John Dramani Mahama is the president of Ghana
A Ghanaian human rights consultant and paralegal based in the United States, Theophilus Ken Dorman, has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to dissolve the governing board of the Right to Information Commission (RTIC), citing alleged non-performance, abuse of discretion and violations of constitutional rights.
In a petition addressed to the Office of the President at Jubilee House, Dorman accused the RTIC of persistently failing to carry out its statutory mandate under the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989).
The petition was received at the Presidency on January 6, 2026, according to official markings on the document.
Dorman, a Human Rights Consultant and Paralegal who lists his address at Assin Kushea in the Central Region, argued that the Commission’s conduct has rendered the RTI law ineffective and eroded public confidence in the institution.
“The persistent refusal and failure of the Commission to execute its statutory mandate have resulted in grave constitutional, administrative, and human rights violations,” the petition stated.
According to the petitioner, the RTIC has consistently failed to enforce its own lawful orders as required under Sections 44, 45, 46, and 82 of Act 989. He further alleged that the Commission has not applied sanctions against public institutions that refuse to release information, nor ensured timely administrative justice.
“This persistent non-performance has rendered Act 989 ineffective, making legislative efforts, public resources, and citizens’ agitations meaningless,” Mr. Dorman said.
The petition also accused the RTIC of abusing its discretionary powers in violation of Articles 23 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution, which require administrative bodies to act fairly, reasonably, and without arbitrariness.
“The RTIC’s refusal to enforce compliance, even when empowered by law, constitutes an abuse of administrative discretion, rendering their governance untenable,” the document noted.
Dorman further claimed that the Commission’s inaction has led to the denial of citizens’ constitutional right to information as guaranteed under Article 21(1)(f) of the Constitution.
“The Commission’s failures have encouraged a culture of impunity among public institutions and undermined democratic governance,” he asserted.
The human rights advocate said the RTIC has lost public trust due to delays, weak leadership, and failure to enforce compliance, adding that such inaction indirectly enables secrecy, corruption, and abuse of power in public institutions.
He cited several cases which he claims the Commission has failed to effectively enforce, including matters involving the Ghana Police Service, the National Signals Bureau, and the Central Regional House of Chiefs.
In his prayer to the President, Dorman called for the immediate dissolution of the RTIC governing board and the appointment of a new board made up of individuals “of integrity, boldness, and proven commitment to transparency and accountability.”
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He also requested an independent administrative review into the Commission’s operations, particularly its handling of public complaints and enforcement of decisions.
“When the institution created to protect the right to information refuses to act, it becomes a threat to constitutional governance,” Dorman stated, urging the President to take “decisive leadership” to restore public confidence.
As of the time of filing this report, the Office of the President and the Right to Information Commission have not publicly responded to the petition.
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