September 23, 2021
BY MOHAMED M. SESAY
A delegation from the Parliamentary Network Africa headed by the Executive Director Sammy Obeng, has yesterday the 22nd of September, held a fruitful engagement with the Interim Executive of Sierra Leone Parliamentary Press Gallery (SLPPG), and also pledged to work and support the Interim Executive in its drive to reconstitute and strengthen the SLPPG.
During his presentation, the Executive Director of the Parliamentary Network Africa Sammy Obeng said they thought it fit to have an engagement with the Interim Executive of the SLPPG as they have done so in other countries, with a view to find ways and means as to how they could work with the Interim Executive in reforming the SLPPG.
He expressed dismay over the discordant nature of the SLPPG over the past three years. As per international standards, Sammy Obeng disclosed that Parliament provides accreditations to journalists who report proceedings of the legislature but advised that journalists should uphold their fundamental principles. He encouraged Parliament to provide an office space to the Interim Executive and the SLPPG by extension to enhance their work,
He equally encouraged journalists to always apply the good journalism spirit in terms of objective reporting.
“We will support the Interim Executive to succeed in its drive in reconstituting the press gallery and restore respectability. I am going to put this engagement across so that other pertinent partners will come onboard”, he said.
Welcoming the delegation, the Interim President Rev, Vibcent Jabba Momoh thanked the delegation for the timely support and intervention in ensuring that the needed sanity is restored in the gallery. With the previous unsatisfactory condition of the SLPPG, President Momoh explained that Parliament took such decision premised on Standing Order (80) to appoint the Interim Executive to reconstitute and sanitize the SLPPG. He added that Parliament initially gave the opportunity to the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists to reconstitute the press gallery but SLAJ did little or nothing in such drive which prompted the Clerk to take the decisive and proactive decision.
He further stated that the Interim Executive has developed a one year six months strategic plan which will guide the Interim Executive to create the needed reordering in the press gallery. President Momoh further explained that even the membership drive of the gallery is in shambles which is the more reason, the Interim Executive has ordered for the re-registration of both new and old members so that a reliable data base will be available for the gallery. He concluded by assuring the delegation of a successful conduct of election for the gallery in due course.