By Dennis Sam
The Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU) on Saturday led a symbolic hike to mark World Press Freedom Day, with participants calling for stronger protections for journalists as a cornerstone of peace and democratic governance.
The event, held under the theme “Press Freedom is Peace: Let’s Walk for It,” brought together journalists, media stakeholders and civil society actors for a trek from Mile 13 to the Guma Dam on the outskirts of the capital.
Speaking on behalf of Ibrahim Bangura, leader of the DIB Movement and an APC flagbearer aspirant, the chairman of the movement’s Central Coordinating Committee, Ahmed Khanou, said a free and independent press was essential for sustaining national stability.
“There can be no sustainable peace without a free, independent and responsible press,” Khanou said, describing media freedom as a “national necessity” that promotes transparency, accountability and public trust.
He said societies with strong press freedom are better informed and more resilient, with stronger democratic institutions.
Khanou commended Sierra Leonean journalists for their role in amplifying citizens’ voices and exposing wrongdoing, particularly during difficult periods in the country’s history. However, he said challenges remained, including concerns over journalists’ safety and political and economic pressures on media institutions.
He also pointed to the country’s drop in the 2026 press freedom rankings by Reporters Without Borders, where Sierra Leone fell from 56th place in 2025 to 79th this year, calling it a “wake-up call” for reform.
The hike, he added, was not merely recreational but a show of solidarity and advocacy for media independence. He urged government, political actors and citizens to support efforts to protect press freedom.
Khanou reiterated the DIB Movement’s commitment to ensuring journalists can operate without fear, while stressing the need for professionalism and ethical standards in the media.
He called for sustained action beyond the event, urging stakeholders to strengthen democracy through a credible and independent press.
“Let us walk for truth. Let us walk for accountability. And above all, let us walk for a peaceful and democratic Sierra Leone,” he said.
