Sierra Leone News: HRCSL Educates School Children on DAC

June 19, 2019

The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone joined the rest of the world to commemorate the Day of the African Child on June 17 2019, by embarking on nationwide public education in schools.

Section 7(2) (b) (i) of the HRCSL Act states that the Commission should promote respect for human rights through- ‘ public awareness and education programmes aimed at creating a culture of human rights in Sierra Leone’.

On June 16 annually, the 1976 massacre in Soweto South Africa is observed to remember the blatant violation of human rights by the military on innocent school pupils who protested against low quality education and demanded to be taught in their own language.

Hundreds of pupils were killed and thousands injured. As a result of this, the African Union used June 16 to commemorate the death of those fallen heroes and heroines and also to highlight the present situation and rights of the African child to quality education and a better life.

This year’s theme ‘ Humanitarian Action in Africa: Children Rights First’ was a great opportunity the Human Rights Commission didn’t want to miss. The Commission engaged the pupils on their rights, corresponding responsibilities, the background to the establishment of the Commission and the commemoration of the Day of the African Child and the Free and Quality Education.

The Commissioner in charge of Regional Services and Regional Deputy Directors and other staff engaged schools in their respective regions while three teams headed by Commissioners dispatched from the headquarter in Freetown targeting schools in the West, Central and East of Freetown.

Milton Magai School for the Blind, St. Anthony’s Secondary School, Remand Home Kingtom, Kellie’s Secondary School and Hosetta Abdulai in Freetown and the Western Rural District; St. Francis and UMC Secondary School in Makeni; Methodist Secondary School in Kenema were some of the schools the Commission visited.

Sierra Leone News: Blue Line Provides 40 Buses for FQE

June 19, 2019

A generous Sierra Leonean from the United States of America, Dr. Mohamed Tunde Macarthy has decided to avail free bus services as well as distributing uniforms within the realm of giving back to society in what he considers as his giving back to society.

One of the flagship initiatives of the Maada Bio led SLPP Government, Free Quality Education, is currently in full gear.

It is targeting pupils in primary and secondary school making provision for non-payment of fees, benefitting from free core textbooks with a component of free feeding in the package but still to be implemented.

Many have applauded the Government for rolling out the scheme maintaining that development is enhanced by educated and enlightened citizens. It goes without saying that a high percentage of human capital is inextricably linked to rapid development. Attention could not be only focused on gaining academic qualifications but rather attaining education in technical and vocational enlightenment is also highly significant.

Considering the payment of exorbitant fees by parents created the unpalatable situation where we had a huge chunk of school drop outs which did not augur well as it led to involvement in various vices by the unfortunate boys and girls whose future are definitely very bleak.

Since its implementation the Free Education has been going through some challenges one of which include lack of enough classrooms to accommodate the increased number of pupils in school, lack of enough teaching materials among others.

Quickly and timely access to affordable transportation is seriously affecting pupils who live in distant places sometimes causing them to reach school late and even return home late ,not giving them enough time to study at home.

As a way of complementing the efforts of Government to effectively roll out the Free Education Scheme a renowned entity Blue Line Construction Company has decided to provide free bus services for pupils attending different schools in Freetown.

This came about when a generous Sierra Leonean from the United States of America, Dr. Mohamed Tunde Macarthy decided to avail free bus services as well as distributing uniforms within the realm of giving back to society in what they considered to be their Social Corporate Responsibility.

One bus will take off from Waterloo to Syke Street from the East end part of Freetown and from Lumley to PZ from the West end. 40 buses will undertake this venture and no fee will be charged. Most parents have expressed profound gratitude to the providers underscoring that it is not only timely but a humane gesture that should be well embraced.

They further admonished school going pupils to behave themselves well and ensure that they must refrain from doing things that will destroy the free buses.

Sierra Leone News: Canada Honours Legal Aid Board

June 19, 2019

Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles

The Legal Aid Board has been honoured for presenting its national report at the opening session of the International Legal Aid Conference at the Ottawa Art Gallery in Canada on Monday, 17 June 2019.

The Legal Aid Board is among three legal aid schemes and the only scheme from the continent of Africa to present its national report at the three-day event. The other presenters were from Canada and Japan. The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, David Lametti presented his country’s national report.

The Sierra Leone national report highlights important developments which make the Legal Aid Board stand out on the continent in terms of the specialties in the Sierra Leone Jurisdiction.

Presenting the national report to over 100 legal aid experts including Chief Executive Officers from forty countries, the Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles told her audience that the Board is one of the lead agencies in implementing Goal 16.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals through its work in promoting access to justice in remote communities.

She said that the Board has made giant strides in expanding access to justice through the provision of primary justice services by its Paralegals in every district in the country. These take the form of Alternative Dispute Resolution through Mediation, Legal Empowerment through Community and School Outreach, Referrals and the provision of Advice and Legal Assistance to the administrators and users of the Informal Courts. ‘Through the provision of primary justice services, the Board has ensured women are not disadvantaged in cases of inheritance, maintenance, divorce and property,’ she said.

She added that the Board is the largest legal aid provider in the country. “189,708 people including non-Sierra Leoneans benefitted from the scheme in 2017 and 2018,” she stated adding: “106,655 people benefitted from the scheme in 2018 which is up 23,602 on 2017 when 83,053 people benefitted from the scheme. During the two-year period, 31,965 criminal cases were provided legal representation, 90,044 civil matters were mediated by Adjudicators and Paralegals and 67,699 benefited from legal empowerment through the Community and School Outreach.”

Ms. Carlton-Hanciles noted that the Board has forged partnership with over 300 partner organizations including civil society groups and community based organizations across the country. “This is one of our biggest strengths in terms of provision of information bordering on justice needs in the community, injustices, resources sharing and referrals,” she said.

She added that the Board works with these partners in organizing Community and School outreach to educate people on the laws and legal processes. “The topic for the event is determined by the justice needs of and challenges within the community or school,” she said.

She told the gathering that the Board is responsible for regulating legal aid provision in the country coupled with determining the quality of legal aid provided by legal aid service providers. “Section 9 (2) (b) of the Legal Aid Act 2012 provides that the Board shall ‘accredit persons or bodies to provide legal aid,” the report noted.

Sierra Leone News: ACC Czar Hands over Le16Bn Stolen Money

June 19, 2019

The Anti-Corruption Commission, ACC, has presented to His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio a second cheque of Le 7.5 billion as part of Le 16 Billion of cash so far recovered from corrupt officials.

Before his presentation in the presence of journalists and civil society members the ACC boss, Francis Ben Kaifala, told the President that since his assignment to lead the country’s anticorruption agency he had proven to be result-oriented, a vision that captured the sufferings of the people of Sierra Leone in the hands of corrupt public officials. He disclosed that his team had placed tremendous efforts on the cause and now the results were coming in.

Lawyer Kaifala said they had embarked on a three tracked approach with more focus on assets recovery, noting that with the blessings of President Bio they had been able to balance conviction with non-conviction asset recovery. He said that they had, therefore, been able to recover over sixteen billion Leones in the last twelve months.

“Today, we are handing another a cheque with additional Seven Billion Five Hundred Million Leones which the President will be able to identify what projects to invest in. We are also bringing out the ills of corruption for which we want to thank the President for the opportunity given to me and my team to lead the fight against corruption,” he said.

In his response, President Bio said he had declared corruption as a menace not only to the existence of the nation but also as a national security threat considering its negative impact on the country. He said he was trying to change the narrative about Sierra Leone and that the fight against corruption was something he would continue to pursue.

He stated that corruption was man-made that could destroy a country’s reputation and should not exist in society. He encouraged everyone to come on-board to fight corruption as a common enemy, especially at a time when he was trying to repair the country’s image around the world.

“We have to tackle corruption with every strength we have, which means it has to involve everyone. We must take the fight against corruption as seriously as we can if we are serious about providing social services to our people so we cannot allow corruption to become fashionable. We will continue to give more powers to the ACC to go after corrupt individuals,” he assured.

Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Patricia Lavaley, said that the event was the second attempt at collecting funds from the ACC into the consolidated revenue fund to help finance the much needed development initiatives across the country. She said the funds collected would be used to finance the new diagnostic centre in the country as mandated by President Bio.

It could be recalled that in December last year, the ACC presented its first cheque of over Le7.5 billion of recovered monies.

Sierra Leone News: ‘IG Moigbeh Must Resign or Shown the exit Door…’ – C4C Sec. Gen

June 19, 2019

Inspector General of Police, Richard Moigbeh,

Intense and widespread discussions are currently ongoing relating to what is considered to be a very unfortunate incident that occurred few days ago during which Police fired tear gas canisters against supporters of the former Vice President, Alhaji Sam Sumana in Port Loko.

Chief Sam Sumana, on that fateful day, returned to the country, disembarking at the Lungi International airport after different overseas engagements and his supporters were out there to welcome him.

In Port Loko he had an intention to watch a football match when the Police immediately started firing teargas on the huge jubilant crowd that was with him.

What this medium has so far gathered from various individuals was that most people are totally against the action of the Police especially against the backdrop that it came in the wake of what has been tagged ‘recent Police excesses’ meted out on peaceful citizens which are indeed tantamount to flagrant violation of fundamental human rights.

Commenting and trying to explain their position, the Police have come out with a press release justifying the action they took. They purported that when Alhaji Sam Sumana reached Port Loko, he insisted on entering the township with a view to address the Coalition for Change (C4C) party supporters in that part of the country, and to also attend a football match between Bai Bureh Warriors and another team at the Port Loko Mini Stadium, of which, the police came to understand that he was to do the kick-off.

It was stressed, that that was without any prior notice to the Sierra Leone Police which is against the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965.

The release added that the former Vice President was then cautioned by senior SLP officers not to participate in the aforementioned events as other anti C4C supporters had planned to hijack and disrupt the entire programme.

According to them there was already a convergence of a hostile crowd and tension was brewing emphasizing how his safety and security and that of others became of paramount concern to them.

It was also highlighted that in spite of several warnings, he refused to abide by police instructions and thereafter disembarked from his vehicle and headed towards the township on foot, followed by a hostile crowd.

“At this point, the SLP leadership again stopped and reminded him of an imminent public disorder and threat to his safety and security and that of others. Unfortunately, he did not heed to the pleas and warning of the Police but rather continued to walk to the township; thus continuing to attract more hostile crowd. As the security situation deteriorated, we fired teargas to disperse the crowd which brought the situation under control. As routine demands, his convoy was intercepted at Mile 38 Checkpoint, and then allowed safe passage to Freetown,” the Sierra Leone Police narrated.

Strongly debunking the stance of the Police, Secretary General of the Coalition for Change (C4C), the political party that Chief Sam Sumana heads, vehemently argued that as far as they are concerned their leader did nothing wrong that should amount to any breach of the law. He underscored that they are very peaceful and will always abide by that maintaining how the Police were very jittery questioning them the reason for exhibiting such when it was very clear that there was no imminent danger looming. Highpoint of his argument was when he unequivocally called for the IG to resign or for the immediate recall or sacking of the Inspector General of Police, Richard Moigbeh, for what he pointed out in no uncertain terms, to be sheer his incompetence and professional inadequacy. “The Police needs to go back to the drawing board and redefine, reorganise their strategies in order to carry out their duties professionally instead of continuing to violate the fundamental human rights of peaceful individuals,” he strongly recommended stressing that Chief Sam Sumana is entitled to his Freedom of Movement and there was no justifiable reason on the part of the Police to have prevented him from exercising it.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Sengheh Marah of the Renaissance Movement, a rights-based organisation as well as other personalities against what they say is untoward Police highhandedness and dancing to political dictates.

Sierra Leone News: Alpha Timbo Lauded

June 19, 2019

Sierra Leoneans across the globe have lauded the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education under the leadership of Alpha Timbo as one entity that is working towards President Bio’s New Direction manifesto.

It could be re-called that one of the main campaign messages of President Bio when he was in opposition was the implementation of the Free Quality Education for primary and secondary pupils.

After winning the March 2018 general elections, President Bio wasted no time in fulfilling his promise to implement the FQE,

But again ministers of government are just like wife to husband; wherein they say behind any successful man there must be a hard-working woman. In order for a president to succeed, he needs a strong team of ministers and MDAs and so President Bio made no mistake in appointing Alpha Timbo as Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education,

The starting phase of any implication is one which is very much challenging and the FQE is one such project, ranging from infrastructural, lack of learning and teaching materials, lack of training and qualify teachers, lack of funding in the education sector and limited knowledge in the sector. All these are problems inherited by the Ministry. Since his appointment, Minister Timbo has worked very hard in making sure the president succeeds in the education sector.

He added that the ministry is planning to increase access to free GoSL pre-primary education for children 3 to 5 years old from 15% in 2020 by developing a costed action plan to guide the expansion of pre-primary education services, including strategies for expanding public pre-school education in primary schools and increasing opportunities through other forms of services also transition levels from primary to JSS and also developing a national strategy and action plan, and ensuring that 100% of schools implement measures to prevent school related economic and sexual related offences by sensitising learners on their rights and referral channels at JSS, SSS, TVET, HEIs and learning centres.

The ministry through support from government and donor partners have approve over two thousand teacher for effective teaching and brings in some reform in the sector,

Based on his background as Secretary General, the Sierra Leone Teachers Union, (SLTU), Minister of Labour Social Security and Industrial Relations championed the Liberation Movement of Teachers and the Union. Together they transformed the SLTU to a more formidable organization that took its rightful position in society and the International Trade Union Movement, among the reforms introduced in the union and the teaching profession. His background made his job easy for him.

Sierra Leone News: 400 Families Benefit from Orange Special Sunakati

June 19, 2019

One of Sierra Leone’s GSM operators, Orange SL, on Friday 14^th June 2019 ended its final Orange Special Sunakati draw at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), with five subscribers emerging as the lucky winners for one year’s worth of food items and money for sauce to their families.

Speaking to a cross-section of journalists at the final draw, Sheik Omaru Jalloh, Mass Marketing and Bundle Executive for Orange-SL, said the draw embraced the highest food donation ever offered by any GSM company in the country, with over 400 families becoming beneficiaries ranging from customers, retailers and agents.

The promotion was launched on Thursday 2^nd May 2019 at the Calaba Town round-about. The daily draws were conducted within 6 weeks; while the weekly draw ended within 5 weeks during the draws’ final grand draw at the SLBC. 5 lucky subscribers won one year food supply for their families with cash for each of them.

All beneficiaries had the opportunity to win various food items like rice, sugar, milk, Ovaltine, tomato, onions, Maggi, gallons of oil, cash and all that is needed in food preparation during the month of Ramadan.

He stated that the only requirement for subscribers was to just buy Le.1,000 top-up through E-Voucher and for Orange Money customers, ‘you only need to make at least do Le10,000 worth of transactions. Retailers need to satisfy Orange’s minimum of Le2,000,000 and sales need to be done per week for agents a minimum of Le5, 0000, 000. Sales need to be done par week.

He stated that Orange also offers voice and date promotion as Ramadan Special Sunakati,

Subscribers can enjoys 48 hours interrupted Orange to Orange calls, through the Sunday Cola by dialling *400# for Le8,500 or buy via Orange money #144# for just Le7,500.

Instant 50% bonus on every data bundle you buy using Orange Money #144#, Wednesday100% bonus via Orange money through the shot code #144#, 20 Minutes talk time +30MB + 30 sms for just Le3,990. by dialling *888# to subscribe this are all special offers drivers with the Orange Ramadan Special Offers.

We want to make sure the least Sierra Leonean have the opportunity to communicate because it a human right declaration, that is why our network is been consider to be the best in Africa,

Orange is a generous family during the Ramadan we donation Food Items to Muslims community Nationwide and we always undertake meaningful projects in executing our Cooperate Social Responsibilities that is; we have succeeded in changing the telecom landscape.

Sierra Leone News: Mining Companies Vow to Cease Operations

June 19, 2019

Hon. Foday Rado Yokie-Minister of Mines and Minerals Resources

Various mining companies operating in different parts of the country have expressed grave concern over the cancellation of mining licenses and have threatened to cease operations and eventually pull out of the country in the next couple of months because of what they referred to as the excesses of the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources in cancelling mining licenses.

In an exclusive interview with many CEOs of these mining companies operating in the country to get their take about the cancellation of mining licenses by the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, they all expressed strong reservations and even threatened to unleash Plan B, to pull out, if the action of the Minister continues.

According to reliable sources, the Minister’s action is influenced by certain officials in the Ministry who because of obvious reasons are not comfortable with the operations of many genuine mining companies. Since these individuals, who used to get kickbacks from mining companies, are no longer benefitting this has led them to be very aggrieved and are doing everything possible to persuade the Minister to go after those companies.

The CEOs furthered that the action of the Minister to cancel mining licenses is a breach of the mining laws because according to them there are procedures as to how a mining license can be cancelled which is clearly indicated in the National Minerals Agency Act 2009 .As a matter of fact the Agency has a Board charged with the responsibility to look at general issues in the Mining industry.

They noted that even if the Board wants to take such a radical action to cancel or revoke any mining licenses it should meet and thoroughly look at any issue reported against a company to decide if there is any breach that must warrant revoking or cancelling the mining license of that company.

“We firmly believe that the National Mineral Agency has the powers and authority to take such action and not singlehandedly by the Minister of Mines and Minerals Resources,” one of them intimated.

Most mining companies have their investment partners overseas and such an action by the Minister, if it continues unabated ,will certainly drive off or even scare genuine investors wanting to come with their huge capital investment portfolios in the country thereby depriving the government from getting much needed revenue as well stifling job opportunities for youths in the country.

How could he as a new Minister just embark on such an action to cancel mining licenses when those licenses were officially given to these companies after complying with all the policies and laws governing the mining industry in the country, is what another investor rhetorically asked.

Sierra Leone News: FAO TRAINS WOMEN LAND RIGHTS ADVOCATES

June 19, 2019

Participants and some FAO staff at the training

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations with the International Labor Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone with support from the Peace Building Fund (PBF), on Friday 14th June 2019 concluded a 3-days Training of Trainers (ToT) on Gender and Land Rights within the framework of implementing the PBF project on ‘Creating Peaceful Societies Through Women’s Improved Access to Management of Natural Resources, Land Tenure Rights and Economic Empowerment in Sierra Leone.’

The training brought together 33 women from four (4) districts of Bombali (North), Port Loko (North West), Bo (South) and Kenema (East) were the project is being implemented. The interactive Training of Trainers was held at FAO’s 38A Freetown Road Headquarters in Freetown. In her welcome statement and opening remarks, the FAO Representative in Sierra Leone, Dr. Nyabenyi Tito Tipo revealed that she was honored to be present at the training and pointed out that women being mothers should make change in their communities underscoring that the training would eip participants with the knowledge to advocate for land issues.

The FAO Representative emphasized that land is important for agriculture of which majority of farmers are women. She continued that all good things depend on land but unfortunately women continue to face challenges to acquire and manage land, the reason for the project and urged the women to speak with one voice to manage and use land as well as work as one firmly united collective force and train others reiterating that they would be changed agents at the end of the training.

According to Dr. Nyabenyi, the training would include topics on the National Land Policy and the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the context of national food security (VGGT) and encouraged the women to actively participate in the discussions.

The ILO Country Manager, Mr. Paul Mayanja underscored the need for women to know their rights before being empowered, revealed that ILO would empower them to invest in land and strengthen their entrepreneurship and business skills. He observed that women are marginalized and emphasized that participants should replicate the training on land rights for women to make the right decisions.

Mr. Jobo Samba from the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Environment commended the Development Partners for their continued support to government, especially the Ministry of Lands, underlining that all developments are on land and informed that the National Land Policy which was developed in 2015 and launched in 2017 aims to address the numerous challenges relating to land and that implementation has commenced.

Mr. Jobo Samba went on to state that the results of the pilot project to protect customary land rights conducted in 2018 in selected chiefdoms was very good, and about 12,000 acres of land were surveyed and mapped within 6 months using FAO’s Solutions for Open Land Administration (SOLA) and Open Tenure software tools. Mr. Samba explained that 90% of land in the provinces is held under customary land tenure rules and practices and disclosed that this year, the Ministry of Lands wants to expand on the lessons learnt during the pilot phase of project in 2018 to additional 8 chiefdoms.

According to Mr. Samba, the training would empower the women how to access land and appealed to them to sensitize others in their respective communities stressing that they must take advantage of this opportunity.

Dr. Samuel Mabikke, the FAO, Land Tenure Officer enlightened that land governance is about rules, processes and structures through which decisions are made about access to land and its use and ways in which competing demands and conflicts are solved. He disclosed that Sierra Leone is an attractive destination for Large Scale Land Based Investments (LSLBI) but emphasized that these agricultural investments must serve the interest of the people especially the poor. He went further to explain challenges facing land governance including rapid population growth, unregulated urbanization, and climate change among others.

Dr. Mabikke cited that over 70% of Africa’s population lives in informal settlement while statistics show that only 6% of Americans live in informal settlements. In Sierra Leone,7 out of every 10 people live in slums due to rapid rural-urban migration especially among the youths. Rural areas have been depleted of young generations who would play a key role in transforming food and agriculture in Sierra Leone.

He emphasized the need for incorporation of a pro-poor and gender equality approach as cross-cutting principle of good governance in order for the rule of law, transparency, accountability, equity and justice to flourish and improve land management and administration solutions.

Highlighting the objectives and expected outcomes of the workshop, the Peace Building Fund Project Coordinator, Ibrahim Bangura said it would increase the knowledge and awareness of women on global and national principles, policies and practices such as the Voluntary Guidelines (VGGT), National Land Policy and existing legal frameworks for securing land and property rights.

He furthered that the workshop would also identify measures to support gender equity when working with customary institutions, describe how to develop institutional capacity for gender-equitable land tenure governance as well as enhance the skills of women to negotiate and advocate for gender equitable customary and statutory land laws.

Topics covered during the 3-days training include Background and Overview of the Peace Building Fund Project; Securing Women’s Customary Land Rights in the Context of Implementing the National Land Policy; Rights and Gender in Sierra Leone; Land Rights in the Constitution; Land Policy and Legal Framework; Land Governance, Tenure and Ownership Systems; Property Rights and Gender in Sierra Leone; Property Rights in Marriage and Family; the Role of Land Administration Institutions and Advocacy Responsibilities of a Community Land Rights Leader.

Other facilitators were Kadija Isata Jalloh, National Gender and Land Rights Trainer and Daniel Sesay of NAMATI.

Ms. Simonetta Rossi -the Peace and Development Advisor from the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, revealed that the Office of the Resident Coordinator is pleased to be actively involved in the PBF project. She also observed that participants are from diverse backgrounds, that women should be recognized as agents of change to have access to land and how to manage their resources asserting that it is very encouraging that women are participating in the productive life of Sierra Leone.

Ms. Simonetta Rossi reechoed that women produce food and take care of children and hoped that more women leaders would emerge to take additional national decisions, stressed that the main aim of the project is Sustaining Peace and observing that land reforms are progressing gradually for which women should demonstrate leadership.

In his closing remarks, the Assistant FAO Representative for Programs, Mr. Joseph Brima commended participants pointing out that although majority of farmers are women they do not own land and recalled the past when land disputes were settled in secret society shrines.

He also stated that women have proved their strength and that women leaders are passionate about issues citing the Holy Bible where women played great roles and appealed to participants to serve as ambassadors of FAO, be proactive as well as replicate the training.

Highlights of the training were the presentation of certificates to participants, assessment of learning outcomes and end line evaluation survey while the vote of thanks was rendered by one of the participants, Adama Sesay, who promised on behalf of all that they would replicate the training in their respective communities.

Sierra Leone News: “Press Freedom Must go with a Responsibility” Acting Youth Minister Cautions SLAJ

June 19, 2019

Cross section of SLAJ executive receiving the donated items

The Acting Minister of Youth Affairs, Hon. Lusine Kallon, whilst donating to the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) encouraged journalists to stand up for responsible journalism and also do their job with patriotism and sincerity.

He donated two calculators, cartoons of A4 packets, 4 packets of pens, flip charts and paper files as his own support to SLAJ’s triennial general conference slated for Friday 12th July to Saturday 13th July at 9am, on the theme: “Social Media and the Future of Journalism in Sierra Leone.”

He informed that President Julius Maada Bio believes in press freedom but that freedom must go with a responsibility. He encouraged all media practitioners to support SLAJ and the Independent Media Commission in their fight for a responsible journalism.

He strongly reminded his audience that journalism is a profession and not every Jack and Jill will just wake up and say I am a Journalist.

“I am not here to make a speech but to demonstrate our support to SLAJ as a potent force to reckon with,” said Minister Kallon.

He said Sierra Leone was the hub of Journalism in Africa and in 1860s journalists from all over Africa gained employment to practice professional journalism in our own country.

Some years later, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) was founded on June 5th 1971 to protect and promote freedom of expression and of the press.

“The question we have not been able to ask ourselves is, what actually went wrong?” He appealed that “we find an answer to this particular question during our conference.”

Professional journalism is a huge challenge not only for SLAJ but even us as a Government. He noted that there are success stories so far but encouraged journalists to practice within the remit of the law.

He used the platform to congratulate the next SLAJ president and officially handed over the items as his own personal support to the SLAJ triennial conference.

Receiving the items on behalf of the SLAJ Secretariat, the Public Relations Officer, Miss. Princess Gibson admitted that there are challenges with ethical journalism but said SLAJ is working collaboratively with the IMC to ensure that quality reforms take place in the media industry.

She commended Minister Kallon and his entourage for such a timely gesture and confirmed that the Government has approved SLAJ’s subvention and plans are underway to process the documentation for onward transfer to their account.

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