Fines totaling about GHS5.6 million have been imposed on key state and private institutions for breaching the Right to Information (RTI) law, a Corruption Watch investigation has revealed. The report shows that several agencies either ignored or denied citizens’ requests for information, resulting in heavy fines from the RTI Commission (RTIC).
The Ghana Police Service has already paid GHS450,357 in fines, while CHRAJ is yet to settle a fine of GHS30,000. The Parliamentary Service has paid GHS53,785, and the Judicial Service of Ghana still owes a fine of GHS100,000. The Attorney General’s Department has an outstanding fine of GHS50,000, and SSNIT has cleared a fine of GHS200,000.
The investigation identified the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) as the biggest offender. It has paid fines amounting to GHS1.365 million. Other significant payments include GHS260,000 from the Ministry of Education, GHS150,000 from the Lands Commission, and GHS60,000 from the Ghana Audit Service. The Public Procurement Authority (PPA) has not yet paid its fine of GHS100,000.
Taxpayer Money Funding Penalties
Corruption Watch reports that institutions are turning to public funds to pay these fines, raising fresh concerns about accountability. The findings are contained in a new investigative report titled “SAGA OVER RTI: Millions paid as penalty,” released today, September 29, 2025.
The report notes that institutions mandated to promote transparency are instead obstructing access to information. Their refusal or failure to comply with RTI requests has triggered fines issued by the RTI Commission.
“The investigative piece reveals that the RTIC imposed the penalties in more than 70 determinations involving at least 60 separate institutions,” the report states.
The investigation, conducted between February and July 2025, also tracked the frequency of violations. The Ministry of Education recorded the highest number of penalties, with four in total.
The Ghana Police Service has received three penalties, while ten other institutions have each been sanctioned twice. These include the Ghana Education Service, the Judicial Service, the Lands Commission, the PPA, the Ministry of Energy, and the Urban Roads Department.
