RTI Commission Vindicates GMet in THE TREASURE Data Request
The Right to Information (RTI) Commission has affirmed the legal basis for the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) to charge approved statutory fees for the provision of meteorological data, following an application for review submitted on behalf of The Treasure.
The decision followed a request made to the RTI Commission challenging the fees charged by GMet for access to historical meteorological information. The applicant sought the Commission's intervention to determine whether the Agency was legally entitled to require payment before granting access to the requested data.
In reviewing the matter, the Commission examined the relevant provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022 (Act 1080), and the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2512).
The Commission established that where legislation expressly prescribes fees for specific categories of information, those fees apply. However, where no specific fee has been prescribed, the general fees provided under the relevant legislation become applicable.
This interpretation reinforces the legal framework governing the application of approved statutory fees by public institutions, including GMet, for certain categories of information.
The decision further clarifies that while the Right to Information Act provides for public access to information, such access is subject to applicable statutory provisions governing approved fees and charges, including circumstances where fees are not payable.
As Ghana’s national meteorological institution, GMet plays an important role in generating, processing and providing weather and climate information to support agriculture, aviation, disaster risk reduction, scientific research and national development.
Historical meteorological data, in particular, is essential for climate analysis, infrastructure planning, environmental research and evidence-based decision-making across various sectors of the economy.
The Commission's determination provides important clarification on the application of statutory fees to requests for meteorological information and reinforces the need for public institutions to ensure that such charges comply with the relevant laws.
The Ghana Meteorological Agency remains committed to providing reliable weather and climate information to support public safety, climate resilience, and sustainable national development.
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