Africa-Press – Liberia. Walker, the sports Editor at FrontPage Africa and a frontliner for reform within SWAL, tendered his resignation on August 9, alleging that the current leadership has abandoned the principles of integrity, transparency, and collaboration it once championed
A leadership crisis has erupted within the Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL) following the abrupt resignation of Vice President Christopher C. Walker, who accused the association’s top brass of disrespect, internal disunity, and a troubling lack of accountability.
Walker, the sports Editor at FrontPage Africa and a frontliner for reform within SWAL, tendered his resignation on August 9, alleging that the current leadership has abandoned the principles of integrity, transparency, and collaboration it once championed.
“My decision is based on the growing lack of mutual respect and professional collaboration within the leadership, particularly from your office,” Walker wrote in a strongly worded letter to SWAL President Varmah A. Kamara.
He accused the executive of ignoring his calls for an audit of the previous administration in which Kamara himself served as Vice President and blasted what he described as “financial dealings without proper reporting or documentation.”
“I cannot, in good conscience, continue to be part of a leadership that fails to live up to the basic principles of transparency and service to its members,” he added.
The stunning resignation has further exposed the deepening cracks within the association’s hierarchy, just months after members began pushing for internal reforms and financial accountability. Walker’s exit has also sparked renewed scrutiny over how SWAL is managing its affairs particularly given that some of the very officials being called to audit now occupy the top posts.
SWAL President Kamara Responds
In an official release issued a day later on August 10, President Varmah A. Kamara accepted Walker’s resignation but rejected the accusations, dismissing them as misinterpretations of internal processes.
“Leadership is never without its challenges, and your contributions during your tenure are duly noted,” Kamara wrote.
“The assertions regarding disrespect, lack of collaboration, and alleged financial improprieties do not reflect the reality of our operations.”
Kamara maintained that SWAL remains committed to transparency and due process, arguing that Walker’s call for an audit was not ignored, but rather considered as part of broader institutional priorities. He described the resignation as premature and insisted that disagreements could have been resolved through “constructive engagement” rather than public fallout.
Despite the sharp rebuttal, Kamara wished the outgoing VP well in his professional journey.
Interim Appointment Sparks Questions
In a surprise move following the resignation, Kamara has appointed SWAL Secretary General Edwin T.K. Dolo as Acting Vice President, pending a by-election within 90 days, in accordance with Article 12, Section 2F of the SWAL Constitution.
The constitutional clause allows for temporary appointments in the event of death, illness, or resignation until a formal election is held.
Kamara’s swift appointment of Dolo, a key member of the current leadership, has raised eyebrows among observers, with some critics questioning whether the move was pre-planned amid the growing tension between the VP and President’s offices.
A Divided House?
Walker’s resignation and Kamara’s counter-response have cast a spotlight on growing unease within SWAL’s leadership, a body that has long touted its commitment to defending journalistic standards, integrity, and professionalism in sports media.
The resignation of SWAL Vice President Christopher C. Walker leaves critical questions unanswered: Will the association finally conduct the long-requested audit? Can leadership overcome internal divisions before the upcoming by-election? And most importantly, will SWAL members hold their own leaders to the same standards of transparency and accountability they expect from the sports bodies they report on?
As the dust settles, all eyes are now on SWAL’s next steps, with rank-and-file members and media watchdogs calling for greater transparency and accountability within one of Liberia’s most prominent journalist associations.
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