FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
PREAMBLE
Recognizing that access to information is a fundamental right guaranteed by the
Constitution of Liberia and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the
African Charter on Human and People’s Rights;
Realizing that the right of access to information encompasses the right to request and
receive information, especially information involving public interest;
Acknowledging that access to information is indispensable to genuine democracy and
good governance and, to this end, Article 15(c) of the Constitution of Liberia provides
that no limitation shall be placed on the public right to be informed about the
government and its functionaries;
Convinced that a dedicated statute on the right of access to information is essential to
affirming and promoting the effective, equitable and inexpensive exercise of this right;

NOW THEREFORE IT IS HEREBY ENACTED BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA, IN LEGISLATURE
ASSEMBLED:

Chapter 1-

General Provisions

Section 1.1

Title: This Act shall be known as the Freedom of Information Act of 2010.

Section1.2

Short Title: This Act may be cited as the Freedom of Information Act.

Section 1.3 In this Act, the following terms and phrases shall have the meaning
established for each in this Section:
1.3.1 Access to Information:
1.3.2 “Access to information “refers to the right of the public to request, receive, review,
reproduce and retain records and documents held by public bodies and private
entities performing public functions or receiving public funding.
1.3.3 “Act” means the Freedom of Information Act.
.
1.3.4 “Court” means any judicial body of the Republic of Liberia.
1.3.5

1

“Documents” means any retrievable or reviewable record, which may be written,
printed, audio, visual or electronic.

Select target paragraph3