The Chief Executive of the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), Ibrahim Brima Swarray has stated that Kenema will be the first district to have a Media Secretariat for the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Eastern region. He gave this assurance at the official turning of the sod for the construction of the SLAJ Eastern regional office at the Maada Bio Street in Kenema on Saturday 7th November 2020.
According to the NPPA Chief Executive, he was informed by the SLAJ Eastern region Organising Secretary about their plan to construct a Secretariat after securing a piece of land from the Provisional Secretary, and he thought it fit to render assistance as a lover of the media. He disclosed that he consulted an engineer to complete the architecture work by designing the proposed building and assured the SLAJ Eastern Regional Organising Secretary that he will give 10 trips of sand, six trips of stones, 300 bags cement, 2 tonnes iron rods and a cash donation of Le 10m to commence the work which he believes others will support out of goodwill.
“I am not a journalist but I like the profession,” he said, calling on the Kenema people to support the SLAJ building project as a way of empowering the media in that part of the country. Delivering the keynote address in the history making event, the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, said that for the very first time in the 49 years history of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) “we are starting a building project for the offices of our regional body in the East of the country”.
“This is another symbolic moment in the history of SLAJ, and as President of this noble Association I feel proud and happy that this is happening under my leadership,” he maintained. He assured the NPPA Chief that his gestures of becoming the first person to donate towards the construction of the building has etched his name in the history books of SLAJ, that here, in the Eastern Region, is where it all started.
The SLAJ President maintained that the NPPA Chief’s action is supporting the vision of President Julius Maada Bio to change the media landscape in Sierra Leone, explaining that Swarray is helping to build the capacity of the media to be able to perform its crucial role of informing and educating the people and holding public officials to account in a fair and responsible manner. “Talking about president Bio’s vision, we had a meeting with the Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning (Dr. Dennis Sandy ) before coming here, to follow up on the government’s promise of allocating land to SLAJ for the construction of its various headquarters,” he said.
The SLAJ President assured the gathering that they are aware of the line that separates us journalists from the politicians lest, we play into their hands, stating that let the relationship continue to be one of mutual respect, understanding, appreciation and respect for each other’s role, and partnership in the interest of the general good. “Whatever accomplishment we make while serving in leadership positions is NOT our accomplishment. It is the people’s. When this building is completed, it will be called SLAJ office, but it is actually the property of the people,” he assured.
According to the SLAJ Eastern Region Chairperson, Victoria Bernard, the building project was one of her major promise to the membership, assuring that she had already setup a committee to handle the building project especially donated funds and materials. “I will ensure that whatever money received for this project be made known to the public,” she assured, calling on the Kenema people to come to their aid in completing the building project.
The Mayor of Kenema City, Thomas K. Baio called on the journalists to practice professionally towards ensuring transparency and also promote good governance, maintaining that the building project had put Kenema ahead in terms of having a permanent SLAJ structure. He donated a total a 100 bags of cements with plans of giving more based on the progress of the building project. Other well wishers also donated including journalists towards the project which they described as step in the right direction