Umaru Fofana Slams IMC Over 150% Newspaper Renewal Fee Hike

Sierra Leonean journalist and BBC reporter Umaru Fofona has criticised the Independent Media Commission (IMC) for increasing the annual renewal fee for newspapers by 150%, describing the move as out of touch with the realities facing the country’s print media.

Speaking to the press, Fofona highlighted the challenges confronting newspapers, including declining sales, reduced advertising revenue, rising production costs, and competition from social media.

“Essentially, the country’s newspapers are tinkering on the brink of collapse,” he said.