Liberia: IIC Survey in Grand Gedeh Reveals 87.6% of Respondents Unaware of Freedom of Information Law

ZWEDRU, Grand Gedeh County — Sixteen years after Liberia enacted the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act of 2010, a new survey conducted by the Independent Information Commission (IIC) has revealed significant gaps in public awareness of the law in Grand Gedeh County, with 87.6% of 1,875 respondents reporting that they had never heard of the legislation.

The findings emerged from a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) Survey conducted by the Commission’s Outreach Department as part of a broader initiative implemented from October 14–17, 2026, aimed at strengthening public awareness, promoting transparency, and bringing access to information services closer to residents of southeastern Liberia.

The initiative combined the training of 25 locally recruited Data Collectors, a one-hour radio awareness programme on TOP FM, and a two-day community-based survey conducted on October 16–17.

According to the Commission’s final activity report, each of the 25 Data Collectors reported reaching 75 respondents, bringing the total number of survey participants to 1,875.

Beyond the limited awareness of the FOI Act, the survey revealed that 85.3% of respondents did not know how to submit a Freedom of Information request, while 85.5% did not know where such requests should be submitted.

The findings also indicated that 85.3% believed citizens were afraid to request information from public institutions, highlighting concerns about public confidence and the practical exercise of information rights.

Despite these challenges, the survey revealed strong support for transparency and accountability. Approximately 95.6% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that citizens should have access to public information, while 94.9% believed that access to information improves government accountability.

Additionally, 90.2% of respondents supported the need for sustained public awareness campaigns on the FOI Law.

These findings present an important contrast: while many residents support the principle of government openness, a substantial proportion remain unfamiliar with the law that gives them the right to request public information.

The results underscore the need to move beyond the existence of legislation and invest in practical education that helps ordinary citizens understand how to use the law in their daily lives.

The survey also provided guidance on how the Commission could reach more residents with information about their rights.

According to the findings, 88.9% of respondents preferred radio as a channel for FOI awareness, while 80.4% identified community engagement as another important means of public education.

The results further highlighted opportunities for digital outreach, with 77.6% of respondents reporting regular internet use and 81.4% indicating willingness to use an official FOI website to learn about their rights or request public information.

These findings offer the Commission an opportunity to adopt a combination of radio discussions, community outreach, and digital platforms to strengthen awareness across Grand Gedeh and other underserved counties.

Beyond the survey findings, one of the major achievements of the initiative was the recruitment and training of 25 young people from Grand Gedeh County to serve as Data Collectors and Freedom of Information Ambassadors.

Unlike approaches that depend entirely on personnel brought from other counties, the Commission recruited local residents and equipped them with knowledge of the FOI Act, professional interviewing techniques, research ethics, data integrity, and digital data collection using KoBoCollect.

The one-day training, held on October 14, 2026, at the Administrative Building Community in Zwedru, brought together the selected Data Collectors, representatives of the county administration, and officials of the Independent Information Commission.

Welcoming the IIC delegation on behalf of the Office of the Superintendent, Hon. Tarley A. Dweh congratulated the selected participants and encouraged them to collect accurate and reliable data.

He appreciated the Commission for extending its activities to Grand Gedeh and expressed the county administration’s commitment to supporting efforts that promote public access to information.

Information Commissioner Hon. Joash T. Hodges emphasized the importance of data integrity and professionalism, reminding the participants that the information gathered would help the Commission design future programmes based on the specific needs and realities of Grand Gedeh County.

Acting Outreach Director Mr. Jutomue Doetein facilitated sessions on the constitutional and legal foundations of the right to information, citizens’ rights under the FOI Act, and the importance of professional data collection for evidence-based decision-making.

Acting Compliance Director Mr. Armah B. Johnson also educated participants on the obligations of public institutions under the law, including the appointment of Public Information Officers, proactive disclosure of information, and procedures for addressing information requests and complaints.

The training provided participants with both legal knowledge and practical skills to support the Commission’s ongoing public education efforts.

Speaking on behalf of the female participants, Ms. Purity S. Free expressed appreciation to the Commission for providing young people in Grand Gedeh with an opportunity to learn about the FOI Law and participate in a professional data collection exercise.

She particularly welcomed the decision to recruit local enumerators rather than bringing personnel from other counties.

Similarly, Mr. Fredino Wright, speaking on behalf of the male participants, thanked the Commission and encouraged his colleagues to remain committed to their responsibilities as Freedom of Information Ambassadors.

Their reflections highlighted how the initiative created opportunities for local youth empowerment while strengthening the Commission’s ability to reach communities through residents familiar with local conditions.

As part of the intervention, Acting Outreach Director Jutomue Doetein and Acting Compliance Director Armah B. Johnson appeared on TOP FM’s Morning Breakfast Programme to discuss the Commission’s mission in Grand Gedeh and educate listeners about their rights under the FOI Act.

Doetein focused on the right of citizens to request public information and the importance of access to information in promoting transparency, accountability, and public participation in governance.

Johnson explained the corresponding obligations of public institutions, emphasizing that government offices operating at county and local levels are also required to comply with the law.

During the one-hour programme, ten callers expressed dissatisfaction over difficulties they said residents faced when seeking information from public institutions in Grand Gedeh County.

Their contributions provided additional insight into the concerns of ordinary residents and reinforced the importance of ensuring that public institutions respond appropriately to information requests. While the callers’ accounts were not independently verified as violations of the law, they highlighted the need for stronger engagement between the Commission, local institutions, and community members.

The initiative also generated a proposal for the establishment of a regional Freedom of Information Hub in Grand Gedeh County.

Speaking during the Data Collectors’ training, Ministry of Justice representative Mr. Joseph Jallah commended the Commission for extending its intervention to the county and appealed for the establishment of a regional FOI Hub to serve southeastern Liberia.

He emphasized that such a facility could provide thousands of residents across the region with greater opportunities to understand and exercise their rights under the FOI Act.

The proposal reflects the broader need to decentralize access to information services and reduce the distance between citizens and institutions responsible for protecting their rights.

Following the exercise, the Commission’s report recommended sustained community-based FOI awareness campaigns, targeted engagement with county-level public institutions, continued radio education programmes, and ongoing support for the 25-trained local FOI Ambassadors.

Other recommendations include assessing the feasibility of establishing a regional FOI Hub in Grand Gedeh and expanding digital access to information services.

The findings also provide a baseline for designing future interventions and assessing improvements in public knowledge and utilization of the law.

The Grand Gedeh initiative builds on similar KAP survey activities undertaken by the Commission in Montserrado and Grand Bassa Counties in June 2026.

For the Independent Information Commission, the exercise represents more than a survey. It demonstrates the importance of bringing national laws closer to the communities they are intended to serve while empowering local residents to take an active role in promoting accountability.

The central lesson from Grand Gedeh is clear is that passing a law is only the beginning. Its real impact is felt when ordinary citizens know their rights, understand how to exercise them, and can confidently approach public institutions for information.