RAIC Secures Release of MPs’ Contacts Details After Citizens’ Requests
Jayah Koker The Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) has obtained and published the full list of Members of Parliament and their contact details following requests submitted by 28 citizens and civil society organisations under the Right to Access Information Act 2013.
The disclosure came after initial requests to Parliament reportedly went unanswered.
The coordinated applications were filed seeking the names and contact information of all Members of Parliament. When responses were delayed, the requesters escalated the matter to the RAIC for intervention. The Commission subsequently engaged parliamentary authorities in what it described as “fruitful discussions,” leading to the release of the information on 25 March 2026.
RAIC Chairman and Information Commissioner, Dr. Ibrahim Seaga Shaw, said the outcome reflects growing public awareness of the Right to Access Information law and increased civic engagement. He described the coordinated effort by 28 requesters, including rights-based organisations, as significant and commended Parliament’s response, stating that all public institutions are bound by the access to information law.
Parliament reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, noting that Sierra Leone’s legislature continues to be regarded as one of the more open parliamentary bodies in Africa.
The RAIC has since published the response from Parliament alongside documents containing the names and contact details of lawmakers, providing citizens, journalists, and civil society groups with direct channels to engage their representatives and enhance accountability.
Analysts say the development may encourage greater use of the Right to Access Information Act by citizens and civil society groups, and could prompt public institutions to adopt more proactive disclosure practices.
The RAIC’s intervention is expected to be referenced in future access-to-information cases as an example of effective enforcement of the law.