By Alfred Adams
An attempt by the Western Regional Chapter of the Coalition on the Right to Information Bill (RTI) to test the bill, even before its eventual passage into law by demanding information from the management of the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), has floundered.
The coalition wrote to the Waste Management Division of the STMA demanding answers as to the kind of engagement it had entered into with waste management companies with regard to the evacuation of waste in the metropolis.
Sekondi-Takoradi is battling with improper waste disposal, following the haphazard manner in which individuals dispose of waste, particularly, in the heart of the central business district – Market Circle.
But months after the Coalition’s letter, coupled with reminders, the latter has failed to respond.
The Regional Coordinator of the RTI Coalition, Mr. Paapa Assan, disclosed this at a case study presentation forum held by the Coalition to whip up public support for the speedy passage of the RTI into law.
The forum saw the Regional Coordinator make a presentation on the topic ‘Presentation of a Case Study on Poor Sanitation and Ineffective Waste Management in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.’
Participants at the forum were drawn from the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.
Continuing, Paapa Assan told the forum that they decided to test the bill at the Assembly to see how it would react to giving out information requested for.
By this attitude, Paapa Assan expressed the belief that unless the bill was passed, no public institution would be prepared to give out information requested for.
The attitude exhibited by the Assembly, according to Assan, was enough grounds for the RTI Bill to be urgently passed into law.
By that, public servants would be under commandment to give information requested for.
Contributing on the topic, the participants expressed diverse opinions on the poor waste management system in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.
Most of them were of the view that the STMA should be blamed for the poor waste management in the metropolis.
Pix: Paapa Assan making the presentation
Participants seated at the forum