IIC Conducts FOI Compliance Training for Public Institutions -National Social Security and Welfare Corporation Benefits

By H Matthew Turry

MONROVIA  – The Independent Information Commission (IIC) on Friday, May 2, 2025 held a one-day Freedom of Information Awareness and Compliance Training for departmental and sectional heads of the National Social Security and Welfare Corporations (NASSCORP).

This training session was part of the Commission’s ongoing effort to raise awareness on compliance obligations of government Ministries, Agencies, Commissions and other institutions to promote full Compliance with the FOI Act as required under Chapter 5 section 5.2(e) of the FOI Law.

Speaking at the opening session of the training, IIC boss Joash T. Hodges presented on the legal background towards establishing freedom of information in Liberia, the scope of the FOI Law, mandate of the Independent Information Commission, the core values, vision, mission, strategic objectives under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, the public rights under the FOI Law, and the statutory exemptions and appeal procedures.

According to the Freedom of Information Commission boss, the public’s right to information is fundamental and essential to democratic governance, and is enshrined in Article 15c of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Chapter 9 of the African Charter on Humans and People’s Rights.

Commissioner Hodges told the gathering that the public has the right to request, receive, review, reproduce and retain information held by public bodies and private institutions performing public functions or receiving public funding or benefits.

“The public right to access information from the government does not require reason or justification,” he said, clarifying that government institutions hold information not for themselves, but as agents and custodians of the public good.

The IIC boss encouraged government entities to uphold the public rights to access information in a timely manner as prescribed under the FOI Law.

“Such practice will increase public trust and confidence in government, promote transparency and accountability, allow citizens participation, encourage investors and investment and make government more efficient and effective,” he added.

Commissioner Hodges thanked NASSCORP for its support to the IIC in making the training a success and expressed the commission’s willingness to work with NASSCORP in ensuring full Compliance with the FOI Act.

For his part, the Independent Information Commission’s Director of Compliance, Armah Boimah Johnson, emphasized the obligations of the NASSCORP under the Freedom of Information Act.

Mr. Johnson called on NASSCORP boss Dewitt Vanballmooos to establish an Internal Information Request Review Body as required under Chapter 6 section 6.2 of the FOI Act.

The Internal Information Review body is the final decision-making body of any government entity in determining whether or not requested information should be released or not.

IIC Compliance Director Johnson also called on the NASSCORP boss to ensure the publication of the entity’s approved budgets, existing policies, procedures, guidelines, regulations, financial account (Expenditure Reports), procurement contracts on goods and services and any other information that will enable the public monitor the entity’s workings and undertakings.

“My call on NASSCORP head to ensure compliance is in keeping with Chapter 5 section 5.3(f) of the FOI Act which places the obligations to ensure subordinates compliance with the FOI Act on the Head of Institution,” he said.

Johnson informed participants that the Personal Data Protection and privacy Bill will be submitted soon from the Executive to Legislature.

He called on those who claimed to consider salary as classified to disengage because, according to him, they are under statutory obligations to show the harm to be created by the disclosure of that information.

“If the public interest is greater than the harm to be created by the disclosure of the information, then the information will be disclosed under the public trust,” he noted.

In response to the presentation, NASSCORP Legal Coordinator Cllr. Sia Ella Sammy called on the IIC to review the FOI Law and remove ambiguous provisions and make explicit or definitive terms used to avoid legal interpretations from the Court.

She referenced the “personal information” and stated that the FOI Law doesn’t name documents or records that could constitute unreasonable disclosure of personal information.

Also speaking, NASSCORP Assistant Director General for Public Education and Public Information, Mr. Winston Jah, who told the participants that NASSCORP owes accountability to the public.

Mr. Jah thanked the IIC team for holding such an important training and pledged NASSCORP compliance with the FOI Act and look forward to working with Commission in fulfilling its Freedom of Information obligations.

“NASSCORP will continue to be proactive in providing information to the Public on programs and services it renders to the public,” he concluded.