In Ghana, Sierra Leone emerge winners of the Freedom of Information Campaign
Sierra Leone’s delegation to the Open Governance leadership training on Wednesday 2nd June, 2011 were crowned champions of the Access to Information (ATI) campaign by a panel of judges from the International School for Transparency, the World Bank and the Carter Center at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana.
The seven man delegation led by Sierra Leone’s Freedom of Information Focal Point, Kwame Yankson of the Ministry of Information and Communications comprises, Hon. Frank Kposowa (SLPP), Hon. David Bai Conteh(APC), Ismael Koroma(SLAJ), John Paul Bai(Independent Youth Forum), Sidie Sheriff (World Bank) and Mariatu Browne of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development contested against their counterparts from Liberia and Ghana on how to design strategies for the implementation of the Freedom of Information Law in West Africa. A short skit targeting the Sierra Leone House of Parliament on the enactment of the FOI Law was dramatized with Hon. David Bai Conteh playing the role of Speaker.
Prof. Richard Calland from the International School for Transparency, University of Cape Town described Sierra Leone’s performance as “excellent, organized and with a clear message that captures the hearts and minds of the target audience”.
members of the delegation
The theme of the Accra workshop is “Fostering leadership in open governance-enhancing access to information”. Twenty-one opinion leaders from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ghana participated in this leadership training which is aimed at promoting the FOI implementation campaign in the sub-region.
Sierra Leone’s delegation became more conspicuous by the presence of the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Mr. Sheka Tarawallie at the opening session of the workshop thereby demonstrating his Government’s commitment to the enactment of the FOI Law. Mr. Tarawallie is in Ghana, to attend a workshop organized by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organization and used the opportunity to visit the Sierra Leone FOI delegation at La Palm beach Hotel.
Laura Neuman of the Carter Center traced the Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment to the enactment of the FOI law to the current Information and Communications Minister Hon. Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, who since the signing of the Atlanta Declaration in 2008 has remained consistent in the fight towards open governance. The workshop ends on Thursday 3rd June, 2011.
By Ministry of Information and Communication
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