Spurious Allegations Against Radio Democracy’s Asmaa James Deflated

By Amin Kef Sesay

The indefatigable Station Manager of Society for Radio Democracy (FM98.1), Asmaa James, has been the recent target of  spurious allegations bordering on impropriety and an unethical working relationship with colleague members of staff, allegations said to be made by a purported group of Civil Society Activists in the country.

The said allegations are contained in an article that is been circulated on The Organizer.net website/online newspaper and titled: “A Fake Sierra Leone Journalist Exposed by Civil Societies for Stealing Public FM Radio”.

The allegations made against the seasoned journalist are serious ranging from her monopolizing and personalizing the radio station it being a public entity, treating members of staff with contempt, depriving them of benefits like medical, not making them use the office vehicle for official assignments, holding five accounts in her name on behalf of Radio Democracy and a host of others.

As an objective news outlet, The Calabash became very much interested in the issue and so decided to delve deeper into it in terms of mounting an independent investigation to get at the bottom of what is really transpiring.

In the first place, when this medium thoroughly read the article it became very apparent that in the first place the author indicated that the allegations made against Asmaa James came from a group of Civil Society Organizations, which he or she initially failed to mention as a consortium.

As if the writer shot himself or herself on the leg, he or she then later named Andrew Lavalie of the Institute of Governance Reform (IRG), Edmond Abu of Native Consortium. Ibrahim Tommy of Centre for the Rule of Law and Accountability (CARL), Abdul Fatoma of CHADI, and the Head of  Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA ) as those who have called for clarification from Asmaa James in a Press Release and furthered that they are all corrupt Civil Society Activists.

However, the Institute of Governance Reform in a Press Statement dated 23^rd November 2020 dissociated itself from what it refers to as a “malicious publication targeting Radio Democracy’s Asmaa James”. It stated that it would like the public to know that it enjoys a strong relationship with Radio Democracy since they were established six years ago.

It continued, “at no point has the Institute, singularly or in collaboration with the named organizations or any other organization for that matter written a letter or made any statements, questioning the Management of Radio Democracy”.

It will therefore dawn from the onset that the author has an ulterior motive to tarnish the hard earned won reputation of individuals who have been expressing critical views on national issues in an apolitical manner. As a matter of fact one could see from the rear that there is some form of political connotation in the accusation especially as the aforementioned Civil Society activists have been branded too often as sympathizers of the ruling SLPP.

Taking our investigation further we contacted some of the Board Members of Radio Democracy to elucidate on the matter.

One of them who is Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai Esq. a seasoned lawyer and also a Civil Society activist intimated this medium that as far as he knows the members of staff of Radio Democracy are paid monthly, are covered by NASSIT which according to him it is what they are entitled to. He said the station has 45 members of staff further reiterating that they are paid every month with no backlog currently also affirming that  every one of them is having his or her NASSIT paid including taxes. Logically, they may be enjoying other benefits based on their outs, he averred.

In response to the allegation that the Station Manager, Asmaa James, has deliberately shown certain Board Members with Integrity the exit door, Saffa Abdulai pointed out that  as a matter of fact she is answerable to the Board as it was the Board that employed her going further to commend her  for doing a fantastic job.
With regards the handling or management of the Radio Station’s finances, the learned legal luminary stated that they are handled by an external financial agency called Freetong Nominees.

His response to that allegation was in sharp contradiction to what the author of the damning article postulated saying that Radio Democracy’s funds are in five accounts that are personally controlled by Asmaa James. “I am categorically informing you that cheques for the account are signed by one Board Member and the audit of the accounts is done every year,” he affirmed adding that the Station Manager runs the station with funds she receives from donors.

Touching on whether  political considerations have largely influenced Asmaa James’ work ethics, he said, everyone has access to Radio Democracy and reporters bring the news that are aired maintaining that has never been an instance when the Station Manager has stopped anyone from accessing the radio Station.
“There is no proof that she has used Radio Democracy to blackmail Government officials,” he underscored arguing that no one has complained and no one has levied the allegation to the Board.

The Board Member continued by stating that as Station Manager, Asmaa James takes daily decisions that affect people which some could wrongly interpret as hate, anchoring that Asmaa is very professional and the Board is pleased with her.

“She has also done what no else has done for the Station; build a solid structure (the office block), put Management in place, raised funds for the station and keep it going,” he commended.

Another Board Member, Christian Kamara, in his response pointed out that Stevens and Co is the auditor of the station. He made it categorically clear that the station is owned by Civil Society Organizations and has a Board. He said the utilization of funds generated goes towards payment of staff salaries and to take care of operational or running costs such as payment of electricity bills, water rates, stationaries, fuel and a host of other things. He also expressed profound satisfaction with the progress that the Radio Station is making under the steering of Asmaa James.

Radio Democracy was set up in 1997 to help restore democracy in Sierra Leone after the country’s democratically elected Government was overthrown by a group of military personnel. At that time, there was a massive local and international call for the reinstatement of the Government. The establishment of the radio was critical to sustaining efforts at reinstating democratic rule. Radio Democracy not only provided regular updates relating to on-going efforts to restore democracy but served as a major reporter of issues that counteracted the propaganda machinery of the military junta. It was essentially a medium through which pressure was brought to bear on the military to relinquish power, while at the same time giving hope to a largely crestfallen population.

Since 1997, Radio Democracy has never ceased to perform its role as a platform for civil society, upholding democracy, human rights, promoting good governance, and a platform for diverse voices from all spectrum of the Sierra Leonean population, stimulating an active citizenry in both national and community discussions.

Today the radio has gone far and wide, countrywide and international.

Its Station Manager commands great respect for her forthrightness and objectivity.