The Executive Director of Campaigners Against Misinformation and Disinformation in Liberia(CAMDL), Taweh Johnson, represented the organization at the 17th Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) and the UNESCO International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) 2026, hosted by Sierra Leone and its Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC) and UNESCO and other partners, focused on the theme “Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age” held at the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre in Lungi, Sierra Leone, from September 28–30, 2026.
The conference brought together participants from approximately 41 countries to discuss access to information, transparency, information integrity, and the role of access to reliable information in strengthening democratic governance.
CAMDL Executive Director Taweh Johnson participated actively in the conference, serving as a panelist during a panel discussion on “Access to Information, Public Interest Data, and Information Integrity in West Africa: One Year After the Praia Conference”. He also served as a rapporteur for a plenary session focused on “From Transparency to Proactive Disclosure: Toward a New International Standard”.
During the panel discussion, Taweh Johnson emphasized that unequal access to media and information literacy and digital literacy skills remains one of the critical information gaps that West Africa needs to address.
He noted that limited media and information literacy and digital literacy skills can make individuals and communities more vulnerable to false and misleading information, ultimately hindering their ability to identify, access, and use reliable information.
“Campaigners Against Misinformation and Disinformation in Liberia(CAMDL) is working to close this gap through media and information literacy and digital literacy training for all populations, including persons with disabilities,” Taweh Johnson said.
The conference highlighted the importance of the right to access information and proactive disclosure as essential components of transparent and accountable governance. Discussions also examined the relationship between access to information and information integrity, particularly in an increasingly digital information environment.
Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Mohammed Jalloh, officially opened the conference and welcomed national and international delegates to Sierra Leone. In his remarks, Vice President Jalloh emphasized the importance of access to information to democratic development, stating that “the most vital ingredient to consolidating nascent democracy is access to information.”
Ibrahim Shaw, Head of the Right to Access Information Commission of Sierra Leone, highlighted the connection between access to reliable information and citizen participation in governance. “True democratic resilience is built when citizens are equipped with the facts necessary to constructively engage with state governance,” Ibrahim Shaw said.
Representing UNESCO, Mariya Gabriel, Assistant Director-General for Information and Communication, emphasized the global nature of efforts to advance access to information and information integrity.
“The right to information is a global endeavor strengthened by cooperation across regions and borders. We are not short of information, but our challenge is to know what is reliable and accurate and what can be trusted,” Mariya Gabriel said.
She further noted that access to information and information integrity are two sides of the same coin, reaffirming UNESCO’s commitment to supporting efforts that advance both access to information and information integrity.
CAMDL welcomed the opportunity to participate in the conference and exchange experiences with information commissioners, government representatives, civil society organizations, media professionals, and other stakeholders from around the world.
At the end of the conference, participants endorsed a Statement of Participants, which will subsequently be shared following minor revisions.
Campaigners Against Misinformation and Disinformation in Liberia (CAMDL) expresses its gratitude to UNESCO for the invitation and for facilitating Taweh Johnson’s participation in the 17th Conference of Information Commissioners and UNESCO International Day for Universal Access to Information 2026.
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