To intensify the campaign for a Freedom of Information (FOI) law, executive members of the Freedom of Information Coalition – Sierra Leone (FOIC) have started an intensive lobby by meeting with Honourable Nuru Deen Yillah Sankoh of the All People’s Congress (APC).
The Coordinator of FOIC-SL, Evans Lyndon Baines–Johnson, in his presentation emphasized on the relevance of FOI for Sierra Leone which he said would help President Koroma’s dream of creating a change in governance and politics.
He highlighted various activities which the coalition had undertaken with funds provided by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in the United Kingdom.
Mr Johnson also underscored the significance of FOI to fast-track development, create transparency and accountability, good governance, human rights and an effective anticorruption tool to support President Koroma’s stance on “zero tolerance” on corruption. Supporting the need for parliament to show its commitment to good governance and democracy, Hassan Fuad Kanu, FOIC-SL’s Mobilizing Officer pointed out that, “the coalition will work with all stakeholders to see that an access to information bill is passed by parliament.
Hon Nuru Deen Yillah Sankoh thanked the executive members for their commitment to work on FOI, which he described as a laudable initiative. He affirmed his party’s commitment to FOI and expressed his personal support to help push the bill through parliament.
The legislator averred that he would schedule a meeting with members of the Parliamentary Committee on Information with FOIC members so that they could have an understanding of the concept of FOI before it would be tabled before the House for discussion.
He assured them that he would work hard to see FOI bill passed so that the people of Sierra Leone will yield the benefits.
ADVERTISEMENT