JoyNews Appeals to RTI Commission over SSNIT Hotel Sale InformationJoyNews Appeals to RTI Commission over SSNIT Hotel Sale Information JoyNews has filed an official appeal with the Right to Information (RTI) Commission, challenging the Social Security and National Insurance Trust’s (SSNIT) refusal to provide information regarding the sale of its interests in several hotels. In May 2024, JoyNews filed an RTI request for documents related to SSNIT’s decision to divest 60% of its stake in six hotels. However, SSNIT denied the request, claiming that it did not have an information officer. JoyNews argues that this denial violates the Right to Information Act (Act 989), which requires public institutions to establish information units headed by information officers to facilitate access to information. The request sought the following details: * Minutes of board meetings on hotel status and partnerships since 2017 * List of companies interested in becoming transaction advisors * Proposals of companies responding to advertisements * Financial proposals of shortlisted companies * Evaluation criteria and selection of Rock City Hotel * Memorandum of Understanding on payment terms * Due diligence evidence JoyNews insists that the public has a right to transparency regarding the management and disposal of public assets like SSNIT’s hotels. The RTI Commission is expected to review the appeal and determine whether SSNIT is legally obligated to provide the requested information. According to JoyNews, a previous RTI ruling (RTIC/AFR/36/2022) has established that the absence of an information officer does not preclude a public institution from granting access to information.
JoyNews has filed an official appeal with the Right to Information (RTI) Commission against the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) over its refusal to grant a Right to Information request regarding the sale of its interests in various hotels.
In a detailed letter addressed to the Executive Secretary of the RTI Commission:
The Head of Research Desk at JoyNews, Raymond Acquah, expressed his dissatisfaction over SSNIT’s rejection of an RTI request filed on May 23, 2024.
JoyNews believes that the denial, based on the allegation that SSNIT as a public institution does not have an information officer, violates the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989).
Section 3(b) of Act 989 provides that a public institution must establish an information unit headed by an information officer to facilitate access to information.
Again, in the DECISION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION REGARDING A REQUEST FOR REVIEW FILED BY EVANS AZIAMOR-MENSAH AGAINST THE REFUSAL OF PBC SHEA LIMITED TO RELEASE INFORMATION REQUESTED BY EVANS AZIAMOR-MENSAH ON JULY 20, 2023 , WITH CASE NO: RTIC/AFR /36/2022, the question has been determined whether the absence of an Information Officer or the absence thereof at a public institution precludes that public institution from granting access to information requested by an applicant. The committee concluded that “the absence of an information officer or lack thereof in a public institution does not prevent a public institution from granting access to information requested by an applicant. There is no provision in Act 989 that sanctions this position.”
The information requested by JoyNews relates to SSNIT’s decision to divest 60% of its stake in six hotels within its investment portfolio.
The details of the request include:
- Copies of all minutes of board meetings regarding the status and strategic partnerships of the six hotels since 2017.
- A list of the 15 companies that expressed interest in becoming transaction advisors, including the selection criteria and details of the chosen company.
- A list of the nine companies that responded to the advertisements, their proposals, and the Request for Proposal (RFP) documents.
- Copies of the financial proposals of the six shortlisted companies.
- The technical and financial evaluation criteria and data that led to the selection of Rock City Hotel.
- Copies of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting out the proposed payment terms, including any variations.
- Evidence and reports of due diligence conducted.
In its letter, JoyNews urged the RTI Commission to intervene to ensure the release of the information, stressing the public’s right to transparency regarding the management and disposal of public assets.
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