By Andrew Chokpeleh
Freetown, 24th August, 2026 – The Sierra Leone Union of Professional Photographers (SLUPP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Civic Education (MoICE), has celebrated World Photography Day with a call for stronger partnerships, increased support and sustainable development of the country’s professional photography industry.
The event, which served as the Union’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), brought together members to deliberate on the activities and operations of the Union, review its progress and discuss ways of strengthening its work and advancing the interests of professional photographers across the country.
Speaking at the event, held at the Hotel 5-10, Kissy, Freetown, on 22nd August, Assistant Director of Government Information Services, MoICE, Kai Mansa Musa, encouraged the Union to strengthen its partnership with the Ministry, describing such collaboration as an important pathway to progress.
Musa urged the national executive to always prioritise the general interest and welfare of its members, while encouraging photographers to remain committed to the Union’s activities and operations. He assured the Union of the Ministry’s fullest support and said the outcomes of the deliberations would be communicated to the leadership of the Ministry for further consideration and direction.
He emphasised the inseparable relationship between photography and information dissemination, noting that credible information is often better understood and appreciated when accompanied by quality photographs that help tell the story.
Discussing the work of professional photographers, Musa said that it remained instrumental to society, particularly in documenting memories and moments that families and communities could preserve for generations. He said photographers have played an important role in documenting Sierra Leone’s history and contributing to national development.
Musa also encouraged the Union to develop sustainable internal mechanisms that would enable it to finance and support its own activities and operations. He noted the continued high cost of professional cameras as evidence that the profession remains valuable and in demand despite technological changes.
The Regional Adviser of South, SLUPP, Charles Williams, called on the Ministry of Information and Civic Education and other development partners to provide funding support for photographers across the country. Williams said the sharp increase in the price of cameras and other photography equipment has made it difficult for many photographers to acquire the tools they need to operate effectively.
He said that providing photographers with access to affordable funding would enable them to purchase modern equipment, improve their services and contribute more effectively to national development.
Williams further linked the call to the government’s broader efforts to improve human capital development, stressing that empowerment opportunities should not be limited to people who have benefited from formal education. He said people who have acquired practical skills, including photography, should also have access to funding and other forms of empowerment that would allow them to build sustainable livelihoods and contribute to the country’s development through their professional services.
Williams described the Sierra Leone Union of Professional Photographers as one of the oldest professional unions in the country but noted that its members continue to face challenges, particularly with access to modern equipment and funding.
He underscored the importance of photographers to various sectors of society, stating that photographers play a critical role whenever students need photographs for public examinations, or when citizens require passport photographs for travel, employment and other official purposes.
Fatmata Maieteh Kargbo, a professional photographer and former Chairlady of the Union, shared her experience in the profession. He said photography has created numerous opportunities for her and enabled her to establish meaningful relationships with people from different walks of life. Kargbo said she takes particular satisfaction in capturing beautiful images that tell the everyday stories of ordinary Sierra Leoneans.
She explained that she often uses income from her teaching profession to purchase photography equipment, but said the fulfilment she derives from photography is, in many ways, greater than that which she gets from teaching.
She also praised the supportive environment within the Union, saying she has not experienced bullying or intimidation from fellow members. Instead, she said, members had often encouraged her to take advantage of opportunities that came her way. Kargbo said her involvement in the Union eventually led to her serving as Chairlady, a position she used as an opportunity to inspire other women to consider photography as a profession.
The World Photography Day celebration and AGM, therefore, provided a platform for photographers to reflect on their achievements, confront the challenges facing the profession and chart a course for a stronger and more sustainable Union.
The discussions also highlighted the need for stronger institutional partnerships, access to finance and modern equipment, greater inclusion in national empowerment programmes, and continued recognition of photography as an essential professional service in Sierra Leone.
