The Independent Information Commission (IIC) of Liberia Wednesday marked the International Day of Universal Access to Information, emphasizing the importance of mainstreaming access to information and public participation in the public sector.
Joash T. Hodges, the Independent Information Commissioner of Liberia, highlighted the history of the International Day and Liberia’s Freedom of Information Act, as well as the achievements and challenges faced by the IIC in implementing the law.
Hodges acknowledged the significant progress made since the passage of the FOI Act in 2010, such as the development of guidelines for handling information requests and the training of public information officers.
He however, painted a dire picture of the current state of the IIC, which has faced severe budget constraints and neglect from the government.
“For the past six (6) years (2018-2023) the IIC suffered low budgetary allotments in the national budget,” Hodges said. “This low budgetary support over the years have strangulated and as well, seriously paralyzed the Commission’s daily operations, planned programs, including creating nationwide awareness on the public rights to information.”
Hodges further revealed that the IIC was recently evicted from its offices due to rental arrears and is now operating from a dilapidated building, with no working equipment or furniture.
Despite these challenges, the IIC is working to rejuvenate the Commission, with the support of partners like Internews, he said.
Hodges outlined several steps the Commission plans to take, including administrative restructuring, a review and amendment of the FOI law, the establishment of county-level FOI hubs, and the creation of a Freedom of Information Resource Center.
Hodges emphasized that the mainstreaming of access to information and public participation in the public sector is the responsibility of the government, urging the government to provide the necessary budgetary support and ensure that ministries and agencies adhere to their obligations under the FOI law.
“The ultimate value of the FOI law rests in its use, and it is only by funding the Commission to carry out its statutory responsibilities under the FOI law and ministries and agencies observing their obligations, that citizens can become empowered to seek and make requests for information,” Hodges said.
The event was attended by members of the National Legislature and Judiciary, ministers, heads of government agencies, diplomatic missions, international organizations, and civil society representatives.
