By Saidu Jalloh | D.S Reporter
FREETOWN — A ten-man delegation from Malawi’s Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has visited the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) to learn from Sierra Leone’s model on access to information, transparency and accountable governance.
The visit, held at the RAIC headquarters on Middle Hill Cut Road, Freetown, forms part of an exchange programme hosted by the National Council for Civic Education and Development (NACCED) to strengthen peer learning on civic education between the two countries.
The delegation was received by the Chairman and Information Commissioner, Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, and senior officials of the Commission.
Dr. Shaw, in his welcome statement, underscored the value of institutional exchanges among jurisdictions, noting that they create opportunities to share experiences and identify best practices in advancing citizens’ right to information.
Chairman of NACCED, Joseph Munda Bindi, said the engagement was crucial as RAIC’s mandate complements civic education and democratic participation.
Presenting on “Access to Information and Transparency in Sierra Leone,” Dr. Shaw outlined the Commission’s achievements and challenges. He disclosed that in 2025, RAIC was copied on 116 information requests, of which 89 were successfully resolved and nine are pending. All nine complaints and applications for review received were resolved.
He said 62 public authorities submitted Annual Compliance Reports in 2024, representing 51 percent compliance, while 60 authorities submitted in 2025, representing 49 percent. Of the 22 complaints received in 2025, six were resolved and six are pending.
He also highlighted key initiatives including the study tour to Morocco’s Data Protection and Freedom of Information Commission in May 2025, mediation between journalist Borbor Dan Kamara and NaMEA, launch of the 2024 Annual Report, capacity-building for Information Officers, and the signing of an MoU with NaMEA in January 2026.
Dr. Shaw described the hosting of the joint International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) and UNESCO International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) Conference in Sierra Leone in September 2026 as a landmark achievement.
Deputy Director of Civic Education in Malawi, Lawrence Useni, who spoke on behalf of the delegation, thanked RAIC and NACCED for the knowledge shared, saying Malawi had gained valuable insights into Sierra Leone’s mechanisms for handling information requests, inter-institutional collaboration and use of digital platforms.
The visit ended with a commitment to deepen partnership and sustain peer learning.
For more information contact Daily Scope Newspaper at dailyscopemedia@gmail.com
