A Liberian group has appealed to the Information Commissioner for access to the asset disclosure forms of ministers and deputy ministers.
Access to the declarations was denied by the Liberia Anti- Corruption Commission (LACC) citing an exemption in the Liberian freedom of information law.
The Center for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP) has filed a complaint with the office of the information commissioner seeking to have the denial overturned. The group noted that earlier the Anti-Corruption Commission had asked CEMESP to cover the reproduction costs of the documents.
CEMESP Executive Director Malcolm Joseph said, “We replied the LACC indicating our preparedness to underwrite the cost of reproduction of the requested documents, and even sought clarity on the definitive cost of the quantum of documents involved. It is however dismaying to state that instead of the commission providing the cost for reproduction of the referenced documents, they are telling us that asset declaration forms of ministers and deputies fall within exemption clauses of the FOI Act.”
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