This was after a month-long survey in which MISA-Malawi wanted to gauge how six public institutions were making it easy for the media to access information.
In order to stress its findings, MISA-Malawi bestowed a ‘Golden Padlock Award' on the Health Ministry, while the Office of the Director of Public Procurement (ODPP) received a ‘Golden Key Award' for being the most transparent.
The media body started surveying the six institutions that included the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), Office of the Ombudsman, Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and the state broadcaster Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) on 21 July 2009 and rounded up its survey on 28 August 2009.
“This survey was conducted as part of this year's commemoration of Right to Know Day which falls on September 28 worldwide,” said newly hired MISA-Malawi national director, Aubrey Chikungwa.
Media Council of Malawi commended MISA-Malawi for coming up with the awards.
“Giving out awards such as the golden key and golden padlock was a great initiative as the advocacy on access to information legislation continues,” said the council's executive director Baldwin Chiyamwaka.
