An investigation by Corruption Watch has exposed the Ghana Police Service, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Parliamentary Service and Judicial institutions are among institutions which attracted heavy fines amounting to GHS5.6 million for failure to provide information requested by citizens under the Right to Information (RTI) law.
A statement issued by Corruption Watch on Monday, September 29, 2025 said the investigation uncovered that the Ghana Police Service paid GHS450,357 fine, while CHRAJ is yet to pay a fine of GHS30,000.
The statement noted that other key institutions such as the Parliamentary Service, Judicial Service, Attorney-General’s department and SSNIT have all violated the Act and have been fined.
The Parliamentary Service has paid a fine of GHS53,785; the Judicial Service of Ghana is yet to pay a fine of GHS100,000; the Attorney General’s Department owes a fine of GHS50,000; and the SSNIT has also settled a fine of GHS200,000.
Meanwhile, the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) has paid the heaviest fine of GHS1.365 million. Other heavy payments have been made by the Ministry of Education (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.
The Corruption Watch conducted the investigation over a six-month period from February to July 2025.
The investigation further discovered that state institutions have been using taxpayers’ funds to pay for fines imposed on them by the RTIC.
Corruption Watch Ghana has released an investigative report titled “SAGA OVER RTI: Millions paid as penalty” today, September 29, 2025 via its YouTube channel providing further details about the investigation.
According to Corruption Watch Ghana, its 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.
Their refusal to provide the requested information led to the imposition of fines by the RTI Commission (RTIC).
The investigative piece further reveals that the RTIC imposed the penalties in more than 70 determinations involving at least 60 separate institutions. In terms of frequency, the Ministry of Education ranks highest with four penalties received, while the Ghana Police Service has received three penalties.
The Ghana Education Service (GES), the Judicial Service, the Lands Commission, the PPA, the Ministry of Energy, and the Urban Roads Department are among ten other institutions which have suffered two penalties each.