By Nelson Manneh
Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, said during the validation of the consolidated Access to Information Implementation Plan, which aims to enhance the Commission’s work, that access to information is not a privilege, but a right.
Dr. Ceesay made this statement on Friday 17 January 2025, during the validation of the consolidated Access to Information Implementation Plan.
For the information of the readership, the Access to Information Bill (ATI) was enacted in 2021 by the National Assembly, and the process of enacting the Bill has been to a large extent, led by civil society through a National Coalition in 2018.
From the beginning of the process, the Gambia Press Union (GPU), together with the civil society coalition, worked with the relevant ministries including the Ministry of Information and Communication and the Ministry of Justice, until the Bill was enacted.
President Adama Barrow signed ATI Bill 2021 into law, making access to information legally recognized as a human right for the first time in the history of The Gambia. The law aims to make the dissemination of public records and information to the public proactive and organized.
Dr. Ceesay said the validation shows government’s commitment towards the whole process of the ATI Act, adding that they want to see the full operation of the law and the establishment of the ATI Commission secretariat in 2025.
“This forum is important as it brings together different stakeholders to look at the Bill’s implementation plan crucially,’’ Mr Demba Kandeh of ‘Freedom House’ said.
He also said that access to information is not just a human right, but it is part of democracy.
“The right to know is important and getting reliable information at the appropriate time is important,” Mr. Kandeh said.
He said the ATI Implementation Plan will spell out how the law will be implemented, noting that the process of validating the document requires commitment and strong partnership.
“The implementation plan should not be limited to what the government needs to do, but also what other stakeholders want. The ATI Act if fully implemented will make the Gambia a land of hope for all,” he said.
