The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) has in a press release put out on Wednesday 12 January, 2022 vehemently condemned and described as unfortunate that AmaduLamrana Bah had been targeted by officials of the airport and Air Marocbecause of his opinion.
This press statement came after a complaint had been made by Amadu Lamrana Bah over the maltreatment and embarrassment he faced at the hands of some officials of the Lungi International Airport, who claimed to have been acting on ‘orders of someone above’.
According to the release, Lamrana, who is the president of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU) and Head of Digital Media at Africa Young Voices Empire (AYV), was at the airport together with his colleague journalists and supporter of our national football team (Leone Stars) on their route to Cameroon for the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations Tournament (AFCON 2021).
“After going through the check in processes, Lamrana’s name was repeatedly announced via the airport public address and alarm system requesting him to report to the Air Maroccheck-in desk,” SLAJ said in the release.
The release also indicated that, after he had reported at the Air Maroc Check-in desk, his tagged luggage was thrown at him and he was told that his name was not on the list of passengers to travel to Cameroon , but the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Correspondent, Umaru Fofanahintervened.
According to the release Lamrana said he felt humiliated in front of onlookers while trying to question the action of the officials.
In addition,he said that the attempt to stop him from travelling to Cameroon, a trip that had been paid for by mobile network company Africell Sierra Leone, may not be unconnected to his earlier post on Facebook on their uncomfortable experience at the airport in the early hours of Monday January 10th, 2022.
The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalist, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla stated thus: “This is outright intimidation and harassment and constitutes a serious attack on free speech and press freedom. No journalist or individual for that matter should be targeted for expressing their views. Authorities must learn to accommodate genuine criticism as part of their responsibility to the public.”
SLAJ therefore continue to call for the safety and security of journalists at all times, SLAJ also awaits an official explanation and apology from the airport authority and also call for speedy investigation into the circumstances leading to their action and to expose whosoever gave that order to drop the Lamrana from the list of passengers.
By George M.O. Williams