The Outdated Information On The Sites Of Our Public Institutions; A Disgrace To Our Leaders

It’s an undeniable fact that we’ve evolved as humans to a stage where every thing now is digital. We literally live our lives on the internet. Every growing economy in the world today smartly moves along with credible data and up to the minute information on its online space.

Ghana, my dearest nation is blessed with every natural and human resource that any country in the world can dream of, to make its citizens resourceful. It’s still not clear and evident if the leaders who were put into power by its democratic populace to lead and serve them are going to be accountable and transparent in their dealings as public officials after 64 years of independence as a country.

The recent passage of “The Right To Information Act” in 2019, twenty seven (27) years after the 1992 Constitution became operational and  seventeen (17) years after the bill was first laid before the Parliament of Ghana to provide a framework for accessing information by its people makes it obvious and appreciable that indeed the sovereignty of the country resides in the lovely people of Ghana. This simply means that all powers of government must be exercised in the name and for the welfare of the people.

Hence, all information held by public institutions, stated-owned companies and government or private entities or persons performing a public function must be accessible to the people of Ghana  particularly in this digital era.

However, it’s very despairing, frustrating and unimaginable to know that majority of our public institutions or stated-owned companies have failed disgracefully even in this digital age to deliver to its people with the latest reports regarding their activities.

I believe that providing these essential information and data on the websites of these governmental organizations is the easiest, fastest and simplest way to disseminate credible and factual information to the people of Ghana. I’m just imagining how the process will be if one is supposed to get access to these information in person – thus physically by asking any of the public institutions. Isn’t the online alternative the best approach for our internet driven citizens?

Besides, the RTI Act authoritatively makes it possible for all public institutions to make it easy for the public to obtain information. So why can’t we upgrade, update and provide accurate and insightful information on the websites of these governmental organizations that we have? Don’t we have the expertise to handle these online jobs to create an enabling environment for the people of Ghana to obtain information easily? Are the budget of these online or website advancements too high for the government to pay? Or it’s patent that we don’t have the professionals to handle these jobs?

It’s surprising to know that the following public institutions or stated-owned companies have websites with inconsistent, outdated and unreliable information to the people of Ghana;

1.National Symphony Orchestra

2.National Cyber Security Center

3.Ghana Water Company

4.Ghana Police Service

5.Ghana Highway Authority

6.National Road Safety Authority

7.Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Intergration

8.Ghana Broadcasting Corporation

9.Ghana Meteorological Agency

10.Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission

11.Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice

12.Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development

13.Ghana National Fire Service

14.MASLOC

15.Gaming Commission of Ghana

Yes, these are 15 public institutions and state-owned companies who have failed drastically to update its websites to inform and provide significant data to the people of Ghana. Personally, I don’t know but I’m not sure the solution to these problems are unattainable. It’s can be solved.

In contrast, I would like to commend the following public institutions – National Sports Authority, Ministry of Communications, Food And Drugs Authority for the constant updates on their websites though there’s more opportunities for ehencements.

Fortunately, it’s seems few notable websites of these governmental organizations are up to the minute, dependable and authoritative with their information. Accordingly, I will suggest that, the majority who have failed will learn something remarkable from the leadership of these few sites that are doing well. Because, the unattended and outdated information on the websites of our public institutions is purely a disgrace unto our leaders.

Written by Joseph Amino.