At the just concluded SLAJ (Sierra Leone Association of Journalists) Golden Jubilee Annual General Meeting held at the Galliness Paradise Hotel in Bo City, the Association’s national executive crowned His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio as the “Champion Of Free Speech” for fulfilling his manifesto promise of repealing the Criminal Libel Law. The special award was received on behalf of the President by the Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa.
According to the President of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, President Julius Maada Bio has asked for the award to be formally presented to him in person at State House today.
In his party manifesto in 2018, candidate Julius Maada Bio promised to repeal Part V of the obnoxious Public Order Act of 1965. In fulfillment of that manifesto commitment, when he was elected President in April 2018, President Julius Maada Bio took concrete and decisive steps to repeal Part V of the Public Order Act of 1965.