By Brima Sannoh
An article that is making a round on Social Media titled: “Information Minister Biting President Bio’s Back Harder” is one that could be deemed as a write-up full of unconfirmed allegations and accusations against the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, with the diabolical ploy to portray him in a negative light.
For those who know the Information Minister very well they will attest to the fact that he is very frank and down to the earth person who always candidly express his opinions and feelings. When he is angry he blows his mind and does away with any ill-feeling he may have harboured.
Indeed, Mohamed Swarray, is a highly educated personality who is naturally intelligent. He is the type of person that does not mince his words when it comes to calling things by their proper names. He worked at the Sierra Leone Airports Authority (SLAA) in a senior Managerial position and in other places out of the country. He could have been paid lucrative salaries in those positions even more than what he is currently being paid as a Minister. What is wrong if he says it loud and clear that he was receiving more in terms of what he is presently earning? Knowing him very well he did not say it out of malice or frustration in his current position but was merely saying the truth, nothing but the truth.
The author of the misguided article, which could be merely dismissed as a trash, went on to accuse the Minister of having singlehandedly masterminded the unbundling of SALCAB which was taken over by Zoodlabs. What the writer failed to understand is that it is merely impossible for just one public official to have influenced the unbundling of SALCAB. Consultations were made and from various assessments made it was discovered that SALCAB was not in any way viable in many ways as the entity was riddled with so many constraints to an extent that to even pay salaries of workers became a serious problem.
It was therefore justifiably reasonable for it to be unbundled and opportunity given to a private entity to make internet penetration in the country more optimal. For now there is an enhanced improvement in the functionality of the internet in the country and more improvement is been done. How he arrived at the Minister given a kickback to make the transition happen and still continues to receive such, the writer is yet to prove beyond all reasonable doubts for the public to believe such a blatant lie.
Furthermore, he accused the Minister of appointing his cronies to serve as Press Attaches to the country’s Embassies and High Commissions overseas going further to claim that the appointees were not competent. The writer must have taken into cognizance that the appointment of Press Attaches is not the sole prerogative of the Information Minister as such appointments are strictly made by an independent Committee. Besides, contrary to what he claimed, all those that were appointed were practicing journalists with proven records of competencies in delivering and that has been seen in their reports that they have been sending.
For Information Attaches in Ministries, Departments and Agencies, these are under the Strategic Communications Unit at State House. As far as I know these are seasoned journalists, very competent and are delivering. Whenever there is an important function in the country, these Information Attaches are very efficient in churning out the news in a timely manner for public consumption. I don’t know which yardstick the writer used to judge them of incompetency basing his point or assertion on favoritism on the part of the Minister.
He again made the false claim that the Minister is closely allied to the opposition making particular references to Dr Denis Bright and Kandeh Yumkella of the NGC. He then painted the picture that the Minister is a fifth column who is leaking sensitive information to them. If the writer is using the friendly nature of the Minister to make the sweeping allegation then he might have got it wrong.
Swarray is very friendly, likes hob-nobbing with people from various walks of life which might be a reason why he is knowledgeable of many things making him a good Information Minister. But let the public judge: Is it because he is an SLPP appointed Minister so he must not talk with members of the opposition? If we are talking of politics of tolerance is it not good for members of the ruling party and opposition to be speaking on a friendly terms or basis, laying the foundation for supporters to follow suit instead of being at each other’s throat?
Come on, Mr So-Called author of the trash, I know you cannot write that well but if you are been instigated to go against the Minister know that you are treading on the wrong path. Your allegations are too vague without concrete proofs and not in any way convincing.
Try and find something better to do instead of going around maligning important personalities, who through hard work, sheer blessing and God’s protection have elevated more than you. Learn to respect them.
May Common Sense Prevail!
