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The Board of Trustees of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) has released a statement accusing the Director General (DG) of serious misconduct, including misuse of public funds, misleading the Board, and actions that led to a staff strike.
According to the Board, the DG signed cheques with a junior staff member in the Finance Department, instead of the Finance Director, who is not a signatory to the accounts. This issue was raised in Parliament during the Public Accounts Committee inquiry into SLBC’s 2023 audit report.
The Board also said the DG had been taking \$100 daily for a vehicle rental over several months, despite having no approval. The vehicle was regularly seen on SLBC premises. This practice only stopped after the Board questioned it during an interview with the Anti-Corruption Commission audit team.
Another issue mentioned was the use of Le10,000 for entertainment allowance without any approval.
The Board further said the DG gave false information about a foreign trip to Turkiye. She told the Board the trip was fully funded by the host, but it was later found that SLBC paid for the ticket, per diem, and other travel expenses without Board approval. The Board said if they had known about the cost, they would have asked her to seek alternative funding because of the Corporation’s financial difficulties.
The DG is also accused of using SLBC funds for personal regional trips, without informing the Board. The Board questioned the total amount spent on fuel and said they were planning an expert review to determine generator fuel consumption before the strike began.
In addition to financial issues, the DG has been accused of withholding important information from the Board and instructing staff to do the same.
To control spending, the Board introduced a new policy that required multiple signatories for expenses over Le 20,000. These include the Deputy Director General, Director of Finance, Director of Commercial, one Board member, and the DG herself. The Board said this was communicated clearly to SLBC Management, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, and the banks (Sierra Leone Commercial and Vista Bank). Management was advised to submit the required documents for the new signatories to take effect.
However, the Board said the DG later wrote to the banks, asking them to “stay action” and keep the existing signatories, going against the Board’s decision. They also said internal letters about the signatory change were leaked to journalists to influence media coverage against the Board.
Following this, some staff were reportedly incited to strike, shut down the station, and even assault a journalist. The Board said staff were also instructed to turn off SLBC radio and television broadcasting.
The Board called this act sabotage, and said they are trying to stop waste and fix the institution’s finances. They expressed concern that these actions are a reaction to proper procedures aimed at protecting taxpayer resources.
They said the DG does not have the experience needed to run SLBC. Most Board members have over 15 years of management experience and have worked with her for about a year. Based on that, they concluded she lacks the capacity to lead the institution.
The Board also said the DG is the only Management representative in Board meetings and does not share decisions with the rest of the Management or staff. They said most resolutions are not carried out, and when they are, the DG presents them as her own ideas. An example given was the ongoing refurbishment of the station, which the Board said was made possible through a Board resolution.
The Board said the DG had been queried many times, both verbally and in writing. Complaints were made about her using offensive language in meetings, failing to submit Board minutes, and not implementing decisions. These concerns were reported to the Minister of Information and once to the Secretary to the President. The Board said they are now following the advice given by these authorities.
While the Board acknowledged staff concerns about pay, they reminded the public that the Government increased salaries for all SLBC staff by 50% in 2024. They said SLBC was the only government institution to receive such a general salary increase.
The Board described the DG’s actions as an attempt to damage the institution’s reputation and reduce public trust. They said their work is to protect public funds and called on SLBC staff to think carefully. They also asked journalists to focus on facts and not act on one-sided information. The assault on a fellow journalist and threats of arson were described as serious criminal matters.
In conclusion, the Board called on SLBC Management to carry out the signatory changes and asked the government to support the Board’s authority. They warned that what happens in this case could affect how Boards are treated in future issues across the country. They said SLBC’s money belongs to the people of Sierra Leone and must be used properly.
This government is full of incompetent DGS. Most of them lack the necessary qualifications to head public institutions. They appointed them because they funded President Bio’s campaign, so they are compensating them.
@jskekua kindly provide proof of your claim. For instance you can tell the forum the amount that was contributed, when it was paid and the medium by which the money was dispense.