The Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) engaged the Ministry of Defence and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) in a bid to raise awareness and enhance compliance regarding reactive and proactive disclosure of information in the defence sector.
Guiding the process of compliance with the Right to Access Information Act 2013, the Chairman and Information Commissioner of RAIC, Dr Ibrahim Seaga Shaw said public authorities are strictly mandated by the said law to respond to information requests and also publish certain classes of information proactively.
“The RAI Act of 2013 makes it obligatory for all public authorities to provide requesters with any information not exempted by law. Even in the event a requested information is an exempt or classified information, the public authority is obliged to communicate with the requester and clearly quote that Section of the law that disallows such disclosure,” Dr Seaga Shaw explained.
The RAIC boss also noted that there are at least twenty-two classes of information that public authorities are to readily make available and not wait for people or institutions to place requests for them.
“Section 41 of the RAI Act directs that the Commission should put together an Annual Compliance Report which should capture the activities of the Commission and also the status of compliance of all public authorities. In a bid to monitor and evaluate compliance, we have developed a template for reactive disclose of information (Annual Compliance Report – ACR) and Proactive Publication Scheme for proactive disclosure of information (PDI). We encourage every public authority to complete these templates and submit to the Commission,” he said.
He reminded the defence sector that access to information is now part of the performance tracking indicators for public institutions being led by the Office of the President. He made it clear that the Commission would only send data to State House only for compliant institutions.
Sierra Leone’s Information Commissioner told the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and RSLAF that the Commission has a team of dedicated staff who are always available, ready and committed to help public authorities to complete the compliance templates wholly and correctly, saying they should always reach out to the Commission for assistance and clarification.
In his statement, the Deputy Minister of Defense, Col (Rtd) Muana Brima Massaquoi welcomed and appreciated the RAIC delegation to the Ministry of Defense.
He said the engagement has given his Ministry and the RSLAF a better insight into the mandate of the Commission and core compliance related issues.
“This has been a frank and open discussion which we so appreciate. It is good to learn that sensitive national security data may constitute an exempt information which may not be given to requesters. Though we have different mandates, we are all working in the interest of the State,” he said.
The Deputy Defense Minister assured the RAIC delegation of their compliance to the RAI law.
The RAIC team comprised Dr Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, the Chairman and Information Commissioner; Hon. Mustapha Braima, the Executive Secretary and other senior staff of the Commission. The Deputy Minister of Defense, Col (Rtd) Muana Brima Massaquoi and other senior members of the Defense Ministry and RSLAF were in attendance.
Credit
Amara Thoronka
Public Information and Communications Officer
RAIC – National Secretariat
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 11th March 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
