WIMSAL Condemns Summary Dismissal of Female Journalist Umu Thoronka

The Women in the Media #SierraLeone (WIMSAL) has issued a strong condemnation of the recent summary dismissal of journalist Umu Thoronka from the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) in Makeni.

The organization has also raised concerns over the threats made against her following her dismissal.

According to a press release from WIMSAL, Ms. Thoronka, a journalist with nearly ten years of dedicated service, was abruptly dismissed from her position on 26th July 2024. The dismissal followed her post on TikTok, where she highlighted an incident at the President’s town hall meeting. The post featured a young woman who was surrounded by people while attempting to ask a question to the President.

WIMSAL has criticized the manner of Ms. Thoronka’s dismissal, stating that it was carried out without prior warning, discussion, or any formal explanation. The organization argues that this action is in direct violation of the Employment Act of 2023, which requires a fair and transparent process for terminating employment. WIMSAL views this incident not only as an infringement of Ms. Thoronka’s rights as an employee but also as an attack on freedom of speech and journalistic integrity.

Adding to the severity of the situation, Ms. Thoronka has reportedly been subjected to numerous threats on social media and through phone calls, causing her to fear for her safety. As a result, she has been forced into hiding, unable to live freely and safely in her own country.

WIMSAL has called the harassment and threats against Ms. Thoronka “totally unacceptable” and urged the government of Sierra Leone, particularly the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, to investigate the circumstances surrounding her dismissal. The organization also demanded that the authorities take immediate action to address the threats against her life.

“This is not just a fight for one woman, but also a fight for all women in the media, who continue to face discrimination, harassment, and threats in the course of their professional duties,” the press release concluded.

Comment(s)

Disclaimer: Comments expressed here do not reflect the opinions of Sierraloaded or any employee thereof.

22324 | 2024-08-17 21:28:16

Democracy has limitations. Similarly, freedom of expression has limitations. You can not trample on other people's feelings and rights with impunity and when you are called to book, you turn around and call it abuse of Democracy. No way. Also, you can not speak frivolously especially when you are a professional journalist. There are professional boundaries you must not cross. Every right comes with responsibilities. What did you say when Samura Kamara promised to render the country ungovernable if he is not voted into office as president? What did you say when Adebayor, the APC mouthpiece threatened to kill all Mende people if his party wins the 2023 elections? What did you do when Aki-Sawyer was calling the Mende people "Mendecrats"? What did you do when she refused to work with the Mende people at the Freetown City Council? What did you do when EBK'S daughter ordered the beating to death of journalist Samura at the Lambley police station? And what did you say or do when Christiana Thorpe cancelled over 400 polling stations in the South East of Sierra Leone? She said Solomon Berewa and the Mende people should go to the police if they were not happy with her decision. Was that democratic practice? And what did you say? Now you are opening up your a**hole to cry about Democracy. What a display of hypocrisy ! ! The good thing is, karma has caught up with both EBK and Christiana Thorpe. EBK is languishing in exile. Lizards, rats and cocroaches are comfortably occupying his mansions built with stolen money. Christiana Thorpe is a living corpse. The last time I saw her she looked like a street beggar in very poor health.
| 2024-08-14 09:37:36

Nonsense, for what cause they have to sacked her see that's what I always talk about the negative energy and bored diplomacy exhibited by all these so-called people in in positions just making me sick
| 2024-08-13 18:18:48

This is democracy indeed
| 2024-08-13 13:12:41

Bio haterd against the temne is too bad.they are our brothers
| 2024-08-13 11:26:47

LIES STORIES
| 2024-08-13 11:25:55

FAKE INFO
| 2024-08-13 10:43:19

This is very bad
| 2024-08-13 09:04:23

Stop. Spreading negative propaganda , she was sacked for lack of ethics and professional misconducts. Politicizing issues cannot help and will only tarnish your career. The claims of threat is also another way you wanted to use to frame the office , forgetting the fact no one has monopoly over media. You cannot blow issues out of proportion, who is here that doesn't know the global trending? Trying to make political gains on it is unacceptable as it's unfair. When women were raped and beaten at SLPP HQ did you cough? When journalists were beaten up in the forefront of State House before deceitful EBK did you condensed it ? When Theresa Mbogba was dragged to CID just for forwarding Whatsapp message , where were you ? Stop this diode journalism.
| 2024-08-13 09:01:18

Democracy has become democrazy in Sierra Leone, where citizens can no longer expresses their rights no more.🤬
| 2024-08-13 08:25:57

Well if this is true we are no longer in a democratic country. Because the press shall not be in the favor of the politician put for the masses. Their is no longer freedom of speech in the country we called Mama. Some time I wonder if this country is really my mom's. I just feel like we are leaving with our step mother who hate us with passion