By: Aisha Faal
Mary Ongore, Senior Legal Manager for Sustainable Finance at the International Lawyers Project (ILP), has said journalists should be able to seek and obtain information held by public institutions if access to information laws is to serve their purpose of promoting transparency and accountability.
“Journalists and citizens must be able to obtain information held by public institutions if access to information laws are to serve their purpose of promoting transparency and accountability,” Ongore said.
Addressing participants at the ITJA Intermediate Course, she noted that legislation alone does not guarantee openness. She emphasized that governments must establish effective systems enabling people to request and receive information within reasonable time frames.
She explained that access to information is firmly recognized under international human rights
instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to
seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media.
According to her, access to information should be treated as the norm rather than the exception,
with public institutions expected to disclose information unless it falls under clearly defined and
narrowly applied exemptions.
“The presumption should always be in favour of disclosure, with only limited exceptions
provided for by law,” she said.
Ongore, further stressed that information request procedures must be simple, accessible and user-
friendly to ensure that ordinary citizens can exercise their rights without unnecessary barriers.
She noted that requests should be accepted through multiple channels, including written and oral
submissions, taking into account varying levels of literacy and access to technology.
The legal practitioner highlighted the importance of clear timelines for responding to requests,
saying delays often weaken accountability and undermine the work of journalists who rely on
timely access to information for reporting.
She said public institutions should acknowledge receipt of requests promptly and, where they do
not hold the requested information, guide applicants to the appropriate authority.
Madam Ongore further emphasized the need for strong oversight and appeal mechanisms,
including internal reviews, independent information commissioners or ombudsman offices, and
ultimately access to the courts.
She added that proactive disclosure of information by public bodies, alongside proper record-
keeping systems, is essential to strengthening transparency and public trust.
