By Saio Marrah
The President of Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, has called on journalists to practice their profession with responsibility while practicing their trade.
He made this statement on Tuesday 23rd November, 2021 while commenting on the signing of Global Pledge on Media Freedom, by President Julius Maada Bio. He said in as much as journalists now have the freedom they want, they also have the corresponding responsibility in their profession considering repeal of the Criminal Libel Law.
He said every journalist should practice professionally as stipulated by regulations in the Independent Media Commission (IMC) and the SLAJ code of ethics.
He described the signing as a further demonstration of President Bio’s commitment to international treaties guaranteeing free speech and freedom of the press. He also said it will raise the profile of the country internationally, but also called on the government to be receptive to media practitioners on the ground.
He also pointed out that there are still challenges in the area of access to information, saying Right to Access Information Commission is underfunded. He also said the office is not across the country, but only in few head quarter towns. He also noted that MDAs understanding the role of the commission is also a challenge and asked that the government gives attention to that area.
While signing the document, President Bio said promoting and protecting free speech and media freedom remain close to his heart, and central to his perception of good governance and participatory democracy.
He spoke about the Criminal Libel Law his government repealed which successive governments had not only refused to abolish, but used it actively to intimidate and imprison media practitioners, silence dissenting views, and threaten civil liberties.
He said he is with the view that enforcing criminal and seditious libel laws, contravenes the country’s constitution, and ran counter to recommendations by the country’s Human Rights Commission, the Constitutional Review Committee, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
He said expunging that law was in his campaign manifesto and had always argued that the repeal would unshackle free speech, expand democratic spaces, and consolidate the country’s democracy and enhance professionalism, and particularly, support greater inclusion of women in the practice of journalism.
He expressed his excitement for signing the document and said: “My government is pleased to have signed up as a member of the Media Freedom Coalition. We are also pleased to be the 5th country in Africa to commit to the principles and values of the Media Freedom Coalition”.
President Bio expressed the need for more technical and other resource investments to further professionalize journalism in Sierra Leone. He said his government is determined to protect journalists and their sources of information, while respecting privacy and human dignity. He gave assurances that his government will provide greater access to public information, promote diversity in the practice of journalism, and achieve the needed balance between cyber-security and freedom of expression.
The Chairman of Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), Dr. Francis Sowa said it’s a big day for both the media practitioners and advocators for media freedom, because it is also an indicator to assess media freedom in the country.
He added that it implies that the country continues to make progress towards ensuring media freedom and an indication of the political will by the government for a free and safe environment for media practitioners in the country. He noted that the signing by the president is a further indication for them as an advocacy on media reform and media freedom to continue reminding the government about the international treaties they have committed themselves to.
Dr. Sowa added that it is an assurance that Sierra Leone is committed to press freedom. He said practicing in such an atmosphere brings confidence and joy that one is operating in an environment where the president and parliament are all willing to support media freedom. He added that the country has now moved up to 10 places according to Reporters Without Borders and that the country has now joined other countries that respect press freedom.
He also acknowledged that there still issues that has to do with not just with the government, but the media owners especially in dealing with safety and security of journalists.
Copyright © Politico Online 24/11/21
