SLAJ President Ahmed Sahid Nasralla
By Emma Black
On World Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2025, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) sent a letter to Hon. Alpha Sesay, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, requesting access to the final draft of the Counter Terrorism Act before it is printed and sent for presidential assent. The appeal, dated May 3, 2025, emphasizes transparency to ensure the law balances national security and press freedom.
The letter, signed by SLAJ President Ahmed Sahid Nasralla and MRCG National Coordinator Dr. Francis Sowa, acknowledges the Attorney General’s openness to dialogue. It highlights this year’s global theme, the Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Press Freedom and the Media, underscoring the role of a free press in democracy and development.
SLAJ and MRCG expressed gratitude for prior engagements with the Attorney General’s office and parliamentary leaders, where they raised concerns about the draft bill’s vague terrorism-related provisions. These could unintentionally restrict press freedom and civil liberties. Assurances were given that the African Union Model Law on Counter Terrorism guided revisions.
Citing the 2021 Cyber Security and Crime Act, where concerns were not fully addressed, the groups seek to avoid similar issues. They urged sharing the final draft to ensure it reflects Sierra Leone’s commitment to press freedom, especially under President Julius Maada Bio’s leadership as a “Champion of Press Freedom.
The appeal coincides with Sierra Leone’s rise to 56th in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, up eight places from 64th in 2024. This progress, celebrated on World Press Freedom Day, reflects stronger legal protections, support for SLAJ, and a commitment to transparency. The milestone honors Sierra Leone’s journalists and fuels optimism for a brighter media future, strengthening democracy and amplifying citizens’ voices.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, May 7th, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
