The state broadcaster in Guinea, Radiodiffusion Télévision Nationale Guineene, RTG, has suspended a star newscaster, Ali Camara after he described the failure rate at the 2017 Baccalaureate examinations as “intellectual massacre” during a news programme.
Alia Camara made the unscripted remark in his introduction to the 8.30 pm newscast of July 26, 2017. In the suspension letter addressed to the newscaster, the Editor in Chief of the national television service, Aboubacar Camara, described the said remark as “sabotage.”
The presenter announced his suspension himself on his Facebook page by posting: “suspended indefinitely from presenting the televised news for having described the 2017 failure rate as intellectual massacre. Apparently, it is wrong to criticise the performance of students in Guinea!”
The 2017 edition of the national examination for high school leavers recorded a record failure rate of 72.65%. Camara therefore stated the obvious with his remark.
The MFWA believes that Camara’s suspension is too severe even if the authorities of the RTG deem the journalist’s comment to be indiscreet. We therefore urge the management of RTG to reconsider their decision and recall the presenter to work.
