By: Alex A. Bah, Public Relations Officer, ACC

The Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Francis Ben Kaifala Esq., has joined global information leaders and experts at the 17th International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC) and UNESCO’s commemoration of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), held from 28th to 30th September, 2026, at the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre, Lungi.

The three-day conference, held on the theme: “Upholding Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The Role of Access to Information in Addressing Information Disorder,” brought together Information Commissioners and other stakeholders from 41 countries to discuss emerging challenges and opportunities around access to information, information integrity, digital transformation and public accountability.

Officially opening the conference, the Hon. Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh underscored the importance of access to information to democratic governance, citizen participation, and public trust, while highlighting the need for countries to strengthen their information governance systems amid rapid technological transformation.

The ICIC Chairman and Information Commissioner of Albania, Besnik Dervishi, in his statement also drew attention to the growing complexities of information disorder in the digital age and the need for stronger cooperation among institutions and jurisdictions to promote credible information and sustain public trust.

A major highlight of the ACC’s participation was Commissioner Kaifala’s contribution to a high-level panel on “Balancing the Right to Information and the Right to Privacy/Data Protection in the Context of Beneficial Ownership Transparency.”

Moderated by Adam Foldes of Transparency International Germany, the session brought together experts from Sierra Leone, Kenya, Ukraine, Ghana and India, among others, to examine the intersection between transparency, privacy and data protection in advancing beneficial ownership transparency.

Sharing Sierra Leone’s experience, Commissioner Kaifala noted that the country does not currently have a standalone law specifically dedicated to beneficial ownership transparency. He, however, highlighted the broad powers provided by the country’s Right to Access Information framework, and underscored the importance of access to relevant information in tracing ownership, strengthening accountability and supporting the fight against corruption.

He further emphasised the need to strike an appropriate balance between legitimate privacy considerations and the overriding public interest in transparency, particularly where corporate structures may be exploited to conceal illicit wealth or frustrate accountability.

The conference also featured high-level plenary and parallel sessions on information disorder in Africa, proactive disclosure, artificial intelligence, digital information spaces, information integrity and open governance, among other contemporary issues.

The ACC’s participation further demonstrates the Commission’s commitment to transparency, accountability and access to information as critical pillars in the fight against corruption and the promotion of accountable governance in Sierra Leone and across the world.