed to comply with the reporting requirements.
All affected institutions have been directed to settle the GH¢20,000 administrative penalty within 14 days after receiving official notification from the Commission.
The Commission warned that institutions that fail to pay the penalties within the prescribed period could face additional enforcement actions in accordance with the provisions of the Right to Information Act.
“The Commission reminds heads of public institutions that compliance with the reporting requirements under Act 989 is a statutory obligation and not a matter of discretion,” the statement said.
The RTI Commission further reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that public institutions adhere to legal obligations under the RTI framework while promoting openness, accountability and improved access to information for citizens.
The enforcement action forms part of broader efforts by the Commission to strengthen compliance with Ghana’s transparency laws and ensure that public institutions remain accountable in the management of state information.
