INDEPENDENT MEDIA COMMISSION
3rd Floor, Kissy House
54 Siaka Stevens Street
Freetown
E-mail: independentmedia58@gmail.com 076-724-854 / 076-695-950 www.imc.gov.sl
PRESS RELEASE
Freetown, 16th November 2022: The Independent Media Commission (IMC) has received a complaint from the Board and Manager of Radio Bintumani in Kabala, Koinadugu District in which they outlined a number of issues bothering on policy and operational activities of the radio station.
In the letter addressed to the Commission, it is said that the District Security Committee (DiSeC), Koinadugu led by the ONS District Coordinator, Mr. Lawrence Kpangu has announced the dissolution of the Board of Radio Bintumani; set aside the Station Manager, and that he (ONS District Coordinator) has assumed the responsibility of Acting Station Manager of the said radio station.
As the sole statutory body established to superintend the affairs of media institutions in Sierra Leone pursuant to Part III of the Independent Media Commission Act, 2020, the IMC condemns unequivocally such actions with its strongest voice as illegal and void, and views the move as an interference into a matter that falls exclusive within its mandate.
The IMC wishes it to be known to all relevant stakeholders in Koinadugu District that it is making steady progress in the ongoing investigations into the allegations made by some staff of the radio station against their manager, and that the findings and recommendations will be contained in a report that will be made public. The Commission acknowledges that the pace of the investigation is slow but notes also that the slow pace is due to the nature of the allegations as verifiable pieces of evidence are required, especially from the banks to substantiate those allegations.
Meanwhile, the IMC continues to recognise the Board and manager of Radio Bintumani until investigations are concluded.
Khalil Kallon
Executive Secretary—IMC
