Liberia sets the pace for Ghana by passing RTI Bill

Accra, Aug. 2, GNA - The Liberia House of Representatives has set the pace for West African giants, Ghana and Nigeria, by passing the Right to Information Bill into law last month.

Passage of the Bill by the members was preceded by intense lobbying and advocacy by members of the Liberia Freedom of Expression Coalition, the Liberia Media Law and Policy Reform working Group and the Liberia Civil society Consortium on Freedom of Information.

This was contained in a statement made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

Mr Malcolm Joseph, Chairman of Liberia Freedom of Expression Coalition and Consortium, said passage of the RTI Law was a step to make information accessible by all Liberians.

He said the Law had been transmitted to the Liberian Senate for endorsement.

Mr Joseph expressed gratitude to the Open Society Initiative for West Africa, Carter Center, UNESCO, International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), International Media Support and Partnership for Media and Conflict Prevention in West Africa for the level of support rendered the process.

He said that Liberians would continue to count on more support to ensure that the Senate agreed with the House on the passage as well as its implementation.

The Freedom of Information Law was among three draft laws submitted to the House on April 18, 2008, by the Liberia Media Law and Policy Reform working group.

The other draft laws are public service Broadcaster Law and law to establish an Independent Broadcast regulator for Liberia.

The Independent Broadcast Regulator law has since 2009 been passed by the House of Representatives and is presently before the Liberian Senate for endorsement, while the Public Service Broadcaster Act is still with a committee in the House.