The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Alhaji Majika Kamara, has called on the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Solomon Sengepoh Thomas, to reconsider his decision to bar journalist Melvin Tejan Mansaray from entering the premises of the Parliament of Sierra Leone.
Kamara made the call on Friday, 25 September 2026, while addressing members of the Sierra Leone Parliamentary Press Gallery (SLPPG) during an Extraordinary General Meeting held at Committee Room 1 of the Parliament Building.
The meeting was held under the theme, “From Draft to Covenant: Securing the Gallery’s Future,” and brought together members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery to discuss issues affecting parliamentary journalism and the future of the institution.
In his address, the SLAJ President stressed that the media is not an extension of Parliament’s Public Relations wing, but an independent institution with a public-interest mandate to inform citizens and hold public institutions accountable through professional journalism.
Against this backdrop, Kamara urged the Speaker to reconsider the decision barring Mansaray from Parliament, while reaffirming the importance of journalists’ access to public institutions in carrying out their professional responsibilities.
He also called on members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery to uphold high standards of professionalism, fairness, accuracy and integrity in their work.
Kamara emphasised that journalists must remain committed to serving the public interest and should not allow their professional responsibilities to be influenced by political party or partisan interests.
He reminded members that, while covering Parliament and other public institutions, journalists represent the interests of the people of Sierra Leone and have a responsibility to provide accurate and balanced information to the public.
The SLAJ President further reaffirmed the association’s commitment to constructive engagement with Parliament and other public institutions, while defending journalists’ rights and professional independence, including access to information and the ability to report on matters of public interest.
