By Lamara S. Jallow
The Ministry of Information (MoIN) in collaboration with The Gambia Press Union recently (GPU) organised a day-long engagement with Permanent Secretaries (PSs) on the implementation of the Access to Information (ATI) Law, as well as on effective public information management practices.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Information, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information, Mrs Amie Njie, highlighted the importance of the ATI Law in entrenching democratic values through universal access to information.
She noted that an 18-month moratorium was enforced to establish essential implementation structures, including the ATI Commission. “With the moratorium expired and ATI Commissioners appointed, the focus now is on sensitising all stakeholders,” she asserted.
PS Njie emphasised the critical role of key administrators, decision-makers, and policy enforcers in the application of the ATI Law. She further outlined Sections 6 and 7 of the Act, which mandated public institutions to maintain and proactively publish information.
President of the Gambia Press Union, Mr Muhammad S. Bah, underscored the historic significance of this engagement, highlighting the previous regime’s politicisation and suppression of information.
He commended the five-year campaign led by civil society organisations, culminating in the ATI Bill’s passage in 2021.
Bah stressed the indispensable role of permanent secretaries in the law’s implementation. He affirmed that the day’s discussions would focus on best practices in document management and proactive information publication, with insights from experts.
“The engagement aimed to equip participants with knowledge and practices to implement the ATI Law effectively in their respective ministries and agencies,” he emphasised.
The president then expressed gratitude to the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) for their support and urged a collective commitment to transparency and accountability.
The event concluded with a call for continued collaboration to ensure that the right to information becomes a living reality for all Gambians, enhancing democracy and holding public institutions accountable.
