His Excellency, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, has announced a significant increase in government subvention to the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), raising the annual allocation to NLe 2.7 million on Friday 5th December 2025. He described the move as a clear demonstration of his administration’s commitment to independent journalism and media sustainability.
The announcement was made during the seventh Presidential Media Cocktail at State House, attended by media leaders, editors, and members of national media associations. President Bio reaffirmed that the media remains “a fundamental pillar of democracy” and emphasized that a free and empowered press is central to transparency, accountability, and informed civic engagement.
President Bio noted that support to SLAJ has grown sharply since 2020, when government allocated Le 200 million (old Leones). The new subvention, he said, reflects deliberate reforms to strengthen media institutions, professional reporting, and public-interest journalism. “For SLAJ, Christmas gift always comes early,” he remarked, adding that the decision responds to critics who question the government’s contribution to media development.
Highlighting reforms since 2018, he said Sierra Leone has recorded historic gains in press freedom, climbing more than 25 places in the World Press Freedom Index since 2017 and ranking 56th globally in 2025-one of the fastest improvements worldwide. He credited this rise to the repeal of criminal libel laws, better protection for journalists, capacity-building initiatives, and constructive engagement between government and the media.
President Bio announced that Sierra Leone has approved its first National Information and Media Policy, establishing standards for digital media governance, responsible use of artificial intelligence, and modernization of the information ecosystem. He added that Sierra Leone achieved a 95 percent Freedom of Information compliance score this year, calling access to information “the lifeblood of a vibrant democracy.”
He further revealed plans to transform the Right to Access Information Commission into a stronger Access to Information Authority, with enhanced enforcement powers and sanctions for non-compliance.
President Bio reaffirmed his support for the National Fund for Public Interest Media, which recently awarded its first grants to 14 media outlets. He commended the Media Reform Coordinating Group for driving the initiative and highlighted government support for training more than 500 journalists and information officers in fact-checking, digital literacy, and ethical reporting. He pledged continued collaboration with media institutions to ensure sustainability and innovation.
The President linked media independence to Sierra Leone’s growing global profile, referencing the country’s presidency of the UN Security Council, his election as Chairman of ECOWAS, and the endorsement of the USD 2.2 billion Mission 300 Energy Compact, the largest infrastructure plan in the country’s history. He said these achievements demonstrate Sierra Leone’s respected voice in global affairs and urged journalists to tell the country’s story “with pride and accuracy.”
Acknowledging challenges facing the media, President Bio cited financial constraints, rapid technological change, and the threat of misinformation to public trust. He outlined government priorities, including expanding media entrepreneurship, promoting media literacy, strengthening protection for journalists, improving institutional collaboration and deepening civic education nationwide.
He also highlighted efforts to modernize national media institutions, including partnerships to reform the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) and revive legacy agencies such as the Sierra Leone News Agency, Government Printing Department, and Government Daily Mail. He confirmed Cabinet approval of a National Records and Archives Policy and announced that a new Records and Archives Bill will modernize records management dating back to 1964.
Concluding his address, President Bio said the relationship between government and the press must be built on trust, mutual respect, and shared values. He urged journalists to uphold truth and accountability, stating that “A President without a strong media is like Freetown without Cotton Tree-missing its heart, its identity, and its voice.”
