By: Usman Fambuleh
IMATT College on Friday, 23 January 2026, hosted the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Hon. Chernor Bah, and the Chairman of the Independent Media Commission (IMC), Joseph Ebenda Kapuwa Esq., as guest lecturers at the Department of Law. The academic engagement, held at the 4th Floor of the IMATT College Kingtom Campus, attracted law students, lecturers, and invited guests.
Welcoming the distinguished guests, the Proprietor and Board Member of IMATT College, Amadu Justice Bah, expressed appreciation for their acceptance of the invitation. He provided a brief background on the establishment of the institution and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering quality legal education.
“IMATT College has often been referred to as the Harvard of Sierra Leone, and this is due to the standard, quality, and efficient education we continue to provide,” he stated.
Delivering his lecture on the oversight role, legal mandate, and regulation of the Fifth Estate — social media — Minister Chernor Bah outlined ongoing efforts by his ministry to regulate the digital media space. He emphasized that while freedom of speech is fundamental to democracy, it must be exercised responsibly and in the public interest.
“Inasmuch as we desire a free society and free speech, responsibility is key,” the Minister noted.
He assured media practitioners of his commitment to press freedom, stating, “I will try my best to ensure that no media professional sleeps in jail — not under my tenure.”
Minister Bah encouraged students and media practitioners to uphold professional standards by fact-checking information before publication in order to curb the spread of misinformation. He disclosed that the government is developing policies to regulate individuals and institutions operating as news media on social media platforms.
“This regulation is aimed at protecting Sierra Leoneans, and that is why we will soon have a Data Protection Law,” he added.
The Minister further highlighted citizens’ right to access information, announcing that, for the first time in Sierra Leone’s history, all cabinet ministries will make their decisions and conclusions accessible to the public, as part of the government’s transparency and accountability drive.
In his lecture titled “The Digital Frontier: The Emergence of Online Broadcasters and the IMC’s Regulatory Approach,” IMC Chairman Joseph Ebenda Kapuwa Esq. addressed the rapid expansion and influence of digital media platforms. He educated students on the history, mandate, limitations, and regulatory responsibilities of the Commission over traditional and emerging media institutions.
He noted that while blogs and digital broadcasters now play a leading role in news dissemination, many operating as news agencies remain unregistered with the IMC.
“For blogs, we are developing a compliance policy to regulate them. This is not to reject them, but to ensure their content is balanced, credible, and serves the public interest,” he explained.
According to Kapuwa, such regulation would enhance professionalism, accountability, and ethical standards in media content production. He further revealed that the IMC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, is working on comprehensive regulatory frameworks to promote a responsible and ethical media landscape in Sierra Leone. He also highlighted key operational challenges faced by the Commission and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all content producers are properly regulated.
The Head of the Law Department at IMATT College and Media & Telecommunications Law Lecturer, Mohamed Wurie Bah Esq., underscored the importance of the engagement, describing it as a valuable opportunity for students to gain practical insights into public policy, media regulation, and the application of law beyond the classroom.
“This is just the beginning. We will continue to invite more professionals to lecture our students on critical areas of the law,” he assured.
The event was climaxed with a highly interactive question-and-answer session, allowing students to directly engage the guest lecturers and seek clarity on topical legal and media governance issues.
IMATT College reaffirmed its commitment to academic excellence and national development through sustained stakeholder engagement and practical learning opportunities.
