The group OccupyGhana has written once again to allow it to share the ‘shocking’ contents on a recent letter government sent to it.
The group says that the Secretary to the Cabinet, Office of the President, Jubilee House, Accra, should remove marks that label the communication as ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ and ‘SECRET’ so that the letter would meet the legal benchmark of being released to the public.
This was contained in the latest letter from the group to the Secretary to Cabinet with reference OG/2023/008 and
27 February 2023.
In the latest letter, the group wrote, “We refer to our letter dated 20 February 2023 on the above matter (our ref: OG/2023/007), in response to yours dated 14 February 2023 (your ref: OPCA.3/3/140223), which informed us of Cabinet’s disappointing decision on whether or not to approve the Draft Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2022 and the accompanying Memorandum for submission to Parliament to enact as law.
“In our letter, we invited you to communicate to us in writing, your withdrawal of the marks ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ and ‘SECRET’ on your letter under reference, so that we may share Cabinet’s shocking decision and reasons with the people of Ghana.
“We write to further remind you that under section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), Cabinet’s letter containing only ‘factual’ communication of its decision and reasons, ‘is not exempt information.’ Further, Cabinet cannot purport to assert a privilege (which is denied) that it has already waived by publishing, releasing or granting access to the information”.
(The full letter is reproduced below.)
Our ref: OG/2023/008
27 February 2023
Secretary to the Cabinet
Office of the President
Jubilee House
Accra
Dear Madam:
RE: RIGHT TO INFORMATION REQUEST ON THE STATUS OF THE DRAFT CONDUCT OF PUBLIC OFFICERS BILL, 2022
We refer to our letter dated 20 February 2023 on the above matter (our ref: OG/2023/007), in response to yours dated 14 February 2023 (your ref: OPCA.3/3/140223), which informed us of Cabinet’s disappointing decision on whether or not to approve the Draft Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2022 and the accompanying Memorandum for submission to Parliament to enact as law.
In our letter, we invited you to communicate to us in writing, your withdrawal of the marks ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ and ‘SECRET’ on your letter under reference, so that we may share Cabinet’s shocking decision and reasons with the people of Ghana.
We write to further remind you that under section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), Cabinet’s letter containing only ‘factual’ communication of its decision and reasons, ‘is not exempt information.’ Further, Cabinet cannot purport to assert a privilege (which is denied) that it has already waived by publishing, releasing or granting access to the information.
We urgently request that you respond to this letter at your earliest convenience. We will send copies of this letter to all the persons you copied your letter to, the Right to Information Commission to alert them about this development, and all press houses.
Yours in the service of God and Ghana
OccupyGhana
cc. Chief of Staff
Office of the President
Jubilee House
Accra
Secretary to the President
Office of the President
Jubilee House
Accra
Attorney-General & Minister for Justice
Office of the Attorney-General & Minister for Justice
Accra
Minister for Information
Ministry of Information
Accra
Executive Secretary
Right to Information Commission
Accra
Press Houses
