MRCG POLICY BRIEF, VOL. 1 OCTOBER 2021
Journalists in Sierra Leone for over fifty-five year reported under increased fear of incarceration arising from provisions of the anti-press freedom legislation, Part V of the Public Order Act, 1965 (Act No. 46 of 1965), which undermined free speech guaranteed by the Constitution of Sierra Leone, Act No. 6 of 1991 and by extension, international best practices and standards. This law was used to intimidate, harass, arrest and detain journalists and other members of the public for criminal and seditious libel offences. This discouraged many bright journalists including women to practice the profession.