MONROVIA – The Acting Minister of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, Hon. Johnny Tarkpah, has reiterated the Liberian government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring citizens’ right to access public information. Speaking on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at a one-day Freedom of Information (FOI) Awareness, Compliance, Integrity Building, and Anti-Corruption Training, Tarkpah emphasized that government functionaries are duty-bound to provide timely and accurate information on the workings of state institutions.
The training, organized by the Independent Information Commission (IIC) in collaboration with the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), was held at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Monrovia. Acting Minister Tarkpah praised the visionary leadership of the Hodges-Page administration at the IIC, crediting it with reviving the FOI framework and translating rights on paper into practical, enforceable public access.
Tarkpah urged all Ministries, Agencies, and Commissions (MACs) to fully comply with the FOI Law by appointing their Public Information Officers (PIOs) and establishing Internal Information Request Review Bodies as stipulated under Chapter 3, Section 3.6, and Chapter 6, Section 6.2 of the FOI Act. He stressed that these measures are critical to strengthening transparency and making government operations more accountable to the public.
Highlighting the need for broad-based support, the Acting Minister called on the Liberian government and its development partners to provide necessary resources to the IIC, enabling the Commission to deepen openness, enhance public access to information, and combat corruption through citizen engagement and scrutiny. He described strengthening the IIC as essential for the effective implementation and enforcement of the FOI Act.
Tarkpah also called on CENTAL to continue and expand its support for IIC compliance initiatives, reinforcing a culture of transparency and accountability across all public institutions. He emphasized that public officials and government employees must uphold integrity, professionalism, and ethical standards in all aspects of their work, noting that transparency only carries meaning when paired with honesty and accountability.
The Acting Minister encouraged participants to translate the lessons and knowledge gained from the training into tangible institutional actions. He urged government functionaries to consolidate Liberia’s progress toward transparency and accountability through consistent commitment, compliance, and cooperation.
In closing remarks, Tarkpah called on the National Legislature to ensure the timely passage of the Personal Data Protection and Privacy Bill, underscoring the importance of safeguarding citizens’ personal information in an era of digital governance and public engagement.
Through his address, Minister Tarkpah reinforced Liberia’s dedication to open governance, emphasizing that the implementation of the FOI Act is a cornerstone for promoting transparency, ethical conduct, and public trust in government institutions.
