The Liberia’s House of Representatives of the Legislature overwhelming approved the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, following intensive lobbying by the Freedom of Expression coalition.
The FOI Act was submitted to the House in April 2008.
The Act was forwarded to the Senate, who were expected to endorse the lower house decision.
The coalition were hopeful that the act would be endorsed by the senate before the end of August, 2010 after which President Johnson-Sirleaf would sign it into law.
The news of the passage of the Act by the lower house was hailed across the country. According to the Press Union of Liberia, it is humbled by the overwhelming support of the Act by the legislators.
The chairman of the Liberia Media Law and Policy working group, who worked on the draft, Malcolm Joseph, was full of praise for the passage of the Act and urged the Senate, to as a matter of urgency, follow the example of the lower house by endorsing the Act.
MFWA was happy about this development as it was refreshing news and boost for free expression in Liberia. We urged the Senate to make the endorsement of the act a priority.