The event, attended by Directors and Principal Information Officers from various ministries, was held at the Senegambia Beach Hotel.
Speaking at the convergence, the president of the GPU, Muhammed S. Bah, underscored the importance of the ATI Law especially in fostering a transparent and accountable government.
He further added: “Today, we stand together at a pivotal moment in our nation's history—a moment that underscores our collective commitment to transparency, accountability, and the strengthening of our democracy."
Reflecting on the challenges Gambians faced before 2017, he said: “The right to information was politicized and misrepresented by the previous regime, which used this narrative to evade accountability and suppress press freedom,” he claim
He maintained that “this period saw a significant limitation on access to information, effectively denying citizens their right to know.”
The recent approval of commissioners for the Information Commission, he went on, marks a critical step in the implementation phase of this legislation.
Madiba Sillah, Principal Information Officer for the department of Information Services, expressed gratitude to the GPU for their foresight in organising the session, describing the forum as timely.
The support and commitment of the GPU, he added, has led to the successful implementation of the Access to Information (ATI) Law.
“The department of Information Services and the GPU have collaborated on numerous occasions regarding the ATI Act and other aspects of our sector," he postulated.
The significance of access to information, he said, cannot be over emphasised, adding: “Many international conventions and organisations have recognised the necessity for an effective mechanism for access to public information in a functional democracy.”
Mr. Sillah, who was speaking on behalf of the director of information service, said: “The Human Rights Council General Assembly's 2020 resolution called on public authorities to strive to make information available.”
These acknowledgments from the Human Rights Council, Sillah went on, highlight that access to information is a crucial mechanism for transparent, accountable, and participatory governance.”
“The overwhelming consensus that is clear is, effective access to information is indispensable for fostering an open and democratic society.”
