𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗖–𝗜𝗗𝗨𝗔𝗜 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮 𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲

Addressing delegates from across the world, the Vice President said the global community is living in a knowledge era in which access to credible information has become fundamental to democratic governance, accountability and citizens’ participation.

Reflecting on Sierra Leone’s journey from civil war to democratic consolidation, he said the country had come a long way from a period characterised by governance challenges and had embraced democracy and respect for human rights as central pillars of its recovery and development.

He highlighted the enactment of the Right to Access Information Act in 2013, ongoing efforts towards a Data Protection Law, and the repeal of the Criminal and Seditious Libel Law in 2020 as important steps taken to expand the frontiers of freedom of expression and access to information.

“From where we were to where we are today, we have made significant progress,” the Vice President said, noting that greater access to information empowers citizens to hold leaders accountable and contributes to the fight against corruption.

He, however, cautioned that expanding access to information must go hand-in-hand with addressing the complex challenges of the digital age. He said the global debate on access to information increasingly resonates with the need to build an information ecosystem that protects information integrity while ensuring that citizens continue to enjoy meaningful access to public information.

Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Chernor Bah, reflected on Sierra Leone’s historic association with freedom and the country’s continuing efforts to strengthen openness and democratic governance. He underscored the importance of access to credible information in building public trust, empowering citizens and strengthening resilient democratic societies.

Chairman and Information Commissioner of the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC), Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, welcomed delegates to Sierra Leone and expressed the country’s pride in hosting the landmark global gathering.

Dr. Shaw noted that access to information transcends national borders, particularly at a time when rapid technological advancement has created unprecedented opportunities while also presenting new challenges, including the manipulation and weaponization of information.

He said these realities make international gatherings such as ICIC–IDUAI increasingly important. Dr. Shaw emphasized the need for both proactive and reactive disclosure of information, arguing that democratic resilience is strengthened when states open public data, reinforce access-to-information systems and establish appropriate regulatory frameworks.

He encouraged delegates to use the conference to exchange experiences, build stronger partnerships and align their efforts towards the shared goal of advancing access to information and protecting information integrity globally.

Representing the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information of Germany, host of the 2025 ICIC, Andreas Hartl described the combined conference as an important initiative for strengthening transparency, accountability and international cooperation. He stressed the value of Information Commissioners and governments working collaboratively to advance the right to information amid an increasingly complex global information environment.

Speaking on behalf of the 2025 IDUAI host, Ms. Krizia Casey P. Avejan said they were proud to pass the hosting responsibility to Sierra Leone, describing the transition as symbolic of the progress and important milestones the international community continues to make in advancing universal access to information.

The opening ceremony brought together Information Commissioners, senior government officials, international organizations, civil society representatives, academics, media practitioners and access-to-information experts from across the world. Speakers described the convergence of the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) and the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) as an important opportunity to deepen global cooperation on transparency and citizens’ access to credible information.

Jointly hosted by the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) of Sierra Leone and UNESCO, the three-day conference is being held from 28–30 September 2026 under the theme: “Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The Role of Access to Information in Addressing Information Disorder.”

The gathering marks the first combined ICIC–IDUAI global conference and the second time the ICIC has been hosted on the African continent, following South Africa in 2019.

Discussions over the three days will focus on the evolving role of access to information in responding to information disorder, strengthening democratic governance, protecting information integrity and building public trust in an increasingly digital world.

For media inquiries, contact:

David Patrick Kamara

Manager, Public Information and Communications

Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) National Secretariat

+23278407847

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