The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), together with key media and civil society stakeholders, on Thursday, 26th February 2026, engaged the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay, and his Deputy, Madam Saptieu Saccoh, on the proposed stand-alone constitutional chapter on Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression.
The engagement was a follow-up to an earlier meeting held in February 2025, during which SLAJ formally presented its proposal for what it envisions as Chapter 12 of the Constitution, a dedicated chapter to constitutionally guarantee freedom of expression, press freedom, and access to information.
SLAJ has been advocating for a standalone constitutional chapter since 2016, when it submitted a proposal to the Justice Cowan Constitutional Review Committee. Although the proposal was not reflected in the subsequent Government White Paper, the Association has continued sustained advocacy on the matter.
The current constitutional reform momentum, following the recommendations of the Tripartite Committee established after the 2023 elections, has reopened the window of opportunity for broader amendments to the 1991 Constitution. If adopted, the proposed chapter would provide explicit constitutional protection for citizens’ rights to free speech and expression; protections that would extend to civil society actors, journalists, politicians, musicians, bloggers, comedians, actors, businesspeople, commercial motorbike riders (okada riders), and all citizens.
Speaking on behalf of the media stakeholders, SLAJ President Alhaji Manika Kamara expressed appreciation to the Attorney General for engaging the media on critical national issues. He emphasised that Sierra Leoneans deserve a clear, stand-alone constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression and press freedom, especially in light of ongoing public debates surrounding the Constitutional Amendment Bill currently before Parliament.
He noted that the absence of explicit and robust constitutional guarantees has contributed to an environment where citizens sometimes fear being labelled politically aligned or attacked for expressing independent views on national matters. He assured that SLAJ and its partners would continue advocating in the public interest, citing comparative examples such as Kenya, whose constitution contains detailed and enforceable protections for fundamental rights and freedoms.
In his response, Attorney General Alpha Sesay provided a historical overview of efforts to review the 1991 Constitution, tracing reform discussions back over two decades. He referenced the Lomé Peace Agreement and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), both of which recommended constitutional reforms. He noted that former President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah appointed the Peter Tucker Committee to review the Constitution, while former President Ernest Bai Koroma later established the Justice Cowan Committee. The current Government subsequently accepted several of the Cowan Committee’s key recommendations in its White Paper.
The Attorney General further explained that the aftermath of the 2023 elections led to the formation of the Tripartite Committee, comprising representatives of the APC, SLPP, and international partners, which worked for approximately six months and produced 80 agreed recommendations.
He used the opportunity to clarify concerns surrounding the Constitutional Amendment Bill currently before Parliament, particularly provisions related to electoral reforms. He stated that the Bill largely reflects the Tripartite Committee’s recommendations, with only limited modifications made by Government within its legal mandate to ensure clarity and address issues that contributed to the post-election impasse.
He acknowledged concerns raised about certain provisions, including the financial threshold for independent candidates, noting that women’s groups had raised legitimate concerns about potential barriers. He also addressed broader public skepticism, observing that a longstanding trust deficit between successive governments and citizens, spanning the administrations of the APC and SLPP, remains a national challenge that the current Government is seeking to address.
On the broader constitutional reform agenda, the Attorney General disclosed that the review process is expected to continue until the end of 2026. He indicated that Chapter III of the 1991 Constitution is proposed to be revised into a more robust and justiciable Bill of Rights. Other proposed new provisions in the reformed Constitution would address citizenship, local government, and lands and environmental governance, among others.
Regarding the media stakeholders’ proposal, he assured the delegation that there is hope for its consideration. He emphasised that the constitutional review process cannot be successfully concluded without the active participation of the media and affirmed that, if the proposal for a stand-alone chapter on press freedom is accepted, the Law Officers’ Department would work closely with SLAJ to carefully draft the relevant provisions to avoid ambiguity or misinterpretation.
The Attorney General further explained that the current Amendment Bill before Parliament focuses primarily on electoral reforms, given that the next general elections are little bite over two years away. He indicated that additional constitutional amendments would follow after Parliament concludes deliberations on the current Bill, with the broader reform process expected to advance toward the end of the year.
The SLAJ delegation included members of the Association’s Executive, former SLAJ Presidents Ahmed Sahid Nasralla (ex officio) and Umaru Fofana, Tanu Jalloh (SLAJ member and Lecturer), as well as the Presidents of the Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL), the Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU), and the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL). The Chairman of the Guild of Editors, the Executive Secretary of the Independent Media Commission were also present, alongside representatives from the Independent Radio Network (IRN), the Sierra Leone Broadcasters Association (SiLBA), and civil society, represented by Abdul M. Fatoma of the Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI).
The meeting reaffirmed the media’s commitment to constructive engagement in the constitutional reform process and to ensuring that freedom of expression and press freedom are firmly and explicitly protected in Sierra Leone’s supreme law.
Credit: SLAJ Secretariat
