The Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) has officially launched the inaugural meeting of the National Planning Committees established for the successful hosting of the 17th Edition of the International Conference of Information Commissioners ICIC, and international day for the Universal Access to Information IDUAI 2026, which is scheduled to take place in Freetown in September 2026.

The official launching ceremony was held at the RAIC Headquarters located at 6B Middle Hill Cut Road, Freetown, and attracted representatives from key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), governance institutions, development partners Civil Society Organizations CSOs, and other stakeholders who have been assigned to various technical and operational committees responsible for coordinating the international conference.

The establishment of the committees marks another major milestone in Sierra Leone’s preparations to host one of the world’s leading gatherings on access to information, transparency, accountability, and democratic governance. The Conference is expected to bring together Information Commissioners, Ombudspersons, Data Protection Authorities, policymakers, academics, civil society organizations, media practitioners, development partners, and governance experts from across Africa and other parts of the world.

Welcoming participants to the inaugural session, the Chairman and Information Commissioner of RAIC, Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, described Sierra Leone’s hosting of the Conference as a historic achievement and a significant opportunity for the country to showcase its democratic progress, governance reforms, hospitality, tourism potential, and commitment to transparency and access to information.

Dr. Shaw informed them that significant progress has already been made ahead of the conference as is evident on the conference web site ahead of the conference, including engagement with international partners, development of the conference roadmap, establishment of planning structures, international coordination with the International Conference of Information Commissioners and the African Network of Information Commissioners, as well as ongoing preparations relating to logistics, accommodation, protocol, communication, sponsorship, transportation, security, and conference programming.

He further noted that Sierra Leone’s successful bid to host the Conference reflects growing international confidence in the country’s governance institutions and its continued commitment to promoting openness, accountability, and citizens’ right to access information.

During the meeting, Dr. Shaw officially introduced members to the Conference’s web site information platform, ICIC/IDUAI 2026 Official Conference Website, which he described as a central information hub for delegates, partners, sponsors, exhibitors, and the general public.

According to him, the website provides comprehensive information relating to:

• Conference registration and participation;
• Sponsorship and partnership opportunities;
• Airline schedules and travel information;
• Hotel accommodation and hospitality arrangements;
• Tourist attractions and excursion opportunities within Sierra Leone;
• Conference schedules and thematic sessions;
• Exhibition opportunities;
• Visa and entry requirements; and
• Other relevant logistical and administrative details for participants.

Dr. Shaw emphasized that the hosting of the Conference should not be viewed solely as a RAIC initiative, but rather as a national undertaking requiring broad-based institutional support and active collaboration among all stakeholders.

“RAIC alone cannot do this. This Conference belongs to Sierra Leone and requires the collective commitment, expertise, and patriotism of all institutions and stakeholders. We want the world to come to Sierra Leone and leave with a positive impression of our country, our people, and our institutions,” Dr. Shaw stated.

He called on all committee members to approach their assignments with seriousness, professionalism, dedication, and a spirit of teamwork, stressing that the success of the Conference would depend largely on effective coordination, timely implementation of activities, and sustained stakeholder engagement.

Dr. Shaw also highlighted the potential benefits of the Conference to Sierra Leone, noting that beyond discussions on access to information and governance, the event will contribute significantly to tourism promotion, international visibility, investment opportunities, cultural exchange, and economic activity within the country.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the Director of Policy, Planning and Research, Dr. Sheka Bangura, commended RAIC for the remarkable level of preparation already undertaken towards the Conference.

Dr. Bangura described the initiative as timely and nationally significant, adding that effective planning and coordination would be critical to the overall success of the event. He praised RAIC for demonstrating strong leadership and foresight in mobilizing stakeholders well ahead of the Conference.

He further stressed the importance of structured and continuous planning processes and proposed that the various technical committees should meet fortnightly to review progress and implement assigned activities, while a broader general coordination meeting involving all committees should be convened once every month to assess overall preparedness and address emerging issues.

According to Dr. Bangura, regular engagement among committees would strengthen accountability, improve information sharing, minimize duplication of efforts, and ensure that all aspects of the Conference preparations remain on schedule. Dr Bangura reported that his ministry has prepared a letter addressed to foreign donor partners based in the country requesting their support and involvement in this global conference.

The Executive Secretary of RAIC, Hon. Mustapha Braima, also addressed the meeting and underscored the importance of institutional consistency and commitment throughout the planning process.

He urged participating institutions to ensure that the same representatives consistently attend committee meetings in order to maintain continuity, institutional memory, and effective follow-up on decisions and action points.

Hon. Braima further encouraged committee members to demonstrate dedication and patriotism in carrying out their responsibilities, emphasizing that the Conference presents a rare opportunity for Sierra Leone to strengthen its profile within the international governance and transparency community.

As part of efforts to strengthen inclusiveness and broaden stakeholder participation, additional members were also incorporated into several committees during the meeting to enhance technical expertise and operational effectiveness.

The various committees established include those responsible for protocol and logistics, media and publicity, sponsorship and resource mobilization, transportation, accommodation, security coordination, registration, technical programming, tourism and excursions, stakeholder engagement, and international liaison.

The ICIC/IDUAI 2026 Conference is expected to attract hundreds of delegates from across the world and will serve as a major platform for discussing emerging global issues relating to access to information, artificial intelligence, digital governance, open government, data protection, transparency, public trust, and democratic participation.

Sierra Leone’s hosting of the Conference represents a landmark achievement not only for RAIC, but also for the country as a whole, further positioning Sierra Leone as an emerging leader in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in Africa and beyond.

The inaugural meeting concluded with renewed commitments from participating institutions to work collaboratively towards delivering a successful and memorable international conference that will leave a lasting positive impact on Sierra Leone and the global access to information community.

Credit

David Patrick Kamara

Manager, Public Information and Communications

Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) National Secretariat

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 25th May 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)