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Sierra Leone: Unity Radio Exonerated By Media Regulatory Body After Being Shut Down By Information Minister
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Media Foundation for West Africa (Accra)
PRESS RELEASE
29 May 2008
Posted to the web 30 May 2008
On 21 May 2008, the Independent Media Commission (IMC), Sierra Leone's media regulatory body, cleared Unity Radio, a station operated by the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), of four allegations of misconduct.
MFWA's correspondent reported that the decision was made after Unity Radio was forcibly shut down on 8 May on the orders of the Minister of Information and Communication, Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo.
The Minister accused the station of installing an antenna which caused harmful frequency interference with other stations. Also, Unity Radio had allegedly not followed established procedures to register the radio station.
The shut-down was done without involving the IMC or the National Telecommunication Commission (NATCOM), which are the appropriate authorities for such matters.
The IMC made it clear in its pronouncement that none of the allegations were justified and that "the Minister of Information and Communication should honour Unity Radio's right to operate." The Commission also urged the public to recognise it as the sole authority in media regulatory matters.
The Ministry of Information and Communication has accepted the IMC's decision.
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Updates the Unity Radio case: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/93776
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