In an official address at the Independent Media Commission’s technical conference on Media Governance, Media Management, Media Digitization, and Ethics, Deputy Minister of Information and Civic Education, Yusuf Keketoma Sandi Esq, declared his unwavering commitment to fulfill his duties with candor, humility, honesty, and fearlessness, despite facing abuse.
Highlighting the pivotal role of the media in democracy, Keketoma Sandi emphasized the significance of journalistic ethics for a thriving nation.
He warned against unethical behavior that could tarnish the credibility of media platforms, stating, “It is my strongest conviction that sometimes the platform created by the media for free speech can be hijacked by unethical, indecent, and vulgar people, thereby undermining the credibility of media platforms.”
Addressing the issue of vulgarity directed at public servants, the Deputy Minister condemned such behavior, whether politically motivated or not.
He stressed that safeguarding ethical standards on media platforms often extended beyond the control of journalists.
Furthermore, Keketoma Sandi reiterated the government’s dedication to collaborating with the Independent Media Commission (IMC), Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), and other stakeholders to review and enhance the governance and management requirements for media institutions.
It is worth noting that during a recent appearance on the African Young Voices Radio show, “Back to Base,” an unidentified caller subjected the Deputy Minister to abuse, specifically targeting his mother.
