The leadership of the Sports Writers Association of Liberia (SWAL) has formally accepted an apology from Sylvanus Kelvin Morris, president of the National First Division league club Global Pharma, following a recent altercation with journalist Danesious Marteh.
The incident, which occurred on September 10, 2024, after the Liberia versus Algeria football match at the Samuel Kanyan Sports Complex in Paynesville City, sparked outrage within the sports journalism community. SWAL issued a public statement demanding an apology from Morris after Marteh accused him of physical assault.
The organization’s investigation revealed that tensions had been brewing between the two men, beginning with accusations leveled by Morris against Marteh regarding his alleged connections to presidential aspirant Cassell Kouh in the upcoming 2026 Liberia Football Association (LFA) elections.
Morris allegedly bullied Marteh, the former Communications Manager of the LFA, suggesting that he was “selling himself” to Kouh. Marteh responded by accusing Morris of being compromised, which led to the confrontation.
SWAL called for accountability, citing the incident as a violation of the principles of respect and professionalism.
More than a month later, on October 24, 2024, Morris wrote a formal letter to SWAL expressing regret for his actions. In his letter, he stated: “Personally, if any one of my recent actions appears disrespectful to the organization, I would like to apologize to its officials and members.”
SWAL’s leadership has welcomed the apology as a positive step toward restoring harmony and fostering stronger relationships between stakeholders in Liberian sporting arena.
The Secretary General for the association in a released issued noted SWAL’s acceptance of Morris apology emphasized the importance of mutual respect and understanding among all parties involved in sports journalism and administration.
“We appreciate Mr. Morris for taking the initiative to apologize.
His willingness to acknowledge the issue demonstrates leadership and a commitment to resolving conflicts in a manner that promotes unity,” said SWAL’s statement.
The release further highlighted the need for all sports stakeholders to handle grievances with restraint, advising that concerns should be channeled through the proper channels, specifically through SWAL.
SWAL reiterated its commitment to upholding the ethical standards of journalism and pledged to take decisive action against any sports journalists found to be involved in misconduct.
“SWAL remains dedicated to upholding the principles of responsible journalism. We will continue to hold our members accountable and take appropriate actions against anyone whose behavior undermines the integrity of the profession,” the statement concluded.
