Sierra Leone News: Saffa M. Moriba and Mohamed J. Bah :S. Africa: Saturday, September 30, 2017.
On 28 September 2017, the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) joined their colleagues around the world to observe the 15th anniversary of the International Right to Know Day.
RAIC is celebrating the Right to Know Day to enhance its public awareness and sensitization throughout the country with simultaneous activities taking place at the regional offices in Bo, Kenema and Makeni”
According to the Chair of the Commission, Unisa Sesay, “People should not be begging for information. Journalists or civil society organisations should demand it.” The Right to Know Day, declared by UNESCO in 2015, is recognized as the “international day for the universal access to information”.
Sesay said, it is a law for one to have access to information. No individual or institution should be a barrier. He maintained that only eleven countries in Africa including Sierra Leone has passed into law the right to access information.
He said, “28 September, every year, seeks to promote the right of access to information for all people and for the benefit of open, transparent and accountable government.
The eastern region Commissioner, in Kenema, for the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC), Margaret Vandi Toronka, called on the media to make the Right to Access Information Act effective by testing the law. She said people should ask pertinent questions of public interest.
She explained that the 28th September 2012 was chosen by information organizations in countries around the world who created a network of freedom of information advocates and agreed to celebrate and promoting individual’s right to access information and encourage open, transparent governance.
The RAIC has processed 45 freedom of information requests by different sectors of society, developed key instruments of the RAI Act using internal human resources and also developed national and international networks.
The Chair said their work has be hampered over the years due to limited funding, but assured the gathering that the Commission will embark on a massive awareness-raising campaign with regards to the right to access information.
Reading from a prepared statement, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mark Gbla, said, “Since its founding, the Commission has adopted innovative approaches to maximise the resources provided by it single funding entity.”
He maintained that “the right to access information is an important human right, necessary for the enjoyment and protection of human rights, making possible the public involvement in formulating economic and social policies and in the decision making process of governance.”
Commissioner of Western Area, Kashor Sam Woode, said Sierra Leone is having a lot of problems because of poor record keeping, in general. He added that they will be visiting MDAs in order to advise them on records management. SM/28/9/17
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