By Joseph Momoh, Reporter Daily Scope Newspaper
FREETOWN—Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, Chairman and Information Commissioner of the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC), has recently concluded a two-day study tour in Morocco, aimed at enhancing collaboration between Sierra Leone and Morocco on access to information and data protection. The visit took place from June 8 to June 10, 2025, following a bilateral meeting with his Moroccan counterpart, Mr. Omar Seghrouchni.
During a press briefing on June 10, Dr. Shaw emphasized the significance of the exchange, stating, “This was a learning opportunity for both Sierra Leone and Morocco on access to information and data protection.” The collaboration emerged from discussions held at a global UNESCO event in Ghana last year, where both leaders explored potential partnerships.
Dr. Shaw highlighted the differences in access to information laws between the two nations, noting that Sierra Leone ranks higher globally in this regard. “Sierra Leone is far ahead of Morocco on RTI global ranking,” he stated, pointing out that Sierra Leone enacted its access to information law in 2013, while Morocco’s was established in 2018.
He acknowledged Morocco’s early progress in data protection legislation, which began in 2009. “The same authority that provides oversight for data protection is the same authority that oversees access to information,” he explained. A key takeaway from the tour was Morocco’s operational model, where both data protection and access to information are managed by a single authority, thereby reducing conflicts between the two mandates. “I think that model is good as it reduces conflict between access to information and data protection,” Dr. Shaw remarked.
Discussing funding mechanisms, he noted that while Morocco relies solely on state funding, Sierra Leone’s RAIC is allowed to seek external funding, enhancing its financial independence. “For us, there is a provision in the RAI Act 2013 that allows us to look for funding outside the government structure,” he stated.
Dr. Shaw also compared proactive disclosure practices, highlighting that Morocco does not have a minimum threshold for information disclosure, in contrast to Sierra Leone’s requirement for public authorities to disclose at least twenty-two classes of information. “That is one of the lessons Morocco learned from Sierra Leone during the study tour,” he added.
In terms of enforcement, Dr. Shaw noted Morocco’s judicial tribunal for enforcing access to information decisions and expressed interest in adopting similar strategies in Sierra Leone as the country reviews its existing laws.
On the digital front, he praised Morocco’s advanced digital infrastructure for information access, stating, “They have more advanced digital infrastructure to facilitate access to information.” He also shared insights about Sierra Leone’s digital access platform, which has received commendations for its real-time alert feature.
The study tour concluded with both nations agreeing to develop a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance mutual collaboration on access to information and data protection initiatives. Dr. Shaw expressed his gratitude for the hospitality he received during his visit, describing it as a valuable moment of experiential learning and knowledge exchange.
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