By Lewis S. Teh
MONROVIA, October 26, 2026: Press Union of Liberia (PUL) President Julius Kanubah has accused the Boakai administration of undermining the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act through confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements for civil servants, warning that the policy threatens government transparency and public access to information.
Speaking at the Governance Commission’s Multi-Stakeholder Policy Dialogue on Transparency, Accountability and Citizens’ Participation for Inclusive Development, Kanubah called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to immediately rescind the policy.
He accused the Civil Service Agency (CSA), headed by Director-General Dr. Josiah Joekai, of introducing agreements that could restrict civil servants from disclosing information of public interest.
“This non-disclosure policy does not merely chip away at our democratic values. It opposes the Freedom of Information Act entirely,” Kanubah argued.
He warned that the policy could revive a culture of secrecy within government institutions and undermine the authority of the Independent Information Commission (IIC), which oversees implementation of the FOI Act.
“PUL categorically calls on the Boakai administration to unconditionally rescind this policy,” he declared.
Kanubah also criticized the Governance Commission for remaining silent on the controversy, urging it to defend laws promoting transparency and accountability.
“GC itself is very silent when the very laws that are meant to promote good governance are being torn apart,” he stated.
Highlighting weaknesses in FOI implementation, Kanubah disclosed that 78 of 103 government ministries and agencies assessed had failed to appoint designated public information officers.
He also cited a USAID-supported initiative in which journalists submitted 104 FOI requests, with fewer than five reportedly receiving responses within 90 days.
The PUL president further raised concerns over inadequate funding for the Independent Information Commission, poor records management, limited publication of government financial information and weak political commitment to transparency.
He urged the administration to strengthen FOI implementation, adequately fund oversight institutions and ensure citizens’ access to public information.
“We are murmuring now because government has reintroduced something that will make governance very dark,” Kanubah warned, using a brief power interruption during the dialogue to illustrate his concerns.
The CSA’s response to the allegations was not available in the information provided.
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