Alhaji Manika Kamara, President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), has urged the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) to become a truly independent public service broadcaster that represents and serves all citizens’ interests.
Speaking on Tuesday at consultations on the SLBC Act 2010, Kamara described reform of the national broadcaster as both a media-sector priority and a democratic necessity. He argued that an SLBC free of government, partisan, and special-interest control would ensure equal access to diverse voices, raise programming standards, and contribute to national cohesion.
According to Kamara, SLAJ’s participation in the review is part of a larger campaign for media reform that the Association has been promoting in recent years. He cited key milestones such as the repeal of the criminal libel law and ongoing efforts to improve media viability and press freedom throughout the country. A revitalized SLBC, according to Kamara, is the logical next step in his reform agenda.
He added that an SLBC with editorial independence and strong public accountability mechanisms would not only provide better service to listeners and viewers, but would also set professional standards for other media outlets. Kamara emphasized that improved governance at the broadcaster should be accompanied by better working conditions for its employees and other media workers.
The SLAJ President expressed his organization’s full support for the reform process and urged Parliament and the executive to ensure that any new legislation results in the independent, professional, and truly public broadcaster that Sierra Leone deserves.
He also praised the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) and its partners for organizing the consultation, as well as the European Union’s support for the review through the Media Empowerment for Democracy, Inclusion, and Accountability (MEDIA) project, which MRCG is carrying out with technical assistance from BBC Media Action.
