Monrovia, Liberia – In a significant move to tackle widespread non-compliance with Liberia’s Freedom of Information (FOI) Law, the Independent Information Commission (IIC) has announced a two-day “Freedom of Information Awareness, Compliance and Record Management Training.” The training, scheduled for Wednesday, June 11, and Friday, June 13, 2025, aims to bolster transparency and accountability across government institutions.
Commissioner Joash T. Hodges disclosed the initiative on Tuesday during the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism’s (MICAT) regular press briefing. He explained that the Commission’s renewed push follows the completion of an internal audit that exposed a troubling lack of implementation of the FOI Law across Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions (MACs).
The FOI Law, enacted on September 16, 2010, established the IIC with the mandate to promote transparency, accountability, and participatory democracy by ensuring public access to information held by government and publicly funded entities. The law aligns with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 15(c) of Liberia’s 1986 Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to access public information regardless of gender, race, or religion.
However, the recent audit revealed significant shortcomings in compliance among most government institutions. Of the 103 MACs assessed:
- Only 25 have appointed Public Information Officers (PIOs), a requirement under Chapter 3, Section 3.6 of the FOI Act.
- Just 8 have established Internal Information Request Review Bodies to address denied information requests.
- Only MICAT has submitted an FOI Activities Report to the Commission.
- A mere 32 have operational websites.
- Only 21 have published their founding Acts or budget information online.
“These deficiencies erode citizens’ right to know and undermine public trust in government,” Commissioner Hodges stated. “The FOI Law is not optional; it is foundational to democratic governance.”
The upcoming training is specifically designed to build the capacity of departmental and sectional heads across government institutions. It aims to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill their responsibilities under the FOI Law and improve institutional mechanisms for transparency and information disclosure.
Key stakeholders expected to attend include representatives from MICAT, the Center for National Documents and Records Agency, Budget Lib, the Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding, and SATAC Liberia. Keynote remarks will be delivered by representatives of the Ministry of Justice and Hon. Nathaniel Kwabo, Director General of the Cabinet.
Each participating institution is expected to send five senior representatives, including the Deputy Minister for Administration (or equivalent), Head of Records, Head of Communications or Public Affairs, Head of IT or Web Management, and Head of Finance or Procurement.
Confirmed participating entities include:
- Ministry of Mines and Energy (MIME)
- Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC)
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA)
- Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA)
- Bureau of State Enterprises (BSE)
- National Housing Authority (NHA)
- Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE)
- Liberia Institute of Geo-Information and Statistics (LIGIS)
- Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI)
- Ministry of Public Works
- National AIDS Commission (NAC)
- Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO)
- National Investment Commission (NIC)
- Ministry of National Defense (MOD)
- Ministry of Posts & Telecommunications (MoPT)
- Ministry of Transport (MOT)
- General Services Agency (GSA)
- General Auditing Commission (GAC)
- Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP)
The IIC has underscored the importance of punctuality and full participation, with sessions beginning promptly at 9:00 AM on both days. “This training is not just a recommendation; it is a necessity,” the IIC emphasized in a formal statement. “Full implementation of the FOI Law empowers citizens to actively engage in governance and contributes significantly to national development.”
With this initiative, the Commission aims to foster a stronger culture of openness and accountability across Liberia’s public institutions.
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