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Dozens of journalists traded their newsrooms for the mountains this week, hiking to the Guma Dam in a symbolic demonstration that a free press builds a peaceful nation.
The Sierra Leone Reporters’ Union (SLRU) organised the walk to mark World Press Freedom Day under the theme, “Press Freedom is Peace: Let’s Walk for It.”
Speaking at the event, Dr. Ibrahim Bangura, an aspirant for the All People’s Congress (APC) Party presidential flagbearer, told journalists that press freedom is not merely a professional concern but a national imperative.
“There can be no sustainable peace without a free, independent, and responsible press,” Bangura said. “Where the media thrives freely, societies are better informed, institutions are more responsive, and peace is more durable.”
Bangura cited the 1991 Windhoek Declaration, which affirmed that an independent, pluralistic, and free press is essential to democracy, and called that principle as relevant today as ever.
However, he noted that press freedom in Sierra Leone remains “a work in progress,” citing concerns over journalist safety, political and economic pressures on media institutions, and the need for stronger professionalism and ethical standards.
His remarks came against the backdrop of a sharp decline in Sierra Leone’s ranking on the 2026 Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders. The country fell from 56th position in 2025 to 79th this year.
“This development should not discourage us, but rather serve as a call to renewed commitment, reform, and collective responsibility,” Bangura said.
The APC aspirant called on all stakeholders — government, political actors, civil society, and citizens — to protect and promote media independence. He added that press freedom must be matched with responsibility, including accuracy, fairness, and ethical conduct.
“Let us walk together — not only in solidarity today, but in sustained action — towards a future where press freedom is fully realised, democracy is strengthened, and peace is secured,” he said.
