The Independent Information Commission (IIC) hosted a one-day Freedom of Information (FOI) and Compliance training session in Gbarnga, Bong County, aimed at empowering officials from various line ministries, agencies, and commissions.
The training is designed to build and strengthen the capacity of local officials to effectively interpret and apply the Freedom of Information Act, ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.
The first session focused on the scope of the FOI law, the mandate of the IIC, and the necessary steps and procedures for accessing public information. It also covered the statutory exemptions set forth in the FOI Law.
IIC Outreach Director, Simmie Nyanfor said the Right to Information is a fundamental right enshrined in Article 15(c) of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Chapter 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
He urged local authorities to proactively provide the public with information regarding government programs, activities, projects, and especially the utilization of public resources within the county’s budget.
“Openness, transparency, and accountability significantly enhance trust and confidence in local governance and promote the principles of good governance,” Nyanfor said.
During the second session, IIC Acting Compliance Director Armah Boimah Johnson reiterated the compliance responsibilities of local officials concerning the FOI Act. He stressed the importance of public officials providing prompt responses to information requests and ensuring that requesters are informed in writing about the timing of when the requested information will be available.
Johnson also urged ministries, agencies, and commissions (MACs) to establish functional websites that publish essential documents including enabling legislation, budgets, service delivery charters, and annual reports, among others. This initiative is aimed at facilitating public oversight and engagement.
IIC Commissioner Joash T. Hodges encouraged civil society organizations that had previously faced challenges in accessing information to seek redress through the Independent Information Commissioner’s office, specifically through the County FOI Hub Coordinator.
Hodges highlighted that the visit of the IIC executives, including Executive Director Lorpu Page, forms part of the Commission’s decentralization efforts in line with the Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID).
In the lead-up to the training, the IIC Outreach and Compliance Directors, along with Service Center Coordinator Mr. Leon Harris, participated in a live segment on Radio Gbarnga’s Super Morning Show. The discussion aimed to provide the public with information about their rights to access information and the IIC’s role in protecting and defending those rights.
