IIC DEMANS ACCOUNTABILITY ON GOVT., DONORS & NGOS.

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3 Mins Read

By Joseph Tumbey 

The Commissioner of the Independent Information  Commission (IIC), Cllr. MARK Bedor Wla Freeman  calls  on all Journalists  to  demand accountability and transparency  not only from the Governmental  entities but also from the   Non- governmental  organizations NGOS and donors that  handle vast resources on behalf of the country.

Speaking  at the round- 3 of the Freedom of Information investigative Journalism fellowship  Roundtable discussion  in Gbanga, Bong County on Tuesday September  20, 2022. Cllr. Freeman said,   Access to  Information is an anti-corruption as well as an accountability and transparency tool that is so vital to the advancement of the country.

“My only appeal is that you be objective and open-minded. Your investigative journalism or stories should target not only the government, but also the NGO and donor communities. This approach is necessary because there is also lack of

transparency and accountability with some NGOs and donors as it is with government ministries and agencies”,  the IIC Boss appeals  with Journalists. 

According to him, there is corruption and lack of transparency in some government institutions but there must be accountability and transparency  from the NGOS and  donors that also handle vast resources on behalf of the country.

He said,  as   IIC is the oversight body for access to information, established by the Liberia Freedom of Information (FOI) Act of 2010. Its objectives are: a. To promote effective, equitable and inexpensive exercise of the right of access to information,  b. To establish clear and concise procedures for requesting and

providing information held by (i) public bodies and (i) private entities receiving public benefits or performing public functions or providing public service and to provide appropriate penalties and other sanctions for wrongful failure to keep and or provide information among others.

He claimed  to be eager to see  Journalists succeeding in promoting  an access to information  through  the implementation of the  Freedom of Information  FOI  act   focusing  the Government accountability  through  investigation. 

The Commissioner  recognizes the importance of Access to information, 

as a critical tool or mechanism for citizens to exercise their voice, effectively monitor and hold government and other institutions to account, and to enter into  dialogue about decisions which affect their lives. 

“As most of you may already know, FOl or access to information is a fundamental human right, guaranteed by a strong national and international legal framework.

Independent Information Commission  was the first  IIC   in Africa  which was acted on in 2010 and passed  into law by the Legislature in  2012   but lacking  adequate  resources  to compete  with its African counterparts  established  after her”, Cllr. Freeman  noted.

He however, declares his institution losing  its glory  for being unable  to satisfy some of her  international obligations in the past few years due to the lack of  budgeting support. 

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