MONROVIA – The Department of Compliance of the Independent Information Commission- IIC today held a One-Day Freedom of Information Awareness, Compliance and Record Management Training for departmental and sectional heads of the Civil Service Agency.
Speaking at the opening of the Training, Hon. Dr. Josiah Joekai ,Jr, Director-General of the Civil Service Agency welcomed the IIC Team and stated that access to information is a critical component of democratic governance globally. He explained that a society which doesn’t recognize free speech and grants public access to Information is doomed.
The CSA Boss noted that It is the right of the people to be informed about what the government they institute does on their behalf.
He expounded that citizens have the right to know how services are delivered and can hold their government and the people who work on their behalf accountable.
Hon. Joekai emphasized that the CSA is ready to collaborate with the IIC through inter-agency coordination in advancing President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr vision and national development aspirations under the Arrest Agenda for Inclusive Development( AAID). The CSA Boss called on Government Institutions to prioritize and utilize Liberian expertise found in other institutions of government to bridge Institutional gaps rather than resulting in consulting and contracting foreign expertise when the sectors of Government are loaded with all the expertise we need to address our challenges. He called on MAC to collaborate and address its own challenges through inter-agency coordinations and Complementarity.
The DG praised the CSA Workforce as one the best, describing them as, smart, focused, determined and very resilient. He further expressed the CSA willing to fulfill its statutory obligations under the FOI Act as it believes in upholding the rule of Law.
The Independent Information Commission- IIC Acting Compliance Director, Armah Boimah Johnson thanked the CSA boss and pledged to deepen and strengthen coordination and collaboration to enhance FOI Compliance and government accountability.
The IIC Compliance Head and proxy for the Information Commissioner, Joash T Hodges lead two powerful PowerPoint presentations highlighting the legal background establishing Freedom of Information in Liberia, Liberia’s historical accomplishments following the passage of the FOI Law in 2010, the mandate of the Commission, statutory exemptions, the appeal procedures, Compliance Obligations of the CSA, Legal protection for lawful disclosures under the FOI Act, as well as the penalties and fines associated with wrongful denials.
The IIC Record Supervisor, Mr. Bernard M. Clarke led the last presentation and emphasized on best practices in Record Managements to guarantee public access to Information. Mr. Clarke called on all Government Institutions to develop and implement a written records management policy and procedures that address all aspects of record creation, storage, access, and disposal. He called on Participants to store records in secure locations, both physical and electronic, that protect them from unauthorized access, damage, and loss, implement access controls to limit access to records to authorized personnel only, use encryption for digital records to protect sensitive information and develop a clear and consistent classification system for records based on their function and content. He also called for the establishment of a retention schedule that outlines how long records should be kept based on legal, regulatory, and other requirements.
The CSA through its Director for Research, Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation & Headcount Coordinator, Mr. Isaac G.F Gorvego thanked the IIC and pledged to work closely with the office of the Commissioner in fulfilling the FOI obligations under the FOI Act.
