Orange SL Strengthens Partnership with Journalists

Orange Sierra Leone on Friday, February 6, 2026, hosted its Annual Media Engagement at the Orange Digital Center, Hill Station in Freetown, bringing together more than 100 journalists, editors, regulators and key stakeholders. The event, held under the theme “Connecting with the Media, Sharing Our Story,” provided a platform for the company to review its 2025 performance, outline its priorities for the year ahead, and reaffirm its commitment to openness, collaboration, and transparency with the media.

The gathering served as a testament to the growing partnership between the telecommunications giant and the country’s media sector — a partnership built on trust and a shared commitment to fostering responsible communication, transparency and national development.

President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Alhaji Manika Kamara, commended Orange Sierra Leone for being one of the most consistent and supportive corporate partners of the media in the country. He emphasized that the relationship between SLAJ and Orange is not one of convenience, but of shared democratic values and mutual respect.

“This has not been a relationship of convenience, but one built on trust, shared values and recognition of the media’s role in democracy and development,” he said.

Mr. Kamara praised Orange’s continuous support toward SLAJ’s governance processes, welfare initiatives, and capacity-building programs for journalists across Sierra Leone. He specifically highlighted the company’s scholarship scheme for journalists pursuing undergraduate, Master’s, and Doctoral studies, describing them as long-term investments in professionalism and media excellence.

“These are not short-term gestures. They are strategic interventions that strengthen knowledge, ethics and opportunity within the media sector,” he remarked, expressing optimism that the company’s new leadership will sustain such efforts.

The SLAJ President also commended Orange for its sponsorship of National Journalism Awards, which he viewed as crucial tools for promoting ethical and responsible reporting. He, however, reminded journalists of their own responsibilities to maintain high professional standards, especially in today’s fast-paced information environment.

“Partnerships come with expectations. Ethical journalism and fact-checking must remain at the core of our work,” he emphasized.

He further reiterated SLAJ’s focus on journalist safety, innovation, and the empowerment of young and female reporters, pledging continuous engagement with corporate stakeholders to promote media freedom and sustainability.

In his statement, the Executive Secretary of the Independent Media Commission (IMC), Khalil Kallon, lauded Orange Sierra Leone for fostering stronger collaboration between regulators, service providers, government agencies, and the media.

“The theme of this engagement is timely. Trust, accessibility and cooperation are essential in today’s fast-changing digital environment,” he noted.

Kallon highlighted the essential role of telecommunications companies in shaping how citizens interact with information, businesses, and public services. He commended Orange’s long-standing support to media capacity-building, but urged the company to extend its assistance to community radio stations, particularly those in rural areas that remain underserved.

“These stations remain the primary source of information for thousands of citizens, yet they struggle with power supply, equipment shortages and limited training,” he said.

The IMC official called on corporate institutions to view media support not merely as corporate social responsibility, but as a vital investment in a healthy and informed society.

Delivering her keynote address, Madam Aicha Toure, Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone, commended the media for their role in shaping national conversation and promoting accountability. She stated that under her leadership, Orange’s operations will continue to be guided by three priorities: network reliability and experience, digital inclusion, and trust with responsibility.

“Your work matters, and we respect the responsibility you carry every day,” she told journalists.

Madam Toure revealed that the company will invest heavily in infrastructure development, including fibre expansion, data centers, and international connectivity, to ensure quality and reliability in service delivery. She stressed that technology investments should translate to real opportunities for education, entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion nationwide.

“As a new CEO, listening to customers and the media is one of my key priorities. Your questions help us make better decisions,” she said.

The CEO reaffirmed Orange’s commitment to ethics, transparency, cybersecurity, and data protection, emphasizing that trust lies at the heart of every customer relationship.

The Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, who delivered the event’s keynote address, highlighted the media’s indispensable role in national unity, accountability, and responsible storytelling. He praised Orange Sierra Leone for its contributions to expanding connectivity, even to remote areas of the country.

“I have visited some of the farthest villages and found strong network connectivity. People can now communicate, send money and do business. That is real progress,” he said.

Minister Bah noted that Sierra Leone now enjoys nearly 100 percent 3G coverage and over 90 percent 4G coverage, reflecting the nation’s growing digital transformation. He cautioned journalists against sensationalism and misinformation, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 general elections, stressing the need for accuracy and responsibility.

He also encouraged collaboration with bloggers and digital influencers to ensure credible online discourse, underscoring that the relationship between the Government, private sector, and media must remain driven by mutual accountability and truth.

The annual engagement concluded with a presentation on Orange Sierra Leone’s 2025 performance results, social impact initiatives, and an interactive Q&A session involving journalists, editors, regulators, and company executives — reaffirming a shared vision of partnership, trust, and collective growth in Sierra Leone’s digital future.