The National Executive of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), led by its President, Alhaji Manika Kamara, on Tuesday, 17th March 2026, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Sheku A. Fantamadi Bangura, at his George Street office in Freetown.
The visit formed part of the Association’s tradition of introducing its new leadership to key partners and stakeholders.
Introducing the new SLAJ leadership, the outgoing President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, who now serves as an ex-officio member (adviser) to the Executive, thanked the Minister for his support during his tenure, noting that it contributed significantly to his success.
Nasralla urged the Minister to continue supporting SLAJ and its new leadership, emphasizing the importance of sustaining the long-standing relationship between the Ministry and the Association. “One way this can be strengthened is through supporting training for journalists in budget and other economic-related areas,” he said.
He added that the plaque presented to the Minister was in recognition and appreciation of the Ministry’s consistent support to both his administration and SLAJ over the years.
In his remarks, SLAJ President Alhaji Manika Kamara expressed gratitude to the Minister for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with the delegation.
He commended the Minister and his team for their continued support towards promoting professionalism and ethical journalism.
Kamara also acknowledged the Government’s timely disbursement of the subvention, noting that such support is vital to the Association’s operations.
He updated the Minister on the utilization of previous government subventions, explaining that the funds are used for the day-to-day running of SLAJ, including support to its regional executives, committees, and affiliated bodies.
The SLAJ President further informed the Minister about the upcoming Annual General Meeting and National Media Night scheduled for June 2026 in Makeni City. He appealed to the Ministry to support the “Outstanding Reporting on the Economy” category, which aims to encourage more journalists to focus on economic reporting.
Kamara also highlighted a recently concluded training for seventy-five (75) female journalists on Public Financial Management and budgeting, supported by the European Union through BBC Media Action. “As an Executive, we are committed to building the capacity of our members in specialized areas,” he noted.
In his response, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Sheku A. Fantamadi Bangura, welcomed the SLAJ Executive and noted that he had enjoyed a productive working relationship with the previous administration led by Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, although they had limited formal engagements.
“We have a relatively stable media that is performing well, but more needs to be done, particularly in managing and regulating social media,” the Minister advised.
He emphasized that the media plays a critical role in governance and assured the delegation that the Government remains committed to fulfilling its obligations to the media, including the payment of SLAJ’s subvention as soon as possible.
The Minister also briefed the delegation on the current state of the country’s economy, explaining that global challenges, including ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, have impacted economic progress. However, he assured that measures are being implemented to keep the economy on a stable path.
He disclosed that a recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) assessment mission commended the Government’s performance, noting that global challenges continue to affect economies worldwide. He stressed the importance of effectively communicating these issues to the public through the media.
“I try to manage my work in a non-political manner due to the sensitive nature of this office,” he said.
The Minister further explained that the Government has introduced trade financing and credit facilities to support businesses, adding, “While it is difficult to predict future developments, we are currently managing the situation well and will continue to engage the public through the media.”
He concluded by announcing that the Ministry will sponsor the “Best Economic Reporting” category at the next SLAJ Awards and that he intends to personally attend the event.
Credit: SLAJ Secretariat.
