The Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation Board of Trustees have issued a press release
disappointment over the recent strike action led by staff members of the corporation, highlighting key anomalies by the Director General.
According to the Board, they recently concluded a regional tour and other investigations where they discovered that SLBC’s Director General, has been involved in financial mismanagement. This includes signing of checks by unqualified junior staff and boycotting the required financial protocols. They referenced the financial discrepancies of the Cooperation highlighted in the 2023 Audit Report under the leadership of the Director General.
The Board also claimed that the Director General had been collecting unapproved allowances of $100 daily for vehicle rentals, which she stopped doing after she was questioned by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Furthermore, the Board accused the DG of deceitfulness, claiming that she informed the board that her recent diplomatic trip to Turkey was fully covered by the host, when in reality, SLBC covered a substantial portion of the expenses.
The Board detailed a range of allegations against the DG, including withholding important internal information from the Board, overspending of fuel, and frequently traveling to provincial locations using the corporation’s funds.
The Board concludes by acknowledging the staff’s demands for better working conditions, noting a 50% salary increase granted by the government last year. They emphasize that the financial measures being implemented aim for transparency and accountability, and urge the staff to prioritize journalistic integrity over reactive behavior.
The Board calls on management to enforce necessary changes and urges the government to support the Board’s authority to prevent future issues.
