This theme aligns closely with our continued advocacy for transparency and our commitment to empowering journalists and citizens across Africa with unrestricted access to information."

The deprivation of access to information drastically impairs quality journalism, accountability, and the governance standards across the continent. It also violates the fundamental rights of the African people, as enshrined in the African Charter on Human and People's Rights, which secures the right to information. Furthermore, the model law on access to information in Africa, formulated by the African Commission on Human and People's Rights (ACHPR), establishes benchmarks that many African countries are yet to achieve. In some countries, laws on access to information are absent; in others, existing laws are not effectively enforced, and numerous statutes do not conform to this contemporary standard or the global human rights framework.

FAJ President Omar Faruk Osman asserts, "The lack of robust access to information laws not only suppresses journalism but also impedes the fight for transparency, accountability, and democratic engagement across Africa. It is crucial for African countries to adopt and harmonize their access to information laws with the standards set by the African Union to ensure that journalism flourishes, democracy prospers, and, fundamentally, that the African peoples’ inalienable right to information is upheld."

The absence of effective access to information poses a direct threat to independent practice of journalism and the societal role that journalists fulfil. Without access to timely and precise information, journalists cannot adequately inform the public, scrutinize powers, or support the democratic process. When states control or restrict information flow, they foster environments ripe for disinformation and misinformation, which compromise the critical, watchdog role of the media. This not only degrades the quality of journalism but also reduces the public's capacity to make informed decisions, thus undermining democracy itself.

FAJ urges all African governments to commit to reforming their access to information laws to align with the modern law on access to information and the broader global human rights framework. These reforms are imperative for advancing transparency, enabling quality journalism, and creating an environment where public participation in governance can genuinely lead to societal progress.

On this day, FAJ recommits to working with its affiliated journalist unions and associations, the African Union and its organs such as the African Union Commission (AUC) and ACHPR as well as UNESCO, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), multilateral institutions, and like-minded civil society organizations to ensure that access to information transcends policy or legal provisions and becomes a practice that empowers every citizen and enriches every community across Africa.