Walters not surprised by IPPR report

Namibia's ombudsman, John Walters, is not surprised by the findings of a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) which assessed the state of access to information in Namibia.

In a telephonic interview with Nampa on Tuesday, Walters said the unresponsiveness of public officials and institutions was nothing new.

“I am not shocked. I deal with this issue every day [and] get complaints continuously,” he said.

“It is a genuine challenge that I face each day. I don't know if public officials and institutions are reluctant in providing information,” he added.

Walters said he would continue taking action to ensure that officials give the public and the media access to information.

He called upon permanent secretaries and their staff to pass on information so as to ensure accountability.

The report found that 80% of surveyed organisations and institutions did not respond or could not provide information requested.

The report further showed that out of the 14 regions, only Erongo responded with the requested information within a reasonable time.

NAMPA