Accra, Ghana
RTI Information Act RTI Information Act

RTI Information Act

Right to Information

Applications seeking information under the RTI Act, 2005 may be sent along with the prescribed fee in US Dollars, equivalent to Indian Rs.10/- in cheque or demand draft favoring High Commission of India, Accra. [The rate of exchange for a particular month may be ascertained from the High Commission].

It may be noted that information provided under the Act is available to citizens of India only. Applications should be submitted along with documentary proof of Indian Citizenship (like a copy of personal particulars pages of passport). More information is available at http://rti.gov.in external link

It may also be pointed out that as per section 6(1)(a) of the RTI Act, 2005, a person who desires to obtain information under the Act is required to submit the application to the Public Information Officer (PIO) of the "concerned public authority". Applicants are, therefore, advised to send their requests under the RTI Act to the High Commission only when the subject matter can reasonably be presumed to pertain to the High Commission. While section 6(3) provides for the transfer of an application by a receiving PIO to another [concerned] PIO, this is clearly meant to cover situations where the application is addressed to a PIO on the assumption that it has been directed to the concerned PIO. Where the information required obviously does not pertain to the High Commission, the application may be addressed to the concerned PIO directly.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE HIGH COMMISSION, REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 4(1)(B) OF THE RTI ACT, 2005

(i) The particulars of its organization, functions and duties;
High Commission of India is headed by High Commissioner and has following Wings: Political, Administration, Development Partnership, Consular, Commerce, Community Affairs, and Information & Culture. Each Wing is headed by Second Secretary or above rank officer.
The functions of the High Commission inter alia, include Political and Economic cooperation, Development Partnership, Trade, Tourism and Investment Promotion, Cultural Interaction, Information & Culture.
High Commission functions within the purview of business allocated to the Ministry of External Affairs under the Government of India's Allocation of Business Rules and Transaction of Business Rules.
(ii) The powers and duties of its officers and employees;
General Administrative powers are derived from IFS (PLCA) Rules, as amended from time to time.
Financial powers of the Officers of the High Commission of India have been detailed in the Delegated Financial powers of the Government of India's Representatives Abroad.
Other powers are derived from the Passport Act and Visa Manual of India.
The Officers of the High Commission function under the guidance and supervision of the High Commissioner.
(iii) The procedure followed in the decision making process, including channels of supervision and accountability; Decisions are made under the instruction and supervision of the High Commissioner.
(iv) The norms set by it for the discharge of its functions;

Norms are set under the instruction and supervision of the High Commissioner.
(v) The rules, regulations, instructions, manuals and records, held by it or under its control or used by its employees for discharging its functions;
IFS PLCA rules and annexures
Delegated Financial Powers of Government of India's Representatives abroad Rules
Passport Act
Manuals on Office Procedures
Other Central Government Rules and manuals published by Central Government
(vi) A statement of the categories of documents that are held by it or under its control;
Classified documents/files relating to India's external relations.
Unclassified documents/files including joint statements, declarations, agreements and MoUs.
Passport and consular services application forms
(vii) The particulars of any arrangement that exists for consultation with, or representation by, the members of the public in relation to the formulation of its policy or implementation thereof;

High Commission of India functions within the norms of India's foreign policy formulated by the Ministry of External Affairs. Policy is implemented by the High Commission under the guidance and supervision of the High Commissioner.
(viii) A statement of the boards, councils, committees and other bodies consisting of two or more persons constituted as its part or for the purpose of its advice, and as to whether meetings of those boards, councils, committees and other bodies are open to the public, or the minutes of such meetings are accessible for public; High Commission interacts regularly with representatives of think tanks, academic community and others.
(ix) A directory of its officers and employees;

A directory is available on the website of the High Commission and is also given at Annex-I bullet
(x) The monthly remuneration received by each of its officers and employees, including the system of compensation as provided in its regulations; A statement of monthly remuneration is atAnnex-II bullet
(xi) The budget allocated to each of its agency, indicating the particulars of all plans, proposed expenditures and reports on disbursements made; The Budget figures for the current financial year are given in the statement at Annex-III bullet
(xii) The manner of execution of subsidy programmes, including the amounts allocated and the details of beneficiaries of such programmes; High Commission of India does not have any subsidy programme.
(xiii) Particulars of recipients of concessions, permits or authorizations granted by it; No concessions/permits are granted by the High Commission of India.
(xiv) Details in respect of the information, available to or held by it, reduced in an electronic form; The High Commission's website has the required information. The High Commission also makes available to interested individuals various CDs and DVDs containing information on India, its people, and culture.
(xv) The particulars of facilities available to citizens for obtaining information, including the working hours of a library or reading room, if maintained for public use; High Commission does not maintain a library or reading room for public use.
(xvi) the names, designations and other particulars of the Public Information Officers;

Appellate Authority/ RTI:
Shri Vikram Singh Thakur
Second Secretary
Tel:+233-307020907
Email: hoc.acra@mea.gov.in

Central Public Information officer/ RTI:
Shri V. N. Parameswaran
Second Secretary
Tel:+233-307020906
Email: com.accra@mea.gov.i
(xvii) such other information as may be prescribed and thereafter update these publications every year; The High Commission's website  (www.hciaccra.gov.in) has information which is updated on a regular basis.
FACILITY OF E-IPO FOR PAYMENT OF FEE UNDER THE RTI ACT, 2005

1) The Department of Personnel and Training and Department of Posts have launched a service called e-PIO (Electronic Indian Postal Order) to enable Indian citizens abroad to purchase an Indian Postal Order electronically by paying fee online through e-Post Office i.e. http://www.epostoffice.gov.in external link

2) The User needs to get himself registered at the website. He/She has to select the Ministry/Department from whom he/she desires to seek the information under the RTI Act and the e-IPO so generated can be used to seek information from that Ministry/Department only. A printout of the e-IPO is required to be attached with the RTI application.

Right to Information Applications & Replies – Ministry of External Affairs external link