Liberia Celebrates Right Day

Liberia joins other countries around the world today to commemorate International Right to Know Day in Monrovia. The Government of Liberia, collaborating with local civil society groups and international partners plans to execute appropriate programs to observe the day.

The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism said government pilots, ministries and agencies, the Liberia Freedom of Information Coalition, other civil society groups, students and the media will parade from the Ministry of Education on Broad Street to the Main campus of the University of Liberia for an in-door program.

The Chairman of the Law Reform Commission and Professor of Law, Jallah A. Barboo is expected to serve as keynote speaker. Government and civil society partners will also discuss progress and challenges in the implementation of the FOI law since one year of its passage, according to a press release.

MICAT said the celebration of the International Right to Know Day is to symbolize the global movement for the promotion of the right to information and re-enforced the national efforts to advance Liberia`s Freedom of Information regime.

Liberia became the first country in West Africa to pass a comprehensive Freedom of Information law, September 16, 2011. The law guarantees the fundamental human rights of citizens and non-citizens to request information from public bodies and private bodies that receive public funds or that offer public services.