Information Ministry proposes data protection laws in the revised Constitution The current Constitutional Review Process of Sierra Leone presents an unparalleled opportunity to comprehensively overhaul the information and communications infrastructure of Sierra Leone. The 23 year old National Statute was inaugurated at a time when Information and Communications Technology (ICT) was nothing to write home about in Africa. In a consultative meeting with members of the Information, Education and Communications (IEC) Sub-committee of the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) on Wednesday November 26, 2014, officials of the Ministry of Information and Communications stated in no uncertain terms that the CRC must incorporate provisions relating to ICTs. They were convinced that the laws relating to information and communications were not only disjointed but uncoordinated as well. They therefore recommended the convergence of the ICT sectors through the constitutional review process. The CRC was undertaking stakeholders’ consultations within the precincts of the Western Area to garner the views and aspirations of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for possible incorporation into the reviewed Constitution, noted Marie Bob-Kandeh, CRC member of the IEC Sub-committee. Whilst thanking the IEC Subcommittee, one of the Directors stressed that the Rights to Access Information Law must be incorporated into the revised constitution of Sierra Leone, firstly to protect it from unwarranted amendments but more importantly to safeguard the inalienable democratic principle of free speech. He informed all that plans were afoot to review the Telecommunications Act to meet the rapid improvements in technological advancements. Over the years, there has been a bias on information over communication so much that the communication aspect is completely overshadowed. “Data protection laws are pivotal to the improvement of information and communications but they are seriously lacking.” noted the Information Ministry Officials. The rapid acceleration of technology coupled with the proliferation of electronic gadgets has exponentially increased cyber crimes to an extent that countries without the relevant legislative and regulatory framework were left at the mercy of cyber criminals. Sierra Leone like many other West African countries is in the teething stages of ICTs, little wonder officials of MIC advocated for the introduction of ICTs in the school system. This they believed would solve the mammoth problems of technological illiteracy that has engulfed Sierra Leone’s population. The authorities at the Information and Communications Ministry thought that the name of the ministry must be revised to include technology thereby completing the long awaited convergence as dictated by the ECOWAS protocol on ICTs. Of common concern also were issues of the regulator being the one implementing projects, this they identified as a misnomer that must be regularized within the shortest possible time. The institution of penalties by the regulator would seriously improve the regulatory framework of the telecoms industry in the country, they noted. The Information officials during the consultations with the CRC also requested that the role be the Ministry of Information and Communications be clearly defined by statute to reduce or better still eliminate the ambiguities that surround its mandate. Others contend that Sierra Leone needs a Ministry of ICT separate and distinct from the Information Ministry. “Structural adjustments must be made within the Ministry to restore clear lines of authority,” noted Dan Parkinson, Senior Information Officer at the Ministry. The Information and Communications Ministry is expected to present a Position Paper to the Constitutional Review Committee that would encapsulate their wishes and aspirations for the revised Constitution of Sierra Leone.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 16:47:31 +0000
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