Ahid: Public use of the right to information has surged, but agencies still resist disclosure

After completing his five-year tenure as Information Commissioner, Ahid Rasheed said Thursday that the biggest achievement during his term was the extraordinary increase in the public’s use of the right to information.

Speaking to Sun after concluding his term, Ahid said his top priority when he took office had been to ensure that people could access information easily and without unnecessary obstacles. He noted that the introduction of the Mahoali portal created a unified avenue for requesting information from all agencies, and that the use of this right by the general public, journalists and civil society had risen sharply over the past five years.

Reflecting on the challenges, Ahid said the culture of secrecy within government agencies continues to change at a very slow pace. “Information in government agencies belongs to the people. Agencies only safeguard that information. However, some still believe they should decide when and how information is released. This culture needs to change,” he said.

He added that when he took office, not a single agency was disclosing information proactively to the extent required by law. By the end of his term, that number had increased to more than 30, though he stressed this is still far from satisfactory and should reach at least 70 agencies.

Looking ahead, Ahid said his biggest hope is to establish a system where government agencies disclose information by default, without waiting for citizens to request it. He said the true purpose of the right to information is to build a culture that benefits people’s lives and strengthens the country as a whole.

Ahid is widely regarded by members of the public, youth, activists and various entities as a fair and independent commissioner. He introduced several reforms to the agency despite significant challenges, and did not hesitate to take necessary action when agencies failed to disclose information.

However, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu levelled accusations against Ahid in his Independence Day speech, claiming he acted on the instructions of the opposition. The allegations came after the President’s Office was fined for failing to disclose details of political employees, even when requested under the Access to Information Act.

Responding to the accusations, Ahid previously said he had not acted under any political directive, noting that he was appointed during a different administration and that neither the former MDP government nor the current one had attempted to directly influence his work.