A Corruption Watch (CW) investigation has exposed the Ghana Police Service, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Parliamentary Service, Judicial Service of Ghana and dozens of public and private institutions for attracting heavy fines of about 5.6 million Ghana Cedis due to failure to provide information requested by citizens under the Right to Information (RTI) law.

The investigative report,  titled "SAGA OVER RTI: Millions Paid as Penalty", was released today, September 29, 2025

The investigative piece reveals that some key governance institutions, which should promote access to information, are either refusing or failing to comply with the Right to Information (RTI) law by denying access to information requested by citizens.

THE INVESTIGATION 

The investigation uncovered that the Ghana Police Service has paid GHS450,357, while the CHRAJ is yet to pay a fine of GHS30,000. 

OTHER OFFENDERS 

Parliamentary Service, paid a fine of GHS53,785, the Judicial Service of Ghana, which is yet to pay a fine of GHS100,000; the Attorney-General's Department, which owes a fine of GHS50,000; and the SSNIT, which has settled a fine of GHS200,000.

Meanwhile, the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) has paid the heaviest fine of GHS1.365 million. 

OTHER HEFTY PAYMENTS 

The Ministry of Education also paid GHS260,000, the Lands Commission GHS150,000, and the Ghana Audit Service, GHS60,000, whereas the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) owes a fine of GHS100,000.

FURTHER FINDINGS 

The investigation further discovered that state institutions have been using taxpayers' funds to pay for fines imposed on them by the RTIC.

This refusal or failure to provide the requested information has led to the imposition of fines by the RTI Commission (RTIC).

RTIC imposed the penalties in more than 70 determinations involving at least 60 separate institutions.