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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