The Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) in its ongoing series of consultative meetings with Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) across the Country, provided capacity-building for the leadership and staff of the Freetown City Council on the Right to Access Information Law 2013.
The program, which was held at the Council’s Office in Freetown on Wednesday 23rd August, 2028, had in attendance the Chief Administrator and his deputy, Finance Officer, Human Resource Officer and other high profile technical and professional staff of the Council.
In his welcome address, The Chief Administrator of the Council, Mr. Festus Kallay, on behalf of the Administration and Staff of the Council, welcomed the team from RAIC headed by the Western Region Commissioner, Pastor Mohamed Sesay. He emphasised on the importance of the Commission which he said forms a critical component in the democratisation process in the Country. He implored participants to be very attentive as this session will take them through their Rights and obligations under the RAI Act of 2013.
In his opening remarks, Commissioner Sesay said the Commission is pleased to continue its engagement with the Freetown City Council and that the RAI Law seeks to promote transparency and Accountability. He said Freetown City Council is one of the few MDAs in the Country that have failed in their obligation to submit their proactive publication Scheme (PDI) and Annual Compliance report to the Commission. He went further to explain key components of the RAI Law that hinge on Submission and transfer of requests, Exempt Information, Time Limit for Compliance, Records Management etc. He called on the Council to continue to be transparent and Accountable by providing Information to the general public. He concluded by encouraging participants to ask questions which the legal counsel and other staff of the commission present will provide more insights on.
The Deputy Chief Administrator of the Council, Mr. Peter A. Koroma, thanked the Western region Commissioner and team from RAIC, and expressed profound gratitude for such an educative session. He went further to express the Council’s Commitment to comply with its legal obligation of providing Information for public Consumption.
SIGNED: Alhaji Bakaarr Kanu, Public Information Officer, Wester Area.
