Lack of legislation hampering access to information in Africa

Gilbert Sendugwa,
Head of Secretariat at the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC).

Lack of relevant legislation and political will is the biggest hindrance to access to government data by the media and the private sector.

Head of Secretariat at the Africa Freedom of Information Centre (AFIC), Gilbert Sendugwa told the Connected Kenya conference in Mombasa that only 11 countries in the entire continent have a law ensuring freedom of information, with many in the draft stages.

OGP: Africa's First Regional Meeting kicks-off in Mombasa

The Open Government Partnership Africa Regional Meeting is currently underway at the Serena Beach Hotel, Mombasa, with representatives from 16 countries in attendance. This is the first OGP Africa Regional Meeting that has attracted a wide variety of Participants and Speakers who include OGP participating governments,Civil society activists, Academia, Multilateral institutions and other interested actors and the Media.

Africa: First Outreach Meeting rallies Support for OGP.

The first Open Government Partnership (OGP) Africa regional meeting was hosted by the Government of Kenya from May 29-30, 2013 at the Coastal City of Mombasa. The meeting aimed at outlining an Africa agenda for open governance, promoting OGP in Africa and sharing and learning from experiences in open governance from different parts of the continent and beyond. Another key objective was to mobilize non OGP member Governments to consider joining OGP.