By Musa Sarjo
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) on Wednesday began the popularization of the Access to Information Act, 2021 through radio talk shows in rural and community radios across The Gambia.
The March 27-29 activity will see the conduct of 25 talk shows to raise awareness of the access to information (ATI) law with the aim of getting members of the public in rural communities including farmers, women, youth and disabled groups to gained increased knowledge on the law, and to eventually utilise the law by making information requests.
Right to Information
The Access to Information Act, 2021 grants the citizens, and everyone else the legal right of access to information that the government and private entities keep on behalf of the public.
Funded by IFEX, the global network promoting and defending freedom of expression at the tune of $20, 000, the engagement is part of a 12-months project implemented by the Gambia Press Union (GPU) to “strengthen right of access to information in rural regions and communities in The Gambia”.
The talk shows began on Wednesday at Niumi FM in the North Bank region and will be held in all regions of the country in various radio stations, including Kerewan, Farafenni, Soma, Brikamaba, Bansang, Bwiam, and Brikama FMB community radios. In addition to Niumi FM, discussions on the law, its importance, benefits a
nd uses will also be held at commercial rural radio stations including Paradise FM in Basse.
Promoting Transparency & Accountability
“The GPU is working with the Civil Society Coalition on ATI to conduct these informative radio talk shows geared towards empowering rural communities with the requisite knowledge of the ATI law,” GPU Secretary General, Modou S. Joof said.
“Once the people in rural communities are aware of their rights to access public information under the ATI law, they will be able to utilise it to hold public institutions like local governments and decentralized government institutions and their officials to account,” Joof said. “This will promote transparency and accountability in local governments and governance processes.”
Project Goal
The goal of the project is to strengthen the democratic process in rural regions and rural communities in The Gambia by promoting the right of access to information both in knowledge and practice among community journalists, local government authorities, grassroot civil society organisations, and members of the public.
Previous Activities
As part of this project, the GPU conducted a training for community radio journalists (in August 2023) on the use of ATI law for news reporting and ensuring transparency in local governance.
In September 2023, we also conducted a training for grassroots civil society organisations to increase their knowledge and understanding of the law, and for them to be able to raise awareness in rural communities.
And in December last year, the GPU partnered with the Gambia Association of Local Government Authorities (GALGA) to conduct a training for area council administrators, councillors district and village chiefs, to increase knowledge and understanding of the law among local authorities and also to raise awareness of their duties and responsibilities in the implementation of the law.
The ongoing community and commercial rural radio talk shows makes the final part of project being implemented over 24 months between May 2023 and April 2024.
