Abidjan, May 26, 2026 – As part of Open Government Partnership (OGP) Week, held from May 18 to 22, 2026 in Abidjan, a high-level panel discussion took place on Friday, May 22, on the theme: “Access to Information for All: Issues, Challenges, and Prospects for More Integral Governance in Côte d’Ivoire.”
This meeting brought together representatives from the public administration, the private sector, civil society, and journalists to discuss the challenges related to access to reliable, transparent, and accessible information for all.
In a context marked by the digital revolution, the proliferation of information sources, and the rise of artificial intelligence, participants emphasized that access to information has become a fundamental pillar of good governance, citizen participation, and the fight against corruption and disinformation.
The panel discussion was structured around several institutional presentations. The Commission for Access to Information of Public Interest and Public Documents (CAIDP), represented by Souleymane Bamba, technical advisor to the institution’s president, presented the progress and challenges related to the implementation of the law on access to public information, including difficulties in raising awareness and institutional resistance.
The Director of Platforms and New Services at the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA), Lacinan Ouattara, provided an overview of the Ivorian media landscape and stressed the challenges of regulation in the face of the proliferation of digital media and fake news.
Fabrice Aka M’Vouti, technical advisor to the director of the Government Information and Communication Center (CICG), outlined the government’s efforts in the areas of open data and accessible public communication, while emphasizing mechanisms for combating disinformation.
Stéphane Coulibaly, Director of Innovation at the Ministry of Digital Transition and Technological Innovation, discussed the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence to improve access to information, as well as the risks associated with deepfakes, algorithmic bias, and the protection of personal data.
Finally, Mamadou Traoré, President of the Network of Online Press Professionals of Côte d’Ivoire (REPPRELCI), reiterated the central role of the media in disseminating reliable information, stressing the importance of fact-checking, journalistic ethics, and investigative journalism.
At the end of the discussions, several common challenges were identified: the digital divide, the actual accessibility of public information, disinformation, and the need to strengthen media literacy.
Participants particularly emphasized the importance of close collaboration between the government, the media, and citizens to build more transparent, inclusive, and participatory governance.
Closing the proceedings, the Chair of the OGP Technical Committee, Chantal Angoua, invited all stakeholders to embrace the values of Open Government, reminding them that: “OGP is development by all and for all.”
