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The Independent Media Commission (IMC) has fined several Sierra Leonean newspapers and ordered prominent retractions following complaints of defamation and inaccurate reporting, in one of its largest enforcement actions in recent years.
The sanctions, announced after the Commission’s February 25 meeting, target publications accused of breaching the IMC Act 2020 and media regulations. Cases involved allegations of defamation, denial of right of reply, and publishing unsubstantiated claims .
Focus Independent Newspaper received the highest fine of NLe 30,000 (approximately $1,100). The penalty stemmed from a complaint by the Public Service Commission over a June 2025 article alleging corruption and tribalism. The IMC said the newspaper failed to appear at two subpoenaed hearings and was operating without registration .
Gleaner Newspaper was fined NLe 5,000 and ordered to publish a retraction with “equal prominence” after reporting that Taninhum Resort (SL) Limited was functioning as a cocaine processing facility. The Commission stated its investigation “found no evidence to support the claim” .
Minister of Social Welfare Melrose Karminty successfully brought complaints against two newspapers. Daybreak was fined NLe 10,000 and given 30 days to retract, while Salone Compass received a NLe 5,000 fine and a retraction order over reports concerning alleged fraudulent employment of a foreign national .
In separate actions, Professor Alyageen A.M. Alghali challenged reports by Daybreak and New Age newspapers alleging abuse of office. The Commission found the claims “unsupported by credible evidence,” fining both publications NLe 5,000, with Daybreak receiving an additional NLe 5,000 penalty .
The rulings also extended to state media. The IMC upheld a complaint by Umu Thoronka against the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation, ruling that her employment was verbally terminated without due process. SLBC has been directed to negotiate compensation .
Lawyer Joseph Egbenda Kapuwa, IMC Chairperson, defended the enforcement action. “While freedom of expression is fundamental, it must be exercised responsibly,” he said, emphasizing the balance between constitutional protections and the harm caused by inaccurate reporting .
The fines pose significant financial burdens for newspapers operating on thin margins. The IMC recently increased annual licence renewal fees from NLe1,000 to NLe2,500, a move media editors have protested as threatening industry survival amid declining advertising revenue and rising costs . The IMC has defended the increase as legally mandated and necessary for its operations .
The enforcement comes amid broader debates about media freedom in Sierra Leone. The International Federation of Journalists recently backed calls for the government to address outstanding media freedom concerns, including reviewing provisions of the Cyber Security and Crime Act and adopting a proposed constitutional chapter safeguarding press freedom .
The rulings also follow a February 9 IMC stakeholders’ meeting where Kapuwa emphasized the Commission’s preference for “dialogue, collaboration and preventive engagement rather than the immediate application of sanctions” regarding media content and hate speech
