On Friday, February 1, 2025, the newly elected executive members of the Sports Writers Association of Sierra Leone (SWASAL) paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Sports, Madam Augusta James-Teima, at her Bishop House office in Freetown.
The meeting marked a significant step in strengthening the relationship between the Ministry of Sports and the country’s sports journalists. Madam James-Teima began the meeting by expressing her appreciation for the work of sports journalists and offering her support. “It is a very special moment to meet with you. I wish you renewed strength to continue to develop sports journalism. I pray for God’s strength in your work,” she said, acknowledging the critical role the media plays in promoting sports in Sierra Leone.
The Minister also took a moment to express her condolences to SWASAL for the recent passing of their colleague, Samuel Brima Mattia. “I want to sympathize with you for the loss of your colleague Samuel Brima Mattia. That was an unfortunate and sad event, and I pray he rests in perfect peace,” she stated. Madam James-Teima emphasized the importance of collaboration between the Ministry and the media, particularly in tracking the performance and development of sports.
“The media is always part of our agenda. We cannot have you miss on our performance tracking table. We have to put some kind of framework together to talk more about sports in the country,” she said. Acknowledging the role of media scrutiny, the Minister encouraged journalists to work closely with the Ministry for accuracy and transparency. “Sometimes I am criticized by some journalists, which is fine, but journalists should always cross-check with me or my Ministry before writing or talking. I believe that would help the public understand,” she advised. Madam James-Teima also stressed the need for objective and impartial sports reporting, free from religious or personal biases.
“We also have to report sports devoid of religious or other beliefs. Let’s continue to work together to develop our sports,” she added. The Minister concluded her remarks by reaffirming her support for the sports media and the Ministry’s ongoing partnership with SWASAL. “We recognize the role you play as sports journalists, and we will always be partners. Let us all pray that we have all the goodies that you are looking out for. If it is within our reach, we will let you know,” she said.
In response, Sahr Morris Jr., President of SWASAL, expressed gratitude for the Ministry’s ongoing support and cooperation. “We are grateful for the support we have been receiving from the Ministry. Your assistance has been invaluable, and we look forward to more support in the coming years,” he said. President Morris highlighted the importance of capacity building within SWASAL, noting that empowering members remains a key priority. “We have been focusing on capacity building to empower our members, and we will continue to do so,” he added. He also commended the strong working relationship between SWASAL and the Ministry and called for further opportunities for sports journalists.
“We are ready to work with you at any time to develop sports in the country,” President Morris concluded, reaffirming SWASAL’s commitment to collaborating with the Ministry in developing sports in Sierra Leone. Vice President of SWASAL, Sheku Sackoh Turay, Secretary General, Francess Bernard-Bundor and Organising Secretary, Mohamed Abu Conteh were also in the meeting. The Director of Sports Haroun Mustapha Korgi, Permanent Secretary Mr. S.K. Jusu and Sports Development Officer Lic Momodu Alpha also witnessed the gatheringÂ