The Chairman and Leader of the Alliance Democratic Party, Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray has pledged to repeal the criminal libel law if he assumes office as President of Sierra Leone in 2018.
He made this pledge on Monday 23rd January, during the Party’s weekly press briefing at his Rawdon street office in Freetown.
The call for the repeal of Part 5 of the Public Order Act of 1965 (the criminal libel law) has for decades been the major call of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists as well as various human rights organisations in the country. This initiative is based on the grounds that the law criminalises free speech.
Kamarainba said, “I, Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray, within 24 hours when I take up office as President will repeal the criminal libel law. What am I going to hide? I assure you that you will have complete freedom of information.”
He noted that since the government is voted for by the people to serve them. It is the duty of the people to hold the government accountable. The press is the bridge between government officials and the people.
“The opposition does not understand the role of the press. The fourth estate is the bridge within governance. I assure you that you will have a press house at State House when I become President. I will have a press conference every week.”
The Chairman and Leader of ADP went on to say, “The office of the Presidential Spokesman is useless”. He said the office makes the President dumb adding, “The President needs to be talking to the people directly.”
By Edna Smalle
Twitter @SmalleEdna
Wednesday January 25, 2017