Ten Years On: Is Access to Information and Press Freedom Under Attack in Sierra Leone?
By Edward Dictionary Caulker
It has been ten years since Sierra Leone enacted the Right to Access Information (RAI) Law, a landmark reform that promised to usher in a new era of transparency, accountability, and open governance. It has also been five years since the country repealed Part 5 of the 1965 Public Order Act, which for decades criminalized free expression and silenced dissent through the seditious libel law.
Together, these two milestones were celebrated as defining victories for democracy and press freedom. Yet a decade later, a troubling question lingers across newsrooms, press conferences, and civic spaces:
Has Sierra Leone truly fulfilled the promise of press freedom and access to information—or are journalists once again under silent siege?
The RAI Act of 2013 was designed to empower citizens and journalists to request information from public institutions encouraging openness, curbing corruption, and promoting democratic participation. The 2020 repeal of criminal libel, championed by the media and civil society, was heralded as a final liberation of the press from fear and state repression.
However, many journalists today say that while the laws exist on paper, their practical enforcement remains weak. Accessing official data is often an uphill battle—requests are delayed, denied, or lost in bureaucratic red tape. Harassment, intimidation, and occasional arrests of journalists still occur, suggesting that while the law changed, the mindset of control and secrecy has not.
Recent years have seen a concerning pattern of journalists and activists being summoned by police for questioning over stories deemed “inflammatory” or “misleading.” Others have faced online abuse or public vilification for exposing corruption or mismanagement.
This pattern raises a critical question:
If free speech is no longer a crime, why do journalists still feel unsafe exercising it?
Speaking on The Today Show on SLIK TV Channel 37, Alhaji Manika Kamara, President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), acknowledged these challenges but emphasized that freedom must coexist with responsibility.
“SLAJ does not condone reckless journalism. We uphold professional standards and expect our members to do the same,” said President Kamara during an interview with Patrick Salia.
He further noted that combating misinformation remains one of the greatest challenges facing the media in the digital age.
“The spread of fake news has become a serious threat, and journalists are at the frontline of countering it,” he said.
The explosion of social media and citizen journalism has transformed Sierra Leone’s information ecosystem. While these platforms give citizens more access to information than ever before, they have also blurred the line between credible reporting and online propaganda.
This digital confusion has created a dangerous paradoxcitizens are flooded with information, yet struggle to know whom to trust. Genuine journalists are sometimes lumped together with unverified sources, while state institutions increasingly cite “fake news” as justification for restricting access or discrediting critical reporting.
At the core of journalism lies a simple democratic principle: the people’s right to know.
Access to information is not a privilege granted by government it is a right owed to every citizen.
Yet, many reporters still face obstacles when seeking basic public records. Ministries and departments remain reluctant to share data; official spokespersons often evade questions; and whistleblowers risk retaliation for cooperating with the media. This entrenched culture of secrecy undermines not only journalism but the entire architecture of accountability.
Without facts, journalists cannot inform the public accurately. Without access, democracy cannot thrive.
To be fair, the media must also look inward. In an era dominated by social media clicks and partisan narratives, some outlets have succumbed to sensationalism or bias. As President Kamara rightly noted:
“As journalists, we must remain committed to balanced reporting. Publishing one-sided stories undermines our credibility. Access to accurate and comprehensive information is essential for presenting all sides of any issue.”
Press freedom is not the freedom to misinform, but the freedom to inform truthfully, fairly, and courageously. The credibility of the media depends as much on ethical conduct as it does on the protection of their rights.
For the government, commitment to press freedom must move beyond rhetoric. It requires protecting journalists not policing them; ensuring transparency not hiding behind bureaucracy; and embracing scrutiny not viewing it as an attack.
For the media, it demands professionalism, integrity, and a steadfast defense of truth.
For citizens, it means defending their right to know and holding both the press and government accountable.
Ten years after the Right to Access Information Law and five years after the repeal of criminal libel, Sierra Leone stands at a crossroads. The framework for openness exists, but its implementation and respect remain fragile.
If journalists cannot work without fear, and if citizens cannot freely access public information, then our democracy remains incomplete.
Freedom of the press is not measured by the number of laws enacted but by the level of truth a society is willing to tolerate.
Ten years on, Sierra Leone must decide whether its commitment to openness is genuine or performative whether journalists will be partners in nation-building or targets of intimidation.
Because when journalism is under attack, the truth itself is under siege.
