Freetown, 28th September 2026 — The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Alhaji Majika Kamara, has appealed to Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Solomon Sengepoh Thomas to reconsider his decision barring journalist Melvin Tejan Mansaray from accessing the precincts of Parliament.
Speaking at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Sierra Leone Parliamentary Press Gallery (SLPPG) on Friday, Kamara underscored the vital role of the press in safeguarding democracy. The meeting, themed “From Draft to Covenant: Securing the Gallery’s Future,” was held at Committee Room 1 of the Parliament Building.
Kamara reminded lawmakers that the media is not an extension of Parliament’s Public Relations unit, but an independent institution mandated to inform citizens and hold public authorities accountable. He stressed that restricting access to journalists undermines transparency and weakens public trust in democratic institutions.
“Journalists do not represent political parties or partisan interests — they serve the people of Sierra Leone,” Kamara declared, urging members of the Press Gallery to uphold professionalism, fairness, accuracy, and integrity in their reporting.
The SLAJ President reaffirmed the association’s commitment to constructive engagement with Parliament, while defending the rights of journalists to access information freely and report in the public interest. He called on the Speaker to reverse the ban, describing it as a step that risks eroding press freedom and democratic accountability.
