By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has intensified its advocacy for the protection of free speech and press freedom, calling for a dedicated chapter on the two fundamental rights to be included in Sierra Leone’s proposed new Constitution.

SLAJ President Alhaji Manika Kamara made the call on Friday, September 4, 2026, during a stakeholder engagement held at the Civil Service Training College on State Avenue in Freetown.

The engagement brought together representatives from the Law Officers’ Department, human rights organisations, civil society groups, the Inter-Religious Council, the Children’s Forum Network, women’s organisations and media stakeholders to deliberate on the proposed stand-alone constitutional chapter.

President Kamara stressed that the proposed chapter was not designed solely to protect journalists but to guarantee the fundamental rights of every Sierra Leonean to freely express themselves and access independent information.

“The stand-alone chapter is not just for journalists but for the citizens of Sierra Leone. It guarantees the right to express oneself freely within the bounds of the law and protects the media’s independence from undue interference,” he said.

He acknowledged that Sections 11 and 25 of the 1991 Constitution already provide protections relating to freedom of expression and the press. However, he argued that placing these rights in a dedicated chapter would provide clearer, stronger and more explicit constitutional safeguards.

According to Kamara, the proposal is also informed by recommendations contained in the Justice Cowan Constitutional Review Committee’s report, which called for media rights to be separately and clearly enshrined in the Constitution rather than being accommodated within broader constitutional provisions.

“The Cowan Report recommended that media rights and free speech be given their rightful place in the Constitution a clear, dedicated chapter that leaves no room for ambiguity,” Kamara said.

The SLAJ President further noted that the association is drawing lessons from constitutional frameworks in other African countries, particularly Ghana and South Africa, where freedom of expression and media rights enjoy stronger constitutional recognition.

Lawyer Paul Kamara, who presented the conceptual framework for the proposed chapter, said constitutional protection remains the strongest mechanism for safeguarding media independence and citizens’ right to free expression.

“A constitutional guarantee is the strongest form of protection for media independence and citizens’ rights to free expression,” he said.

The stakeholder discussions also expanded beyond the proposed free speech chapter, with participants making recommendations aimed at strengthening Sierra Leone’s wider media regulatory and professional environment.

Dr. Francis Sowa, Esq., National Coordinator of the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG), called for the Independent Media Commission (IMC) to be entrenched in the Constitution to strengthen its independence and protect media practitioners from undue interference.

“The IMC must be part of the Constitution to ensure its independence and protect media practitioners,” Dr. Sowa said.

Charles Israel Williams, Esq., also proposed the development of a Media Practitioners’ Act similar to the Legal Practitioners’ Act, which provides a statutory framework for the legal profession.

The discussions underscored the need for continued consultation among journalists, legal practitioners, civil society organisations, human rights groups and other stakeholders as Sierra Leone progresses with its constitutional reform process.

Dr. Massaquoi described the initiative as “work in progress” and urged the current SLAJ leadership to maintain broad-based consultations with relevant stakeholders to build consensus around the proposed reforms.

The engagement forms part of SLAJ’s ongoing advocacy under the MEDIA Project, supported by the European Union (EU) through BBC Media Action.

Through the initiative, SLAJ seeks to advance national discussions on the inclusion of a stand-alone chapter on Free Speech and Press Freedom in Sierra Leone’s proposed new Constitution, with advocates arguing that stronger constitutional protection would help safeguard democratic participation, media independence and the fundamental rights of citizens.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 9th September 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)