Cape-Coast NCCE Office Hosts Right to Information Officers for Staff Briefing on Act 989

The Cape Coast Metro office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) on Thursday, 19th February 2026, received officers from the Metro Right to Information office for a staff engagement on the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), aimed at strengthening institutional understanding of citizens’ information rights and the obligations of public offices.

The engagement, which began at 11:00 am, provided practical guidance on how requests for information should be handled within public institutions. The visiting officers briefed staff on the scope of Act 989, including what constitutes information that can be requested from a public office, who is eligible to apply, and the key steps required to make a valid request under the law.

A significant part of the session focused on exemptions and other limitations that the law permits in specific circumstances, alongside the conditions under which information may be withheld and the need for public institutions to apply the law carefully and consistently. The officers also took staff through compliance expectations, including the implications of failing to respond appropriately to information requests and the penalties that may apply where information is unlawfully refused to citizens.

The Metro Director, Joseph Abban, noted that the Directorate is conversant with the Right to Information Act but welcomed the visit as a valuable opportunity to deepen staff understanding of legal provisions that may require further clarification in day-to-day administrative work. He commended the visiting officers for taking the initiative to educate public sector staff and noted that continued learning on governance-related laws strengthens professionalism, improves service delivery, and supports public confidence in state institutions.

All staff of the Metro Directorate were in attendance, and the engagement formed part of ongoing efforts to promote transparency, accountability, and lawful public administration in the handling of information requests.