BREAKING:
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has just received complaints from some journalists that they were denied entry to cover the first day proceedings of the tribunal of the suspended Auditor-General and one of her deputies.
We call on the Judiciary of Sierra Leone to allow media access to the tribunal proceedings (and even live coverage) so that the public follows the process in the interest of transparency and fair hearing.
The tribunal should be opened to all media not just a selected few.
Thank you.
Signed:
Alhaji Manika Kamara
Acting National Secretary General
*IMMEDIATE RELEASE*
*SLAJ MISINFORMATION ON PREVENTING JOURNALISTS ACCESS TO COVER TRIBUNAL*
*Freetown, Sierra Leone, 17th March, 2022:* The attention of the Judiciaryโs Communications Department has been drawn to a social media release by the Acting National Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Alhaji Manika Kamara, claiming that journalists were โ *denied entry to cover the first day proceedings of the tribunal of the suspended Auditor-General and one of her Deputies.*โ He also claimed that we were selective.
One of the cardinal principles of journalism is the TRUTH, *Veritas Vos liberabit*, but SLAJ erred by rushing to circulate a biased report without recourse to the implication that will impugn on the Associationโs credulity to reporting the truth.
As a Department, we prepared accreditation cards to allow access into the Social Security Court where the Tribunal commenced today. There were two high-profile cases at the Main Law Courts Building-Dr. Samura Kamara & others and the suspended Auditor General and her Deputy.
Accordingly, reporters from SLBC, AYV, A-Z Newspaper, Public Review Newspaper, the BBC, Reuters and Radio Democracy were among those journalists who were inside the Court to cover the Tribunal set up to inquire into the alleged misconduct of the Auditor General and the Deputy Auditor General.
Lawyers, Civil Society Representatives, Family members, some unknown members of the public and other professional bodies were accredited to be in attendance. 50 persons were only allowed due to the limited sitting capacity. With this in mind, priority was given to the Court Reporters Association and they were catered for.
The true story is, Awoko Newspaper sent two Reporters, one to cover Dr. Samura Kamara’s trial and the other to cover the Tribunal. Awoko’s Mohamed Juma Bah gained access in the morning and was comfortable inside the Court. Radio Democracy and Concord Times assigned two Reporters. Other media houses that aren’t regular Court Reporters nor members of the Court Reporters Association assigned their Reporters as well.
The Reporter assigned by Awoko Newspaper to cover the Tribunal was prevented from entering the court by the Security Guards. Similarly, Radio Democracy’s Reporter was also prevented from entering the Court. That was brought to the attention of our Communications Head, Elkass Sannoh and prompt action was taken which brought Osman Kamara of Radio Democracy FM 98.1 inside the Court even without accreditation because his colleague was using the accreditation card to cover Dr. Samura Kamara’s case. Unfortunately, the other Awoko Newspaper Reporter had left the scene.
The Communications head had to ask one of the Solicitors’ Clerk out because he was without accreditation. He brought in Radio Democracy’s Osman Kamara to occupy the seat. Like few others, lawyers were also not allowed inside the Court due to the limited sitting capacity.
Aside from that, three of the journalists who weren’t allowed access due to limited sitting capacity were better explained to what obtains in Court. This is because our Department values the support provided by journalists.
SLAJ is a professional Association and almost all staff of our Department are registered and paid up members of the Association. SLAJ was deceived because the author of the Release, Alhaji Manika Kamara is a Journalist working for Awoko and his action is considered not only as a calculated ploy to misinform the public but a deliberate campaign of calumny.
Today, we have not only provided recognition and respect to our Court Reporters, we have prevented them from queuing as long as they have identification cards.
For the first time, we have provided training for Court Reporters across the country on professional Court Reporting. This is a testimony to justify that the Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards believes in accountability and transparent leadership. This is only possible with the support of Journalists.
We are assuring the general public that we will continue to promote professional journalism and support media growth and development.
*For more enquires contact *the Communications Department on +23234617548/+23279101086 or visit us on www.judiciary.gov.sl*
