By Mabinty M. Kamara
As dates for Sierra Leone's General Elections approach, the international community including ECOWAS has called on media practitioners in Sierra Leone to ensure credible and factual reportage on the electoral activities, noting the powers of the media to make and unmake society.
It is in this vein that the Electoral Commission Sierra Leone (ECSL) in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and funding from the European Union and the German Corporation, has embarked on a weeklong training of journalists and bloggers across Sierra Leone.
Speaking at the commencement of a two-day training for journalists in the Western Area held at the Mamba Point Hotel in Freetown on the 6th of June 2022, the head of Democracy and Good Governance at ECOWAS, Dr. Emmanuel E. Okorodudu noted that the regional block is concerned over media report and coverage of elections in the region for which they continue to have engagements with journalists in this part of continent in order to promote media encounter with electoral processes and look at the contents produced by media practitioners to manage structural issues that may result out of disinformation or misinformation.
He noted that ECOWAS equally supported such processes in the country's last general elections, but said that the support has now been amplified to trigger the issues of content to "work within the framework of fairness, objectivity, fundamental human rights, and basic ethics”.
He expressed hope that media practitioners will hold in high esteem the professional ethics on which they have been trained.
“In this respect, we are hoping being media practitioners, as we move to the next election, we will circumspect in the way we put out our media reportage. Especially we expect them to make contents that are not violent in nature and to also develop contents that will foster unity of the state and also build contents that will enhance the credibility of the election management body and generate due respect for the outcome of the electioneering process," he said.
In his statement, the EU Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Manuel Muller noted that democracy and good governance cannot be possible without the media.
He added that free and fair elections are not only about the freedom to vote, and the knowledge of how to vote, but also the participatory process where voters engaged in public debates and have adequate information on political parties, candidates and the election processes itself in a bid to make an informed decision and choice.
Ambassador Muller said the media serves as a watchdog to democratic elections, safeguarding the entire process.
He pointed out that the media has rejoiced in increased freedom in the country, noting the repeal of part five of the 1965 Public Order Act.
However, he said as such freedom increases, the media should maintain a high level of professionalism, and accuracy in their coverage.
He said accurate and neutral reporting plays a "crucial role in preventing fake news, hate speech around electoral process and that a good relationship between the media and elections management bodies contributes to the delivery of peaceful and credible, and transparent election”.
He also noted that the training will build the much-needed capacity in elections reporting and strengthen the relationship between the media and the election body while calling on the Commission to provide vital and useful information to aid journalists in their work.
He noted that the IMC has a critical role in ensuring free and pluralistic media in the country.
He also called on the Director-General of the State Broadcaster to ensure fair space is provided for all political parties and airing of citizens' views to ensure inclusiveness and equal participation at all levels.
In his statement, the Chairman of the Independent Media Commission, (IMC) Dr. Victor Massaquoi said as an institution, the regulatory agency does not only ensure media freedom but ensures that the media does not plunge the country into an abyss of destruction as in the case leading to the Rwanda Genocide.
The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, (SLAJ) Ahmed Said Nasralla said that they are currently working with the IMC to develop public elections guidelines and are committed to working on the recommendations from the last election to improve media coverage.
However, he stressed the need for adequate training of journalists so they could be familiar with electoral laws and ensure credible research.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed K. Konneh, the Western Area Electoral Commissioner, Zainab Moseray said the media coverage and reportage have always dented the credibility of the commission and its officials, leading to public mistrust and in some cases, igniting widespread violence around the country, noting that the commission has always been on the defensive.
"Even in the midst of rising mistrust and tension among the electorate, upon assuming office at the ECSL, the board of commissioners realized that not much attention has been paid to Sec 7(1) (e) of the Public Elections Act of 2012 which mandates the commission to conduct civic electoral education in Sierra Leone," he said.
This he said is responsible for the low knowledge of many people on the commission's mandate, policies, and electoral management processes which may in part explain the current attitudes towards and perception of the commission.
"The board of commissioners has however decided to change the narrative by embarking on an extensive civic electoral education programme ahead of the 2023 elections, starting in Freetown, Bo, and Port Loko Districts," he said
Education, he said transforms a man and by extension a nation which is why they are partnering with the media to provide up-to-date, relevant information on ECSL and its activities with a view to educate and inform voters in the months leading up to the 2023 elections.
The training which covers responsible media coverage of elections, Sierra Leone electoral laws, and the ECOWAS election guidelines on elections reporting among others, will end on the 15th of June, 2022 with participants from east and Southern regions.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (08/06/22)
