Government Highlights Key National Developments at Weekly Press Conference

The Ministry of Information and Civic Education held its weekly press conference on October 15, 2024, offering updates on significant national issues. The session underscored the government’s commitment to transparency, international relations, and improving public access to information. Key highlights include:

Minister Chernor Bah announced the official closure of the investigation into an unauthorized aircraft landing at Lungi International Airport. Following comprehensive swabs and searches by local and international experts, no incriminating evidence was found. However, the four individuals involved were fined $100,000 due to insufficient evidence for formal charges and were subsequently released.

Minister Bah emphasized Sierra Leone’s expanding diplomatic reach, revealing the opening of new embassies in Algeria and Qatar. In a reciprocal gesture, Saudi Arabia and Morocco have established embassies in Freetown, strengthening Sierra Leone’s international relations.

Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, Chairman and Commissioner of the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC), highlighted the commission’s ongoing efforts to promote freedom of information. The commission has maintained a well-resourced website to facilitate public access. In 2022, it processed 10,237 of 13,107 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and in 2023, this number surged to 19,496 requests with a 90% success rate. Dr. Shaw also announced collaboration with the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) and the Public Service Commission to review the Civil Service Code, particularly the oath of secrecy that has impeded the timely disclosure of public information.

Josephine Kamara, Director General of SLBC, provided updates on her 100-day plan since taking office. She focused on addressing key issues within the national broadcaster, including improving sanitation, reducing transmission breaks, modernizing programming, and enhancing staff capacity. Kamara reaffirmed her commitment to transforming SLBC into a more effective public broadcaster.

Charles Keif Kobai, Executive Director of Forward-SL, praised Sierra Leone’s legal framework for access to information, deeming it one of the most robust in Africa. He noted that when the Right to Access Information law was enacted in 2013, it was ranked third in Africa and fifth globally. Kobai advocated for the integration of Ministry, Department, and Agency (MDA) websites into a unified portal to simplify access to information for citizens.