The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has reaffirmed its commitment to press freedom, institutional strengthening, and professional journalism as it enters 2026, with its President, Alhaji Manika Kamara, outlining key achievements, challenges, and priorities of the Association in a New Year message.

In the message issued to mark the New Year 2026, Alhaji Manika Kamara extended season’s greetings to journalists across Sierra Leone, development partners, and the general public, describing the new year as a period of renewed hope and determination for the media sector and the nation at large.

Reflecting on his first six months in office, Kamara said journalists had entrusted him with the responsibility to lead SLAJ during a critical period, noting that the Association’s leadership had focused on purposeful action, inclusion, and laying the foundation for a stronger, more professional, and more united media landscape.

He said this period had been dedicated to rebuilding confidence in the institution and positioning SLAJ to better serve the welfare and professional interests of journalists nationwide.

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According to the SLAJ President, one of the Association’s notable achievements during this period was the rollout of capacity-building programmes for female journalists across the country, particularly in the areas of public financial management and digital media literacy.

He said SLAJ remains committed to empowering women in the media, closing skills gaps, and ensuring that female journalists are not only visible but influential in shaping national discourse, adding that more opportunities for capacity building would be rolled out in 2026.

Kamara also disclosed that SLAJ had successfully secured plots of land for the construction of regional secretariats in the Southern and Northern Regions, describing the development as a significant step towards strengthening the Association’s institutional presence and supporting decentralised operations.

On government relations, the SLAJ President expressed appreciation to President Dr. Julius Maada Bio for approving an increase in the Association’s annual subvention. He said the move reflected government’s recognition of the role of a professional and responsible journalists’ association in promoting democracy, good governance, and national development.

Kamara stressed that SLAJ remains independent, fearless, and uncompromising in its defence of press freedom, professionalism, and the welfare of journalists, emphasising that the Association’s integrity and voice would not be compromised.

Addressing legislative and policy issues, Kamara welcomed the signing into law of the Counterterrorism Act 2025 by President Bio, particularly amendments that addressed concerns raised by media stakeholders to protect press freedom and freedom of expression.

He commended the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Alpha Sesay Esq., and Members of Parliament for taking the concerns of journalists seriously. At the same time, he said SLAJ’s advocacy would continue regarding Section 44(2) of the Cyber Security and Crime Act, which the Association believes still poses risks to press freedom and freedom of expression.

Kamara further disclosed that SLAJ remains actively engaged in the ongoing tripartite constitutional review process, where it is advocating for the inclusion of a proposed standalone Chapter 12 to comprehensively safeguard freedom of expression, press freedom, and media development in the country’s new constitution.

On internal reforms, the SLAJ President said the Revised SLAJ Constitution 2024 is now being implemented through the activation of its strategic committees, with the aim of strengthening transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity within the Association and its subsidiary bodies.

He congratulated the Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU) for successfully holding its Annual General Meeting in Makeni, describing it as the first in the Union’s two-decade history, and encouraged all SLAJ sub-bodies to uphold democratic culture, discipline, and organisational responsibility.

Kamara also congratulated SLAJ ex-officio member Ahmed Sahid Nasralla on his appointment as Chairman of the Federation of African Journalists Working Group on Climate Change, describing the appointment as a recognition that brings honour to Sierra Leone’s media fraternity.

In his message, the SLAJ President expressed appreciation to development partners and diplomatic missions, including the European Union, Chinese Embassy, Indian High Commission, British High Commission, United States Embassy, Irish Embassy, German Embassy, Cuban Embassy, and the United Nations Development Programme, as well as media development organisations such as BBC Media Action, International IDEA, the International Fund for Public Interest Media, Talking Drum Studio, the Media Reform Coordinating Group, the Federation of African Journalists, and the International Federation of Journalists, for their continued support to media development in Sierra Leone.

He also acknowledged SLAJ’s working relationships with the Independent Media Commission and the Right to Access Information Commission. Kamara commended journalists and media houses for upholding professionalism, ethical standards