By Seedy Jobe
More than a year after The Gambia’s Access to Information Act came into force, its implementation has been virtually nonexistent, according to Gambia Press Union (GPU) Secretary General Modou S. Joof, who says public institutions have largely failed to comply with the law’s requirements.
Speaking on QTV on Wednesday, Joof said the landmark legislation—which the GPU played a key role in developing—has yet to deliver on its promise because most government institutions have not appointed designated information officers, a legal requirement intended to facilitate public access to official information.
To illustrate the problem, Joof recounted his own attempt to use the law last month. He said he submitted information requests to two government ministries but received neither the requested information nor an acknowledgment of receipt within the 21 days mandated by the Act.
“There was even no acknowledgement. After 21 days, they didn’t give me the information. It means a refusal outright,” Joof said.
He argued that denying citizens access to public information amounts to a violation of fundamental human rights and urged Gambians to challenge such refusals through the courts. Joof pointed to legal precedents in countries such as Nigeria, where litigation has helped strengthen enforcement of access to information laws.
The GPU, he said, has remained actively involved in promoting the legislation, including supporting implementation projects and serving on technical committees alongside the Information Commission. He added that a new programme backed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is expected to strengthen enforcement of the Act.
Addressing the broader state of press freedom, Joof said journalists in The Gambia have not experienced any recent physical attacks, but online harassment remains a persistent concern, particularly when covering political issues.
Although the GPU’s primary mandate is to support journalists affiliated with recognized media organizations, Joof said the union is committed to defending the right to freedom of expression for all citizens whose rights are infringed.
He also disclosed that the union is training social media influencers on responsible online engagement, including combating hate speech and misinformation, as the country prepares for the 2026 elections.
“We are not leaving anyone behind,” he said.
Joof added that every reported case involving attacks on press freedom or violations of free expression is investigated by the GPU, documented, and included in the union’s annual submissions to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
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