June 8, 2021
By Dadson A. Musa
Marking their 50th anniversary celebration, the governing body of journalists in Sierra Leone, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) on the 4th June 2021 opened its annual general meeting at the Galliness Paradise hotel conference room along the Bo/Kenema high way.
The occasion was graced by the Minister of information and Communication, Director General NATCOM, AIG, South, Brigade Commander South, President Bar Association, Chairman IMC, UN Resident Coordinator, Dr. Babatunde A. Ahonsi.
The AGM this year coincided with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the umbrella journalist body.
The theme for this year’s AGM is; “Looking Inwards: towards a strong and united SLAJ and Free and Professional Media”
The occasion was chaired by Rev. Father Moses Kawa, Vicar General of the catholic diocese in Bo. In his opening statement, Father Kawa praised the repeal of the 1965 public order act and told the gathering that ‘…journalists are our eyes and ears in society’. He continued that ‘no society survives without a free press ‘, and warned journalists to be professional in their approach to practice.
According to father Kawa this year’s event has been organized with the object of ’STOCK TAKING’.
As a man of God he prayed for the soul of those who started it all in 1971; Olu Richie Gordon, Frank Kposowa, Christo Johnson among others. Father Kawa was relieved of the fact that journalists are enjoying the freedom to practice their profession for which he thanked government. In closing he admonished journalists about the following;
1 Always check with members of your editorial team for controversial issues without being in a hurry of being the first to take it to town in the name of breaking news.
2 Try to resolve conflicting issues in a mature and professional manner.
3 Resolve opinion differences in love.
The IMC chairman, George Khoyarma admonished journalists to stop the ‘ bad heart in the profession’ and happily revealed that media houses have been generally compliant with the new code of ethics.
While the DG NATCOM stressed that the media proved very important in the covid-19 period.
Very senior members who were part of the founding of SLAJ, Madam Daisy Bona and Dr. Bernadette Cole addressed the gathering via recorded video links.
The Minister of information Mr. Mohamed Raman Swaray informed the gathering that government has plans to fund community radio stations so that they can be effective and donated a projector to SLAJ.
In his keynote address, the UN Resident Coordinator, Babatunde A. Ahonsi told journalists to help raise awareness about the problems affecting the country ranging from food insecurity, looming electioneering process and socio-economic activities in the country.
He warned the media to be ‘ balanced, objective and professional’.
He also said that journalism must be of ‘public interest’ and officially declared the AGM opened.
Libation was poured and the vote of thanks was delivered by the PRO of SLAJ, Princess Gibson.