Abstract

Freedom of information (FOI) defined as the legal and ethical right of citizens to access public information has emerged as a central pillar of democratic governance transparency and administrative accountability. At the same time effective leadership within public institutions requires informed decision-making credibility ethical conduct and the ability to foster trust among stakeholders. This research paper examines the intrinsic relationship between freedom of information and effective leadership arguing that transparent information systems empower leaders to make evidence-based decisions strengthen public trust encourage participatory governance and curb corruption. The study explores the philosophical foundations of FOI its global legal evolution and its intersection with leadership theories. It analyzes how open information laws influence organizational culture stakeholder relations and governance outcomes. Further the paper investigates barriers to FOI—including bureaucratic sec