This year’s theme for World Press Freedom Day is, “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in times of Disinformation.” The World Press Freedom Day is annually observed on May 3 to inform the international community of nations that Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Expression are fundamental Human Rights.
World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General conference.
Since then May 3, the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day It is an opportunity to:
* Celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom;
* Assess the state of the press throughout the world;
* Defend the media from attacks on their independence;
* And to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Plethora of journalists have been arrested and detained unlawfully and at some point killed for reporting on issues of public interest and social injustice. Reporting on crimes, politics and corruption should no longer be a matter of life and death as it is evident in Sierra Leone and some other parts of the world. The media play a crucial role in covering the devastating effects of maladministration and provide citizens with germane information that enable them to stand up against those vices in society.
An independent and free media is a solid cornerstone for democracy, a vital pillar of national integration and consolidate democratic good governance. It is a public watchdog on the abuse of power by politicians, surreptitious dealings and corruption. Therefore, to unearth these vices in our society and body politics, the press should be free from draconian and obsolete colonial leftover laws that impede its fundamental functions of informing, educating and entertaining, as espoused by the French philosopher Louis Althusser.
Press freedom is a fundamental Human Right that is recognized and protected in Sierra Leone and beyond. It is the democratic and constitutional right of the media to hold the government and it officials accountable to the citizens. In that vein, the mass media is expected to function independently without external censorship and any kind of unlawful imposition of a legislation that runs contrary with the spirit of the National Constitution of Sierra Leone Act No.6 of 1991.
This year’s theme is explicitly coined for media and non-media practitioners to know that, the mass media is a tool that promote and enhance a functioning and sustainable democracy. The mass media in Sierra Leone have tried to promote democratic tenets in Sierra Leone. It is crystal clear during the March 2018 general elections; the media played outstanding role in ensuring we have a free, fair and transparent elections. They have a responsibility to report political happenings; but they should not misinform citizens because that will render them to make shortsighted and sentimental decisions.
Journalism is a sacred profession like any other profession you can think of. Because you can read and write do not guarantee you a place in the profession, if you do not abreast yourself with it ethical principles. People should stop seeing Journalism as a waiting ground for greener pastures job, rather they should see it as life ending career. The world has journeyed to the information and communication era that is characterized by massive development in technology and the unending quest to know. In that backdrop, professional journalists should take the front seat.
If this profession is left in the hands of quack journalists who lack the passion and desire to report daily happenings then the world is heading for doom. May 3 is marked for the brave souls of those dedicated and altruistic journalists for them to continue to rest in jollification. Let us celebrate and remind our current soldiers in the news business that they have done well but a lot is left to be done. Part 5 of the Public Order Act No.46 of 1965 should be repealed as promised. Politicians should not have a shade to lean on. Journalists should continue to report responsibly as expected.

In his statement marking 2019 World Press Freedom Day, the President of Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Kelvin Lewis stated that the global theme for the World Press Freedom Day 2019 as prescribed by UNESCO the foremost UN institution for promoting free expression is “Media for Democracy: Journalism and Elections in Times of Disinformation” is timely.
He added however that in Sierra Leone, the most pressing issue is the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law, which is largely being resisted because of criticisms on the quality of journalism in the country.
He added that even in church, pastors preach about the truth and that the Holy Bible says in John chapter 8 verse 32 that: “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
The SLAJ President maintained that there are numerous cases negatively affecting journalists. He highlighted cases like the case of David Tam-Baryoh during the Ebola emergency; the case of David Tam Baryoh and Transport Minister Balogun Koroma; Jonathan Leigh and Momoh Konte; Jonathan Leigh and former Information Minister Alpha Khan, and many more as instances that demonstrate the fact that journalists in Sierra Leone have a bad deal with the Government.
On his own part, the Chairman, Independent Media Commission (IMC), George .S. Khoryama said that as far as the IMC is concerned, World Press Freedom Day is a moment of retrospection of how much the media has achieved in its role in terms of providing the public not only information for the sake of information, but equally so an impartial, objective and meaningful information that could trigger sustainable national development, unity and patriotism.
He added that ‘it is a day for us as media practitioners to ask ourselves whether we have fulfilled the sacred obligation of professionalism in terms of balanced and accurate reporting, fairness, excellence and above all satisfying our consciences that indeed we are good journalists.’
He went on to say that: ‘the Criminal Libel Law continues to roar from the pages of our national constitution and from the law courts in this country and could be portrayed to that of the sword of Damocles that is hanging over journalists.’
He further said that the Criminal Libel Law should be removed from the books of law in this country when it no longer exists in law books of the very colonialists who had introduced it here in the first place. He said: ‘This is a historical misfortune and it should be removed.’
He added that a free press and freedom of expression must work not allow people in authority to wrap themselves up in “reason of state” or “national security” in order to muzzle the wholesome functioning of the free press.
He maintained that the right to free press and to freedom of expression is guaranteed under almost all international conventions including international law and human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights UDHR (1948), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966, the European Convention on Human Rights, the American Convention of Human Rights of 1969 and the African Charter on Human Rights and People’s Rights of 1987.

On Friday 3rd May 2019, during a ceremony held at the Office of the First Lady, the Founder, Chairman and President of World Peace and Diplomacy Organization, Dr. G. B. Singh, officially awarded the organization’s highest and most prestigious award: ‘The World Peace Ambassador’, to the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Mrs. Fatima Bio, in recognition of her relentless work in bridging the gap created by social, racial and gender discrimination in Sierra Leone and the world at large.
Speaking on the importance of the award, Dr. G. B. Singh said that the award is presented to the First Lady on nomination and recommendations of the Board of Trustees of the organization. According to him, there are different categories of awards given to various individuals across the globe, which includes an award for Youth Ambassador for Peace among others.
But this award, he added, has only been given to four (4) individuals in Africa, with Sierra Leone’s First Lady being the latest recipient.
Receiving the award, First Lady, Fatima Bio expressed her appreciation for being considered for such a prestigious award. She went on to say that she is humbled and proud to be a recipient of such an award.
However, she maintained that her work is not motivated by the desire for publicity; but rather she has been doing similar things prior to her assuming her current position. She further disclosed that while she does not crave for publicity; her present disposition dictates otherwise and that she could not help but carry on her job.
“What I do, I do selflessly and not for publicity…,” she stressed. She also expressed her appreciation to the organization for considering Sierra Leone, adding that it is gratifying to know that there are people out there who follow her on her work inside and outside of the country.
She assured the Founder and President that she will not relent and will continue to do the work she is doing for humanity and for Sierra Leone. She expressed her satisfaction for having the space to continue her work; adding that her platform has been enlarged by the opportunity given to her by her husband.
World Peace and Diplomacy Organization was formed in 2011 by its founder Dr. G. B. Singh and is geared towards encouraging individuals and institutions to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. Whilst recognizing that it could not preach peace and advocate for all the other issues in the SDG, it has therefore embarked on making Ambassadors who will carry on the message and the good work to meet these goals by 2030.
The ceremony was climaxed by the adorning of the First Lady with a shawl around her neck and a gold medal award of ‘World Peace Ambassador’. A question and answer session formed part of the closing ceremonies.

The Editor of Sierra Express Media, Ibrahim Alusine Kamara, and four other journalists including the Executive Editor of Standard Times and CEO of Star TV, Philip Neville, General Editor, Mustapha Sesay, Copy Editor, Clifford Kabia of Standard Times Newspaper and Managing Editor of Future Newspaper, Moisa Keikura, will today, Monday, May 6th, 2019, appear at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court for alleged defamatory publications made against one Gabriel Tommy, the head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
According to the Statement of Offence as stated in the criminal summon, the above journalists on diverse dates conspired with other persons unknown to injure by wrongful acts otherwise than by fraud contrary to law, knowingly published defamatory libel contrary to section 26 of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965, defamatory libel contrary to section 27 of the Public Order Act no. 46 of 1965 among others charges.
One of the Particulars of Offence states that Moisa Keikura and Ibrahim Alusine Kamara on the 16th of April, 2019 in Volume 8 No. 59 of the Future Newspaper maliciously published a defamatory matter against complainant in written words to wit: ‘’ In US$ 500, 000 Theft Fraud Case… CID BOSS ALLEGEDLY COMPROMISED’’.
Below is the alleged defamatory article which was first published by Sierra Express Media and later published on Future Newspaper for which a court action has been taken by complainant:
‘’In US$ 500,000Theft & Passport Fraud Cases…
CID BOSS ALLEGEDLY COMPROMISED
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara
The head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Sierra Leone, Supt. Gabriel Tommy, is accused of being compromised by one Randa Skeiky, a suspect in a US$ 500,000 theft and Passport Fraud cases which the CID has been investigating for the past seven months.
The theft case, according to investigation mounted by this medium, was reported to the CID Boss in early September, 2018 by the complainant, Alie Abess, but till date, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has done little or nothing to give justice to whom it dues.
Our investigations further reveal that Gabriel Tommy on the 13th of September, 2018, allegedly authorized the escape of the accused (Randa Skeiky) from the country after the complainant had informed him that she was at the airport trying to flee the country.
Reports state that a search was conducted on the accused and about seventeen thousand dollars, three thousand pounds and a ring made with gold and diamond worth over ten to fifteen thousand dollars were discovered but Police files at the Lungi International Airport only recorded the sums of five thousand dollars, two thousand pounds and the ring respectively.
The CID Boss, rather than acting on the complainant’s allegation, which already had gained some significant grounds as a result of the discoveries made during the police search on the suspect by preventing her from leaving the country, instead gave instructions to the police at the Lungi Airport to allow her leave.
His decision to allow the suspect to leave even after the said seventeen thousand dollars and three thousand pounds discoveries were made during the search carried out on the suspect; an amount which by law, is not permitted to travel with, has now raised serious eyebrows from members of the public who now see such the CID Boss’ action as one driven by ulterior motive.
Upon the accused’s return, our investigation revealed , the CID Boss was informed by the complainant for action to be taken but he gave deaf ears to the information on the excuse that there was no airport manifest to substantiate the coming of the accused in the country. The complainant, our investigation further revealed, had to go all out to get the airport and airline manifests just so that the CID would take action.
When the accused was finally arrested, investigation furthered, the CID Boss on three separate occasions, released her unconditionally. As this medium puts this piece together, the accused, Randa Skeiky, is walking free on the streets of the country galvanizing support from political authorities to protect her from facing justice for her crime.
This medium also learnt that because the suspect was allowed to travel out of the country, she was able to galvanize enough support which she had used in coming up with a fabricated audio recording purported to have been sent to her by the complainant.
The CID Boss, instead of investigating the authenticity of the audio recording, as professionalism demands, has taken it as truth hook, line and sinker which he is now using as a yardstick to deny justice to whom it rightfully belongs.
It was further understood that even the passport fraud case was only picked up when the matter was sent for advice.
Many Sierra Leoneans are now questioning the integrity and proffesionalism of the CID Boss, who many believe, is now doing everything possible to protect the suspect from facing justice for her crimes.
When this medium contacted Gabriel Tommy for his response to the above allegations, he sent the following message: ‘’Thanks IB, but no comment. Abess is exposed to several remedies to address his grievance: the ACC, Ombudsman, CDIID, Human Rights, IPCB, The courts, Legal Aid etc. etc. However, in case he did not know, you can advise him, thanks. ‘’
With such response coming from him, many citizens now believe that the CID Boss has being compromised.

The Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission has signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Commission for Social Action on May 3rd at the NACSA head office on Charlotte Street in Freetown to effectively collaborate in the implementation of the Social Safety Net project. The ACC is particularly in charge of the grievance mechanism and within the shortest time, resources have been made available to members of the public by NACSA and the ACC’s role is to make sure that there is transparency and accountability. The ACC will look into the grievances that may come up within communities.
The Commissioner of NACSA, Abubakar Kokofele clearly said that the MOU is about the Social Safety Net that they have been implementing jointly with the ACC since 2014. Prior to now, the implementation of this project had started long ago between the same two parties but had not got a clear MOU signed and as a result, no good product had been yielded. This MOU will clearly show the roles and duties of both parties so that it can get increase quality of services.
The roles of NACSA in the MOU as outlined by Mr. Kokofele are to receive funding from sponsors and to implement the project which will be done by an independent, reliable body and it is going to be done by the ACC. They are also going to hire the services of other institutions like banks and Statistics Sierra Leone to help facilitate the project to better the lives of Sierra Leoneans. “We are also going to incorporate the community stakeholders so that we can get a first experience,” Commissioner Kokofele added. NACSA is very much equal to this task and they have received additional funding of 30 million dollars.
According to the ACC boss, most of the communities are so far away from the central where the distributions are going to be done and they want to make sure this project is successful and the issues that arise out of them are dealt with. The MOU clearly distinguishes the issues, the roles and the equal partnership relationship between the ACC and NACSA and both parties are happy it’s now in black and white. They now know the roles and duties of both parties without interference.
The MOU contains several issues like financial provision as to how the ACC receives support from NACSA, financial management provision as to how to manage the resources, procurement and also the budget approval systems. The MOU also defines the relationship between the two parties in terms of reporting the outcomes of everything. The ACC boss also emphasized that this project is being supported by World Bank highlighting how the MOU is very timely enough to improve the lives of the most deprived communities in the rural parts of the country.

Former child soldier turned humanitarian; Ishmael Alfred Charles has come out strongly to commend the Rokel Commercial Bank over the bank’s decision to support his humanitarian work.

“Rokel had now given us the opportunity to install our donation boxes in all their branches across the country and we are very thankful. It is only people with compassionate hearts can act so promptly without protocols to help save the lives of sick and needy children,” said Ishmael Alfred Charles, a popular child health advocate who is the Programme Manager of Healy Foundation.

Charles, who has gained both national and international recognition for his remarkable successes in mobilizing resources for children indeed of specialist medical care abroad described the Rokel Commercial Bank as a “True Compassionate Sierra Leonean Bank” which has, unlike other financial institutions not ignored his request for financial assistance or other forms of collaboration for helping children with life threatening ailments like the famous Baby Marian and Baby Mariama who were both flown to India for emergency surgeries.

Charles said another thing that touched him most was the humility of the Managing Director, Dr. Walton Gilpin, whom he said was always available to see them amidst his very busy schedules. According to the young humanitarian it is not the case with some heads of financial institutions in the country.

“It is but worthy to deal with a bank that is compassionate for they will not only take care of your resources but care for the wellbeing if need be. So, bank with Rokel,” he maintained.

The revolutionary mobile application – the Rokel Simkorpor is breaking new grounds and changing lives by taking real time banking to the door steps of customers. Government workers in some remote parts of the country like Bonthe Island are now assured of receiving their monthly salaries without having to spend a huge chunk of their salaries on transport fares to access banking services in distant towns or cities. The Bank is set to launch its new customized Simkorpr kiosks at strategic locations across the country.
The Bank has considerably improved customer service, strengthened its corporate social responsibility, improved training opportunities for staff and is upgrading the IT infrastructure.

A concerned constitutionalist, with regards the many complaints made against the Minister of Lands, Dr. Denis Sandy has stated that the fundamental role of any Government is the protection and promotion of the rights and liberties of its citizens, foremost amongst these is the right to own property.
For example, one Madam Yvette Auber Shears is an aggrieved Sierra Leonean who firmly believes that the Minister of Lands behaved outside the scope of the law and outside the remit of his powers of a Minister in taking armed security personnel to take over land for which she says she has documents showing ownership inherited from her parents.
What irks Madam Auber most is that Dr. Sandy woefully failed to ask the family to show evidence of their ownership of the said parcel of land before expropriating it to the State.
This and many other complaints have come from the Krios who dwell in the Western Area about Dr. Sandy setting aside ancient ownership rights with utter impunity.
The point being made is that His Excellency, President Bio, should be fully aware that the most prized possession that anybody can hand over to his or her children is land, especially one on which a house or houses stand.
If Dr. Sandy is, allegedly, without recourse to legality is going about dispossessing people of their lands, that is breeding ground for discontent against the President and his party by an influential section of the populace that has political implications when it comes to elections.
As such, it is high time that President Bio opens his ears to the complaints from the Krios that Dr. Sandy is infringing on their rights to own inherited lands, considering that unlike the provincials, they are highly educated with amongst them intellectuals that are lawyers, etc.
Land ownership runs down the line from generation to generation, except abrogated through sale or legal forfeiture to the State for public use, etc.
For example, through inheritance, the Queen of England and her family are the largest landowners in the city of London inherited from their ancestors.
In which light, whilst nobody quarrels with Dr. Sandy over his right to protect and where evidence is available, retrieve State lands, at the same time people have ancient title deeds to lands in the Western Area that date to even as far back as the possession of Freetown as a Crown Colony in 1787 and the return of the captives from Nova Scotia, Jamaica and England after Lord Mansfield declared slavery illegal in British territories.
Both President Bio and Dr. Sandy as Lands Minister are thereby called upon to have a careful rethink about the issue of ownership of land in the Western Area.

It has been well established that Sierra Leone’s economy could be considerably boosted through revenue generated from legalizing and trading in medicinal marijuana which is used to cure certain diseases or mitigate the debilitating effects of those diseases on human beings. This realization has resulted into many calling for the speedy legalization of medicinal marijuana and such an appeal cum recommendation is becoming louder and stronger every day. Our Parliamentarians and the New Direction SLPP Government, under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio, must pay keen attention to this genuine appeal and take the appropriate steps to ensure such a development materializes. Indeed, the country is desperately in need of funds to finance different development and the necessary actions need to be taken to raise the much needed revenue for the implementation of those projects in order to improve standards of living.
Countries all over the world are being asked to raise domestic resources, reform policies and find ways to fund their Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs).
St. Vincent and the Grenadines has chosen a rather unorthodox approach to help it fulfill its SDG obligations by legalizing medicinal marijuana and working to make it an export crop.
“Everyone is not developing at the same pace. Everyone doesn’t have the same needs, and the mix of financing for development can’t be imposed from above in a one-size-fits-all manner. We have to tailor it to everyone’s specificities,” said Camillo Gonsalves, St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development, and Information Technology.
Like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone in West Africa is also struggling to meet its SDGs and could consider taking the same steps by moving its Parliament to enact a law which would ensure that much is realized from the legal export and use for medicinal purposes of marijuana.
Like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sierra Leone too could consider setting up a Zero Hunger Trust Fund that is funded by a tax on mobile telephone calls and data usage. The fund supports school lunches, school books, vision tests for children, food support for vulnerable elderly people, job training, and job placement programs. The Government also can set up a national contingencies fund, supported by an extra 1% tax on consumption, which will serve as a response mechanism to natural disasters. If unneeded for several years, the fund could be spent on resilience building.
But now, if we are to look up to marijuana — a crop that has long been cultivated illegally in many parts around the world, it could help solve some of the SDG problems this country and others like it are suffering.
After reviewing public opinion and treaty obligations, St. Vincent and the Grenadines decided to legalize marijuana for medicinal use. Given the small population, the Government knew there wouldn’t be much of a domestic market, so it focused on exporting the crop.
Over the past year, the Government has created an administrative framework that governs the licensing, regulation and cultivation of cannabis and is currently selecting entities that will receive licenses to grow the crop. The country has put a cap on the amount of land that can be under cultivation for medical cannabis and will require all licensee companies to contribute annually to the national Zero Hunger Trust Fund.
“The theory is if you’re planting something that’s not food, you’re going to make a contribution to the food security of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, so there is a specific set aside again to the goal two target of the Sustainable Development Goals,” Gonsalves said, adding that Sierra Leone too can follow these steps and save itself a lot of misery.