The Parliament of Sierra Leone is planning to put forward for discussion two new legislative amendments that will influence democracy and free and fair conduct of the upcoming elections in June 2023.

The two proposed legislative amendments are scheduled to be tabled in Parliament by Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Communication said on Thursday, 26th January 2022 at 10 am

In a report by Africanist Presse, it is revealed that one of the proposed legislations is designed to introduce new regulations on the right to access informatione and the other introduces a set of fresh regulations on how the media should provide elections coverage and reporting.

It is also revealed that the proposed changes seek to amend both the 2013 Right to Access Information Act, and the Independent Media Commission Act 2020.

However the Parliament and Cabinet have neither disclosed the content of the proposed legal changes to the two Acts nor have they held any public discussion on the new legal reforms and their potential impacts on the media, the right to free speech, and citizens’ right to access information.

There are scares that the new development will likely affect independent journalism and citizens’ right to access information, especially information relating to good governance, the electoral arrangement, and the voting process.