By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a bid to review the key achievements of the New Direction Government headed by President Julius Maada Bio via his key manifesto commitments, the Ministry of Information and Communications has on the 28th November 2021 concluded the 2nd edition of a 3-days Annual Media/CSO Engagement on the theme: “Enhancing The Media Contributions To Good Governance and Democracy in Sierra Leone”.
The engagement was in line with the Ministry’s vision to bring information to the people and bridge the information gap between them and the Government
Commencing on the 25th November, the event ended on the 28th November 2021 at the Bo Inn, Bo City, Southern Sierra Leone.
It brought together MDAs, Media practitioners and Civil Society representatives to deliberate on President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s policies and programs as reflected in the Medium Term National Development Plan 2019-2023.
Speaking on the importance of the retreat, the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swarray maintained that the Government of HE President Julius Maada Bio is committed to run an open, transparent and accountable Government that seeks the best in terms of the interests of the people.
He expressed delight for a successful media engagement, furthering how it is a vision he initiated when he was working at the Lungi International Airport where the need to connect the Airport’s operation to the media and the communities was vital.
The Minister said that in his pursuit to promote President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s agenda in operating a transparent and accountable governance system, the Ministry organized the first retreat in Bo City stating that it has now been made an annual event.
Mohamed Rahman Swarray informed the audience of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s signing of the Global Media Freedom Coalition ,saying it makes Sierra Leone the 5th African nation to do so maintaining how such really shows the Government’s commitment to promoting a free media and protect journalists in the course of carrying out their work.
President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, in his statement mentioned the gains that have been scored within the media landscape, extending gratitude to thanks to President Bio for keeping to his promise in ensuring that the criminal libel law is expunged from the country’s laws. That notwithstanding, he mentioned the many challenges media practitioners are facing and called on the Government to look at them critically for appropriate action to be instituted.
Speaking at the opening session, the Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa, who was the keynote speaker thanked the Ministry of Information and Communications for the brilliant initiative of assembling journalists and civil society activists to educate them on the many achievements of the President Bio led Government. He pinpointed the free quality education, the fight against corruption, introduction of the student loan scheme, facilitating road construction, improving the energy and other sectors as huge successes of the Government which, he said, journalists as well as CSOs should propagate. He then officially declared the retreat open.
During the two days session, several MDAs presented policies and programs and achievements, which according to them are in line of fulfilling, the New Direction manifesto promises. The media/CSOs were given the opportunity to ask questions which were adequately addressed.
Climaxing the event was the final session which specifically featured MDAs and the media interacting in terms of discussing Government’s programs and policies.
