By Janet Mumgbay Zizer
The Sierra Leone Association of Women in Journalism (SLAWIJ) held its inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday, September 30, 2024, at the Bank Complex in Kingtom. The meeting followed a court ruling by Honourable Justice Jamsina E. L. King on July 3, 2024, which mandated the Board of Directors to convene the AGM no later than September 30, 2024, in accordance with the Companies Act of 2009 (as amended). The court also required the parties to present joint or separate reports on the status of the AGM implementation at its next session scheduled for October 4, 2024.
During the AGM, the interim executive presented the Directors’ Report and financial statements, which were discussed and deliberated upon by the general body. Several motions were passed to further align the organization with its core vision. A key highlight of the meeting was the election of a new Board of Directors and Regional Coordinators to serve for the next three years.
The newly elected Board of Directors comprises:
Mrs. Millicent Kargbo – Executive President
Mrs. Aminata Finda Massaquoi – Director of Programmes
Ms. Abibatu Dora Kamara – Director of Finance
Ms. Martha Kargbo – Director of Public Relations
The elected Regional Coordinators are:
Marian Magdalene Bangura – Western Region
Fatmata Marian Sesay – Northern Region
Kadiatu Hayles – Northwestern Region
Mamusu Hawa Turay-Senesie – Southern Region
Mammy Tamba – Eastern Region
The event was well-attended, with distinguished guests delivering remarks, and a keynote address was delivered by Prof. Miriam Conteh-Morgan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM). In her speech, she emphasized three critical pillars for women in journalism: vision, visibility, and viability.
A panel discussion moderated by Rev. Dr. Williette James was a focal point of the event. Panelists included Donald Theo-Harding, Chairman of the Guild of Newspaper Editors, Eastina the President of Women in the Media Sierra Leone, and the President of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union. The discussion focused on the challenges, strengths, and opportunities for women in journalism, particularly within Sierra Leone.
The AGM was adjourned to 2025, marking a significant milestone.
