SLAJ denounces Govt’s apparent attempt to interfere with IMC
Freetown – The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) is stunningly indignant to know that Government has deliberately misinterpreted the provisions of the Independent Media Commission (IMC) Act of 2000 to suit what appears to be an intention to compromise a commission which has acquitted itself with an enviably high level of political neutrality. The association denounces such an apparent move as completely unacceptable and an attempt to interfere with the running of the IMC.
In a statement to launch a workshop organised by the IMC today, Deputy Minister of Information, Sheka Tarawallie stated as a position what his boss Ibrahim Ben Kargbo had said before him, albeit informally.
Mr Tarawallie said what amounts to saying that it is the sole prerogative of the President of Sierra Leone to appoint to the IMC two experts in the field of the print media and another two from the electronic media. “This is a complete and deliberate misinterpretation and misrepresentation of the IMC Act of 2000 which is clear in both spirit and letter on the appointment of Commissioners to the IMC”, says Umaru Fofana, President of SLAJ, adding that such will “unnecessarily stoke up tension between Government and the media.” He called on government to discuss with SLAJ a choice for Chairman of the commission before the mandate of the current one expires next month.
Mr Tarawallie also went on to say that President Ernest Bai Koroma would soon appoint new commissioners to the IMC including the media representatives, something that will have adverse implications on the Commission and the country.
Section 4/1/2 of the IMC Act states that, “the Commission shall consist of a Chairman and ten other members, all of whom shall be appointed by the President acting on the advice of SLAJ and subject to the approval of Parliament.”
Based on the above provision it has been the consistent practice by SLAJ, even when the current information minister was SLAJ President, to be electing at its plenary five Commissioners to the IMC Board whenever their mandate ends.
In this light, SLAJ in March this year renewed the three-year mandate of Commissioners Isaac Massaquoi, Joshua Nicol, Augustine Garmoh and Mohamed Samoura, as well as elected for the first time Sahr Mbayoh to replace veteran journalist Christo Johnson whose second and final term ends shortly. The above names, known to the ministry of information, will soon be communicated to President Ernest Koroma. Since four of them have only had their mandates renewed, they will need no parliamentary ratification while Mr Mbayoh will be nominated to Parliament by the President.
We hope all those who can, should seek to avert any backlash between the media and Government at a time when both parties are working closely to ensure the promulgation of the Freedom of Information Law and the repeal of the Criminal and Seditious Libel law.
Ismael Koroma, National Secretary General, SLAJ
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