By Amara Thoronka
The Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) has commemorated this year’s International Day for Universal Access to Information on Friday, 27th September, 2024, at the conference hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation,
Tower Hill, Freetown, on the theme “Mainstreaming Access to Information and Public Participation Practices Across Government Sectors in Sierra Leone”, which is copied from the global them: “Mainstreaming Access to Information and Public Participation in the Public Sector”.
Every year, the day is observed globally on 28th September, but because the said date falls on Saturday, the leadership of RAIC decided to observe it on Friday – a working day and the eve of the day itself – to give it more relevance and prominence.
In his opening remark, Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, the Chairman and Information Commissioner of RAIC, emphasized on the need for collaboration in access to information, saying his institution has done a lot in facilitating access to information in the country.
“Access to Information cannot happen in vacuum, so there is a need for collaboration. The Public sector is very key in the implementation of access to information. Our mandate is to facilitate access to information. Public sector data is in demand. Without people having access to information, it will be challenging to realize transparency and accountability,” he said.
Dr. Shaw explained the continued efforts being made by the RAIC in digitalizing access to information and encouraging public institutions to disclose information in accordance with the Right to Access Information Act 2013 and Right to Access Information Regulations 2022.
“I want to appeal to public authorities to corporate with our compliance team, so we can have all public authorities on our digital access to information platform to realize speedy access to information,” he encouraged.
He said the International Day for Universal Access to Information is a day to reflect on gains and challenges in efforts to realize easy and unhindered access to information as guaranteed by law.
“We have come a long way. This year marks ten years since the RAIC was set up. Very soon, we will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Commission,” the RAIC boss recollected.
Dr. Shaw also informed participants, including journalists and civil society activists, about the proposal of the Commission to amend the RAI Act 2013 to better strengthen the Commission in delivering on its mandate and enforcing access to information.
Hon. Mustapha Braima, the Executive Secretary of RAIC who also chaired the commemoration event, explained the importance of the day as he encouraged public authorities to be willing and cooperative in enhancing smooth access to information by information requesters.
“The day is commemorated to create awareness on the importance of access to information. The commemoration reflects on issues that promote access to information as a way of promoting transparency, accountability and empowerment of citizens to make informed choices. It is obvious that access to information is very relevant in every aspect of governance.
It is imperative that every government ministry, department and agency mainstream access to information as it is the basic ingredient in promoting transparency, accountability and good governance,” Hon. Braima stated.
In his statement, Morie Lansana, the Acting Deputy Auditor General of Audit Service Sierra Leone praised the work of RAIC as he emphasized the need for records management which he linked to access to information.
Dr. James Edwin, the Director General of the National Monitoring and Evaluation Agency, said his institution generates a lot of information, saying access to information begins with generating information, adding that if information is not generated it cannot be accessed. He also spoke on the challenges in access to information in the country.
“Sometimes information is stored in a way that makes it difficult to access. That is why we have to digitalize the generation and accessing of information. Information access should be free of hindrances. Institutions should also make use of social media. There are challenges in this country. We need to close the gap in accessing information. There should be the culture of accessing information and providing information,” he said.
Mr. Belloh Jalloh, a representative from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said the day is set aside to reflect on successes and challenges in access to information.
“ATI [access to information] is fundamental in realizing good governance. Without it, there will be chaos. People can make up their own facts. Lack of ATI undermines democracy and good governance.
ATI also helps in research and development. Access to information is for our own benefit. We have to be proactive in disclosing information. Information is power,” he noted.
Civic society activist Charles Keif Kobai, the Executive Director of Forward Sierra Leone, praised the leadership of RAIC for efforts in changing the narrative in access to information in the country.
“Civil society has been part of the call for right to access information law since 2003. The RAIC has always taken us through in their activities.
Dr Shaw is one leader that always takes civil society along the activities of his institution. He has done tremendously well in making public institutions imbibe the culture of access to information,” he said.
He also said that public intuitions can easily prevent rumours if they proactively disclose information. “Once public institutions proactively disclose information; they allay the fear of the public. Without ATI, there will be chaos. It is good for public officers to always give access to information to promote peace, unity and development. They should not always wait until pertinent information are requested before letting them out,” Mr Kobai advised.
Another civil society activist Foday Dauda Musa Sesay, the Executive Director of DADA-SL, said it is compelling for public officers to be accountable to the public, saying people who don’t want to be accountable should not hold public office.
Madam Josephine Kamara, the Director General of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), mentioned that the mandate of the media is to give information to the public, adding that SLBC has been very supportive to universal access to information. She said the national broadcaster, through its programs, provides the space for government institutions to explain to the public their mandates and activities, while noting that the SLBC supports investigative reporting and the fight against corruption and also organizes public debates on national issues.
Fonike Bangura, a representative from the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, said the Right to Access Information Commission is one of the numerous agencies being supervised by his Ministry. “We are happy to hear many stakeholders praising the RAIC for doing a great job. RAIC has been very supportive in realizing the mandate of Ministry of Information,” he said.
Delivering the vote of thanks, senior compliance officer of RAIC, Davida Campbell, thanked all participants for making the commemoration a success, while calling on all stakeholders in the access to information sector for continued and sustained collaborations and partnerships with the RAIC.
The International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) was proclaimed on 15th October 2019 at the 74th United Nations General Assembly to be commemorated on 28th September each year.
