We will not ban Social Media Assures Momoh Konteh
Chairman of the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM), Momoh Konteh, has assured journalists in Makeni that Government has no plans to ban social media in the country.
Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ),) on the theme “Elections 2018: Media as a catalyst for issue-based discourse“, Konteh said Social Media have immeasurable potential to unlock economic growth and opportunities that could drive national development in the country.
“The benefits of social media cannot be measured; and we have a duty to tap on these opportunities to the highest degree for the good of society, which I guess we all strive for,” Konteh said. (See video below)
He commended journalists for their professional practice over the years despite the many challenges they continue to faced.
Stressing the importance of the democratic dispensation, Konteh appealed for more credible and objective reporting by the media.
“I want to commend you guys for your professionalism over the years, and we hope you will continue at this crucial time,” he noted.
Momoh Konteh noted further that upcoming national elections is very critical and the role of the media, especially social media, needs not to be overemphasized.
“We will collaborate with SLAJ and other partners to monitor and address the many concerns and fears associated with the use of this new media,” Konteh said.
Thanking SLAJ for providing a platform to start the discourse, Konteh said defining the problem from multiple perspectives is the right path in profering a comprehensive and realistic solution to the threat of social media.
“This is a good start,” he said. “It is my pleasure to be part of this conference which cannot have come at a better time than now as the electoral process unfolds.”
Over 100 journalists from across the country are in Makeni, Northern Sierra Leone, to attend their association’s AGM to delibrate issues affecting the media and the welfare of journalists.
The meeting will be climaxed with a dinner and awards night on Saturday 30th September 2017 at the University of Makeni Hall.
By Amadu Lamrana Bah
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