Outgoing Commissioner Mark Bedor-Wla Freeman is cautioning President Joseph Boakai to use the stipulated guidelines in making appointments at the Independent Information Commission.
Following the appointment of Togar Joash Hodges as his successor by President Boakai, Cllr. Freeman who served as Commissioner since its establishment in the last 12 years said, the President is required to follow basic information laws to appoint the commissioner.
Cllr. Freeman said failure on the part of the Liberian leader to do so will lead to issues of national concern which has the propensity to affect Liberia’s image negatively and expose the country to ridicule and possible international isolation.
He said the recent appointment of Hodges as the Commissioner-designate at the Independent Information Commissioner was done by the President without public screening as required by the Liberia Freedom of Information Act (2010), the Model Law on Access to Information for Africa, and international best practices.
Addressing a news conference yesterday, the outgoing IIC used the Liberia Freedom of Information Act (2010) Section 5.1 which states in its oversight body that, “The implementation of this Act, including compliance therewith, shall be overseen by an Independent Information Commissioner to be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Liberian. The Independent Information Commissioner shall be a Liberian of high moral character and generally acceptable to many stakeholders as one of the key bases of contrasting the President decision.”
He emphasized on the latter part of the section to make the point that screening is essential to determining that a person is a Liberian of high moral character and generally acceptable to many stakeholders.
He added, “On the necessity for public screening, Section 46 says in part: Selection and appointment of the information commissioners must be undertaken by the appropriate authority subject to the following conditions: The call for nominations must be made public and issued by the appropriate authority; and Identification of candidates and the interview process must be transparent and include public participation.”
Cllr. Freeman noted that in almost all parts of the world, particularly in responsive democracies, screening is an integral part of selecting and appointing Information Commissioners and that Liberia has been in the forefront and an example for other countries to follow.
