By: Thaimu Bai Sesay
Following the 2023 World Press Freedom Index report, the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) has on Thursday 4th May, 2023 in a press briefing at the ministry justified the reasons stated in the 2023 report as to why Sierra Leone dropped 28 spots on the practice of journalism.
On Wednesday 3rd May, 2023, Reporters Without Borders published the 2023 World Press Freedom Index report for 180 countries. In the report, its rated Sierra Leone to have dropped 28 spots on the practice of journalism due to reasons they described as aggressiveness on political actors, misinformation and disinformation and the growth of fake content in the industry.
Addressing members of the press, the Deputy Ministry of Information and Communication Solomon Jamiru intimated that the reasons stated on the 2023 index report for Sierra Leone were not emanated from the side of the government but from quite an array of players whom he identified to be people sitting at Abacha Street or in diaspora.
“As a government we take pride in the fact that we have a media landscape that is independent and we have a media landscape that is pluralistic. This is something that we enjoyed locally and it also has acclamation globally and we have few parameters to say to this this,” Solomon Jamiru stated.
The Deputy Minister recalled that his government had repealed what he described as the obnoxious 55 years sword in the part five of the Public Order Act of 1965 which was the defamatory and seditious libel law. He referred the act as a sword hanging on the neck of journalist. He expressed that only President Bio fulfilled amongst all the President who made promise to repeal the act. “He promised to repeal it and he repealed it indeed,” he emphasized.
Jamiru continued that the President did not stop there but went on to sign the global pledge for media freedom in November 2021 which geared towards creating a space for journalists and protecting them at home. He estimated that there were over 500 registered and practicing media institution spreading all over the country. He also said that it was the first time in the history of Sierra Leone that their government enacted a law on Cyber security which geared towards protecting the rights of the citizens and also note that their government had abolished the death penalty.
Solomon Jamiru added that their government did not only address free and independent media but would also ensure that the media is economically viable. He said the president promised media investment and viability where he assured of an annual subvention to journalists from 500 to 700 leones. He said as a responsible government they would ensure that journalists and non-journalists practitioners enjoy free speech in Sierra Leone.
The Deputy Minister concluded that their government had shown commitment to press freedom more than any government. He expressed that they viewed the report in good faith but that did not mean the report represent the media status in the country truly.