We Don’t Recognize Salone Association of Bloggers – Ministry of Information

Director of Information in the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MOICE), Emmanuel AB Turay has distanced the ministry from the recently launched Salone Association of Bloggers (SAB), stating that as a supervisory ministry for media matters in the country, they do not recognize the group as a national entity.

Speaking to Awoko Newspaper, Turay made this declaration while emphasizing the importance of regulatory compliance for organizations operating in the media space.

Turay disclosed that the association, led by Senior Citizen, Joseph Sannoh, failed to seek proper authorization from the ministry before establishing itself.

“Sannoh approached the Minister and the Ministry, but I doubt if he heeded the advice, we gave him. Even for NGOs to operate, they must go through their line ministry and obtain some level of clearance. You cannot form such an association without the express knowledge and certification of the Ministry of Information, which is the line ministry for media matters,” 

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He further noted that the ministry has no issues with the formation of such an association but the use of the term “Salone” in the association’s name gives the impression of a nationally recognized body, which he argues is misleading.

“When you use the word ‘Sierra Leone,’ it should reflect a national body. Take, for example, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ). They have a constitution, regional executives, and regularly hold elections. Any organization claiming national status must meet similar standards,” he said.

Turay suggested that a more appropriate name, such as “Progressive Bloggers Association,” could have been considered to avoid misrepresentation. He also raised concerns about the association’s governance structure, questioning whether it has a constitution that reflects national inclusivity.

“We have seen other bloggers disassociating themselves from the initiative, which raises further questions about its legitimacy,” he added.

The Director of Information reiterated that all organizations that seek the interest of the people of Sierra Leone activities must be recognized by the government to ensure their interventions align with the broader national agenda. “For example, NGOs dealing with civic education must be officially recognized so that their work supports national objectives rather than operating in isolation,” he explained.

The statement from MOICE raises serious questions about the legality and credibility of the Salone Association of Bloggers. It remains to be seen whether the group will seek official recognition or make adjustments to its structure and branding to give it a national character as suggested by the country’s Information Ministry.