The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists has condemned the recent presidential appointment of a new Chairman of the Independent Media Commission “without seeking the ‘advice of SLAJ’ as provided for in Section 4(1) of the IMC Act, 2000 as amended, which says: ‘The President shall appoint the Chairman and Commissioners of the IMC acting on the advice of SLAJ’” the association states in a statement.
SLAJ had previously in a general meeting condemned the appointments of two commissioners for the same reason.
A SLAJ press release issued following a general meeting yesterday said that the association had been copied a letter dated 3rd December, 2014, written by the Secretary to the President informing Ambassador Alieu Kanu that he had been appointed by the president as Chairman of the IMC.
“SLAJ was never consulted or engaged on this appointment…SLAJ views this action as not only a violation of the provisions of the Act but also a dangerous deviation from the precedent set by previous administrations which may lead to future abuses of the Commission by succeeding governments” the release says.
It continues: “While Section 53(3) of the 1991 Constitution stipulates that we cannot challenge whether the President acted on our advice, in a court of law, yet that does not make the action right or correct”.
It says the association made persistent efforts and wrote letters and put through phone calls to discuss the matter for an amicable outcome, “but all doors were firmly closed”.
“It is regrettable that the government seems to be deliberately acting in a manner to push SLAJ into taking actions that would bring it into conflict, which would lead to negative consequences,” SLAJ President, Kelvin Lewis is quoted as saying.
© Politico 09/12/14
