By Saio Marrah
The deputy Minister of Information and Communication, Mamadi Gobeh Kamara has said that the latest Reporters Without Borders' ranking has moved Sierra Leone thirteen places upward as a result of the repeal of the criminal libel law.
She made this statement at the weekly press briefing on Thursday, 22nd April, 2021. The ranking placed Sierra Leone 14th in Africa and 75th in the world out of 180. “The 2021 press freedom index published by Reporters Without Borders indicates that Sierra has moved 10th place upward in this year’s ranking. Sierra Leone now occupies 75th position out of 180 countries assessed. This is largely owing to the fact that President Julius Maada Bio in fulfilling his manifesto commitment, repealed part five of the 1965 Public Order Act, which criminalized defamation and press offences,” she said.
According to her, the repeal done in August 2020 and the revised code of practice by the Independent Media Commission has given journalists in the country the leverage to practice their trade without fear of being arbitrarily arrested under the draconian law.
Reporters Without Borders is an international media organization founded in Paris in1985 that advocates for press freedom worldwide. It has received various awards including the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2005.
It works includes defending imprisoned and prosecuted journalists, exposing the maltreatment and torture of journalists, and provides financial aid to struggling media personnel and institutions across the globe. It also provides support to the families of imprisoned journalists and also promotes safety for journalists especially in war zones.
The organisation embarks on research and fact finding missions to document violation of press freedom as well as produce the yearly rankings of countries in the area of press freedom.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 26/04/21
