By Amin Kef Sesay
In a public notice dated the 4th February 2020 the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) informed that it has set up a functional Information Desk Office, at its 3 Gloucester Street Headquarter Office in Freetown to provide information to members of the public on the Commission and its work.
According to the ACC, the Information Desk will serve as a hub for the provision of information on the work and activities of all the Departments within the institution. The operationalization of this outfit is in fulfilment of Part II Section 2 of the Right to Access Information Act No. 2 of 2013, which states that “every person has the right to access information held by or is under control of a public authority” and in agreement with the same Act, Part IV Section 27(1) which states that “every public authority shall record and maintain records of its activities in a manner that facilitates the right to information, provided for in this Act, and in accordance with Code of Practice in subsection (2)”.
It was stated further that this development is in tandem with the desire of the Commission to continue to make the people of Sierra Leone fully abreast with the work of the Commission and for journalists, researchers, students and interested entities to have on-demand access to information beyond public relations.
“Individuals desirous to access information on the work of the Commission should please be specific on the information they want to source, and it shall be readily available within a given time; except where the release of such information will affect ongoing investigation or be against public interest,” the ACC pointed out.
The institution also maintained that researchers, students, private citizens, public officials, journalists, civil society activists, etc., wishing to solicit any information from the Information Desk, should contact Koma Nancy Yeawa Gandy-Williams, Assistant Information Officer, Anti-Corruption Commission, 3 Gloucester Street, Freetown on telephone No. +232-78-832131 or via email info@anticorruption.gov.sl. The Information Desk can be accessed from 8:30 am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday.
The Commission went on to reassure the public that it shall continue to make available any information on its work and the fight against corruption in the country through normal public relations channels.
