Freetown, June 14, 2025 — Alhaji Manika Kamara has been elected President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), following a highly anticipated and peacefully conducted election held at the Bintumani Conference Center in Freetown.
Kamara clinched the top position with a decisive 308 votes, defeating his rival, Mustapha Sesay, who polled 153 out of 489 valid votes cast.
The event, which drew significant interest from media professionals nationwide, was praised for its high voter turnout and transparent process.
Widely regarded as the “people’s candidate,” Kamara’s victory marks the culmination of a progressive leadership journey within SLAJ.
Over the past six years, he has served the association in key roles, including Assistant Secretary, Acting Secretary-General, and most recently, National Secretary-General — a tenure marked by institutional strengthening and advocacy for press freedom.
Currently serving as News Editor at Awoko Newspaper, Kamara brings to the presidency over 15 years of consistent journalistic experience. His work has earned both national and international recognition, underscoring his credibility and influence within the media landscape.
Running on a platform of continuity and innovation, Kamara promised to uphold journalistic standards, champion media independence, and provide capacity-building opportunities for young journalists. His campaign message clearly struck a chord with voters, who rallied behind his vision to consolidate gains while adapting to new media challenges.
Meanwhile, his opponent Mustapha Sesay — making his third bid for the SLAJ presidency — failed once again to convince the electorate. Despite his calls for change, Sesay could not overcome Kamara’s strong grassroots support and proven track record within the Association.
As Kamara assumes the mantle of leadership, expectations are high for a transformative term that will advance the interests of journalists and reinforce SLAJ’s role as a guardian of press freedom in Sierra Leone.
