English French Spanish
EN FR ES

Liberia : Indicators

2010 > Transparency norms

Transparency norms

Do official mechanisms – policies, laws, regulations, decrees, procedures, international agreements, and public statements of commitment, etc. – exist that permit public access to information? So does the law provide a legal obligation on public institutions to be transparent?

In addition to the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) Act, the National Forestry Reform Law (NFRL 2006) and the Freedom of Information Act will greatly contribute to transparency in the allocation of concession contracts, revenue collection and redistribution, and expenditure. This will however depend on the level of implementation.

  Read the report...

Is there a Freedom of Information Act?

The Freedom of Information Act was adopted on July 22, 2010. The Senate concurred with the House of Representatives on September 2, 2010 and the President signed the bill into law on September 16, 2010. It was printed into hand bill October 6, 2010. Read more...
In addition to any specific freedom of information laws, are there references to transparency in the Constitution, general laws, regulations, decrees etc. that all public institutions must adhere to (the next indicator is specifically about the forest sector)  Read the report...

What other rules provide for transparency?

The Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) Act (July 2009) provides for public access to information relating to the extractive industries including forestry and agriculture. Liberia is the first country to include forestry in its EITI implementation. The Act also includes other requirements, such as monitoring sharing of revenue from the extractive sector between the state and communities. Read more...
Are there any forest-specific written laws and regulations, key announcements or speeches that develop the right to access public information on the sector, for example a Service Charter.  Read the report...

Are there any forest sector specific laws / rules / statements that provide for transparency?

The National Forestry Reform Law of 2006 (Section 18.15) provides for broad public access to information including contracts, revenue related documents, and production data. Forestry Development Authority Regulation 108 on Chain of Custody (Section 61) provides that all information in the CoC database is a matter of public record. Chapter 4, Section 4.1g, of The Community Rights Law of 2009 also provides that community forest management bodies shall ensure LEITI compliance Read more...
Are there clear, documented, and understood steps for resolving conflicts between transparency and confidentiality norms, or where / when authorities fail or refuse to provide information?
If so, is this dispute-settlement process well-advertised, not prohibitively costly and therefore realistically accessible to most people?  Read the report...

Is there any settlement process for disputes regarding access to information?

There is a dispute resolution mechanism to address conflict arising from request for information from a government agency or its staff. The Independent Information Commission (under the FOI Act) has the power to hear and decide on complaints or mediate conflicts arising from the FOI Act. This provision covers all government agencies and thus includes forestry. The IIC has not been established. Read more...
Hosted by
Global Witness DAR CIKOD CED SDI Grupo Faro Ut'z Che RRN
All country specific pages on the website are independently managed by the relevant organisation from that country. Disclaimer