Sierra Leone – Information minister warns journalists to be more professional
The Deputy Minister of Information and Communication, Theo Nicol (in photo) has reacted to a report in the For Di People Newspaper with the caption ‘Minister Abandons Journalists’.
The paper was referring to the recent press briefing held in the provincial city of Bo, where a large number of journalists including those from Freetown had converged. The paper insinuated that the minister had abandoned the weekly press briefly usually held in Freetown only to conduct one in the region.
Reacting to the report during last Thursday’s press briefing in Freetown, the deputy minister said indeed the usual Weekly Press Briefing organized by his ministry was held in Bo, in the Southern District of Sierra Leone and it was widely publicized on radio and TV including the SLBC TV.
He said the briefing was attended by a cross section of the Bo community including paramount chiefs and government functionaries.
Mr. Nicol however warned that in future the ministry will not take along journalists to press briefings held in the provinces as he was shocked to find more than sixty pressmen in Bo for that briefing.
On his part, the Minister of Information and Communication, Alhaji Alpha Kanu warned journalists to always cross-check their information and practice responsible Journalism, citing a caption in the Global Times newspaper of 14th February 2013 which read: ‘Government Imports Mercedes Benz in the Midst of Blackout’.
He said the government of president Koroma is a responsible one and never intended to buy any vehicle for the forthcoming Presidential inauguration scheduled for 22 February 2013.
He recalled that during the last inauguration in 2007 when President Koroma first assumed office, it was President Aboudlaye Wade of Senegal who provided vehicles for the inauguration.
“This time it might be Alpha Konde of Guinea or Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia,” he intimated.
On the issue of Annie Walsh Memorial School on Kissy Road and its relocation to its original ground at Charlotte village, the Information and Communication minister noted with dismay that the public was not properly informed as to why the Annie Walsh Memorial School wanted to relocate.
Putting the records straight, Alhaji Alpha Kanu said it was the Annie Walsh Old Girls Association (AWOGA) who asked the government to render them assistance for the relocation of the school as it present location was not ideal for a proper learning environment.
He said they as government expected AWOGA to have come out with a statement and save the government from unnecessary embarrassment as the impression was the initiative came for relocation from government.
BP/SLENA
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