CEMESP Trains Journalists In FOI/ATI Laws

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The Center for Media Studies & Peace Building ( CEMESP),   conducts  a two day training   among  Liberian Journalists on using the Freedom of Information (FOI)  Law to enhance    Access  To Information (ATI)  on local government issues and expenditures. 

The training brought together Journalists and media stakeholders from  various institutions across the country, from Tuesday October 17 to 18  at the D’ Calabash  Hotel, Congo Town Back Road in Monrovia 

During the presentations,  Madam  Patmillia Doe Paivey, Commissioner, Independent National Human Rights Commission of Liberia , highlighted the Right to  Access Information and  with Background from the Global, Continental to National  level.  The Relevance of FOI laws to democracy and accountable government. And  Access to Information (ATI)  laws vis-a-vis others laws including National and company laws which take supremacy. 

She said, FOI / ATI laws are supreme  unless it’s required by the law to keep certain information  confidential. 

“If there is any information  that is confidential and need not to be disposed of,  it must be backed up with law,  and the individuals or institutions should be able to explain to you why,” Madam  Patmillia Doe Paivey emphasized. 

In another presentation,  the FOI Specialist,  Cllr. Alphonsus Zeon  pointed out  several related  issues on the FOI including but not limited to,   key time-line, the scope of the law,  FOI law as a fundamental rights guarantee under the constitution among others.

He maintained that  the FOI request can  be as simple but logical  to the subject  an individual is requesting for.

He added,  “there are no fees charged for requesting information, but  if the data is huge,  you   may   pay for photocopying per  average  price”.

“The Foreign policy issue,  the stakeholders can explain in detail  according to the foreign policy law, trade secrets,  certain National  Security matters are exempted 

“But all these are exemptions depending on  the level of safety of the society,”  Cllr. Zeon explained.

Day two  of the training  futures, Cllr. Lamii Kpargoi who explained the Acces Declaration and  Procurement Laws.

“We experienced two civil wars 1989 to 1997/  1999 to  2003, after the wars we started the reform process in our various institutions, in  2004 the FOI law was grafted which took 6 years to  be passed into law in  2010,” Cllr. Kpagoi disclosed.

According to him, the FOI law with the Code of conduct  created  a limited code of exception to Access Information meant for public consumption. 

“The code of conduct took 28 years to be passed  into law, from 1986 to 2014. Code of conduct includes Political participation  which says public officials should resign before  contesting for public  office and also restricts government officials from serving on any political  campaign team.

He maintained that the consequences  for violating this law is  an immediate removal from public office.

“Section 9 of the law  focuses on bribery and conflict of interest like receiving   gifts in connection to your official duty.

“Public officials should report any gift given to them whether they receive it or not to their supervisor,” Cllr.  Lamii Kpargoi concluded. 

At the same time, a Certified Fact Checker and program Associate,  Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding  ( CEMESP),  Wremogar Joe  introduced Fact Checking and Accountability Report.

He urges the participants  to use the Fact Checking method to  counter  fake, mis , and disinformation.

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