Freedom of Information Centre Launched

Tunbosun Ogundare (Daily Champion)—A network of Freedom of Information Advocates in Africa has launched a regional Centre in Lagos, Nigeria to galvanize the campaign for the adoption of access to information laws on the continent.

Known as the ‘Africa Freedom of Information Centre’ (AFIC), it will provide technical assistance to civil society organization in the region involved in various stages of Freedom of Information work, including the drafting of access to information bills, advocacy for their passage into law, implementation, litigation and monitoring activities.

A statement made available to Sunday Champion by Mr. Edetaen Ojo, the project designate director said the decision to establish the Centre was taken by representatives of 30 civil society organizations from 16 African countries, including Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Senegal, Benin Republic, Guinea, Uganda and Kenya, who met in Lagos, Nigeria between September 22 and 23, 2006.

Mr. Ojo added that the representatives discussed ways to promote the right of access to information held by public authorities and share experiences on strategies for advancing the adoption of laws that fully protect this right.

In the “Lagos Declaration on the Right of Access to Information” adopted at the end of their meeting, the participating organizations expressed concern that Africa was lagging behind in the global drive towards the adoption of Freedom of Information Laws and agreed to establish a regional centre, where experiences garnered in the different countries can be pooled and shared among civil society activities and which will provide a platform for cooperation and collaborative activities among civil society organization in the region.

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