The chairperson of the country’s AIC who was speaking yesterday during a day-long convergence on the International Day for Universal Access to Information called for collaborative efforts between stakeholders in order to ensure effective implementation of The Gambia’s Access to Information (ATI) law.
The forum which was held at a local hotel in Senegambia under the theme: ‘Mainstreaming Access to Information and Participation in the Public Sector’ brought together key stakeholders from CSOs, the media and tertiary institutions among others.
Speaking further, she underscored the need for all sectors to work together for innovative governance and to enhance democratic processes, while urging the participants to reflect on how access to information enables citizen empowerment in navigating complex challenges.
Access to Information, she added, is a key driver for development, saying: “Universal access to information empowers citizens in addressing critical global issues such as climate change, public health, corruption, and social abuse.”
According to her, the 74th United Nations General Assembly's 2019 proclamation of September 28th as the International Day for Universal Access to Information marked a global recognition of its importance.
Passing the Access to Information Bill in 2022, she added, is a “significant step forward. However, the real test lies in its effective implementation. Again, the passing of the ATI law is a demonstration of the government’s political will. Therefore, we must focus on ensuring its implementation which requires coordinated efforts from public institutions, civil society organisations, the media, academia, and the general public.”
She reiterated the commission's readiness to collaborate with state and non-state actors with a view to achieving their goals, adding: “Our success will depend on the collective contributions of all stakeholders.”
Concluding, she said the Commission is working on the right track since the swearing-in ceremony of its members in September 2022. “We have an office which is equipped and operationalised to begin the important work of ensuring the public's access to critical information.”
That, she added, “marks the beginning of a new era of transparency and accountability as the commission is committed to strengthening ATI across the country.”
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