Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Mr. Gaye TheVoice
Published on 2024-03-01 08:54:22
The Secretary General of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), Modou Joof, recently revealed that the union has conducted training sessions for 325 individuals on the implementation of the Access to Information Act. This initiative aimed to empower various stakeholders with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively utilize the provisions of the Act.
Among the individuals trained were 75 information officers from ministries, security agencies, departments, and parastatals, as well as 50 civil society activists, 50 journalists, 25 permanent secretaries, and 125 directors and senior officials of ministerial departments and agencies. Joof made this announcement during a press conference held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center.
The training sessions were organized by the Gambia Press Union in partnership with the Department of Information Services, with financial support from the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs. The purpose of the press conference was to update the media and the public on the progress made in popularizing the Access to Information Act, which was passed by the Gambian Parliament on 21 July 2021 and later assented to by the President in August 2022.
The Access to Information Act enables journalists and the general public to access official information held by or in the government’s custody. It places an obligation on the government to facilitate easy access to information and to proactively publish important information for the public.
Joof stressed the importance of developing strategies and activities to address the challenges of accessing information in an effective and efficient manner under the Act. To that end, the GPU, in collaboration with the NDI, conducted training sessions on the implementation framework of the Access to Information Act in December 2023, January, and February 2024.
Additionally, the union produced a simplified, non-technical language handbook on the Act to make it more accessible to stakeholders. A total of 750 handbooks were printed, and half of them were distributed among key stakeholders. Furthermore, video and audio versions of the simplified ATI handbook were translated into sign language with voice and subtitles, and the audio was also translated into English and indigenous languages like Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, Jola, Manjago, Serer, and Sarahulleh.
The efforts undertaken by the Gambia Press Union and its partners reflect a commitment to promoting transparency and accountability through the effective implementation of the Access to Information Act. By empowering various stakeholders with the necessary knowledge and resources, the Union is helping to strengthen democratic governance and enhance public access to information in The Gambia.
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