Campaigners said the criminal libel law was used to stifle the press
Audio By Carbonatix
The International Federation of Journalists has called the repealing of Sierra Leone's criminal libel law "a great victory for freedom of information".
The law, which meant people could be jailed for libellous statements, was repealed on 23 July.
Before that, people could be jailed for up to three years, whether or not what they wrote was true.
That's because the law did not allow truth as a defence, unless you can prove that publishing the truth is in the public interest.
Campaigners have been arguing for more than a decade for the law to be repealed.
Among their complaints was that it was actually used to gag journalists and repress independent and opposition voices.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Pursue Sedinam Tamakloe first before Ofori-Atta – Frank Davies accuses gov’t of double standards
16 minutes -
TUC, PUWU pushes back against ECG, NEDCo privatisation
17 minutes -
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang courts private sector support for Free Sanitary Pad Initiative
20 minutes -
Michael Carrick: Man Utd reach agreement with ex-midfielder to take over at Old Trafford until the summer
27 minutes -
I’ve not signed or cancelled any number plate contracts — DVLA Boss
40 minutes -
Offinso crash death toll rises to three
42 minutes -
BBC seeks dismissal of Trump’s $5bn defamation lawsuit
52 minutes -
We did international activations ahead of December in Ghana 2025 – Abeiku Aggrey
54 minutes -
‘Have GH¢100,000 or don’t wed’: Duncan-Williams slams lavish weddings
55 minutes -
Decision time for Trump on Iran but what does he ultimately want?
58 minutes -
‘They just kept killing’: Eyewitnesses describe deadly crackdown in Iran
59 minutes -
Armwrestling: Ghana confirmed to host 15th Africa Armwrestling Championship in April 2026
59 minutes -
Supreme Court defers ruling on Kpandai by-election to January 28
59 minutes -
IBF congratulates John Laryea on Continental Africa Featherweight triumph
1 hour -
Ofori-Atta is embarrassing Ghana, says Martin Kpebu
1 hour