By Sulaiman Jalloh

In a recent development, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernoh Bah has condemned attacks on the Fourth estate while performing their duties, making reference to especially award-winning journalist Amadu Lamrana Bah of the African Young Voices Television (AYV). He said that the government prioritises freedom of expression. Journalist Bah, recently complained fear of threat against persons believed to be supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party for his critiquing of the government of President Julius Maada Bio.

His condemnation follows after the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and the human right commission issued press releases condemning the attack on the award-winning journalist and any other media practitioner in the country.

Minister Bah highlighted President Bio’s commitment to press freedom and journalist protection while emphasizing the need for factual reporting and professionalism among journalists in the African country. “President Bio is committed to press freedom that is why during his first tenure he repealed the seditious libel Law the part five of the 1965 constitution” Bah narrates.

According to him, the government will not tolerate any of their party supporters to go against any journalist who is trying to perform their duty. He encouraged media practitioners to perform their journalistic duties in the country, noting the government is against any from intimidation towards the fourth estate. He, however, extended an open invitation for verification of information with him, anytime.

He made the assertion on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 during his ministry’s weekly press briefing at the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation conference hall in Freetown.

Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, April 12th, 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)