By Marion P. George
The Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) has announced that Sierra Leone is set to welcome information commissioners, policymakers, media professionals, governance experts, and civil society leaders from across the globe for the first ever international conference of information commissioners, and the international day for universal Access to information.
Speaking at a press conference held at the commission’s secretariat, the Chairman and Information Commissioner of the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC), Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, announced that Sierra Leone will host both the 17th International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) global celebration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI).
This marks the very first time both international events are being merged and hosted simultaneously in Africa.
Reflecting on the journey, Dr. Shaw noted that Sierra Leone officially became an accredited member of the ICIC on September 24, 2019. Exactly seven years later, the nation is preparing to welcome global leaders, information regulators, and advocates to its capital. Sierra Leone secured the hosting bid during the 2024 edition of the ICIC conference. He stated that initially scheduled for mid-year, the event was shifted to September to avoid the heavy rainy season. Following the schedule shift, he said UNESCO approached the RAIC to combine the ICIC summit with the global IDUAI commemoration, which occurs annually on September 28.
Dr. Shaw highlighted Sierra Leone’s historic tie to IDUAI, pointing out that on October 15, 2019, the country was among six nations that co-sponsored the UN resolution establishing the international day.
“Our vision is to make Sierra Leone part of the global information rights society,” Dr. Shaw stated during the briefing. “I don’t think there is a better time than now to put us at the pinnacle of access to information in the global context.”
The three-day international event is expected to attract between 200 and 300 delegates representing roughly 43 countries across all continents. High-profile international organizations participating include UNESCO, the African Network of Information Commissioners (ANIC), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Open Government Partnership (OGP), Transparency International, and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Dr. Shaw furthered Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh is scheduled to deliver the opening keynote address. To ensure seamless logistics, security, health protocols, and transport for incoming dignitaries, the RAIC he said has established an inter-ministerial planning committee alongside key government ministries.
The conference will center on the theme: “Upholding Information Integrity: The Role of Access to Information in Addressing Information Disorder.”
Addressing the challenge of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation, Dr. Shaw emphasized that access to information must focus on credible data. He urged public institutions to embrace proactive disclosure as the primary defense against information disorder.
“How do you prevent information disorder? By giving out a lot of information,” Dr. Shaw explained. “When you give out a lot of information, you set the agenda… If you don’t give them something to think about, they will think of something for you.”
The event he said will officially kick off with a welcome cocktail on Sunday, September 27, and will include cultural showcases and guided excursions to notable national heritage sites, including the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Bunce Island, and the Peace Museum.
Chairman and Information Commissioner of the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC), Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw concluded that a major outcome of the summit will be the adoption and publication of the Freetown Declaration on Information Integrity and Access to Information, which aims to chart a global pathway for transparent and accountable governance.
