SLAJ Urges Government To Speedily Implement Recommendations of the Investigations Committee on Assault of Two Female Sports Journalists

23 October, 2019

PRESS RELEASE

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), and its constituent bodies (SWASAL, WIMSAL and SLRU) has formally received from its representatives the final report of the Investigations Committee that was established by the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Information and Communications to look into allegations levied against security personnel of the Joint Presidential Guard Force during the Sierra Leone-Liberia football encounter on Sunday, 8th September, 2019 at the National Stadium in Freetown.

Our representatives reported that the Committee carried out its investigations without interference or intimidation from any quarter and that the proceedings were fair and transparent.

SLAJ and its constituent bodies represented in the Investigations Committee therefore call on the Government of Sierra Leone to speedily implement the recommendations in the report.

“The recommendations, in my opinion, are generally fair enough to ensure justice for our colleagues. So I urge Government for their speedy implementation lest they gather dust in some shelf. We will ensure we monitor the implementation of these recommendations,” said SLAJ President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla.

Furthermore, SLAJ welcomes the advice of its representatives to engage the leadership of the security forces (SLP,  RSLAF and ONS) so that we understand and respect one another’s role in our democracy and to prevent repeat of such incidents in future.

Meanwhile, SLAJ expresses profound gratitude to its representatives, and the Investigations Committee in general, for a professional job.

Long Live Press Freedom! 
Long Live SLAJ!
Long Live Sierra Leone!

Signed:

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Mohammed Asmieu Bah
NATIONAL SECRETARY GENERAL

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Sahr Morris Jnr
SEC GEN, SWASAL

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Fatima Essay
SEC GEN, WIMSAL

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Mohamed Jaward Nyally
SEC GEN, SLRU