By: Aruna Kamara (BO)
Following the hue and cry of some Sierra Leoneans over Ministries Department and Agencies delaying to give out information to the public, the Public Information Officer of the Right to Access Information Commission in the Southern Region, Madam Millicent Brima, has said that it is not a privilege but the right of the people to access information.
Speaking to A-Z Newspaper in Bo, she said that the Government of Sierra Leone understands that freedom of information is an indispensable part of democratic societies and that the passing of the Right to Access Information Law in 2013 offers the right to its citizens and interested persons’ free access to information primarily in the hands of government and non-state actors.
Madam Brima said that with the passing of this law, access to information and open data offer its citizenry the opportunity to critically evaluate authorities appointed and elected to account for their stewardship.
According to her ‘’the establishment of the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) in 2014, generated a lot of interest from the demand side of the process, namely, citizens (disabled, women, and youth, as well as civil society organizations) and development partners who remain concerned about getting access to vital information as a way to effectively manage corruption and promote service delivery.
Madam Brima said that the critical mandate of the commission is to promote proactive disclosure of information and enforce measures to promote openness fostered by forging partnerships with all stakeholders including government institutions, national, and international partners. She pointing out that the Commission as a result has established a multi-stakeholder council to facilitate and monitor compliance of all public institutions to disclosure of information in a proactive manner.
She maintained that it is the right of the people to have access to information but noted that information bothering around state security would not be disclosed to the public. She added that‘’ I want to encourage people to always visit their offices including the one in the south to inform them about their problems encountered in accessing information as they will intervene.
Madam Brima reiterated that it is a crime punishable by law if MDA’s and NGOs and other institutions/organizations or individuals failed to adhere to ensuring that people have access to information.
She said they are also engaging the media to ensure that the public understands the mandate of the commission adding that, ‘’ instead of you grumbling in the corner of not having access to information, please come to our office.’’
A civil society activists in Bo have commended the Public Information officer for engaging the Media in Bo to raise proper awareness about the mandate of the Commission. Through such engagement, they confessed that much have been known about the Commission in terms of their mandate and called on her to continue doing the good work.