In contrast to Jammeh’s era when journalists were killed and arbitrarily arrested and detained, your regime, particularly in 2017, brought in a shift which led to The Gambia being the 5th country in Africa in terms of media freedom in 2023. However, this year our position dropped to 10th in Africa due to the continued existence of the draconian media laws.
Mr President, Gambians voted for you in 2016 with the hope of doing away with dictatorship. Democracy includes having a vibrant press which promotes divergent views. Given the current legislative framework on the media, journalists could face up to a minimum of one-year imprisonment and a fine of up to D250,000 for false publications.
Mr President, it is important to note that The Gambia is a signatory to the universal declaration of human rights which states that everyone has the right of opinion and expression and this includes the right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, impart information and ideas through any media platform regardless of frontiers.
The ECOWAS Court of Justice, in cases involving The Gambia, has held that our criminal defamatory laws do not conform with regional treaties. The African Commission on Human and People’s Rights has also held that our current media legal framework is not consistent with regional human rights standards.
Mr President, what your Government should instead focus on is to adopt laws that conform with international standards of freedom of expression and ensure that they are complied with. At the same time, journalists should be objective in their reporting and in informing and educating the public.
Mr President, the media fraternity is a partner in development and must therefore hold the government accountable for its actions. We thus expect the executive to take action to repeal the draconian media laws and drop charges against the two journalists from The Voice newspaper. Arresting them will tarnish the legacy of your administration and the country’s performance in the World Press Freedom rankings. The Gambia Media Council – the self-regulatory body is there for anyone including the president of the land to lodge your complaints or grievances against any journalist (s), we advise that you seek for redress in this matter instead of the other way round.
They say a word for the wise is quite sufficient. We consider you to be a considerate leader and expect that to be reflected in your dealings with the media, especially as regards media laws.
Good day!