By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
Following the dismissal of the board of directors at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), the Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah has in a press release dated 16th February this year constituted the appointment of an interim Oversight Team to manage the affairs of the nation’s broadcaster, a decision that has met criticisms from journalists.
According to the release, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Civic Education would lead the interim leadership.
“The Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, has set aside the leadership team at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation and constituted an interim Oversight Team led by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Joe Nyuma. This decision follows the recommendation of the Anti-Corruption Commission after their recent investigations and review of the institution’s operations,” part of the release reads.
The release goes on to note that the function of the interim Oversight Team will be to oversee the operations of SLBC until the newly appointed Director General; Ms. Josephine Kamara has parliamentary confirmation and then assumes office.
In a meeting with the staff of SLBC earlier this week, the Information Minister had earlier this week informed the staff of SLBC about the decision to dissolve the board of directors, and that they have “initiated” the process of nominating a new board in accordance with the SLBC Act.
In a press conference of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) last month, the Commissioner of the ACC, Francis Ben Kaifala maintained they have made a recommendation to the government for administrative reform to be taken at the SLBC after they investigated that there were “administrative problems” there.
The Commissioner was speaking about the 2023 Audit Report, which highlighted corruption at the SLBC.
This development followed the appointment of a new Director General at the SLBC who is yet to assume office, and recently the dissolving of the board of directors, with a new board of directors to be nominated.
The decision by the Minister of Information and Civic Education has met strong criticisms from journalists and other people across the country, saying that the decision does not follow the public broadcaster Act of 2009.
The then Director General of the SLBC is now the Commissioner of the Independent Media Commission, raising questions from the members of the public as to why the board of directors should be set aside while the Director General is now serving in a different capacity.
Copyright (c) 2024 (Politico 20/02/24)
