29 May 2008

Alert

Unity Radio exonerated by media regulatory body after being shut down by information minister


Incident details

radio station(s)

(MFWA/IFEX) - On 21 May 2008, the Independent Media Commission (IMC), Sierra Leone's media regulatory body, cleared Unity Radio, a station operated by the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), of four allegations of misconduct.

MFWA's correspondent reported that the decision was made after Unity Radio was forcibly shut down on 8 May on the orders of the Minister of Information and Communication, Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo.

The Minister accused the station of installing an antenna which caused harmful frequency interference with other stations. Also, Unity Radio had allegedly not followed established procedures to register the radio station.

The shut-down was done without involving the IMC or the National Telecommunication Commission (NATCOM), which are the appropriate authorities for such matters.

The IMC made it clear in its pronouncement that none of the allegations were justified and that "the Minister of Information and Communication should honour Unity Radio's right to operate." The Commission also urged the public to recognise it as the sole authority in media regulatory matters.

The Ministry of Information and Communication has accepted the IMC's decision.

Updates the Unity Radio case: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/93776

MFWA's correspondent reported that the decision was made after Unity Radio was forcibly shut down on 8 May on the orders of the Minister of Information and Communication, Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo.

The Minister accused the station of installing an antenna which caused harmful frequency interference with other stations. Also, Unity Radio had allegedly not followed established procedures to register the radio station.

The shut-down was done without involving the IMC or the National Telecommunication Commission (NATCOM), which are the appropriate authorities for such matters.

The IMC made it clear in its pronouncement that none of the allegations were justified and that "the Minister of Information and Communication should honour Unity Radio's right to operate." The Commission also urged the public to recognise it as the sole authority in media regulatory matters.

The Ministry of Information and Communication has accepted the IMC's decision.

Updates the Unity Radio case: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/93776



Source:

Media Foundation for West Africa
PO Box LG 730
30 Duade Street, Kokomlemle
Legon, Accra
Ghana
alerts (@) mediafound.org
Phone: +233 302 242470
Fax: +233 302 221084
 

Stay on top of free expression news.

Sign up to receive the weekly IFEX Communiqué.


Sierra Leone

Two pastors assault newspaper editor; community radio journalists attacked 7 December 2011 Edition of newspaper seized by police 10 November 2011 Presidential guards attack four journalists 9 September 2011 Newspaper reporter receives death threat 13 July 2011 Sports journalists under threat 8 July 2011 See all alerts: Sierra Leone


 
The International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) is a global network of 95 organisations working to defend and promote the right to free expression.
Permission is granted for material on this website to be reproduced or republished in whole or in part provided the source member and/or IFEX is cited with a link to the original item.