The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists has issued a statement urging radio stations to comply with payment of the Spectrum Fees to the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) or risk being shut down from 1 September.
The press release signed by the SLAJ Secretary General Ismael Koroma, says the association “will not intervene in this matter or ask NATCOM to stay action”. It says that for over three years the association has engaged NATCOMwith an address to the NATCOM Board by the SLAJ President, Umaru Fofana, but that the defaulting radio stations have repeatedly breached agreements reached.
In May 2009, the release adds SLAJ was able to secure the halving of the spectrum fee for community radio stations who now pay $ 250 annually and that the Commission even agreed a waiver of arrears owed by the stations.
Fofana, the release goes on, “also pleaded for an extension of the deadline for payment of Spectrum Fee” which has since elapsed. “SLAJ is therefore backing NATCOM in this action to ensure compliance with payment of Spectrum Fee” the release says.
SLAJ has also warned radio stations to desist from taking bribes from politicians ahead of the November general elections. It also encourages radio station managers to keep proper records of their finances as failure to give a proper account of monies raised in the name of community radio stations constitutes a corruption offence.
