By Amin Kef Sesay
At the Concord Times Summit which was held on the 8th October 2021 at the Bintumani International Conference Center, Aberdeen in one of the participants, the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, delivered an incisive statement.
He started by saying , “How time flies!” The SLAJ President continued that he can picture himself sitting in the audience at the Miatta Conference Hall, Youyi Building, in Freetown in August 2008, listening to the former Liberian President, Professor Amos Sawyer, delivering his thought-provoking guest lecture on good governance and democracy, marking the maiden edition of the Concord Times Anniversary Lecture.
He said at that time Professor Sawyer was one of the most sought after public speakers in the sub-region and beyond, and it was a delight for Sierra Leoneans to have shared the same hall with him.
Nasralla euphemistically said he sees that it is becoming a Liberian affair, with the honour of having another distinguished former President of Liberia, Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, as keynote speaker for the day’s event.
Jokingly, he admonished that for subsequent events, he is sure the Concord Times team would give opportunity to other distinguished governance personalities beyond Liberia, or the MRU, for different perspectives.
The SLAJ President stated how it’s already a year less than three decades since Concord Times newspaper hit the newsstands saying but it’s just like yesterday. He recalled that it was in 1992, the year of probably the most welcome coup de tat in Africa, ushering the NPRC as the governing body of Sierra Leone a period which also saw the Concord Times hit the ground running with independent and professional journalism.
Ahmed Sahid Nasralla revealed that Concord Times, in a way, revolutionized modern-day journalism in the country adding how they were the first to start desktop publishing, and printing coloured front pages.
Still on memory lane he said Concord Times attracted the young talents in the university and recent graduates to write for the paper explaining that as an institution, Concord Times, has produced a lot of good professionals who are creating positive impact in the various spheres of life they have moved on naming some like Kinglsey Lington, Sulaiman Momodu, Osman Ben Sankoh, Atomic Pen, Talib Jalloh, all working with the United Nations.
He said others like Shekito, Lans Gberie, Jonathan Leigh, Rachael Horner, Mohamed Massaquoi, Joseph Margai, etc have served in Government and some are currently serving.
The SLAJ President stated how Moses A. Kargbo served as a distinguished Secretary General of SLAJ and now works with the World Bank in Sierra Leone. He said Fajah Barrie, the Newspaper’s Sports Editor, reports for BBC Sports.
Others, he said, including the Tam Baryohs, have made their mark in journalism.
He informed that audience that it has not been all rosy as there have been difficult times, like losing James Oguoguo, an Editor of the paper, to the murderous hands of rebels in the infamous January 1999 invasion of the capital Freetown.
All of these speak, he continued, to the professionalism and determination of those men and women who have passed through Concord Times to contribute to the development of the media and national development.
“However, may I sadly note that journalism, the media is not thriving nowadays,” he said and asked: What can we all do to augment the image of the profession?
The dynamic and charismatic SLAJ President lamented that the capture of the media by politicians and big businesses is a looming threat to the independent media. He said more than ever before countries need independent, professional and strong media to protect their democracies, to protect fundamental human rights and freedoms, expose corruption, hold elected leaders to account, foster peace and cohesion among diverse people, and above all provide the right information to keep people informed and knowledgeable to be able to make the right decisions.
He said that is exactly what summits like Concord Times Summit can do. “The media taking the leading role in setting the agenda for national discourse, providing the platform for the exchange of ideas and perspectives to solving the numerous challenges facing our nation, and educating the people in the process is the right step to take,” he underscored.
Nasralla concluded by thanking Concord Times for the initiative, and to all the personalities participating in the summit wishing that may we not wait for another 13 years or so to have another summit.
He used the opportunity to present a SLAJ Golden Jubilee Recognition Award to the former Editor of Concord Times newspaper, Kingsley Lington Ighobor for his contribution to the development of SLAJ.
The SLAJ President intimated that Kingsley served as Editor of Concord Times in a period when SLAJ was struggling and he played his part in holding the Association together.
He said he could remember attending meetings of SLAJ as Acting Editor of For Di People newspaper, during which he served as mediator, trying to broker peace among senior colleagues.
“Mr. Kingsley we have not forgotten your meaningful contribution to the development of SLAJ and the media in Sierra Leone. It is my honour, on behalf of the National Executive and members of SLAJ to present this award to you,” Nasralla made the complimentary remarks while bestowing the award.
