President Bio Receives Prestigious Award
At State House yesterday, the President of SLAJ (Sierra Leone Association of Journalists), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla formally presented a special recognition award to His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio for fulfilling his 2018 manifesto promise of repealing the Criminal Libel Law.
Formally presenting the special award of “Champion of Free Speech” to the President at State House yesterday, Mr. Nasralla said, “Your Excellency, every journey, no matter how long, will one day come to an end…And so last year, 2020, we witnessed the historic repeal of the obnoxious law, ushering a new dawn for not only the media in Sierra Leone but for every citizen in the area of freedom of expression and of the press”.
The SLAJ President noted that the criminal libel law was used 99% by successive governments and politicians “to cow the media, intimidate and incarcerate Journalists to escape being held to account and to clamp down on dissenting views”.
In his response, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio noted that his decision to repeal Part V of the Public Order Act of 1965 was in line with his party’s election manifesto commitment. He described the award as “a bonus” because the repeal of Part V of the Public Order Act of 1965 was a commitment he made with an open mind.
The President said that he was of the view that critical and dissenting views add value to decision making. He said, “I am not afraid of dissenting views”.
President Bio congratulated SLAJ for celebrating 50 years of their existence as a professional association. He encouraged journalists to be responsible in their criticisms of government policies.
President Julius Maada Bio noted that his government will continue to support the growth of a free and responsible media in Sierra Leone.
In his declaration of purpose, the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swarray described President Bio’s decision to spearhead the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law as “courageous”.
The presentation ceremony at State House was chaired by the Presidential Spokesman and Press Secretary, Yusuf Keketoma Sandy ESQ.
