The Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) awarded persons and institutions who have been consistently using and complying with the Right to Access Information (RAI) law to access information from public authorities. Part of those awarded also include institutions which have been proactively disclosing information and those which have been compliant in responding to information requests. The dinner and awards ceremony took place at the Family Kingdom Resort, Aberdeen, Freetown on Friday, 22nd November, 2024. It was spiced with entertainment by a live band and dance performances.
Welcoming dignitaries at the event climaxing RAIC’s tenth anniversary celebration, Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, the Chairman and Information Commissioner of RAIC explained the categories of the awards.
“The first category of MDAs we are honouring tonight are those who have been proactively disclosing information with their submitted Proactive Disclosure Publication Schemes approved by the Commission since 2019. The second category are those MDAs that have been doing very well with their Annual Compliance Reports (ACRs) by providing status of their compliance with the RAI Law since 2019. If you see us reporting all these huge numbers is because some MDAs have been cooperating with us. However, we still have some MDAs that have not been cooperating on compliance and I am encouraging them to do so and position themselves to win awards in the future. The third category of awardees are those individuals and institutions that have been consistently requesting for information since 2019 because information flow is not just the supplier, there is also the demand side. The fourth category of awardees we have decided to recognize are those MDAs that have been consistently responding to information requests as they normally don’t wait until the statutory fifteen working days elapse,” Dr. Shaw narrated.
The RAIC chief thanked his team of commissioners, the executive secretary and the entire staff of the Right to Access Information Commission for all the gains achieved over the years and conveyed the Commission’s special thanks to the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Mr. Chernor Bah, who he said has been very supportive to the Commission.
In his keynote address, Mr. Chernor Bah, the Minister of Information and Civic Education congratulated the RAIC for hosting the event and for all that the Commission has been doing in promoting access to information.
The Information Minister explained the nexus between access to information and democracy and how such is relevant in promoting development and good governance.
“Right to access information is the bedrock of our democracy. Without access to information there is no democracy. Sierra Leone has one of the best right to access information laws and institutions in the world. All of us are part of that success: those who request for information, those who promptly respond to information requests, and those who proactively disclose information.”
My fundamental tenet as Minister of Information is for citizens to have easy access to information. I always tell my colleague cabinet ministers that to keep information would not protect them but rather do more harm. Proactively disclosing information, or swiftly responding to information request is the greatest defence to any crisis or challenge as that addresses the adverse effects of rumours and misinformation,” Minister Bah noted.
He encouraged his colleague cabinet ministers and all public officials and institutions to go by the rules and comply with the access to information regulations.
In her statement, Madam Kenyeh Ballay, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development said she was pleased to be part of the celebration of the tenth anniversary of the Right to Access Information Commission. “I want to say that the Commission has been doing a good job and continues to remain vibrant. We at the Ministry of Plaining and Economic Development do have a very close relationship with the Commission. At MoPED, we share information proactively and we appreciate the work of the RAIC. What the RAIC is doing is at the center of accountability,” she said.
Dr. Walton Ekundaya Gilpin, the Managing Director of Rokel Commercial Bank, whose bank was among few institutions that sponsored the RAIC 10th Year Anniversary Dinner and Awards Night event mentioned that the Right to Access Information Commission continues to be a pivotal pillar of Sierra Leone’s democracy, saying, “Access to information is very essential in realizing sustained development and good governance.”
Mr. Asmieu Bah, senior journalist and Deputy Director General of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation showered praises on the RAIC boss Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw whom he said is an example worth emulating.
“The Right to Access Information Commission is a crucial good governance institution. As a journalist, I know what it means to be deprived of certain very important information needed to enhance your work. The past ten years, RAIC has made significant improvement in promoting access to information. Since 2018 when Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw took over as Chairman and Information Commissioner of RAIC, many people now know what the Commission does. Dr. Shaw always avails himself for media interviews and engagements to inform the people of Sierra Leone about the mandate and activities of his Commission. He has really taken the Commission to another height,” Mr. Bah stated.
An awardee, Mr. Abdul Fatorma, chief executive officer of the civil society organization Campaign for Human Rights and Development International, said he was humbled and deeply touched by the award. “A very special thanks to the Chairman and his team at the Commission. We have been constantly requesting for information for and on behalf of our organization and we will continue to do same,” he said.
Another awardee, Dr. Samuel Bayon, the chairman of the Local Government Service Commission said access to information is for everyone, noting that local government institutions which he represents must have access to information to enable them function effectively and efficiently. “Without access to information, we are challenged,” he reiterated.
Other dignitaries and awardees made similar statements, all thanking and appreciating the RAIC for such a great job over the years, especially under the leadership of Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw.
In total, sixty one persons and institutions were awarded in the four categories.
For more media enquiries, contact:
Amara Thoronka
Public Information & Communication Officer
RAIC – National Secretariat
+232 88 283632 / +232 78 231949
