By Landing Colley
National Assembly select committee on Education, Training and ICT has approved Access to Information bill report with amendment.
The bill was tabled by Justice Minister and Attorney General Abubacarr Tambadou, in December 2019 in accordance with clause 68 (1) of the Revised Standing Orders 2019, which was referred to the Assembly Business committee (ABC) then ABC further committed the bill to the select committee on Education, Training and ICT.
Hon Yahya Gassama of Kaing East , the committee’s chairman said: “the bill seeks to provide the framework for ordinary Gambians to access public records and information held by public authorities.”
“In line with international standards the bill also provides necessary exceptions to the right of access that should be limited and specific, citing that the bill inter-alia protects the privacy of individuals with respect to personal information about themselves held by public bodies.”
“The bill provides for the setting up of an independent commission to ensure that decisions on the disclosure of government information should be reviewed independently,” he added.
The Commission of this access information Bill is said to be Independent,
He said the committee however made some recommendations which are the duties and responsibilities of the proposed commissioners be place under a special directorate at the National Human Right commission with the same rights and responsibilities.
The directorate to be staffed with the appropriate personnel to be able to perform their duties in accordance with the Act, and the access to Information Bill, 2019, be passed with the recommended amendments, he said.