Paul Kamara
Encyclopedia
Paul Kamara is a Sierra Leone
an journalist, football manager, and cabinet minister.
, Sierra Leone
. He is Catholic
and a former priest, and holds a Bachelor of Arts
from the University of Sierra Leone
. He is married to Isatu Sidratu Kamara, with whom he has three daughters.
, a Krio-language
newspaper. Kamara has at times been critical of all sides in Sierra Leone's conflicts and has reportedly angered multiple political parties. The citation of the Civil Courage Prize
lauded Kamara as a journalist who had "consistently crusaded against corruption and other social ills, championed press freedom, human rights and democratic values in Sierra Leone, despite continual harassment and intimidation".
As a consequence of his journalism, Kamara has been regularly threatened, attacked, and jailed. On 20 February 1996, the first day of a round of elections, Kamara was fired on by soldiers with automatic rifles and wounded in the leg, ostensibly for violating curfew. Though human rights groups have since described the incident as an "assassination attempt", no official inquiry took place. In 1999, three RUF
officials allegedly assaulted Kamara in the For Di People office following an article which described the "posh life" of military commanders in Freetown
. On September 25, 2001, Kamara and six other journalists received anonymous death threats following their criticism of the government's decision to postpone elections. Government spokespeople denied involvement, and accused the journalists of fabricating the threats in order to win international sympathy.
On 12 November 2002, the Sierra Leone High Court convicted Kamara on 18 counts of criminal libel following a series of articles criticizing appeals court judge Tolla Thompson's management of the Sierra Leone Football Association
. He was sentenced to six months in prison and a fine of 4,500 leone
s (about $2 USD). He was freed on 11 March, but announced his intention to appeal his conviction on principle in order to have his conviction expunged from his record.
Kamara has won numerous international press awards for his work. In 1997, he won the London-based International Press Directory' s Freedom of the Press award and in 1999, the US-based World Press Review
s "International Editor of the Year Award
". In 2001, he was awarded the Train Foundation's Civil Courage Prize
, which recognizes "extraordinary heroes of conscience" and included a cash prize of $50,000 USD.
's 1968 conviction for fraud and suggesting that it was unconstitutional for him to hold office. Kamara was subsequently arrested, and in 2004, was imprisoned on two charges of seditious libel
. Equipment was confiscated from For Di People offices, including Kamara's car, and the newspaper was shut down for six months. On 24 July 2005, Kamara's replacement as editor, Harry Yansaneh, died from a beating reportedly ordered by a member of parliament.
BBC News
described Kamara's case as sparking "wide public interest with pleas from media rights groups worldwide demanding his release". The Committee to Protect Journalists
issued an appeal on Kamara's behalf, as did Reporters Without Borders
.
On 30 November 2005, Kamara won an appeal against his conviction and was freed. After his release, he told reporters, "imprisonment has not broken my spirit to publish the truth or stand for the people's right to know".
's National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC). When he concluded that the generals had no intention of transitioning to democracy, however, he left the government. Shortly after, he was shot by soldiers and sought medical treatment in London, but returned a year later to oppose the military rule.
On 23 December 2010, Kamara became Sierra Leone's Minister of Employment, Youth and Sports in the cabinet of Ernest Bai Koroma
. In 2011, his ministry came into conflict with Sierra Leone Football Association
(SLFA) over the appointment of Swedish coach Lars-Olof Mattsson
. The SLFA had pushed for Christian Cole
to coach the team instead, culminating in the two coaches naming different squads for a June 2011 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. On 23 May, Kamara announced that the two sides had come to terms and that Mattison would remain the coach.
In 2000, he also briefly served as Team Manager of the national football team
, the Leone Stars. During his tenure, he reportedly came into conflict with head coach Abdulai Garincha.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
an journalist, football manager, and cabinet minister.
Background
Kamara was born on 12 August 1956 in Kambia DistrictKambia District
Kambia District is a district in the Northern Province of Sierra Leone. Its capital and largest city is Kambia. The other major towns include Morebaya, Kasirie, Kamassassa, Kukuna and Mange. The district has a population estimated at 304,357....
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. He is Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
and a former priest, and holds a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Sierra Leone
University of Sierra Leone
The University of Sierra Leone is the name of the former unitary public university system in Sierra Leone, which, as of May 2005, was reconstitued into the individual colleges of Fourah Bay College and Njala University. It is now affiliated to many colleges in Sierra Leone.-See also:* Fourah Bay...
. He is married to Isatu Sidratu Kamara, with whom he has three daughters.
Journalism
Since 1983, Kamara has served as editor of For Di PeopleFor Di People
For Di People is a Sierra Leonean Krio-language newspaper based in Freetown, Sierra Leone. It was founded in 1983 by Paul Kamara, who has served as its editor more or less continually since that date...
, a Krio-language
Krio language
Sierra Leone Krio is the lingua franca and the de facto national language spoken throughout the West African nation of Sierra Leone. Krio is spoken by 97% of Sierra Leone's population and unites the different ethnic groups in the country, especially in their trade and social interaction with each...
newspaper. Kamara has at times been critical of all sides in Sierra Leone's conflicts and has reportedly angered multiple political parties. The citation of the Civil Courage Prize
Civil Courage Prize
The Civil Courage Prize is a human rights award which is awarded to "steadfast resistance to evil at great personal risk — rather than military valor." It is awarded by the Trustees of The Train Foundation annually and may be awarded posthumously....
lauded Kamara as a journalist who had "consistently crusaded against corruption and other social ills, championed press freedom, human rights and democratic values in Sierra Leone, despite continual harassment and intimidation".
As a consequence of his journalism, Kamara has been regularly threatened, attacked, and jailed. On 20 February 1996, the first day of a round of elections, Kamara was fired on by soldiers with automatic rifles and wounded in the leg, ostensibly for violating curfew. Though human rights groups have since described the incident as an "assassination attempt", no official inquiry took place. In 1999, three RUF
RUF
Ruf or RUF may refer to:* Reformed University Fellowship a Christian campus ministry of the Presbyterian Church in America* Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone* RNA of unknown function* RUF transportation system...
officials allegedly assaulted Kamara in the For Di People office following an article which described the "posh life" of military commanders in Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
. On September 25, 2001, Kamara and six other journalists received anonymous death threats following their criticism of the government's decision to postpone elections. Government spokespeople denied involvement, and accused the journalists of fabricating the threats in order to win international sympathy.
On 12 November 2002, the Sierra Leone High Court convicted Kamara on 18 counts of criminal libel following a series of articles criticizing appeals court judge Tolla Thompson's management of the Sierra Leone Football Association
Sierra Leone Football Association
The Sierra Leone Football Association is the governing body of football in Sierra Leone. It was founded in 1967, and affiliated to FIFA the same year. It is also a member of the Confederation of African Football from 1987. It organizes the national football league and the national team...
. He was sentenced to six months in prison and a fine of 4,500 leone
Sierra Leonean leone
-Banknotes:In 1964, the Bank of Sierra Leone introduced notes in denominations of 1, 2 and 5 leones. 50 cents notes were added in 1979, followed by 10 leones in 1980 and 20 leones in 1982...
s (about $2 USD). He was freed on 11 March, but announced his intention to appeal his conviction on principle in order to have his conviction expunged from his record.
Kamara has won numerous international press awards for his work. In 1997, he won the London-based International Press Directory
World Press Review
World Press Review is an independent, nonpartisan New York based magazine founded in 1974 and initially published by Stanley Foundation and Teri Schure, with an online edition which was launched in 1997...
s "International Editor of the Year Award
International Editor of the Year Award
International Editor of the Year Award is a prize awarded yearly to journalists and press editors outside the United states by World Press Review magazine....
". In 2001, he was awarded the Train Foundation's Civil Courage Prize
Civil Courage Prize
The Civil Courage Prize is a human rights award which is awarded to "steadfast resistance to evil at great personal risk — rather than military valor." It is awarded by the Trustees of The Train Foundation annually and may be awarded posthumously....
, which recognizes "extraordinary heroes of conscience" and included a cash prize of $50,000 USD.
2004 libel conviction
In October 2003, For Di People ran the headline "Speaker of Parliament challenge! Kabbah is a true convict!", referring to President Ahmad Tejan KabbahAhmad Tejan Kabbah
Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah served as President of Sierra Leone from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007.He worked for the United Nations Development Programme and returned to Sierra Leone in 1992...
's 1968 conviction for fraud and suggesting that it was unconstitutional for him to hold office. Kamara was subsequently arrested, and in 2004, was imprisoned on two charges of seditious libel
Seditious libel
Seditious libel was a criminal offence under English common law. Sedition is the offence of speaking seditious words with seditious intent: if the statement is in writing or some other permanent form it is seditious libel...
. Equipment was confiscated from For Di People offices, including Kamara's car, and the newspaper was shut down for six months. On 24 July 2005, Kamara's replacement as editor, Harry Yansaneh, died from a beating reportedly ordered by a member of parliament.
BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
described Kamara's case as sparking "wide public interest with pleas from media rights groups worldwide demanding his release". The Committee to Protect Journalists
Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent nonprofit organisation based in New York City that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists.-History:A group of U.S...
issued an appeal on Kamara's behalf, as did Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
.
On 30 November 2005, Kamara won an appeal against his conviction and was freed. After his release, he told reporters, "imprisonment has not broken my spirit to publish the truth or stand for the people's right to know".
Ministerial career
In 1996, Kamara served one month as Secretary of State, Land, Housing and the Environment in the military government of Julius Maada BioJulius Maada Bio
Brigadier Julius Maada Bio is a Sierra Leonean politician who was the military Head of State of Sierra Leone from January 16, 1996 to March 29, 1996 under the National Provisional Ruling Council military junta government....
's National Provisional Ruling Council (NPRC). When he concluded that the generals had no intention of transitioning to democracy, however, he left the government. Shortly after, he was shot by soldiers and sought medical treatment in London, but returned a year later to oppose the military rule.
On 23 December 2010, Kamara became Sierra Leone's Minister of Employment, Youth and Sports in the cabinet of Ernest Bai Koroma
Ernest Bai Koroma
Ernest Bai Koroma is the fourth and current President of Sierra Leone. He was sworn in as President on 17 September 2007 at the State House in the capital Freetown, shortly after being declared the winner of a tense run-off in the 2007 Sierra Leone presidential election with 54.6% of the vote over...
. In 2011, his ministry came into conflict with Sierra Leone Football Association
Sierra Leone Football Association
The Sierra Leone Football Association is the governing body of football in Sierra Leone. It was founded in 1967, and affiliated to FIFA the same year. It is also a member of the Confederation of African Football from 1987. It organizes the national football league and the national team...
(SLFA) over the appointment of Swedish coach Lars-Olof Mattsson
Lars-Olof Mattsson
Lars-Olof Mattsson is a Swedish football coach and former professional player who currently manages the Sierra Leone national team, a job he took up in January 2011.-Career:...
. The SLFA had pushed for Christian Cole
Christian Cole
Christian Cole is a football manager from Sierra Leone who currently coaches club side Mighty Blackpool.-Career:Cole has had four spells in charge of the national team....
to coach the team instead, culminating in the two coaches naming different squads for a June 2011 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. On 23 May, Kamara announced that the two sides had come to terms and that Mattison would remain the coach.
Football
Kamara owns a popular football team, the Wellington People F.C.Wellington People F.C.
Wellington People Football Club, is a Sierra Leonean football club based in Wellington, a neighborhood in the East End of Freetown, Sierra Leone. The club is currently playing in the Sierra Leone National First Division, the second highest football league...
In 2000, he also briefly served as Team Manager of the national football team
Sierra Leone national football team
The Sierra Leone national football team, nicknamed the Leone Stars, is the national team of Sierra Leone and is controlled by the Sierra Leone Football Association...
, the Leone Stars. During his tenure, he reportedly came into conflict with head coach Abdulai Garincha.