The CHRI Africa Access to Information (ATI) or Right to Information (RTI) Programme works to raise awareness in Commonwealth African countries the value of the right to information as a facilitating right for the realization of all other human rights. It works to promote and protect the right to information on the continent in partnership with local partners such as civil society organizations, community based organizations, media, human rights activists, marginalized groups; and regional/international network such as the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC) and the Freedom of Information Advocates Network (FOIAnet).

CHRI believes that it is the duty of governments to promote and protect the internationally recognized human right to access information and this is most effectively done by enacting an access to information legislation. To evolve an access to information law that is truly in tune with the context and the needs of users, the process of making law in partnership with people is as important as what the law contains. In view of this, the campaign for the passage of an effective right to information law in Ghana has been an integral part of CHRI Africa’s development. As the Secretariat of the Coalition on the Right to Information, Ghana, the CHRI Africa effectively coordinated the Coalition on the Right to Information, Ghana’s (a network of civil society organisations working to promote citizens right to information) efforts that culminated into the successful passage of Ghana’s Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989).

The CHRI Africa understands that enacting RTI laws alone cannot make governments transparent, automatically. Citizens, civil society groups, community-based organisations and the mass media are the primary drivers of the implementation of the law. It also understands that the transition from an opaque system to a transparent governance and participatory decision-making processes is possible only when, individuals and groups demand access to information in a strategic and sustained manner and is working tirelessly to achieve this goal on the continent. The Programme is specifically organized around the following work areas:

• Advocacy for the adoption and implementation of national legislation and policies on access to information in Africa

• Promotion and protection of the right to information of all including vulnerable groups through mainstreaming access to information in key developmental issues such as disability rights, social intervention programs, gender issues, climate change, digital rights, media rights etc and empowerment of the people through awareness creation.

• Providing technical expertise to support the crafting and implementation of RTI laws based on internationally accepted standards.