Freetown – The Tripartite Steering Committee Secretariat (TSCS) has pledged to work closely with the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) on implementing Recommendation 77 of the Tripartite Report, which calls for reforms to the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) Act and the establishment of a governance structure befitting a public service broadcaster.
At a meeting in Freetown on Thursday, TSCS Coordinator Ngolo Katta said the Secretariat’s role was to coordinate and support entities tasked with implementing the recommendations, while reporting progress to the Steering Committee. “I meet with you to collaborate and build synergy so we can forge a common path towards the implementation of the Tripartite Recommendations,” he told the MRCG.
Katta said non-state actors brought valuable expertise to the process and could enhance the reforms being pursued.
MRCG National Coordinator Dr. Francis Sowa described the meeting as timely, noting that his organisation was leading the review of the SLBC Act, working on community media development, and advocating for subsidies and tax waivers for community broadcasters. He said consultations had already begun in Freetown and would be expanded to the regions, with input from parliamentary committees on information and legislative processes.
Progress was also reported on Recommendation 76, which deals with reviewing the Independent Media Commission (IMC) Act. IMC Senior Monitoring Officer said consultations had been held in all five regions and a report was being prepared for submission to the Minister of Information and Civic Education, and subsequently to the Attorney-General.
The TSCS says engaging with non-state actors is a deliberate strategy to coordinate approaches, avoid duplication and measure progress effectively.
The BBC Media Action leads the Media Empowerment for Democracy Inclusion and Accountability project, which includes MRCG, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and the Independent Radio Network (IRN). The consortium is funded by the European Union through International IDEA.
