By Albert David
In Sierra Leone today, the conscience of the nation stands imperiled. Civil society and the press, two institutions entrusted as guardians of democracy, defenders of the voiceless, and watchdogs of power, are being systematically compromised, manipulated, and silenced. What should serve as the moral compass of governance has instead been reduced to an echo chamber of political expediency, eroding public trust and destabilizing the very foundations of national integrity.
Civil society organizations, once envisioned as bulwarks against injustice and protectors of the marginalized, now find themselves ensnared in webs of government patronage. Those who dare to remain critically independent are branded “anti-government,” deprived of donor support, and pushed to the margins of civic discourse. International partners, often unwittingly complicit, funnel resources to state-aligned groups, thereby isolating genuine actors and weakening the civic space. This is not benign neglect, it is a constitutional betrayal, a distortion of democratic principles, and a deliberate assault on the independence of civic institutions.
Journalism in Crisis: Integrity for Sale
The press faces a parallel tragedy. Economic hardship and political opportunism have driven many journalists into government appointments, transforming once-critical voices into instruments of propaganda. In exchange for financial security, morality and conscience are surrendered. The result is a press that no longer serves the people but perpetuates deception and manipulation.
The cases are telling: Abdul Karim Fonti Kabia, once a critical voice, muted by a government appointment as Communication Strategist at State House. Asma James, long respected for her independence, swiftly compromised by a diplomatic posting to Belgium as deputy ambassador. These appointments are not mere career shifts, they are deliberate strategies to silence dissent and co-opt integrity.
Those who resist compromise face intimidation, censorship, and persecution. The owner of Night-Watch Newspaper E.C Thorli was detained several times, locked up five days in police cell in 2019 and six days in 2022, without charge, for publications deemed “anti-government.” In 2021, lecturers at Njala University, aligned with political interests, mobbed the same journalist during a funeral, yet no charges were ever pursued despite public condemnation. Such incidents reveal a disturbing trajectory: a press under siege, stripped of independence, and punished for truth-telling.
This trajectory is not only unethical, it is dangerous. It undermines democratic development, distorts public discourse, and leaves governance unchecked. When civil society and the press lose independence, accountability evaporates, corruption thrives, and citizens are rendered voiceless before power.
The erosion of independence in Sierra Leone’s civic and media institutions is not a policy inconvenience, it is a moral and constitutional emergency. Urgent reforms must be enacted to safeguard democracy and restore integrity:
- Constitutional and Legal Safeguards
(a). Enact laws prohibiting the appointment of active journalists and civil society leaders into partisan government roles.
(b). Establish independent oversight bodies to monitor undue influence, conflicts of interest, and political patronage.
- Independent Funding Mechanisms
(a). Create transparent, non-governmental funding pools for civil society and media organizations, managed by independent trustees.
(b). Ensure donor support is merit-based, rewarding ethical journalism and advocacy rather than political loyalty.
- Strengthened Professional Codes
(a). Empower professional associations to enforce codes of ethics with real accountability.
(b). Introduce disciplinary measures for those who compromise integrity while claiming independence.
- Citizen-Led Accountability Platforms
(a). Establish watchdog platforms led by citizens to evaluate the performance of civil society and journalists.
(b) Encourage whistleblowing mechanisms to expose manipulation and unethical practices.
- Civic Education and Media Literacy
(a). Invest in genuine civic education that empowers citizens to discern propaganda from truth.
(b). Train young journalists and activists in ethical leadership, cultivating a new generation resistant to co-optation.
The betrayal of Sierra Leone’s civil society and press is not merely troubling, it is existential. It undermines democracy, distorts governance, and betrays the constitutional promise of freedom and accountability. Citizens deserve institutions that are morally grounded, intellectually rigorous, and constitutionally faithful.
To remain silent is to accept deception, manipulation, and betrayal. To act is to reclaim integrity, restore trust, and safeguard the nation’s democratic future. Sierra Leone stands at a crossroads: either slide further into hollow democracy, or rise to defend truth, accountability, and justice.
The choice is ours.
