The Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) has facilitated access to information requests made to the Parliament of Sierra Leone by twenty-eight requesters, including civil society organizations. The requests generally border on the disclosure of the full list of members of parliament and their contact details. The requesters later approached the Commission to engage Parliament on the said requests. And in fulfilment of its mandate to facilitate access to information as stipulated in the Right to Access Information Act 2013, the Commission engaged the country’s lawmaking body and had a fruitful discussion, paying a path for a comprehensive response to the information requests.
RAIC’s CIC Dr Seaga and Deputy Clerk of Parliament Mr Nhabay (centre) flanked by other participants of the second engagement
Parliament responded to and provided the said requested information on 25th March 2026 just after a fruitful engagement with the RAIC. In the engagement, parliamentary authorities registered strong commitment to openness, noting that the Parliament of Sierra Leone continues to be rated as one of the “most transparent and open national legislative bodies in Africa”.
Reacting to the information requests and the response of Parliament, the Chairman and Information Commissioner of the RAIC Dr Ibrahim Seaga Shaw said the development is a testament of the consistent effort of the Commission in raising awareness on access to information and engaging public authorities on their obligation under the RAI Law.
“For 28 requesters to ask for the full list of members of parliament with their contacts indicates how people and institutions have become aware of the RAI Law and its relevance to ensure transparency and accountability in public service. On the other hand, the response of Parliament, as the country’s legislature, is commendable and shows that every institution is bound to adhere to the directives of the nation’s access to information law,” Dr Seaga Shaw noted.
The RAIC boss emphasized that it is unprecedented for twenty-eight requesters, including right-based organizations, to request simultaneously for the particulars of lawmakers, relating the development to the growing public awareness of the right to request for or access information held by public authorities.
The RAIC has publicized the response of Parliament together with the documents bearing the requested details of members of parliament.
