MFWA AND MRCG-SL ORGANISE A NATIONAL FORUM ON SAFETY OF JOURNALISTS IN SIERRA LEONE
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) with funding support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana organised a National Forum on Safety of Journalists in Sierra Leone on the 22nd April 2021 at Sierra Palms Resort, Lumley Beach Road, Freetown.
The one-day event was attended by 60 participants from media outlets (editors, managers and reporters); Ministry of Information and Communications; the Independent Media Commission (IMC), Right to Access Information Commission (RAIC), journalists union and other media associations (such as SLAJ, SLRU, IRN, GoE, WIMSAL, SLBC, SWASAL, etc.), security agencies (Sierra Leone Police, Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and Office of National Security (OSN)), civil society organisations (Citizens Advocacy Network etc) and representatives of journalism training institutions (Mass comm. Fourah Bay College, LIMKOKWING etc).
The National Forum on Safety of Journalists in Sierra Leone is part of MFWA and MRCG’s advocacy on Safety of Journalists in Sierra Leone which was aimed at: Highlighting the safety of journalists’ issues in the country; Building capacity of stakeholders on safety of journalists’ standards; Fostering collaboration of stakeholders (media, security agencies, regulatory bodies, civil society etc.) to fight impunity for crimes against journalists and promote the safety of journalists and enhancing understanding of the role of the media, security agencies and how they can work together to promote peace.
Dr. Francis Sowa, in his statement thanked the MFWA and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana for funding the forum, emphasizing that such a forum will help in identifying, discussing and addressing issues of journalists’ safety and security in Sierra Leone.
“In 2020, with support from the MFWA, the MRCG trained 40 journalists on Safety and Security Issues and also carried out a study on the safety of journalists in Sierra Leone. The MRCG, MFWA and partners will continue the training of more journalists and make use of the data from the study,” says Dr. Francis Sowa, National Coordinator of the MRCG as he presented findings from the Study on the State of Safety of Journalists’ Policies and Practices in Media Houses in Sierra Leone.
The Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swaray in his keynote address thanked the MRCG and partners in their quest towards ensuring safety and security of journalists and assured journalists of Government’s commitment to press freedom and their safety and security.
“Government will not support any politician that attacks journalists,” stressed the Minister as he launched the ‘Study on the State of Safety of Journalists’ Policies and Practices in Media Houses in Sierra Leone.’
The MRCG and MFWA believe that an important step to protecting the safety of journalists is when journalists themselves become conscious of potentially dangerous situations and how they can protect themselves at all times in the line of duty.
For more information, contact Mr. Usman Bah, MRCG’s Project Officer on +23276324236/+23231526212 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.