Accra, Oct. 8, GNA - The Liberian President, Mrs Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf, has signed into law the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill
passed by the House of Representatives and Senate.
A statement signed by the Presidential Press Secretary, Cyrus Wleh
Badio, made available to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday,
said the President, after signing law, submitted it to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs for it to be printed into a hand book.
Mr Badio described the signing as "good news" for the media,
stressing: "The decision by the government to sign the bill into law
is something that has been considered as progress by the African
Editors' Forum, an organization that brings together Editors, Senior
Editorial Executives and media trainers from across the continent, for
which it has resolved to honour the Liberian leader."
Quoting the African Editors' Forum, the Presidential Press Secretary
said the African Editors had decided to honour President Johnson
Sirleaf for the government's work in opening spaces for the media,
which had culminated in the passing and subsequent signing of the FOI
law.
According to Mr Badio, President Johnson Sirleaf was expected to
receive the award together with some former African leaders such as
former South African President Nelson Mandela, Alpha Konare of Mali,
Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and John Agyekum Kufour of Ghana.
Earlier last month, the Liberian Senate concurred with a decision by
the House of Representatives to enact the FOI Bill into law after it
was passed by the House.
The initiative to draft the Bill was a task undertaken by the Press
Union of Liberia, the Partnership for Media and Conflict Prevention in
West Africa and other relevant partners including the civil society
who felt there was a need for the public to have access to certain
public information.
GNA
--
Urvashi Sharma
RTI Helpmail( Web Based )
aishwaryaj2010@gmail.com
Mobile Rti Helpline
8081898081 ( 8 A.M. to 10 P.M. )
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