Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The newly elected Executive of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), led by Immediate Past President and Ex-Officio Member Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, paid courtesy visits to three former SLAJ Presidents Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo, Umaru Fofana, and Kelvin Lewis as part of efforts to foster unity and ensure institutional continuity.
The visits aimed to formally introduce the new Executive, honour the contributions of the former leaders, and seek their continued guidance. Nasralla emphasized the importance of recognising those who built SLAJ’s legacy and called on the past Presidents to support the SLAJ Elders Council in shaping the Association’s governance.
Current SLAJ President Alhaji Manika Kamara expressed gratitude for the warm reception, pledged to lead an inclusive administration, and credited the past Presidents for inspiring his journalism career.
Alhaji I.B. Kargbo (SLAJ President 2004-2007) praised the tradition of courtesy visits as a sign of SLAJ’s democratic maturity, commended the smooth leadership transitions, and advocated for stronger membership systems, including ID card issuance.
Umaru Fofana (2008-2013) lauded SLAJ’s democratic culture, urged openness and outreach, and proposed policies to improve journalist safety and welfare highlighting recent deaths of reporters as a call to action.
Kelvin Lewis (2014-2019) welcomed the visit, applauded SLAJ’s growing prestige through formal recognitions, and advised the new leadership to stay open to guidance while preparing for challenges ahead.
The engagements ended with the presentation of Appreciation Awards to the former Presidents and group photographs. These visits are part of a broader plan to introduce the new Executive to key stakeholders, including a scheduled visit to President Julius Maada Bio.
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