RIP, Claudius Beckley
Little over a year ago, one of the most popular bloggers in Sierra Leone, Claudius Beckley was dismissed from the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) on allegations that his postings on Facebook were deemed anti – government.
After his sacking, life became tough for him. And a few months ago, he fell ill; admitted at the country’s main referral hospital, Connaught where he underwent a surgery. After his surgery, he was admitted for the second time at Dr. Shuman’s private hospital at Pultney Street and later got discharged.
Back home, Mr. Beckley posted some frightening stuffs on Facebook claiming that he had been promised death within six days – well he lived more than the six days, but less than two months since he posted it. He passed away at his Gloucester residence on Sunday, 25th July, 2021, according to family sources.
Many say since his dismissal from SLBC, life had been tough for him. He survived through the support from friends and fans.
After his death, as one of the journalists who reported his sacking, my phone was inundated with calls and messages to repost the piece I wrote a day after his sacking.
Below is the the reproduced article đđ
Why SLBCâs Claudius Beckley was sacked ?
By Alhaji M B Jalloh
In a letter signed by the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) Director of Administration and Human Resources, Lucy âAnn Ganda, Mr. Claudius Beckleyâs employment with the State Broadcaster was terminated with immediate effect from the 24th April, 2020.
In her letter copied to the Corporationâs Director General, his Deputy, the Board of Trustees and the Director of Finance, Mrs. Ganda says Mr. Beckleyâs termination arose from his âoutrageous and persistent conduct of bringing into disrepute the image of the Corporation.â
In his Facebook post a day after he was terminated, Mr. Beckley who was Head of Entertainment and one of the Senior Camera Operators at SLBC says, his termination was as a result of âmy riddle postings on my Facebook page and praise – singing former officialsâ.
On Mr. Beckleyâs Facebook posts, the Director of Administration and Human Resources says the terminated Head of Entertainment’s âpersistent Facebook political posts with innuendoes understood to carry political designs have brought an unbearable burden on the good image of the SLBCâ.
Sources at the Ministry of Information and Communications say Mr. Beckleyâs termination was an order from above. And that, the Director General, Joseph Egbenda Simon Kapuwa who is also a political appointee had no option but to direct the Director of Administration to terminate the services of Mr. Beckley who served the broadcaster for 26 years before he was asked to quit last Friday.
The wave of sackings and resignations under the current leadership of Mr. Egbenda Kapuwa is unprecedented, says an official at the Information ministry.
Just last year, the official said, a Reporter, Rose Konima Stevens resigned as result of bitter blood she had with the Head of News, Hawa Bockarie even when the former had gone out and use her resources to cover a human interest story in Bonthe. Upon her return, the source added, Hawa Bockarie reportedly scolded, berated and lampooned her like a mistress could do to her maid. “She became frustrated and resigned.”
Before Rose’s resignation, the source went on, a Producer, Judith Sannah, also resigned for reasons not unconnected with the intimidation of the powerful Head of News.
Few months ago, Johnny King, Head of Digital Editing also resigned. Before King left, the head of IT, Ibrahim Sesay also resigned.
King Millan, a popular entertainment TV Presenter also faced the hammer on the 1st January this year when he was suspended for three months without salary.
All the above resignations, I learned, have been linked to the current alleged mismanagement the State Broadcaster is witnessing.
“The intimidation that staff are facing at SLBC is unheard of. Some are now even scared to post something critical on Facebook,” my source concluded.”
