Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) in collaboration with Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has organized a training of trainers workshop for journalists at the Family Kingdom Aberdeen on recently. The President of SLAJ Ahmed Sahid Nasralla said it was timely that the workshop was organized as it is in place to make journalists understand about the commission and how they can access information in due course.
He said the workshop had to be postponed because of the covid but was happy that the energy they put behind it did not go in vain as he was happy for the turnout from journalists as there were many editors present, which means that the media is taking the commission very seriously and they are supporting SLAJ since they were able to win the battle in killing Part Five of the Libel law.
He called on all journalists to take the training seriously as the media must be able to investigate and hold institutions and individuals accountable as and when necessary. Delivering the keynote address, the deputy Minister of Information Mamadi Gobeh Kamara said she was happy to be amongst her colleagues and hope that the passion shown by the media in the training would help them in the future.
She said the right to express and disseminate opinions, ideas and Information and the right to access information which concerns the right to demand and receive information held by duty bearers for transparency good governance and sustainable development, is the reason why the Ministry of Information was able to improve RAIC to the state it is today.
“To enable the right to know, the Ministry led the formulation and passing into law of the Right to Access information Act 2013. This fundamental human right plays a pivotal role in empowering citizens, facilitating fair debate, and giving equal opportunities to all is a driving force for transparent, accountable and effective governance and paves the way for freedom of expression, active participation in public life, and the democratic governance process.”
She said they are proud to highlight that Sierra Leone is one of the 17 African Union member states that has adopted a national right to information law. Globally 121 countries now have Right to Information laws and six countries have national regulations. “The Right to Access Information 2013 provides the moral basis for the journalist’s freedom to gather and disseminate information. Citizens are informed primarily through media of current and ongoing political and social issues. Without the fundamental freedoms to speak and the right to know or in our case to access information, the media would be unable to demand basic rights such as water and food, health, education and even adequate standards of living.”
The deputy Minister of Information averred that the power to scrutinise and hold accountable the duty bearers is very important in the democratic process of the country. She said the government is committed to a free, pluralistic, and diverse media which enables the media to be critical of public and private powers, which, in turn, helps people to remain, informed and engaged in society.
“I am pleased to inform you that Sierra Leone ranked 53rd on Article 19 2019/2020 Global Expression Report, the highest it has achieved ever and 4th in Africa after Botswana, Ghana and Senegal. Namibia is 5th. The Global Expression Report is ARTICLE 19’s most comprehensive, data-based report that tracks freedom of expression across the world. The GxR metric reflects not just the rights of journalists, media and activists, but how much space there is for all of us — as individuals and communities to access information and communicate freely.”
Madam Kamara averred that government is cognizant of the reality that freedom of information is an indispensable part of democratic societies in which citizens are given the right to be informed about policy decisions, actions of government and the conduct of state functionaries.
And as such have pursued initiatives such as decriminalization of the Criminal Libel Law, developed and validated the Freedom of Information Regulations through consultative and participatory process, established an Open Data Portal, rebooted the Sierra Leone News Agency and the Open Government Partnership, empowered the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Independent Media Commission to name a few. “What these initiatives have in common with the Right to Information Law is the belief that the free flow of information is essential to exercise of rights, fosters sustainable development, improves economic performance and makes authorities accountable.” She said amid the current COVID-19 global health crisis, the importance of transparency is clearer than ever. Access to information plays a pivotal role in saving lives and they have learnt during the Ebola and COVID-19 crisis that access to accurate and timely information can be a matter of life and death
“Access to information also makes it possible for citizens to follow government’s responses to a crisis, such as confinement rules, regulations of travel and schooling, virus testing, medical equipment supplies, and economic aid or stimulus packages.” She thanked the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) for playing a tremendous role in supporting state institutions and non-state actors in Sierra Leone in promoting transparency, accountability and good governance and funding this ‘Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building Project of journalists by the RAIC.
Madam Kamara averred that she believes the workshop will give the media the chance to use the Right to Access to Information Law to access credible and reliable information from public authorities within in the framework of the law. During the Workshop Lawyer Allan Benjamin and Chairman of RAIC Dr Seaga Shaw explained about the bill and said they will continue to work with the media and public so that information that are needed by the public will be always accessed by all.
The Parliamentary Chair on Oversight for Information Hon Boston Munda and IMC chair were also on hand to make statements and support the process.
By Alhaji Manika Kamara