By: Problyn J. Alpha
The Right to Access Information Commission Eastern Region Branch has engaged civil Society activists and journalists in a meeting held at the Fachima Complex Bona Street in Koidu City.
Ahmed G. Kallon is the newly appointed Eastern Regional Commissioner of the Right to Access information Commission he told the audience that his visit to Kono District was geared towards familiarizing the commission and himself with the grass root people.
He said it is one of the mandates of the commission to let people understand that all public offices should have information officers so that the ordinary people are well informed about the operations of the respective public offices and how funds given to them are used. Commissioner Kallon thanked members of the civil society organizations in Kono District and the country as a whole for their tireless efforts which saw the establishment of the commission in 2013. He further thanked the past government for the passing into law the Right to Access Information bill which has made significant progress.
He intimated all present that the overriding justification for the establishment of the commission is to enhance good governance, accountability and transparency which are only evident through the sharing of vital information.
He said information is very important for community development and therefore urged every public sector to have public information wing as he puts it “the wider you give out information the lesser responsibility you have”.
Meanwhile among the twelve categories which Commissioner Ahmed G. Kallon called exempt information he catalogued the following: security threat, Asset declaration, Police investigation on certain matters to arrest perpetrator or perpetrators to name but a few.
He disclosed that there is fine attached to the refusal of any public information officer giving out vital information requested for by members of the Public.
Noting for an individual, the fine is at most Ten Million Old Leones whereas organizations fine should not exceed one hundred million old Leones “I crave on the indulgence of all and sundry to comply with the commission as it shares equal powers with the high court”, Commissioner Kallon pleaded.