The Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) on Thursday, 13th March, 2025, at the Board Room of the SLBC in Freetown.
Welcoming a cross section of senior staff of the RAIC, Madam Josephine Kamara, Director-General of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation, described the Memorandum of Understanding as “a strategic level agreement” which she said was unanimously developed by the SLBC and the RAIC.
“This is an agreement the government of His Excellency the President Julius Maada Bio would like to see as it is crucial in promoting accountability and transparency. The MOU is a win-win situation for both parties,” the SLBC boss stated.
In his statement, Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, the Chairman and Information Commissioner of the Right to Access Information Commission, explained the core mandate of the RAIC and how the MOU would enhance the work of the Commission.
“The Right to Access Information Commission is mandated by law to facilitate access to information. In executing this mandate, we have developed a two-pronged approach. The first one is the baby-sitting or carrot approach which focuses on popularization and capacity building – building the capacity of both the requesters and suppliers of information. The second one is the stick approach that imposes penalties to enforce compliance. This MOU, I think, would help us with the first approach covering popularization and capacity building. The SLBC is a public interest broadcaster with a national reach, so, the MOU is strategic in executing our mandate,” he narrated.
Dr. Shaw emphasized that the MOU is indeed a win-win situation, saying the SLBC would help the RAIC in letting the public know about the RAI law and the access to information process, adding that the SLBC in turn would benefit from technical support of the RAIC on access to information compliance and capacity on access to information law, processes and procedures, among other things.
Both the RAIC and SLBC heads reiterated the purpose of the agreement which is to establish a formal partnership between the SLBC and the RAIC for the promotion of public access to information and the development of media contents that will enhance public knowledge of RAIC’s work and the Right to Access Information Act 2013.
Key responsibilities of the RAIC in the MOU include providing contents for the RAIC Hour on SLBC TV and Radio, guests for the program, and relevant information related to access to information and transparency initiatives; supplying public notices, jingles and press releases for airing by SLC; offering training programs for SLBC staff on Right to Access Information Act, media laws and ethical reporting.
Key responsibilities of SLBC include providing discounted airtime for the RAIC Hour on both SLBC Radio and Television as well as for public notices and press releases; covering RAIC’s programs and events free of cost as agreed, including providing media coverage and broadcasting as necessary but exclude outside broadcasting coverage; facilitating training sessions and workshops for SLBC’s staff organized by RAIC; and ensuring proper technical support for broadcasting of RAIC’s contents.
According to the MOU, either party may terminate the agreement with a 30-day written notice.
The MOU is mutually beneficial and essential in promoting access to information - a fundamental element of good governance.
For more media enquiries, contact:
Amara Thoronka
Public Information & Communication Officer
RAIC – National Secretariat
+232 88 283632 / +232 78 231949
