Monrovia – The Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL) has formally cleared its Secretary General, Edwin T.K. Dolo, of bribery allegations following an extensive investigation by its Grievance and Ethics Committee.
The committee, chaired by veteran journalist Ernest McKay, issued a report after reviewing interviews with all involved parties.
It concluded that there was no credible evidence to support claims that Mr. Dolo had accepted a bribe in exchange for suppressing a news story.
The allegations stemmed from a Facebook post by James Goodday Flomo, who accused the SWAL Secretary General of accepting a bribe to withhold or suppress a report regarding Paynesville FC President Hilary Sackie allegedly placing certain players on the payroll of the House of Representatives.
However, after thorough investigation, the committee found that the accusations were unfounded and primarily motivated by personal animosity aimed at damaging Mr. Dolo’s reputation.
The report revealed that Mr. Dolo had provided sufficient documentation and testimony to demonstrate his professional integrity. Furthermore, key witnesses, including Paynesville FC President Sackie, denied any involvement in bribing Dolo or any other journalist.
Sackie expressed disbelief over the allegations, particularly since the story had already been published and had led to him losing his position.
The committee’s findings were clear: the bribery claims had no merit, and it recommended that SWAL officially dismiss them.
In its conclusion, the committee stressed the importance of upholding ethical journalism standards and encouraged members to address conflicts through proper channels rather than resorting to unfounded personal attacks.
“The integrity of our profession must be protected, and SWAL must remain a space where members can do their work without fear of baseless accusations,” the report emphasized. It also suggested that internal mechanisms be strengthened to prevent similar allegations from arising in the future.
In response, the leadership of SWAL expressed support for the committee’s findings, reaffirming the association’s dedication to ethical journalism. They reiterated that no member, including sports journalists, is immune to professional accountability and that all members must uphold the highest standards of journalism, even in the face of challenges and disputes within the industry.
