By Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara (JFK)
The recent police interruption of the launch of a motorbike assembly factory by Mohamed Omodu Kamara (Jagaban) at Six Mile has ignited a necessary public debate. The stated reason, a lack of police clearance, and other undisclosed justifications have rightfully raised concerns about the state of our fundamental freedom of assembly.
In any democracy, the police have a sacred duty to safeguard public safety and maintain order. This principle is not in dispute. However, any authority exercised must be proportionate, transparent, and reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.
Section 26(1) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone unambiguously guarantees the freedom of assembly and association. This is not a mere abstract concept; it is a cornerstone of our democracy. It empowers every citizen, irrespective of political affiliation, to gather, associate, and engage freely in the nation’s civic and economic life. For the police to disrupt a gathering centered on economic development and empowerment is to undermine the very rights they are sworn to protect.
The irony is profound. At a time when Sierra Leone is grappling with crippling unemployment and economic hardship, here is an initiative promising jobs, growth, and opportunity for our restless youth. The legitimate public expectation is for such endeavors to be supported and protected. The state’s role should be to ensure law and order at such events, not to stand as an obstacle to them.
Jagaban, like me, is an aspirant in the APC’s flagbearer race. His political ambitions must not be grounds for the denial of his constitutional rights. If this precedent is allowed to stand, no opposition voice is safe. What befalls him today could befall another tomorrow. If such trends continue, the freedom of every Sierra Leonean is diminished.