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The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) is deeply concerned about recent insults, intimidation, attacks, and threats against journalist Amadu Lamrana Bah, mainly from people believed to be supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), and government workers.
Bah, recognized in March 2024 as ‘Journalist of the Year 2023’ by SLAJ, has consistently spoken truth to power and held public officials to account for years irrespective of the government in power.
The recent threats and online attacks came after he repeatedly questioned the opportunity costs of the frequent travels of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio and his international lectures, and the President’s latest acquisition of a Maybach Benz Jeep ‘amidst growing hardship for ordinary Sierra Leoneans’. He now fears for his safety and security as he reported to us and shared pieces of evidence of the threats against his person.
“Freedom of the press is a fundamental tenet of democracy, and any attempt to silence journalists through insults, threats, intimidation, and harassment undermines the very essence of this basic human right, and its significance to our fledgling democracy It is imperative that we stand in solidarity with journalists like Lamrana and unequivocally denounce these reprehensible actions,” said the President of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla.
SLAJ believes that the safety and well-being of journalists must be safeguarded, both online and offline. No journalist should fear for their life or face intimidation simply for doing their job. We urge the authorities to take swift and decisive action to investigate these threats and hold to account those responsible.
SLAJ stands in solidarity with Amadu Lamarana Bah and all journalists in Sierra Leone who face threats, intimidation, harassment, and attacks for their commitment to truth and transparency. SLAJ is committed to defending press freedom and ensuring journalists can carry out their critical work without fear of reprisal.
Signed:
Alhaji Manika Kamara
National Secretary General
In this regime of Bio, there supporters don’t want to know or hear the truth, no matter the suffering in the country ,they don’t care
I don’t support and condemn those allegedly threatening Lamaran in as much as it is glaring that he’s a good journalist but an APC supporter who trying very hard to indirectly blackmail the SLPP government. He’s simply biased and it’s not new
This is not a democratic government
Slpp supporters are rude
He is an apc Journalist,he can do anything to blackmaill this Bio led government.He is always biased in his journalism when he comes to SLPP matters we know him for that very well,it is not new to some of us.The maybach Benz Jeep he is talking about is less than $200,000 for goodness sake, so Lamurana Bah in mind $175,000 will feed the whole country including your apc family because that is the exact cost of this Jeep in question. You apc supporters are doing this just because you hate the president and the government,but time will tell.
We refer to them as foolish an uncivilized
supporters
Do we think that politicians can solve Sierra Problem? We are far from it because they are putting their interest above Sierra Leone. SLPP and APC if there is any to kick both of them out power maybe that will bring some sanity.
All them man Dem na thief man Dem bra. APC sedon dae wait for ihn turn. Make we take destiny na we yone hand yaa.