Musa Sheriff, the proprietor and editor-in-chief of The Voice Newspaper and Justice Darboe, the deputy editor-in-chief of the same newspaper are to appear in court today to answer to a charge of false publication contrary to section 181A of the Criminal Code.
In its final report, the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Commission (TRRC), recommended in volume 7 that the government should “consider libel, defamation and media-related offenses, in general, as civil and not criminal offences.” The government in its White Paper on the report promised in a number of paragraphs to bring its media laws in conformity with international standards.
When four journalists and the Federation of African Journalists filed a case against The Gambia at the Ecowas Court, the Court declared that criminal sanctions for sedition, defamation, and false news had “a chilling effect that may unduly restrict the exercise of freedom of expression of journalists” and ordered The Gambia to amend its laws to bring them in conformity with international law.
Foroyaa still maintains that there is wisdom and honour in withdrawing the case. Government can only boast that it is a true defender of media freedom and freedom of expression and reform of media laws if it refrains from applying laws that impinge on media freedom and work on bringing these media laws in conformity with international law.
