By Saffiatou Colley
The Gambia Press Union (GPU), in collaboration with the Department of Information Services (DOIS), on Wednesday, July 24 engaged Directors of Ministerial Departments and Agencies on the implementation of the Access to Information Act, 2021 and good document management practices.
This activity forms part of a two-year project funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) that the Gambia Press Union (GPU) is implementing in collaboration with the Civil Society Coalition on Access to Information, the Media Council of the Gambia, the Ministry of Information (MoIN), and DOIS.
Section 6 of the ATI law creates a duty on every public body (institution) to create, keep, organize and maintain its information in a manner which facilitates access to information.
This follows that public bodies should produce information in respect of all their activities; arrange all information in their possession systematically and in a manner that facilitates prompt and easy identification and access; and keep all information in their possession in good condition and in a manner that preserves the safety and integrity of its contents.
The discussions for the one-day engagement focused on issues related to Good Document Management Practices for Government Institutions, and Traditional Paper Record Management Systems and Electronic Record Management Systems. The engagement also involved discussions of Case Studies on ATI Law Implementation from other Countries and Best Practices that Gambian public institutions could adopt.
GPU President, Muhammed S Bah, “the engagement is aimed at exposing directors to good practices on ATI law implementation plans from other countries and effective public information management practices that facilitates easy access to information.”
He said the previous regime painted the right to information as a threat to our peace and stability, using this narrative to evade accountability, suppress press freedom, and stifle freedom of expression. The result was a significant limitation on access to information and a denial of the citizens right to know.
The Principal Information Officer, Department of Information Services, Madiba Sillah, said it was in recognition of the power of information and the desire to create the right political and legal mechanism for access to public information that the Gambia Government signed the Access to Information law in August 2021.
“The enactment of the law is indeed a profound testament of the commitment of this government to the ideals of democracy, and a conviction that meaningful participation in democratic processes require a citizenry that is well-informed,” he said.
“I believe that the decision to engage Directors on ATI law implementation and good document management practices is timely and critical – for as decision makers you have a critical and demanding responsibility in the application of the Law,” Mr. Sillah said.
“I would like to reiterate that the Department will continue to build partnerships with relevant institutions – both state and non-state actors – for the smooth and effective implementation of the Access to Information Law, as well as in many other development interventions.”
