Veteran sports journalist and Freedom FC staff, Thomas Kojo Roulhac, has formally announced the suspension of his membership from the Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL), citing concerns over transparency and fairness in the organization’s 2024–2025 awards process.
In a public statement released Saturday morning, Roulhac expressed disappointment with the manner in which this year’s SWAL Awards were conducted. According to him, the selection process appeared to be influenced more by personal affiliations than by an objective evaluation of the nominees’ work and contributions to the field of sports journalism.
“I regret to announce my decision to suspend my membership from SWAL, effective immediately,” Roulhac stated. “This decision comes in the wake of the recently concluded SWAL 2024 Awards ceremony, which, in my view, was conducted based on personal affiliations rather than a fair assessment of nominees’ work and contributions.”
Roulhac, a nominee for the 2024–2025 Sports Journalist of the Year award, saw the honor go to T. Kla Wesley Jr., who also received the Best Photojournalist of the Year award during the ceremony held at the SKD Sports Complex in Paynesville.
Despite his withdrawal from the association, Roulhac reaffirmed his dedication to ethical journalism and professional standards. “I remain deeply committed to maintaining professional standards and upholding ethical journalism within Liberia’s sports sector,” he added. “My dedication to credible reporting and fair representation remains unwavering.”
Roulhac’s suspension from SWAL adds to ongoing conversations about transparency and inclusivity in the operations of the organization. While SWAL has not yet issued a public response to the allegations, the development is expected to spark further dialogue among media professionals and sports stakeholders regarding the credibility and structure of national journalism awards.
