Prominent Sierra Leonean journalist Umaru Fofana has criticised the Independent Media Commission (IMC) over its decision to increase annual media licence renewal fees by 150 per cent, warning that the move could worsen the crisis facing Sierra Leone’s print media industry.
In a strongly worded public statement on Facebook, Fofana said the IMC appears to be “out of touch” with the current realities confronting newspapers in the country. He pointed to a sharp decline in newspaper sales and advertising revenue, rising production costs and the growing impact of social media as major challenges threatening the survival of print media.
According to him, many newspapers are already operating on the edge of collapse, making the increase in renewal fees both shocking and unsustainable.
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Fofana accused the regulator of failing to support the media industry as required by law, arguing that instead of helping struggling outlets, the IMC has become a burden to them.
“They should not expect us to fund their unnecessarily expensive running costs or lifestyle,” he said, adding that the commission should adjust its spending to match its resources.
He also noted that the IMC is a state-funded institution and questioned why media houses should be made to bear the cost of its operations. He said if state funding is delayed or unavailable, it should not be transferred to already struggling media organisations.
The journalist further highlighted the financial pressures facing independent media houses, including difficulties in paying staff salaries and rent, describing survival as “a gamble” for newspapers that refuse political control or editorial compromise.
Fofana urged the IMC to reconsider its decision and revert to the previous renewal fees, warning that failure to do so could further weaken press freedom and push more newspapers out of business.
The comments have sparked renewed debate within media circles about the sustainability of print journalism in Sierra Leone and the role of regulators in supporting, rather than constraining, the industry.
