Integrity Institutions Strengthen FOI Compliance to Advance Transparency in Liberia

IPNEWS: Thirty-six commissioners and senior managers from the National Elections Commission (NEC), Governance Commission (GC), and Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) have completed a one-day training on Freedom of Information (FOI) compliance, integrity building, and anti-corruption aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and public trust in democratic institutions.

The training was organized by the Independent Information Commission (IIC) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP). The initiative sought to enhance institutional compliance with Liberia’s Freedom of Information Act while promoting proactive disclosure, ethical leadership, effective records management, and public accountability. 

The training follows ongoing efforts by participating institutions to strengthen transparency systems and improve public access to information. It also responds to findings from institutional reviews and stakeholder engagements that highlighted opportunities to reinforce openness and accountability across key governance institutions. 

The Liberia Electoral Support Project is co-funded by the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden, and implemented by UNDP in partnership with UN Women and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD). 

Opening the workshop, Independent Information Commissioner Josh T. Hodges described access to information as “a democratic right, an instrument of accountability, and a foundation for institutional integrity.” 

He emphasized the importance of ensuring citizens have timely access to credible information before, During, and after elections to enable meaningful participation and oversight of democratic processes. 

Commissioner Hodges called on participating institutions to move beyond legal compliance by strengthening records management systems, proactively publishing information, designating information officers, and ensuring timely responses to public information requests. 

For NEC, Commissioner Boakai Dukuly reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to transparency and openness. He highlighted the public nature of electoral processes and emphasized NEC’s continued collaboration with the IIC to improve information disclosure while safeguarding sensitive personal data. “Our doors are open. We have nothing to hide,” he said. 

Katherine Green, Chief Technical Advisor of the UNDP Liberia Electoral Support Project, underscored that access to information is both a legal obligation and a fundamental human right protected under international law and Liberia’s Constitution. 

She noted that institutions that proactively provide information strengthen public trust, improve service delivery, and reinforce confidence in democratic governance. 

“For NEC, this is particularly important as citizens and stakeholders need and expect timely, accurate, and accessible information to promote confidence in democratic institutions.” 

Also addressing participants, Counsellor Lamii Kpargoi, Commissioner of the Office of the Ombudsman, stressed that public institutions must be transparent, ethical, and accountable.

He encouraged officials to view information disclosure as an essential public service responsibility rather than an administrative burden.

Meanwhile, Anderson Miamen, Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), urged institutions to prioritize implementation.

He noted that while Liberia has one of the strongest Freedom of Information laws in the region, greater effort is needed to strengthen enforcement, political will, and proactive disclosure practices. 

The training reflects the continued commitment of UNDP and its partners to strengthening democratic governance, transparency, and institutional accountability in Liberia. 

By bringing together electoral, governance, accountability, and human rights institutions, the initiative seeks to promote a culture of openness, improve compliance with the Freedom of Information Act, and enhance citizen confidence in public institutions.