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Ghana�s Right to Information (RTI) Bill must conform to minimum international standard before passage, the African Union Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, Ms Pansy Tlakula, has advised. She said there was the need to ensure, for instance, that both public and private institutions disclosed information that would enable the public to participate actively in the governance process. In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra last Wednesday, Ms Tlakula urged Ghana to pass the RTI Bill as early as possible because the law would enhance transparency, accountability and good governance. Mission The visit of the AU Special Rapporteur formed part of her mandate to campaign for the passage of RTI laws in African countries based on the AU Model Law on Access to Information. The model law, which was adopted in 2013, seeks to dispel the notion that RTI legislation is Western in character, and instead ensure that African countries adopt a home-grown standard and best practice. About three years ago, there were only three African countries that had established an RTI legal regime, but the number has now increased to 13, including Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa. �I think we are on the right path. It�s slow but if you consider that three years ago only three countries had access to the Information law but now we have 13, I think that we are doing well,� Ms Tlakula said. She, however, noted that there was the need to do more in order to enhance transparency, accountability and good governance on the continent. When asked whether there are any pointers to suggest that the establishment of RTI laws has enhanced transparency, accountability and good governance in the 13 African countries currently under that legal regime, the AU Special Rapporteur said it was early days yet and so the impact had been slow. Meeting with stakeholders While in Ghana, Ms Tlakula had met with the Speaker of Parliament, members of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection and some stakeholders in the RTI campaign. She expressed the conviction that Ghana was strongly committed to passing the RTI Bill, which had been on the back burner of parliamentary consideration for more than a decade. �There was absolute commitment that the bill will be passed this term. As the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, I am encouraged by that commitment,� she said. Misconception Ms Tlakula said there was a misconception that the RTI law was meant to promote the interest of the media, pointing out that it was a cross-cutting right for all to enjoy. She, however, noted that the right to information was not absolute and that there were exemptions to the enjoyment of such right, especially in respect of national security matters.