A ten-man delegation from the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development of Malawi has visited the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) in Freetown to learn from Sierra Leone’s experience in promoting access to information, transparency and accountable governance.
The delegation is in Sierra Leone as part of an exchange visit hosted by the National Council for Civic Education and Development (NACCED), aimed at understudying civic education programmes and practices and strengthening peer learning between the two countries.
The engagement was held at the RAIC headquarters on Middle Hill Cut Road, Freetown, where the delegation was welcomed by the Chairman and Information Commissioner, Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, and senior officials of the Commission.
Welcoming the delegation, Dr. Shaw stressed the importance of peer learning and institutional exchanges among jurisdictions, noting that such engagements provide an opportunity for countries to share experiences, identify good practices and learn from one another in advancing transparency, accountability and citizens’ right to information.
Chairman of NACCED, Joseph Munda Bindi, described the visit as an important exchange programme designed to understand how different countries implement civic education and related governance programmes. He said this was the reason NACCED considered it necessary for the Malawian delegation to engage with RAIC as a sister institution whose work complements civic education and democratic participation.
Making a presentation titled “Access to Information and Transparency in Sierra Leone,” Dr. Shaw provided an overview of the Commission’s mandate, achievements and challenges, with particular emphasis on compliance by public authorities and the mechanisms available to citizens when their requests for information are denied or delayed.
He disclosed that in 2025, RAIC was copied on 116 access-to-information requests, of which 89 were successfully resolved, while nine remained pending. The Commission also received nine complaints/applications for review, all of which were successfully resolved.
On institutional compliance, Dr. Shaw noted that 62 public authorities submitted Annual Compliance Reports (ACRs) in 2024, representing 51 percent compliance, while 60 authorities submitted reports in 2025, representing 49 percent. He further disclosed that 22 access-to-information complaints were received by the Commission in 2025, with six successfully resolved and six remaining pending.
The Chairman also highlighted several initiatives undertaken by RAIC to strengthen access to information and transparency. These include the Commission’s study tour to the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Commission in Rabat, Morocco, in May 2025; the mediation and resolution of an access-to-information matter between journalist Borbor Dan Kamara and the National Minerals Agency (NaMEA); and the launch of the Commission’s 2024 Annual Report.
He also referenced the second pilot phase of capacity-building for Information Officers on the Access to Information Digital Platform, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with NaMEA in January 2026 to strengthen transparency in public service, and RAIC’s engagement with the African Network of Information Commissioners (ANIC), including an Executive Committee meeting and engagements with civil society and the media in March 2026.
Dr. Shaw identified the hosting of the first-ever 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 one of the Commission’s major recent achievements. The landmark conference brought together information commissioners, policymakers, civil society, development partners and other stakeholders from across the world to deliberate on access to information and information integrity in the digital age.
He further outlined progress made by the Commission in advancing its commitments and milestones under Sierra Leone’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) National Action Plan 5, including efforts to improve transparency, access to information and public accountability
Speaking on behalf of the Malawian delegation, Lawrence Useni, Deputy Director of Civic Education at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, expressed appreciation to NACCED and RAIC for the warm reception and the wealth of knowledge shared during the visit.
Mr. Useni said the delegation had gained valuable insights into Sierra Leone’s approach to access to information, transparency, civic education, institutional coordination and public engagement. He noted He particularly appreciated RAIC’s practical mechanisms for handling information requests and complaints, its collaboration with public institutions, civil society and the media, as well as its use of digital platforms to improve access to information. He expressed hope that the engagement would lead to continued collaboration and knowledge-sharing between institutions in Malawi and Sierra Leone.
The visit concluded with a commitment to strengthen institutional partnerships and sustain peer-to-peer learning as both countries work to promote informed citizens, transparent institutions and accountable governance. The experience would provide useful lessons for Malawi as it continues to strengthen civic education and citizen participation in governance.
For Media Inquiries, contact;
David Patrick Kamara
Manager, Public Information and Communications
Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) National Secretariat
+23278407847
Email : davidpatk@yahoo.co.uk
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 14th October 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
