The Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) observed this year’s International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI 2025) on Thursday 25th September 2025 at Family Kingdom Resort in Freetown. The commemoration featured speeches of key stakeholders on access to information, especially on the theme "Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age". Also, in line with the international theme, the Commission also trained government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and some civil society organizations (CSOs) on the use of the upgraded digital access to information platforms of the Commission.      

In his opening statement, Dr Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, the Chairman and Information Commissioner of RAIC, said the International Day for Universal Access to Information is not only a day, but one that recognizes a fundamental human right and an enabler of growth and sustainable development, nothing that the said enabler is the right to access information laced with the duty of public authorities to timely and accordingly process and provide information, reactively and/or proactively.

Giving the background of IDUAI, Dr Seaga Shaw cited that UNESCO, the world’s body monitoring the status of access to information worldwide, declared on 17th November 2015 that the International Day for Universal Access to Information be marked and celebrated on 28 September every year, saying, four years later, the same declaration was recognized and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. Dr Shaw noted that Sierra Leone was through the efforts of his Commission, honoured to be among 6 countries that co-sponsored this resolution. He added that this year’s commemoration marks the 10th anniversary of the designation of 28 September as the International Day for Universal Access to Information, reflecting a decade of progress and challenges in right to information worldwide. 

It is worth noting that the IDUAI 2025 Global Conference is hosted by UNESCO and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and will take place in Manila, the Philippines on 29–30 September 2025 on the theme "Ensuring Access to Environmental Information in the Digital Age". This year’s theme also highlights how digital technologies and open data platforms can enhance public access, foster transparency, and empower citizens and stakeholders to participate meaningfully in environmental governance and sustainable development, focusing on timely, comprehensive, and cross-border access to environmental information in an increasingly digital world. 

The RAIC boss simplified environmental data as information on climate change, pollution, biodiversity, and disaster risks transcending national borders, necessitating collaborative, transparent, and innovative global sharing of information. 

“As the world continues to grapple with environmental challenges like natural and man-made disasters, there is an obvious need for environmental literacy. However, such literacy cannot be achieved without accurate and reliable data on the environment and the unhindered access to such data for informed decisions and actions to mitigate the effects of environmental vices.

The advancement in digital technology serves as an enabler to expedite data processing and access, thus, digital technology is central in raising awareness and taking actions to save our environments and ourselves. As part of our in-country commemoration of this year’s IDUAI, the Right to Access Information Commission, in alignment with global observance, will commemorate IDUAI 2025 by convening stakeholders to reflect on progress, challenges, and innovations in promoting universal access to information in light of digital realities, opportunities and challenges,” he said. 

On why RAIC observed the day on Thursday 25th instead of the actual Sunday 28th September, Dr Seaga Shaw mentioned that, given that the official date falls on a Sunday and Friday being a half-working day, the RAIC decides to observe the event on Thursday. “Also, due to limited funding, the RAIC has decided to kill two birds with one stone by combining the hosting of the IDUAI 2025 celebrations with popularization and capacity building on the Commission’s newly launched access to information digital platforms involving pilot state and non-state actors. This also speaks to the global theme recognizing the significant role of digital infrastructure in promoting access to information. We are of the conviction that the said development will augment our already sustained impressive regional and global rankings on access to information,” he explained.  

The Chairman and Information Commissioner of the RAIC informed participants and guests that Sierra Leone, through the RAIC, has won the bid to host the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) 2026, adding the Global IDUAI Conference is also going to take place in Sierra Leone next year. “Next year, the world will converge in Sierra Leone in observance of both ICIC and IDUAI,” Dr Seaga Shaw announced.    

In her remark, the Deputy Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Hon Yema Mimi Sobba-Stephen, said access to information pertaining the environment gives us the understanding about the status of our forests, rivers, and change of weather, adding, “Without access to information about our environment, we cannot understand the challenges we face and decisions we take. When people have access to reliable environmental information, they are better able to make decisions that protect their lives, their livelihood and their future. The environment belongs to all of us; therefore, the knowledge about it should also be available to all of us.”  

Representing the Chief Justice of the Judiciary of Sierra Leone, Elkass Sannoh stressed the importance of the celebration, pledging the Judiciary’s continued commitment in upholding and promoting access to information in consonance with the law.

“This is a worthy celebration as so much has been collectively achieved in promoting access to information in Sierra Leone. The theme is apt as communities across the world face unprecedented environmental challenges from deforestation and mining degradation to climate,” he noted. 

Speaking on behalf of the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Edward Marrah praised the leadership of RAIC for its continued efforts in steadily improving the status of access of information in the country and also performing impressively in regional and global rankings. He called on government and partners to provide the RAIC with the required supports to enable it do more and better. 

Like other speakers, representatives from the Ministry of Information and Civic Education; the Environmental Protection Agency, Transparency International Sierra Leone and other key stakeholder institutions expressed the need for collaborative efforts to realize and sustain the flow of timely and reliable environmental information for better actions to protect the environment and save humanity from preventable disasters and other environment related challenges.   

The commemoration of IDUAI 2025 was climaxed by a comprehensive, interactive and hands-on capacity building for public authorities on the effective use of the upgraded digital access to information infrastructure of the RAIC, a development that is believed to unprecedentedly increase the demand and supply of information seamlessly.

The Executive Secretary of RAIC, Hon Mustapha M Braima, thanked participants for gracing the event while he encouraged them to cascade the knowledge gained at the capacity building session to other staff of their respective institutions. 

RAIC’s regional offices also held similar activities in commemoration of the day. 

For media enquiries, contact:

Amara Thoronka

Public Information and Communications Officer

RAIC – National Secretariat

+232 88 283632 / +232 78 231949

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The Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) has officially concluded its mediation in the matter between journalist Dan Borbor and the National Minerals Agency (NMA) regarding access to information.

In a letter dated 24th September 2025, the NMA transmitted the requested documents to the Chairman and Information Commissioner of the RAIC, Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, who in turn formally presented them to Mr. Borbor at the Commission’s headquarters at 58 Kroo Town Road, Freetown.

This follows weeks of mediation led by the RAIC after Mr. Borbor lodged a complaint against the NMA for failure to provide him with documents he requested, including the annual report of FG Gold Mining Company, clarity on agreements relating to the company’s transition from prospecting to full-scale operations, and the NMA’s 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports.

On 6th August 2025, RAIC convened a mediation meeting bringing both parties together. At that meeting, the RAIC Commissioner emphasized the obligations of public institutions under the Right to Access Information Act of 2013, particularly the requirement to proactively publish annual reports once they are laid in Parliament and have matured within 21 days.

Through this process, several issues were clarified:

* The Community Development Agreement (CDA) report under Section 134(2) of the NMA Act was confirmed as already provided to Mr. Borbor.
* The 2023 NMA Annual Report, which had been overdue, was ordered by the RAIC to be made available to the requester.
* The 2024 NMA Annual Report was confirmed to still be under preparation, and the RAIC advised Mr. Borbor to exercise patience until it is finalized and laid in Parliament.
* ⁠The NMA maintained that no formal agreement exists with FG Gold Mining Company regarding a transition to full-scale operations, though the RAIC advised the requester to submit a more specific follow-up request if required.

Following RAIC’s directives, the NMA complied within the stipulated one-month period and furnished the requested documents.Mr. Borbor expressed gratitude to the RAIC for its intervention, stating that the Commission’s role was pivotal in bringing the matter to a close. He confirmed that with receipt of the requested information, the issue is now resolved.

Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw reaffirmed RAIC’s commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and compliance with the access to information law, encouraging all public institutions to strengthen proactive disclosure practices.

For media enquiries, please contact: David Patrick Kamara Manager, Public Information and Communications RAIC – National Secretariat +232 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) has intervened in the matter bordering on access to information (ATI) between Journalist Borbor Dan Kamara and the National Minerals Agency (NMA). Borbor had been dissatisfied with the responses of the NMA regarding providing information he requested on the annual report of FG Gold Mining Company; the agreement defining the end of FG Gold’s prospecting phase and commencement of full-scale operations; and also, the NMA’s and 2023 and 2024 Annual Reports.

After back and forth, the requester [Borbor Dan Kamara] complained the NMA to the Right to Access Information Commission. 

As he has always done to expedite access to information and enhance compliance, Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, the Chairman and Information Commissioner of RAIC, called both parties to a meeting in his office on 6th August 2025. The RAIC is mandated and empowered by the Right to Access Information Act 2013 to facilitate access to information. Attendees of the meeting comprise the requester and a cross section of RAIC and NMA staff.  

At the engagement meeting, the information demands of the requester were laid bare and the National Minerals Agency, through its representatives at the meeting, was given the space to react to the said information demands before the requester and the information oversight body.  

Reacting to information demands of the requester, Ibrahim Satti Kamara, the Director of Communications and Community Affairs at NMA stated that the reports submitted by the F.G. Gold Mining Company to NMA, which are subjects of the information request in question, are confidential due to the inclusion of exploratory information. He argued that such reports, according to the Mines and Mineral’s Act of 2009, should only be made public after undergoing internal review processes.

However, the RAIC Chairman and Information Commissioner questioned the legal basis of the said claim and asked the NMA’s Communications and Community Affairs Manager whether the claim is supported by a legislation  to withhold such information. Replying to the RAIC boss, Mr. Sattie said the confidentiality of the requested information is indeed supported by his institution’s legislation and promised to provide the relevant section for the Commission’s review. 

Mr. Sattie added that what F.G. Gold Mining Company submitted was a technical report, not an annual report, and reiterated that the exploratory portion within it made the document confidential. 
Mr. Dan Borbor, the requester, however, said he had contacted Dr. Julius Spencer, whom he said is an official at F.G. Gold, who confirmed that the company had submitted the necessary documents, including audited reports to NMA, adding that Dr. Spencer advised him to obtain the report directly from NMA. 

However, NMA insisted that Mr. Borbor should obtain the report from F.G. Gold. 
Dr. Seaga Shaw mentioned that he found it strange for a private company to withhold its annual report since, according to him, such reports are supposed to be public documents. The Chairman advised NMA to review their policy regarding the confidentiality of exploratory information and how it relates to public access rights. He emphasized that it is normal for annual reports that have been laid in parliament to be made public after their 21-day maturity

Eventually, it was clarified that Mr. Borbor’s request was for the Community Development Agreement (CDA) report, as provided for under Section 134(2) of the NMA Act which Mr. Sattie said had been  submitted   to the requester, effectively resolving the first issue. All participants gave silent consent, indicating agreement. 

On the request bordering on NMA’s Annual Report 2024, Mr. Sattie responded that the report would not be made public until it is finalized and submitted to the Mines Minister, and subsequently laid in Parliament. However, the RAIC Chairman pressed for updates on the status of the 2023 annual report, noting that it should have been published already, as RAIC had done with theirs. For the 2024 NMA annual report, he advised Mr Borbor to exercise some patience until it is laid in parliament.

Chairman Seaga Shaw emphasized the legal obligation for all public institutions to produce and proactively publish annual reports on their web sites after being laid in parliament following the 21-day maturity. He urged NMA to comply promptly and make the 2023 NMA annual report available to the requester.

The RAIC Chairman noted that while the 2024 report is understandably in progress, the 2023 report is overdue and must be prioritized.

On the request bordering on the agreement marking the transition from prospecting to full operations by FG Gold Mining Company, Mr. Sattie stated categorically that no such agreement exists between NMA and FG Gold. Chairman Seaga Shaw asked the requester whether he had seen such agreement. Mr. Borbor Dan Kamara (the requester) claimed that F.G. Gold had informed him of a plan to begin full operations in 2026, implying an agreement had been reached. The Chairman requested clarification on the type of license issued to FG Gold, whether it was a prospecting license, mining license, or both. Mr. Sattie reiterated that there are documents defining such transition and advised Mr. Borbor to make a fresh, specific request for such documents for NMA to look into. 

Mr. Sattie suggested it would have been better if Mr. Borbor Kamara had requested a formal interview and submitted his questions in writing. Eventually, it was agreed for the requester to compile his questions in writing and copy RAIC for transparency. 

The RAIC Chairman and Information Commissioner, Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, presided over the meeting with high professionalism in fulfilment of the prescribed access to information law and policy. 

In summary, it was resolved that NMA provides the requested NMA Annual Report 2023 and that NMA should also provide the legal provisions in its Act that provides for the confidentiality they made reference to in the meeting which guarantees the non-disclosure of mining exploratory reports. For the requester, Mr. Borbor Kamara, can submit a formal and more specific request for clarity on the status of FG Gold’s license and operational stage if he wishes to do so. All the parties were admonished by the RAIC boss to maintain professionalism, sound communication and adhere to due process as defined by the Right to Access Information Act 2013.   

The RAIC Information Commissioner gave NMA one calendar month to respond to the two above orders.  

For media enquiries, contact:
Amara Thoronka 
Public Information and Communications Officer
RAIC – National Secretariat 
+232 88 283632 / +232 78 231949
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Chairman and Information Commissioner of the Right to Access Information Commission of Sierra Leone, Dr Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, has called for sustained collective efforts to promote and advance access to information and information integrity. Dr Seaga Shaw was speaking at the Regional Conference on Information Integrity for West Africa and the Sahel organized by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Praia, Cape Verde from 3rd to 5th September 2025.   

The RAIC Sierra Leone boss was featured in one of the conference’s most crucial panesl to discuss how to leverage inclusive access to information and public interest data to strengthen information integrity in West Africa and the Sahel.  

The contribution of Sierra Leone’s information commissioner was centered on access to information policy and proactive disclosure giving the Sierra Leone perspective.

Speaking on the effectiveness and challenges of access to information (ATI) legal framework and challenges, Dr Seaga Shaw said Sierra Leone has a strong legal framework on access to information, saying the Right to Access Information Act 2013 and Right to Access Information Regulations 2022 empower the Right to Access Information Commission of Sierra Leone as a solely autonomous body to enforce compliance by public authorities in both reactive and proactive disclosure of information. 

“The said legal framework authorizes the Information Commission to issue orders and impose fines for non-compliance. However, the legal framework is currently being reviewed to enhance better enforcement and compliance and increase access to information. There are also sustained awareness-raising efforts of the Information Commission, causing the country to be recording thousands of information requests, especially in the last three years; from 13,016 information requests in 2022 to 19,391 requests in 2023 to 15,000 requests in 2024. In all these years, over 90% of information requested was processed and provided. This a major development for a small nation like Sierra Leone as the nation continues to do impressively well in both regional and global ratings on access to information amid challenges,” he said.

Dr Seaga Shaw however recognized major challenges threatening the information ecosystem, especially in this era of mind-blowing advancement of digital technologies, adding that media or information illiteracy continues to be a fertile ground for misinformation and fake news, noting that the misuse of digital media and artificial intelligence is also a worrying concern as there has been an advancement in deepfakes and AI-generated disinformation all of which, he said, have either created flames or fan the flames of conflicts and panic. 

Proffering viable solutions to tackle threats to information integrity in West Africa and the Sahel, Dr Ibrahim Seaga Shaw said information bodies, governments, civil society, the media and other stakeholders in access or right to information are essentially crucial in making public-interest data more accessible, usable and impactful to combat disinformation and strengthen trust.  

“It is evident that information secrecy or information inaccessibility or delay in accessing information is an influencing factor for misinformation and disinformation as lack of reliable information creates information gaps which can be filled by anything available, including that which is misleading and fake. In this era of exponential technology boom, it is prudent to leverage on digital technologies to expedite access to information and fight against fake news. In Sierra Leone, there is now a digital infrastructure which has all the four forms in the access to information process: Request Form, Acknowledgment Form, Response Form and Complaint Form. These forms, which used to be paper-based only, have now been reduced to digital or electronic versions and embedded in the official website of the Right to Access Information Commission, so that both the demand for and supply of information can be done with a click,” he told the Conference.   

He added that stakeholders should collaborate in establishing and efficiently operating inclusive, robust and speedy factchecking platforms to eradicate or drastically minimize the effects of fake news and misinformation. 

Recognizing the importance of promoting multilingual and inclusive access to information, Dr Seaga Shaw mentioned that requesters of information should be guaranteed, in policy and practice, the language they are comfortable with in making requests for information, including local dialects as it is international best practice to ensure that all shades of society have access to information.   

On policy and practice relating to proactive disclosure of government-held information and open data, the RAIC Sierra Leone boss noted that proactive disclosure obliges public authorities to intentionally disclose information and not wait until request is made for such. 

“In Sierra Leone, public authorities are obliged by law to proactively disclose at least twenty (22) classes of information including a public authority’s particulars, organogram, minutes of meetings, guide to access information, directory of employees, programs and projects, contracts, list of information held and facilities to obtain them, and salaries of employees. Nature does not allow a vacuum; public authorities have to make one of two choices: they should either proactively disclose public information or allow people to make their own information which may not be true”. 

Dr Shaw added that though there are challenges regarding full compliance, regional stakeholders and development partners should support national access to information oversight bodies with ways to realize full compliance with proactive disclosure as it is crucial in timely and accordingly dispelling misinformation, disinformation or fake news. 

In his closing submission, Dr Seaga Shaw stated that the regional conference could not have come at a much better time to the extent that it serves as a forerunner to the 17tth edition of the International Conference of Information Commissioners to be hosted in Freetown, Sierra Leone in September, 2026, focusing on information integrity in the digital age.  

The three-day Regional Conference on Information Integrity ended with adopting a policy framework on information integrity in West Africa and the Sahel; proffering context-relevant approaches for transparent, accountable and human-rights based governance platforms; adopting the Action Plan for Information Integrity in West Africa and the Sahel; and maximizing stakeholder commitment to coordinated, sustainable, and synergistic actions in support of information integrity. 

Dr Ibrahim Seaga Shaw was in the same panel with Professor Silvino Evora of the University of Cape Verde, Dr Vincent Olatunji of the Data Protection Commission of Nigeria, and Mrs Genevieve Shirley Lartey of the Right to Information Commission of Ghana; all of whom made significant inputs into the said plenary session on leveraging inclusive access to information and public interest data to strengthen information integrity in West Africa and the Sahel.   The session was moderated by Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda based in Lagos, Nigeria.

Other members of the Sierra Leone delegation to the conference were Emmanuel Abubakarr Turay, the Acting Director of Government Information Services at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education and Millicent Kargbo, the President of Sierra Leone Association of Women in Journalism.     

For media enquiries, contact:
Amara Thoronka 
Public Information and Communications Officer
RAIC – National Secretariat 
+232 88 283632 / +232 78 231949
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