Carter Center reaffirms support to govt.

The Deputy Project Lead for Access to Information at Carter Center, Attorney P. Alphonsus Zeon has reaffirmed Carter Center’s support to the Government of Liberia to strengthen access to freedom of information across the country.

“We support Civil Society for the use of the Law, we support the government for the use of the law, we support government for the implementation of the law, and we also work with the Independent Information Commissioner who has the enforcement power, and we also support women toward the freedom of information access,” he emphasized.

Attorney Zeon said this kind of support initiative from Carter Center will help government to ensure citizens and other individual(s) have access to Freedom of Information or FOI, which will enable the citizenry to understand unfolding development across the country.

Speaking Wednesday, September 28, at the 6th celebration of the International Right to Know Day held in the Charles Gbeyon Conference Hall at the Ministry Information on Capitol Hill, he said there is still a need to increase public awareness about access to Freedom of Information, noting that it will also help to discourage the issue of service provider, adding “We are not service provider, but rather freedom of information provider.”

He also stressed a need to build human capacity to help educate the citizenry by means of awareness to enable everyone has easy access to information. The head of the Independent Information Commission Counselor Mark Bedor-Wla Freeman said, government is doing well but more needs to be done, especially in funding the Commission to effectively execute its mandate.

Cllr. Freeman revealed that due to cordial relationship with UNDP, the Commission received a four-wheel drive vehicle from the UN agency which is helping to enhance his work.  The celebration brought together various stakeholders, including international partners.

By Zee Roberts