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The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), together with media and civil society representatives, on Thursday met with the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, to discuss a proposal for a stand-alone chapter in the Constitution dedicated to press freedom and freedom of expression.
The engagement builds on an earlier meeting in February 2025, during which SLAJ formally presented its proposal for what it envisions as Chapter 12 of the Constitution, explicitly guaranteeing freedom of expression, press freedom, and access to information. SLAJ has advocated for such a provision since 2016, when it submitted recommendations to the Justice Cowan Constitutional Review Committee.
Speaking on behalf of media stakeholders, SLAJ President Alhaji Manika Kamara emphasised the need for clear constitutional guarantees for freedom of expression. He noted that public debate surrounding the current Constitutional Amendment Bill underscores the importance of safeguarding these rights and referenced comparative models, including Kenya, as examples of enforceable protections.
In his response, Attorney General Alpha Sesay highlighted the historical context of constitutional reform in Sierra Leone, citing recommendations from the Lomé Peace Agreement, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), and review committees under former Presidents Ahmed Tejan Kabbah and Ernest Bai Koroma. He explained that the current amendment bill largely reflects recommendations from the Tripartite Committee, with modifications to clarify legal provisions post-2023 elections.
The Attorney General assured stakeholders that the proposal for a stand-alone chapter on press freedom would receive careful consideration. He stressed the importance of media participation in the reform process and indicated that, if accepted, the Law Officers’ Department would collaborate with SLAJ to draft precise and actionable provisions.
The meeting also addressed broader constitutional reform initiatives. Sesay disclosed that Chapter III of the 1991 Constitution is proposed to be revised into a more robust and justiciable Bill of Rights, with additional provisions on citizenship, local governance, land, and environmental governance. He acknowledged concerns raised by women’s groups regarding financial thresholds for independent candidates and highlighted the need to strengthen public trust in governance.
The engagement was attended by members of SLAJ’s executive, former SLAJ presidents Ahmed Sahid Nasralla and Umaru Fofana, representatives of Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL), the Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU), the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL), the Guild of Editors, the Independent Media Commission, the Independent Radio Network (IRN), the Sierra Leone Broadcasters Association (SiLBA), and civil society representatives, including Abdul M. Fatoma of the Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI).
The meeting concluded with media stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to constructive engagement in the constitutional reform process and continued advocacy for explicit constitutional protections for freedom of expression and press freedom.
