By Foday Moriba Conteh
Honourable Chernoh Ramadan Maju Bah has called for thorough investigation to be conducted into the sacking and resignation at Sierra Leone’s only national broadcaster, Sierra Leone Broadcasting Cooperation (SLBC).
The Member of Parliament said it is ‘‘alarming that a national broadcaster being the hub for the voices of Sierra Leoneans across the country is on the news recently for the wrong reasons, commenting on claims that certain workers were laid-off while others were forced to resign in their own volition.
He noted that this ugly development, more so for committed workers at the SLBC for ages, should be looked into saying it is still unclear why the unfortunate development is happening when the country is in serious need of a national broadcaster.
Speaking to journalists, Hon. Bah said while it is too early to draw conclusions on the allegations being put forward by affected media professionals, however, he wants to express grave concern over what he described as “systemic pattern of sackings and resignation’’, saying it is very worrisome to the point that he is compelled to call for an immediate investigation into the issue.
The opposition leader said his concern is drawn from the fact that the SLBC is being supported by Government and that such legacies of the State should be jealously protected.
Hon. Bah continued that SLBC’s transformation as a national broadcaster in June 2010 was deliberate, noting how it was an effort to empower the citizenry to have a voice the affairs of the State.
He added that such will go a long way to promote good governance and democracy in the country, which he believes is a novelty for the burgeoning democracy of the State.
Claudius Beckley, who worked as a cameraman at the SLBC for over a decade was recently sacked because of a social media post in his Facebook timeline.
Official correspondence from SLBC says Claudius Beckley’s comic postings in local language Krio on his personal Facebook timeline brought the national broadcaster into disrepute.
The SLBC HR department didn’t state how Claudius Beckley violated any code of the SLBC.
A few days ago, three female journalists resigned at SLBC.
Alice Mariama Thomson, Ann-Marie Gegbai and Doreen Barrie told this writer that their resignation is as a result of an experience at the SLBC, which they say amounts to “constructive dismissal” in labour law.
The popular TV anchors said it is sad for them to quit a job they had put a lot into, but said nobody will be able to work in a hostile environment.
Concerns are being raised looking at the number of women practising journalism in the country as there is a clarion call for more women to occupy strategic positions of responsibilities in every spheres of the society.
A popular female journalist, Rose Konima Stevens, was also earlier forced to resigned, a source confirmed.
Director-General of SLBC, Joseph Kapuwa had described comments from the public in relations to this development as an attack.
He posted on SLAJ forum that he has been inundated with questions from colleagues over the development at the SLBC, but maintained he has the energy to survive the attacks.
A source at the SLBC confirmed to this writer that more media personnel will soon resign from the broadcaster should the status quo of intimidation, harassment and politicization of SLBC continues.
It is being so because, the source alleged, this act is perfectly implemented by the leadership of the DG and his deputy in consort with the SLBC board.
It is sad and this abuse of office cannot be forgotten in a hurry in the history of the SLBC, the source concluded.
