Press Freedom Impediments in Sierra Leone
Today is World Press Freedom Day, and in Sierra Leone journalists are still fighting to eliminate the criminal libel law and to prevail on government to enact the Freedom of Information (FOI) Bill.
The failure of government to eliminate the seditious criminal libel law and to pass into law the FOI Bill makes the Sierra Leone press a limping dog.
With the criminal libel law and without the enactment of the FOI Bill, our press freedom is blemished and our democracy tarnished.
Although the ruling Ernest Bai Koroma-led APC is not notorious for persecuting critical journalists, as was the case with the former SLPP government, its failure to enact the FOI Bill and to eradicate the criminal libel law has put a stain on its press freedom record.
Press freedom is not all about refraining from harassing journalists, but it is also about creating the enabling environment for journalists to practice their profession without any encumbrance. It is also about ensuring that those who attack and assassinate journalists are brought to book. But as we observe the World Press Freedom Day, justice is yet to prevail in the cases of Harry Yansanneh and Ibrahim Foday both of whom were murdered in broad daylight.
The conspicuous failure of government to bring to justice the killers of the two journalists leaves all journalists in this country unprotected and jeopardized. I commend the former president of Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Umaru Fofana, and his predecessor Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, for their tireless efforts in trying to protect journalists.
I am, therefore, calling on the government to enact the FOI Bill and to wipe out the criminal libel law and to bring to book the killers of Harry Yansanneh and Ibrahim Foday, otherwise, press freedom in this nation will continue to be a lip service.
By Joseph Milton Lebbie
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