The Right to Information (RTI) Commission has fined the Architects Registration Council (ARC) GH¢50,000 for refusing to adhere to its directives.
This comes after the commission requested that the council grant access to requested information.
The commission had sought information on an alleged extension of the mandate of the Governing Council by the sector minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.
In a statement, the commission said the registrar of the council, Dr. Emmauel Eyiah-Botwe, failed to provide the required information, citing his absence from town.
However, a response from the supposed absent Dr. Eyiah-Botwe was signed by himself.
Such action, according to the RTI Commission, undermined the right of access to information enshrined in Article 21(1) (f) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
It, therefore, imposed an administrative penalty of GH¢50,000 on the council, an agency under the Ministry of Works and Housing.
Meanwhile, the fine attracts an additional default penalty at a rate of 10% on the principal penalty of GHS50,000.00 in the event of default for any additional 7 days after.
Below is the full statement