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Statement by SLAJ President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, at the Induction Training of Press Attaches

10th June, 2020

Good morning everyone.

Madam Chair, please permit me to stand on existing protocols.

Let me start by thanking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Ministry Information and Communications for organising this induction training for press attaches recently appointed by the Government of Sierra Leone to work in our various diplomatic missions.

Today you begin your journey on a new path. You are now on the road to become Ambassadors of our country. This is a national call to service for the Government and People of Sierra Leone.

It is a similar line of duty to journalism but also a very different profession.

In journalism you are taught to speak truth to power, to write bluntly and most times in an abrasive manner. In your new profession you will be taught to write and talk differently.

For me, today is a sad day. Sad because I will be losing all of you who are among the finest crop of journalists in the country today.

However, I am heartened that as the saying goes 'once a journalist, always a journalist' I know most of you will not abandon the profession. I take it you are going on a sabbatical leave and will come back to join us.

Meanwhile, as you begin this journey let me implore you to put Sierra Leone first in everything you do.

Remember that you are servants of the people of Sierra Leone. 

Therefore, whenever you finally go to your different stations remember to deal kindly with all Sierra Leoneans. 

Today you have been appointed by the SLPP government but ensure you treat every Sierra Leonean with dignity and respect regardless of their party affiliation, tribe, region and status. 

You must always try to promote unity among our people.

As journalists any and everything you do out there will reflect on us back home. I implore you to be on your very best behaviour and make us and our country proud.

Finally, as you learn about diplomacy please pay due attention to the protocols of how you greet, how you seat and how you dress. Some of these protocols have largely been flouted these days. 

I would therefore urge you to get a copy of Ambassador Soulay Daramy's book. It teaches a lot of things: ‘All Protocols Observed’.

#End.

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