SLAJ PAYS COURTESY CALL ON IGP SELLU
Kingtom, 14th August 2025 – On Wednesday 13th August 2025, the newly elected Executive of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) paid a courtesy call on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. William Fayia Sellu, at Police Headquarters, Kingtom.
The delegation was led by the immediate past SLAJ President, Mr. Ahmed Sahid Nasrallah (aka De Monk), who said the purpose of the visit was to formally introduce the new SLAJ Executive to the IGP and to further strengthen the cordial relationship between the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the media.
Mr. Nasrallah recalled that before his presidency, the relationship between SLAJ and the SLP was strained, but during his tenure it had improved significantly. In that spirit, he felt it important to introduce the new SLAJ President, Mr. Alhaji Manika Kamara, and his team to the SLP leadership to maintain the positive momentum. He commended the SLP for always responding promptly and positively to issues involving journalists.
The former President then introduced the visiting delegation: President: Mr. Alhaji Manika Kamara; Vice President: Mr. Richard L. Gevao; Secretary General: Mr. Edward Marrah; Assistant Secretary General: Mr. Theophilus Egbenda; Financial Secretary: Mr. Mohamed Konneh; and Organising Secretary: Mrs. Alice Turay.
Mr. Nasrallah also thanked the SLP Media Team for their cooperation, noting that both ACP Brima Kamara and Deputy ASP Mohamed B. Senu are SLAJ members.
In his remarks, newly elected President Kamara thanked the IGP for granting audience to the delegation and pledged to uphold the strong working relationship with the SLP, which he said had been guided by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2022 with other security agencies.
He highlighted the Media Reform Coordinating Group’s collaboration with Local Unit Commanders nationwide and proposed joint training sessions for journalists and police officers ahead of the 2028 elections. These, he said, would help both sides understand their roles and responsibilities, follow due process, and reduce clashes, which often arise because journalists seek to report while police officers focus on protection.
Mr. Kamara applauded the IGP’s leadership and open-door policy, while Mr. Nasrallah suggested that SLAJ be invited to speak to police recruits about the role of the media, and that a joint guidebook be developed to outline how both professions should conduct themselves in the field.
Responding, IGP Sellu thanked SLAJ for the visit and expressed satisfaction that the relationship between the police and the media had been cordial since he assumed office. He praised Mr. Nasrallah for his role in building that rapport, noting that before then the relationship was “unstable.”
“We are partners – the police make the news, and the journalists report it,” the IGP remarked.
Recalling his tenure as Local Unit Commander in Bo District and Regional Commander for the Southern Province, he said he had always maintained good relations with journalists. He endorsed the proposal for joint training sessions and supported the idea of engaging police recruits early on media relations.
He expressed hope that the new SLAJ leadership would continue in the same spirit, assuring them that his office would always remain open.
“It doesn’t make sense to be at war with each other,” he concluded.
The visit ended with SLAJ presenting an Award of Appreciation to the IGP for his diligent service, particularly during the tenure of the previous SLAJ administration.
SLP Media Team
