The Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Chernor A. Bah, has lauded the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) as one of the best-performing commissions in Sierra Leone. The Minister made this commendation during the official handover of the 2024 RAIC Annual Report to the Ministry on the 8th Floor of the Youyi Building in Freetown.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Bah praised the RAIC for its consistent dedication to transparency, accountability, and good governance, noting that the Commission has demonstrated exceptional performance over the years.
Presenting the 2024 Annual Report, the Chairman of RAIC, Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, highlighted the remarkable progress the Commission has made since his leadership began. He recalled that when the current administration took office, the Commission had no annual report and had recorded only 112 information requests nationwide.
โFast forward to 2023, the Commission received 19,496 information requests, showing the astronomical progress we have made,โ Dr. Shaw stated. He noted that although the 2024 figures show a slight decline, he is optimistic that performance will improve next year due to the inclusion of Access to Information (ATI) and Proactive Disclosure of Information (PDI) as key performance indicators under the State House Delivery Unit.
Dr. Shaw emphasized that the submission of the annual report is in strict compliance with Section 41 of the RAI Act, which mandates the Commission to present its yearly achievements, activities, and audited financial statements. He expressed confidence that the 2024 report โwill make for good reading.โ
Minister Bah reaffirmed the governmentโs commitment to strengthening the RAIC, stating that it is no surprise the Commission continues to excel, as it has consistently proven its value to citizens and institutions.
He further announced that the Ministry is working closely with the RAIC to expand the Commissionโs mandate to include Data Protection, transforming it into a full-fledged authority capable of addressing emerging information governance challenges.
The Minister also underscored the need for enhanced collaboration with the Ministry of Communication and Technology (MoCT) to ensure that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) have functional websites to support proactive disclosure. He assured the meeting that his team will draft a Cabinet Paper requiring MDAs to develop and maintain official websites aligned with PDI standards.
The Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Abdel Aziz Bawoh, and the Director of Information, Emmanuel Turay, both applauded the RAIC for its impressive strides. They encouraged continued collaboration, especially as the Ministry prepares for the upcoming National Civic Festival, where the RAIC will have the opportunity to showcase its work to the public.
The RAIC delegation at the event included the Executive Secretary, Hon. Mustapha Braima, along with other senior staff of the Commission.
For further information, please contact:
David Patrick Kamara,
Manager, Public Information & Communications (RAIC)
+232 78407847
