By Babah Kanu- Journalist
The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) needs a unifier to cement the gap between the old and new breed of members. Since time immemorial, there has seemingly existed the notion that young members of SLAJ have little or no recognition for veterans in the field of journalism in Sierra Leone.
This notion may have existed due to the status of the media, which the young/new members perceive as a lack of attention by old members.
Succeeding regimes of the Association have struggled to maintain the balance through a systemic approach as a mantra of reunification. This is where I see Edward Marah as fresh water in the New and Old Bottle of SLAJ who is capable of bringing that hope to reality based on his experience and dedication to journalism in Sierra Leone.
If elected as National Secretary General of the Association, Marah would take advantage of his power of interaction skills to bridge the existing gap to justify normalcy. Members of SLAJ should apply faith and fortitude to drink this FRESH WATER to quench that thirst for the very good and stability of the Association.
As a young man who believes in God and holds respect for the elderly from a great African upbringing, Marah stated in his declaration statement: “In the Name of God Almighty; and with humility and candor, I present myself to the August body of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and its noble membership as a Candidate for National Secretary General in the forthcoming Triennial that is duly slated for the election of the next set of Executive officials to administer our beloved Association for the next three years.
I am premising my candidacy and my appeal for your consideration and your solemn votes, on my strong pedigree of unblemished service and dedication to our SLAJ spanning over two decades”.
He noted that his dedication is a call to service, a call to reinforce the longstanding commitment to SLAJ, an Association of equals, and an assembly of citizens who have collectively dedicated their services to ensuring the information, entertainment, and education of compatriots across the nation, on what they should know and enjoy in real-time.
Edward Marah is no stranger in the service to SLAJ; having demonstrated such service in several capacities, including as National Publicity Secretary. He further noted that: “I pledge to give my all, my time, my service, and my knowledge to deliver on my promises to you my cherished colleagues, and to assure you as your Secretary General, that I will work steadfastly with the President and the rest of the Executive both at national and regional levels to better the standing of our beloved Association both in defense of press freedom and expression and in advocacy on issues of national interest”.
In a brief conversation, my mentor and media godfather of Sierra Leone, Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, retorted that Marah is capable of accentuating the existing respectability, integrity, dedication, and excellence of this prestigious Association.
Edward Marah has been a practicing Journalist for twenty-five years with an unblemished and unquestionable character. He began his Journalism career as a Cub Reporter with the Weekend Spark Newspaper in 2001. He briefly worked with the Wisdom Newspaper and later for the Standard-Times Newspapers as a Senior Staff Writer and would change hands simultaneously to serve as Producer and Presenter at Star Radio, also owned by the Standard-Times Newspaper management.
In 2013, he resigned from Standard Times and established The Informant Media, a consortium of Newspapers, media production, event management, public relations, and media consultancy, where I have served as Editor to date.
He was a founding and executive member of the following organizations: the HIV/AIDS Reporters Association (HARA), Journalists Monitoring Rural Development (JOMORD), Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU), the Court Reporters Association, and the Parliamentary Press Gallery.
This great achievement is backed up by his unwavering effort to achieve higher education at different levels in earning degree certificates.
Edward Marah has supported and contributed to the decentralization of SLAJ to ensure a nationwide membership, also culminating in the establishment of SLAJ regional memberships and offices.
He was a founding member of Journalists Monitoring Rural Development (JOMORD) established in the immediate aftermath of the civil war to monitor and report on the development needs of rural communities and the roles of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and local and international Non-governmental Organizations.
He is a foundation member in the establishment of the HIV/AIDS Reporters Association (HARA) to coordinate media advocacy in the fight against AIDS and as a way to complement Governments in the fight against the spread of the scourge, among several other engagements.
Marah has pledged, among other efforts, to work hands-on-deck as National Secretary General with a full-time working presence at the Secretariat in fulfillment to develop a comprehensive membership database, introduce an Association Identification System with a National Association Biometric Identification Card that will carry a serial Association Identification Number (AIN) for every registered SLAJ member.
076-927-562
babbiuskay@gmail.com
