Alagie Yerro Jallow, the co-proprietor of the former independent newspaper, has warned of the potential threats facing press freedom in Gambia as he congratulated the new president of the Gambia Press Union.
Jallow, a veteran journalists who wins the GPU press freedom hero awards in 2017, said Sheriff Bojang has the required human resources to take country’s journalism to another level.
Bojang was elected president of the GPU on Saturday.
Below is Jallow’s congratulatory message:
Congratulations, Sheriff Bojang Jnr! The new President of the Gambia Press Union and the entire Executive board members elected to oversee the welfare of Gambian journalists and to solidify press freedom in the Gambia.
Sheriff Bojang Jnr, former political desk reporter of the Independent and Independent’s nominee to the Reuters Seminar in the United Kingdom, was, on Saturday, elected as the President of the Gambia Press Union.
I am thrilled to further congratulate Sheriff Bojang Jnr, as the Gambia Press Union new President and his team of Executive Board members.
The incredible wealth and diversity of experience they bring means that GPU will be able to tackle the country’s press freedom challenges with strength and vision.
I have great confidence in Sheriff Bojang Jnr. for the immense dedication and energy he will bring to the position of GPU President, and I am extremely glad that he will continue to serve GPU and the cause of press freedom in the Gambia and beyond.
Sheriff: We live in difficult times. Press freedom is under pressure. Unfortunately, we are also seeing worrying tendencies in the media fraternity that had so far not been on the bright side of the moon.
Sheriff: You must fight against those tendencies.
Sheriff: You must stand up against harassment, jailing, harming, torturing and exiling of journalists and media activists. Sheriff: Let’s crusade against all those violations, for to silence a journalist means to silence a society.