By Chernor Alimamy Kamara
The Independent Media Commission (IMC) Complaints Committee has conducted Hearings on matters brought before the commission by people who feel aggrieved about publications and broadcasts made by newspapers and radio stations.
The hearing’s decision was made known to the public via a press release by the commission on the 24th of May 2023.
The complaints committee noted in the release that the IMC on Tuesday, 23rd, and Wednesday 24th May 2023 at its headquarters in Freetown, conducted hearings on various complaints made by individuals.
It stated that the Committee received a complaint by Ahmad Senousi Sesay on behalf of Al-Sheefa Arab Clinic against Sky Times Newspaper for publication dated 1st September 2022 headlined “Al-Sheefa Arab Clinic Accused of Employing Unqualified Pharmacist, Allegedly Abuses Female Workers”.
When the committee held its last hearing on the aforementioned matter, Sesay who was the complainant was present for the hearing while the editor of the newspaper was absent. The committee according to the release proceeded with the matter quoting sections of the IMC Act 2020. It noted that summons have been issued twice for the editor’s appearance and an affidavit of service duly served by the commission.
The complaints committee, therefore, proceeded with the matter as if the editor of the said institution was before it.
Another complaint received by the committee was from Alie Jaffa on behalf of the Lebanese Union against Standard Times Newspaper for a publication dated 4th April 2023 which the headline read “Lebanese Union Goes Social Club.”
In this matter, both the complainant Alie Jaffa, and the Editor of Standard Times were present for the hearing. The complainant was asked to restate his complaint which he did and the editor in response however said he doesn’t stand by his story and promised to do a retraction with equal prominence.
In addition, the complaint committee is said to be monitoring a report against the Exclusive Newspaper in relation to a publication titled: “June 24 Elections: 1500 ECOMOG Troops, 78 EU Observers, US Marines to Deploy 30 Observers from Carter Center” published on Friday 12th May 2023.
According to the release, the editor of the responding newspaper Pateh Bah, during the hearing on the matter admitted that he does not stand by the story. He said he did not intend to create fear or panic in the minds of Sierra Leoneans but was reporting a story he received from an anonymous source. He however pleaded with the committee to give him time to publish a retraction with equal prominence.
Also, the Complaints Committee received Complaints from William Fayia Sellu, Inspector General of Police (IGP) against Alex Lawrence Koroma, Producer of Radio Democracy 98.1 FM over a radio broadcast against his person on the radio’s ‘Good Morning Salone’ Show on Monday 22nd May 2023.
The IGP Sellu was represented by his wife Doris Sellu and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Brima Kamara, while Koroma also presented himself.
Restating the complaint on behalf of the IGP, ACP Kamara said that on Monday 22nd May 2023, the programme’s producer of 98.1 radio smeared the character and person of IGP Sellu without getting his own side of the story.
In his response, Koroma said the broadcast was never meant to destroy the good image of the IGP and that it was a mistake and pleaded with the committee to give him time to do a retraction also with equal prominence as soon as possible.
A complaint relating to the conduct of a journalist or media institution shall be sent to the complaints committee through the IMC.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (26/05/23)
