By Alpha Amadu Jalloh
Mr. President, here we are today again, fresh, happy, and relaxed. Once more, I feel compelled to address you and this nation we call home. Mr. President, you have managed to fool yet another set of Sierra Leoneans. While your actions may not bother you, they certainly trouble us, especially those of us who recognize the layers of manipulation that go unnoticed by many. What really worries me, Mr. President, is how you have managed to wrap and twist our journalists, the very individuals who should serve as the nerve center of our democracy.
Mr. President, Yu Gi Dem Journalist Dem Malowa. These are the professionals who ought to be the voice of the people, the watchdogs of governance, and the defenders of truth. But alas, they have been ensnared in your web. I recall how we once called former President Ernest Bai Koroma “Messi” for his political dexterity. Well, Mr. President, you are proving yourself to be a Vinícius Júnior of manipulation. Truly, Yu Sabi Kad Bad.
How is it, Mr. President, that you found the means to offer 2.5 billion old leones to our journalists? Why present it in the misleading guise of “billions of leones” instead of the now-official New Leone (NLe)? Are we still stuck in the era of old leones? Is this a deliberate effort to exaggerate your generosity? Mr. President, it is nothing short of deceptive to employ such tactics to curry favour from the Fourth Estate. Journalists deserve genuine support, not the cheap tricks of exaggerated handouts.
The so-called 2.5 billion leones you offered is, in reality, just NLe 250 million. In today’s economy, where the value of the Leone is in free fall and inflation is skyrocketing, this amount is hardly substantial. When exactly will these funds be disbursed, Mr. President? I hope the money has already been handed over because, at the current rate of inflation, any delay will render it virtually worthless.
This is what makes your gesture problematic. Instead of addressing the systemic challenges faced by our journalists, their lack of resources, inadequate training, and the hostile environment in which they operate, you offer them a symbolic pittance that barely scratches the surface of their struggles. And yet, many of them are compelled to accept it. Why? Because of economic hardship and the constant grind of survival.
Mr. President, the sad reality is that the Fourth Estate in Sierra Leone is failing to live up to its mandate. Where is the vibrancy, the integrity, the accountability that journalism is supposed to bring to society? What has SLAJ (Sierra Leone Association of Journalists) done to strengthen the role of journalism in this country? If anything, they seem more focused on maintaining favour with your administration than on holding it accountable.
Our newspapers are no longer beacons of information and enlightenment. Instead, they have become platforms for political propaganda and government advertisements. Where are the investigative stories exposing corruption, shedding light on societal issues, and amplifying the voices of ordinary Sierra Leoneans? Where are the reports celebrating our culture, our innovators, and the unsung heroes of this nation? Instead, it’s all about politics, campaigns, politicians’ deeds, and misdeeds. There is little to no effort to showcase what ordinary Sierra Leoneans are doing to advance this country.
Aw ba, Mr. President, is this the Sierra Leone we aspire to? Are you and your government the only ones who matter in this country? Are you the only ones who own Sierra Leone? Surely, we can do better.
Every day, Mr. President, you are presented with new opportunities to right the wrongs of your administration and to steer Sierra Leone towards a brighter future. Yet, these opportunities slip through your fingers. The issue here is not just your actions but also the advisers you surround yourself with. Who are these individuals, Mr. President? Do they truly have the interests of the nation at heart, or are they simply sycophants eager to maintain their positions?
What our journalists need, Mr. President, is not symbolic handouts but genuine investment in their profession. They need access to modern equipment, training programs, and resources that will enable them to perform their duties effectively. They need a media landscape that is independent, self-sustaining, and free from government control or undue influence. Until this happens, the Fourth Estate will continue to fail in its role as the watchdog of our society.
Imagine a Sierra Leone where our newspapers do not rely on government handouts or advertisements to survive. A media landscape where journalists can report freely and fairly on issues from every corner of the country. A press that informs, entertains, and educates, bringing to light the stories that matter most, from our cultural heritage to the innovations of our youth.
This is the kind of journalism we need, Mr. President. But it will not happen as long as your administration continues to use journalists as pawns in its political games. It will not happen as long as SLAJ and other media organizations prioritize personal gain over professional integrity. It will not happen until there is a collective commitment to strengthening the Fourth Estate for the benefit of our democracy.
Mr. President, you have a unique opportunity to change the narrative. Instead of manipulating journalists with symbolic handouts, why not invest in building a robust and independent media sector? Provide grants for training programs. Support the establishment of independent media houses. Create an enabling environment where journalists can thrive without fear of intimidation or economic hardship.
To our journalists, I say this: the time has come to reclaim your integrity. Do not allow yourselves to be used as tools for political propaganda. Demand better from your government, from SLAJ, and from yourselves. Hold those in power accountable. Shine a light on the issues that matter most to Sierra Leoneans. Remember that your role is not just to report the news but to shape the narrative of our nation.
Mr. President, Sierra Leone deserves better. Our journalists deserve better. And you, as the leader of this nation, have a responsibility to provide better. It is time to move beyond the politics of manipulation and deception. It is time to build a media sector that is vibrant, independent, and capable of driving the progress we so desperately need.
Every day is a new opportunity, Mr. President. Do not let this one slip away. The ball is in your court. What will you do with it?
