Alie Sonta Kamara
Alhaji Maninka Kamara has won the Presidency of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), polling 308 votes to beat contender, Mustapha Sesay, who polled 153 out of 489 valids votes cast in the Saturday SLAJ executive elections hosted at the Bintumani Conference Center in Freetown.
Alhaji Manika Kamara entered the race as the people’s candidate. He came to SLAJ and rose through the ranks, serving as Assistant Secretary, Acting Secretary-General, and National Secretary-General.
Kamara has been a formidable force in SLAJ’s leadership structure for the past six years.
He is presently the News Editor of AWOKO Newspaper, with 15 years of uninterrupted media practice. His journey in journalism is marked by a series of awards, both local and international.
His campaign was built on continuity, transformation, and innovation.
Mustapha Sesay was all for a change, having previously contested for this same post twice, losing all.
Below are results of other positions contested for:
Secretary General
Christian Alpha Conteh 155 votes
Edward Fara Marah 302 votes
Assistant Secretary General
Lemuella Tarawallie 197 votes
She Theophilus Gbernda. 258
Public Affairs Secretary
Suliaman Stom Koroma 148 votes
Hawa Umu Bakarr 309
Organizing Secretary
Mariama Alice Turay. 272 votes
Kokowai Ibrahim Musa 182 votes