The Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) has on Friday 9th February, 2024 met the management of the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) for effective collaboration on providing Access to Information as a vehicle to enabling transparency, accountability and good governance in Sierra Leone.
The meeting took place in the conference room of the Audit Service Sierra Leone on the 12th Floor of the Freetown City Council Building in Freetown. The Chairman of RAIC, Dr Ibrahim Seaga Shaw said his institution is particularly interested in collaborating with the ASSL on projects and programmes relating to capacity building of Information Officers, Records Officers and Auditors on the Right to Access Information Law and regulations. He noted that the aim is to support the auditing of administrative and financial records of all public authorities in the country.
Dr Shaw explained that the Commission was established by an Act of Parliament to facilitate Access to Information to all individuals and institutions seeking same.
The Act provides for all public institutions to have a records management system in place to enable access to information and data. He said records management is a compliance issue for public institutions, explaining the process as stipulated by law.
Mr Abdul Aziz, Acting Auditor General of the Audit Service Sierra Leone welcomed the idea of partnering with the Right to Access Information Commission for effective information sharing especially in financial accountability and transparency in the country. He called for not only capacity building for Information and Records Officers but also awareness raising for the public to better understand financial information sharing and access. He said the collaboration should therefore encompass awareness raising, capacity building and information sharing as conduits for transparency, accountability and good governance in the country.
Mr Aziz told the meeting that his institution undertakes compliance audits to ensure that public institution comply with laws and regulations including records management.
The Deputy Auditors General Mr Selvin Bell and Mr Aiah Gbondo Tugbawa shared similar sentiment and expressed willingness to cooperate with RAIC to strengthen such collaboration. Both parties agreed for the establishment of a memorandum of understanding as a roadmap for effective collaboration.
