Freedom of Information: Is president Koroma hiding behind the cloak of parliament?

The article urges the government of Sierra Leone to urgently pass the pending Freedom of Information Bill, which has stalled despite prior parliamentary progress. Advocacy groups emphasize that this legislation is critical for dismantling the systemic corruption and governance failures that fueled the country’s past conflict. By granting the public access to previously sensitive data, such as government contracts, the bill serves as a vital mechanism for ensuring transparency and holding officials accountable for their actions. The delay in enacting the law is attributed to political wrangling between the executive and legislative branches, despite presidential rhetoric supporting transparency. The article highlights a disconnect between political promises and actual implementation, noting that the government’s inaction undermines the rule of law and public welfare. The urgency is underscored by historical reports linking the denial of basic rights and lack of openness to the inevitability of civil unrest, suggesting that withholding information perpetuates the conditions for future instability. This issue is directly relevant to open data because it illustrates the legal and political barriers preventing the widespread availability of public sector information. Open data initiatives rely on robust legal frameworks like FOI laws to mandate the release of datasets and ensure government accountability. Without such legislation, citizens cannot effectively monitor public spending or exercise their right to know, thereby limiting the societal benefits of transparency and hindering efforts to build trust in public institutions.

Source: thesierraleonetelegraph.com
Published on 2025-07-31

Freedom of Information: Is president Koroma hiding behind the cloak of parliament?

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