More than 200 public officials across three government institutions have received targeted training in transparency and records management as part of an aggressive effort by Liberia's Independent Information Commission (IIC) to enforce compliance with the nation's Freedom of Information (FOI) Law.
The capacity-building initiative, led by Commissioner Joash T. Hodges, brought FOI workshops to the Ministry of Public Works (MOPW), the Bureau of State Enterprises (BSE), and the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO). Each session emphasized institutional responsibilities under the FOI Act of 2010, along with practical strategies for improving public access to information.
Public Works Ministry Grapples with FOI Gaps
At the Ministry of Public Works on July 20, senior managers and administrative staff received a full-day briefing on their legal obligations under the FOI law. Commissioner Hodges emphasized that transparency is not just a statutory requirement but a pillar of democratic governance.
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"Compliance with the FOI Law is not optional," Hodges said. "It is foundational to rebuilding public trust and ensuring citizens have access to what is rightfully theirs--information."
Hodges encouraged each ministry to establish dedicated FOI desks to manage requests efficiently and professionally. He also met with Deputy Minister for Administration A. Samukai Dunnoh, who admitted shortcomings in the ministry's information delivery systems.
"We're doing our best, but we have a long way to go in terms of logistics and outreach, especially to rural communities," Dunnoh said. "This kind of training helps reinforce our commitment to better service and transparency."
Workshops Build Legal and Practical Capacity
The sessions included detailed presentations on FOI legal frameworks, records retention, and public communication protocols. Participants were encouraged to discuss bottlenecks in compliance and share strategies for improving institutional responsiveness to information requests.
The interactive format drew praise from attendees who described the workshops as timely and actionable. Several officials pledged to implement changes within their respective offices to meet FOI standards.
Part of Broader Government-Wide Reform
The recent round of training follows a larger two-day workshop conducted earlier this year by the IIC that convened more than 100 officials from 20 ministries, agencies, and commissions. That effort focused on embedding a culture of openness and legally mandated accountability across government.
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"The FOI law is clear: public information belongs to the people," Commissioner Hodges said. "Our job is to ensure every institution understands that--and acts accordingly."
The IIC says it plans to continue its institutional outreach in the coming months, targeting ministries with historically low compliance rates and strengthening Liberia's evolving transparency architecture.
