Muhammed S. Bah, President of GPU
By Buba Gagigo
Muhammed S. Bah, President of the Gambia Press Union (GPU), emphasized the importance of a free press for democracy during his address at the National Journalism Awards on Saturday, urging the government to protect journalists amidst escalating threats.
“While we celebrate progress, we cannot ignore the stormy clouds on our horizon. Alarming statements from senior political leaders, including the President, against the media and civil rights advocates undermine the very foundation of our democracy. The arrest and detention of journalists and activists by state security agents remind us of the fragility of our hard-won freedoms. To the government, I say this: A free press is not your enemy. It is your partner in building a just and democratic society. Journalists must be able to work without fear—whether from the courts, the executive, or any other institution,” he said.
Bah also expressed concern over the continued existence of the sedition law, which has been used to intimidate journalists and suppress free speech. Despite efforts to repeal it through the proposed Criminal Offences Bill, the process has stalled in the National Assembly since 2022.
“We are also concerned that the same Criminal Offences Bill, 2022 replicated the “False Publication and Broadcasting” law – a draconian provision from the Criminal Code which is still being used against journalists – with punishment for anyone found guilty of up to one-year imprisonment or a fine of more than 200, 000 Dalasi or both. The “False Publication and Broadcasting” law, among other draconian Gambian media laws, is recommended for repeal by the ECOWAS Court of Justice in 2018, by Gambia’s Truth Commission in 2021, and by a government Media Law Review Committee in 2018,” he said.
The GPU President further criticized the incomplete media law reforms, which he argued continue to hinder press freedom and free expression, urging the government to fulfill its commitments.
“A free press is not merely a constitutional obligation; it is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy,” he said.