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Sierra Leone is set to host two of the world’s largest right-to-information conferences from September 28 to 30, 2026, at the Bintumani Conference Center in Freetown.
The events, the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) and the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) will bring together hundreds of participants from across the globe.
Announcing the development at the first-ever Ministry of Information and Civic Education press briefing in Bonthe District, Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, Chairman and Information Commissioner of the Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC), described the hosting of both conferences as a historic milestone. “It is rare for one country to host both conferences at the same time. This is the first time Sierra Leone is hosting both global conferences and the first time a West African nation is hosting the ICIC Conference,” Dr. Shaw said, noting that South Africa was the only other African country to have hosted the ICIC in 2019.
Dr. Shaw said the conferences provide a dual opportunity: to discuss the global right-to-information agenda and to showcase Sierra Leone to international participants. He urged public and private institutions to support the events, highlighting the potential to raise the country’s international profile and attract development opportunities.
He also underscored Sierra Leone’s strong performance in access-to-information rankings, referencing evaluations by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), UNESCO, and the Center for Law and Democracy in Canada, a leading global authority on national right-to-information laws.
The Information Commissioner reminded public authorities of their obligations under the Right to Access Information (RAI) Act of 2013, which mandates both proactive disclosure of information and timely responses to public requests. He further announced that the deadline for institutions to submit their Annual Compliance Report (ACR) and Proactive Disclosure of Information (PDI) scheme has been extended to Monday, February 16, 2026. “We are grateful that the Office of the President has made access to information a key performance indicator for all public institutions,” Dr. Shaw said.
The hosting of IDUAI and ICIC in Sierra Leone represents a historic achievement for the country, signaling its leadership in promoting transparency, accountability, and the right to information at both regional and global levels.
