Monrovia – Members of the Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL) elected new leadership for the next three years on Saturday, December 9. Varmah Kamara emerged victorious, defeating Trojan Kiazulu to become the new president of SWAL.
The parent body of all Sports Journalists in Liberia conducted its elections on Saturday, December 9th, ushering in a new leadership team. The elected officials include Varmah Kamara as president, Christopher C. Walker as Vice president, Edwin Dolo as Secretary General, Jerome Willie as Assistant Secretary, Naomi Tappia as Financial Secretary, and Yusulf Sherif as Chaplain.
In a closely contested election, Kamara secured 55 votes, surpassing Trojan Kiazulu’s 49 votes. Kamara will replace the outgoing president, Kolubah Zayzay, who chose not to seek re-election for a second term. Initially, Zayzay intended to contest the position but withdrew after consultation with stakeholders.
Kamara, along with his team, referred to as the “Integrity Team,” will serve in their new roles at SWAL for the next three years. Expressing his enthusiasm, Kamara stated, “I have been involved with SWAL for a long time, and the fact that I am given the opportunity to contribute at the highest level makes me delighted. I am delighted not only as an individual but for the members who entrusted me to serve in this capacity.”
The newly elected Vice President, Christopher C. Walker of FrontPage Africa Newspaper, defeated Nathaniel Tokpah with 59 votes to Tokpah’s 45. Walker, who initially considered running for the presidency, expressed confidence in his victory and emphasized his commitment to elevating SWAL.
Walker thanked his supporters and acknowledged the defeated candidates for their efforts, calling for unity and reconciliation within the organization. He stated, “It’s time for reconciliation, which is a key element of our leadership.”
In the race for Secretary General, Truth FM reporter Edwin Dolo won with 59 votes against ELBC’s William Decent Toe, who received 46 votes. The positions of Assistant Secretary, Financial Secretary, and Chaplain were won on a white ballot by Jerome Willie, Naomi Tappia, and Yusulf Sherif, respectively.
A total of 105 individuals participated in the closely contested elections. The date for the inauguration has not been set but is expected to take place in January.
Below is the manifesto of the Integrity Team of Varmah Kamara:
Integrity Manifesto
The Integrity Manifesto has been carefully developed around four cardinal pillars. These agendas aim to address the main challenges facing SWAL:
Capacity Building: The Integrity Team plans to implement a quarterly training program to enhance the skills of sports journalists, engaging regional and international partners for comprehensive training.
Financial Viability: The team emphasizes the importance of financial independence to make SWAL a vibrant institution. They aim to seek support from local and international partners, as well as public and private corporations.
Independence: The Integrity Team underscores the need for SWAL to be an independent and critical voice in sports journalism, highlighting and reporting on issues in the sporting sector without bias.
Decentralization: The team supports the continuation of the decentralization program to extend SWAL’s activities to all 15 counties, attracting more individuals, especially females, to sports reporting.
The manifesto concludes with a call for members to vote for the Integrity Team, emphasizing the strengths and qualifications of each team member.
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