Kamarainba Bombs President Koroma Again. Says President "Evil" actions Destroying Sierra Leone

Corruption is not only about stealing funds. It is also about putting bad people in prime positions in government and country’s institutions. People who have neither the passion (sincerity) or the qualification (skills) to do the job. This form of corruption is crippling Sierra Leone development. 

The price of tribalism and nepotism causes a complete failure of our nation to develop. Corruption is worse than murder. It kills more than warfare, it takes land and moneys to build a hospital and build private mansions and expensive vehicles, condemning thousands of people over multiply generations to die of curable diseases. 

A leader should not be the richest man in the country, where he can use his leadership to get even more wealth. The ruling APC government do 100 things wrong, and 1 thing right, and use that 1 good to defend the 100 things wrong. Where are we heading as a nation?

© Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray

Yumkella Depart Freetown for United States

Kandeh Yumkella (Photo: Right, with his wife Mrs. Yumkella) – the former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and CEO of the initiative, continues his global engagements on issues of energy.

From Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown, the international community continues to seek his expertise.

And on 4-5 March 2016, he will deliver a speech at the 2016 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Energy Conference in Cambridge, USA.

Other confirmed speakers at the conference include Dr. Ernie Moniz – U.S. Energy Secretary, Colleen Calhoun – Senior Executive Director of GE, Dr. Aldo Flores – Secretary General of Riyadh-based International Energy Forum (IEF), and Professor Maria Zuber – Vice President of Research at MIT.

During his MIT engagements, Dr. Yumkella will also meet with students and members of the faculty, and will hold a fire-side chat with Professor Zuber.

Yumkella is known for his decade long promotion of a new inclusive United Nations global energy agenda.

He is also widely credited for creating and leading the Sustainable Energy for All (SEALL) partnership and the Sustainable Development Goal number seven (SDG-7), as part of the new Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Following his engagements at MIT, Yumkella will attend the meeting of the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) in Washington D.C. It should be recalled that the ASE presented Dr. Yumkella with an award in October 2015i in recognition of his global leadership on energy policy.

Recently, he was appointed a member of the Senior Advisers Group for President Obama’s Power Africa Initiative.

Power Africa is president Obama’s signature support to Africa, promoting universal access to energy, structural change and wealth creation on the continent.

In this capacity, Dr. Yumkella will advise selected African countries on energy policies and how to create public-private partnerships as a driver of transformative investments in the power sectors on the continent.

However, calls for his expertise are not just at the international circles. He is also in demand locally in his native, Sierra Leone. Dr. Yumkella was recently the guest speaker for the Sierra Leone Society of Engineers on energy issues.

A spokesman for Dr. Yumkella today told the Sierra Leone Telegraph: “We commend Dr. Yumkella for continuing his global efforts to achieve universal access to energy.

“Later this year, Kandeh will launch his lecture and symposium series on ‘Sustainable Economic Development’. This will be a public service to our nation to create greater awareness of the interface between economic development, growth and environmental sustainability.”

Meanwhile, the OPEC Fund for International Development has secured his services to deliver the keynote speech at the launch of the new Petroleum Companies Energy Access Platform. Another speech is also scheduled at Oxford University, in the United Kingdom.

En-route to the USA, Dr. Yumkella will attend the closed meeting of the African Energy Leaders Group (AELG), a group he co-founded and aimed, at bringing together political and economic leaders at the highest levels to drive reforms and investments needed to end energy poverty and fuel the continent’s economic future.

“The lesson for Sierra Leone is that we should be wary of leaders who have no professional careers, for they will become looters. We should be careful of those who say they will run government as a business – they simply sell all our minerals and our land to enrich themselves and their cabal.

“What we urgently need in Sierra Leone is a visionary and transformative leader. Yumkella has always said that joining politics does not mean that one gives up his or her profession. Thus, he will continue his role as a distinguished development economist and global energy policy expert.

Larmar Odom looking all fresh and healthy : photos

Thank you Lord 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Sierra Leone opposition SLPP in more controversy

In just two years from now, presidential and general elections will be held in Sierra Leone; and the country’s main opposition SLPP party has a mammoth task ahead to put its house in order, if it is to mount a serious challenge to the incumbent APC party.

Since losing the 2012 elections by a huge margin, SLPP has adopted a self-destructive modus operandi, reminiscent of the fractious strife and bitter struggle for power that engulfed the party in 2005 – just two years before the 2007 elections.

And the two year period leading to the 2012 elections were no different either. The unsavory political machinations which characterised the party’s election of its 2012 presidential candidate are still being felt today.

With history now repeating itself, and the party’s executives struggling to maintain order and discipline among themselves, it is difficult to see how the party could go on to convince the electorate that it is a credible opposition, capable of running the country.

The party is short of cash and needs to raise at least $5 million to prepare for the 2018 general and presidential elections.

Today the party’s national executives are facing another serious backlash, after its former secretary general – Jacob J Saffa made this bombshell in a letter written to the country’s Party Political Registration Commission: “Unfortunately, we do not have such database that can be used as voter register.”

Although the Supreme Court battles which threatened to push the party over the edge are now over, the party remains deeply divided and straddled with a paralysed national executive council that appears to have lost its authority – morally, if not constitutionally.

The Supreme Court order imposed on the party, clearly sets out a roadmap and direction of travel for the party to begin to put its house in order.

But with a national executive council (NEC) now appearing rudderless, after its decision to suspend the current national secretary general – Mr. Sullaiman Banja Tejan -Sie (Photo), and the continuing in-fighting, it is very difficult to see how this could be achieved without a clean sweep of the NEC.

The party chairman – Chief Somano Kapen, whom many regard as an affable gentleman, is equally being criticised for his lack of organisational and leadership skills, and is finding it difficult to pull the party back from the brink.

His critics believe that he has become a part of the problem, rather than a catalyst for change and transformation of the party, especially suspected of supporting one of the aspiring candidates for the party’s 2018 presidential race – Julius Maada Bio.

His credibility, neutrality and authority as a leader, are now in serious jeopardy, thus threatening to destabilise the SLPP even further.

As the party contemplates the task ahead for holding its regional, district, local area, and national executive officers elections, it must adhere strictly to the terms of the Supreme Court order. (Photo: Chairman kapen).

The country’s Party Political Registration Commission (PPRC) has published a notice in the national gazette, calling on the party to publish a full list of its membership before those internal party elections are held this year.

The gazetted notice clause 2(7), reads:“Before a zonal / sectional /constituency /district / regional / elections takes place, the list of voters / delegates shall be published and circulated to all aspirants concerned for a period of not less than five (5) days prior to the date fixed for such election. Every aspirant in such elections has a right of access to the voters / delegates list without let or hindrance.”

But the former secretary general of the party – Jacob Jussu Saffa has written to the PPRC, strongly objecting to this requirement, revealing that: “The requirement for voter register to be published for zonal/sectional election presupposes we have a database of SLPP members in all zones and sections. Unfortunately, we do not have such database that can be used as voter register.” This is his letter to the PPRC:

February 17, 2016
The Chairman,
Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC)
Tower Hill 
Freetown

Dear Mr. Tholla Thompson,

Government Notice No. 16, Vol.CXLVII. No. 5–Rules and Regulations for the Conduct of Executive Elections of the SLPP- Objection and Proposal

In response to your invitation to the public for objection to the aforesaid Rules and Regulations by February 17, 2016, I would like to submit my objection to Clause 2 (7) “Before a zonal / sectional / constituency / district / regional / elections takes place, the list of voters / delegates shall be published and circulated to all aspirants concerned for a period of not less than five (5) days prior to the date fixed for such election. Every aspirant in such elections has a right of access to the voters / delegates list without let or hindrance”.

As you would know, eligible voters at zonal/sectional level are all fully paid valid card holders of the Party. The requirement for voter register to be published for zonal/sectional election presupposes we have a database of SLPP members in all zones and sections.

Unfortunately, we do not have such database that can be used as voter register at that level. It is therefore not practical for the list to be published or even compiled for every zone/section in the country.

In the past, the practice for voting at zonal or sectional level has been that all persons over 18 years resident in the zone/section show up at the polling station to vote on submission of valid membership card on the date announced for elections and as prescribed by the Rules and Regulations.

On a general note, we usually do not know all aspirants for all elections before the date of the elections. Aspirants are nominated in the voting hall when the positions are declared vacant and nominations opened.

Therefore mandating executives to make available the list to aspirant 5 days before conduct of elections can be a recipe for chaos. Anybody wishing to derail the process can show up as aspirant on the date of voting and object to the conduct of the election on the basis that s/he has not been granted access to the voter register.

I therefore propose that as requirement, the voter register can be displayed in party offices or other public places as agreed or made available for reproduction on request by an aspirant. Accordingly therefore, all provisions mandating the list to be made available to aspirants who may not be known before the elections be expunged.

I specifically propose that we exempt the zone and section from the provision in Clause 3 (7) and rephrase it to read as follows “Before constituency/district/regional/elections take place, the list of delegates shall be published in district party office or agreed public place for a period of not less than five (5) days prior to the date fixed for such election or made available for reproduction on request by aspirant of the elections. Every aspirant in such elections has a right of access to the delegates list without hindrance”.

An additional provision be included (if not implied) to read as follows “At zonal/sectional level, all eligible voters as defined by the provisions in Clause 3(2) of this Rules and Regulations wishing to vote can show up to vote on voting day and at a time and place agreed by the responsible executive in accordance with the provisions herein.

Yours sincerely,
Jacob Jusu Saffa
Ex-National Secretary General of SLPP (2004-2011)
Copy: The National Chairman and Leader, SLPP
All other NEC members, SLPP

 

Condemnation of Saffa’s letter to the PPRC has been swift. This is a reply from the chairman of the Kandeh Yumkella Campaign team in the UK – Dr. Columba Blango (Photo):

“On the 17th of February 2016, JJ Saffa gave every Paopa cult member a bloody nose with his infamous revelation that SLPP does not have a database. Him being a former Secretary General of SLPP, this was indeed an authentic revelation by JJ Saffa. That was a doomsday revelation.

“Prior to and quite in contrast with JJ Saffa’s doomsday revelation, another SLPP political giant, former Southern regional Chairman, Joseph Maada Kpulun, revealed in July 2015 at Dr Kandeh Yumkella’s (KKY) London Town Hall Meeting that SLPP had no database of its membership.

“Even though Chairman Kpulun’s statement was not pursued and investigated with the veracity of seriousness it deserved, it however was never forgotten.

“The issue of Dr Kandeh Yumkella’s registration as a member of SLPP was, for a long time, a contentious debate and for the Paopa cult group, a matter of life and death because to them, that was their best card to disqualify KKY.

“The only reason they would want to see KKY out is because they believe that is the only sure way Maada Bio can be flag bearer. It was at this point that the Paopa NEC declared KKY was not a member of SLPP, because his name is not on the party membership database.

“That is the background and now I come to the substantive issue generated by JJ Saffa’s erroneous objection and proposal to PPRC, which in effect are encoded by the principle of double effect, hence questioning both the character of the objector (JJ Saffa) and the current state of the party.

“To me, the objector was just making an effort to defend the indefensible and a ridiculous effort to maintain the status quo by way of trying his best to baffle PPRC with a rubbish petition and dazzle them with recommendations that could allow them to carry out their corrupt and fraudulent plans.

“JJ Saffa admits that there is no membership/voter database and also goes on to recommend that PPRC allows them to publish the current bogus and illegal voters list they (Paopa cult) have fraudulently generated.

“What a load of rubbish. Worst still, JJ Saffa goes on to justify why there is no database, inadvertently trying hard to convince PPRC that indeed SLPP has never had a database. What a damn cleaver thing to do.

“The petitioner is a very bright and well rooted long time party stalwart who had not only done two terms as the party’s National Secretary General, but continues to be a very active party operative. He is therefore expected to know and understand the intricate web structure of the party and to be very aware that his petition and recommendations would be accepted as authentic.

“This raises the question, as to whether he was confused or in the right state of mind when preparing his submission.

“The implication of JJ Saffa’s petition and recommendation is that the SLPP National Executive lied about KKY’s registration. They lied that KKY was not a member of the party because his name was not on the party membership database.

“Now that two prominent, well established, long term party stalwarts (JJ Saffa and Joseph Maada Kpulun) have confirmed that the party has no database, could it then not be a criminal offence for party officials to have announced to the nation that after thorough investigation, they were convinced, confident and satisfied that KKY was not a registered member of SLPP?

“That was not only a lie but also a deception. I believe it was also a deliberate act of negligence on the part of party officials to deliberately and maliciously mislead and misinformed party members and the nation. It also appears to be a deliberate and reckless attempt to demean a perfect gentleman, an international statesman and a potential president.

“Thinking about it all, the behaviour of certain SLPP executive officers, leaders and members within the party is a glaring indication of intolerance, desperation, bad governance and indiscipline. It seems the party has lost its core values and dignity, rendering it unattractive and unelectable, even to the gentle and most tolerant.

“All of these tell us that the party now desperately needs a fresh start, a fresh start to allow for political regeneration, social engineering and institutional reform. These can only happen with good leadership, which is why many of us support Dr. Kandeh Yumkella.

“We believe KKY has the capacity, skills and ability to reform the party, hence transforming it to a progressive, attractive and electable party that the electorate can trust.”

Will the SLPP be reformed before the 2018 presidential and general elections?

President Koroma Ambition for Youth Empowerment Continue to Crumble Like a Certain Set of Ginger Bread

Source: Tim Kargbo

President Koroma Ambition for Youth  Empowerment Continue to Crumble Like a Certain Set of Ginger Bread

The dilemma of Deputy Ministers in President Koroma’s administration continues; has President  Koroma destroyed the potential and resourcefulness of young Deputy Ministers, who are seen slowly but deliberately been relegated to Ministers without scheduled of work?

Taking a look into the much trumpeted and talked about young people’s involvement and inclusion in the politics and  government of President Koroma, this have been argued in many quarters as promoting the participation of young people in governance, but the controversies and lack of cooperation among Ministers and Deputy Ministers is relatively unending and the President seems to be content and  satisfied with this ugly prevailing circumstances. 

The entire young people’s participation in President  Koroma’s administration has become  ironically misplaced, as it is evident the young politicians are frustrated and suffering in all fronts and lack of attention from the President, who seems to favour his Ministers than his Deputies is not helping the cause of these young politicians.

This  is unbelievable to follow the account and recounting the occurrences and activities of relationship between Ministers and Deputy Ministers. 

Apparently, it is evident that in almost, all the current government Ministries, there are prolonged infighting and bad blood smeared between Ministers and Deputy Ministers, the situation is now worrisome as most of these Ministries are noticeable running their Ministries single handedly, while their  Deputies are conspicuously neglected, humiliated and degraded to mere news papers readers and Facebook / whatsappp communicators. Thanks to God whatsapp  and Facebook now providing free jobs for our humiliated young Deputy Ministers.

As the situation remain the same President Koroma has not taken any action to address the seemingly divide in most of these Ministries. 

I will limit my discussion on few Ministries, as these impasse cut across all other Ministers. 

The Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Minister Hon. Almamy Kamara and his Deputy Minister, Hon. Fehreh Musu Conteh, both of them were Executive members of the APC Youth League, they have been in controversy for over two years and the Minister is said to have been unilaterally doing the work of his Ministry, without relating to his Deputy or holding meetings together. It has been rumoured that the road maintenance fund, is providing one billion Leones, on a monthly basis for the salaries of few youth in the scheme, it has rumoured at the corridors of the Youth Affairs Ministry,  that in December 2015, the accountant of the Ministry, carted away over 500 million Leones, while the P.A. to Minister worked away with over 200 million Leones,  as a result of the uncontrolled corruption in the Ministry, the moved was said to be a  pay yourself antics by those workers.

The Ministry of Sports, has been under the spotlight for all the bad reasons, wherein  Hon. Paul Kamara and his Deputy Hon. Al-sankoh-Conteh, whom were both renowned former civil rights activists, the dynamic and result oriented Deputy has been rendered weaken by the Minister of Sports, who is notorious of unnecessarily fighting and disturbing the smooth running and  operations of the major sporting disciplines. 

The Minister of Sports and his Deputy have been in strange relationship for over a year now, while the situation seems to be unending, as I was reliably informed that the Minister of Sports, has in a memo  ordered and instructed all staff of the Ministry, not to inform his Deputy on any matters relating to the activities of the Ministry. It was alleged that The Minister of Sports is always been seen collecting payment made for the stadium facilities and converted it to his own. This has seriously contributed to the deplorable condition of the stadium facilities.

The Ministry of Transport and Aviation, Hon. Balogun Koroma and his Deputy Hon. Ibrahim W. Mansaray, have not meet for over one year now and there is deep animosity between the two Ministers, this is conspicuously affecting the work of the Ministry.  The Minister is forcefully doing all the works of the Ministry, without relating to his Deputy. The Minister is said to be signing contracts without making any references to his Deputy and he is seen making all the overseas traveling.
More analysis on the bad  relationships with Ministers and their Deputies.

Big changes to the Sierra Leone constitution Announced

The Constitution Review Committee of Sierra Leone has published an abridged version of its first draft report, following the conclusion of a major review of the country’s 1991 Constitution.

The review process, which started in 2013 and headed by the experienced Judge – Justice Edmund Cowan, has taken three years to complete.

The report into the changes, contain proposals for an amendment of the Constitution of Sierra Leone – Act No 6 of 1991.

This review is seen as the most progressive and radical shakeup of the country’s Constitution ever conducted, and will shape the way Sierra Leone is governed, since gaining independence in 1961.

Since 1961 the people of Sierra Leone have experienced no fewer that six major unconstitutional political and military interregnums, bringing much instability, chaos; and in 1992, for more than ten years – massive loss of life and property, from which the country is still recovering.

The hope is that the new Constitution of Sierra Leone will change all that; build sustainable peace and development. It will clearly clarify the relationships between state and society; how people are governed; and the separation of powers – from the executive to the legislature and the judiciary.

So, by this time in 2018 – after the next general and presidential elections, it will be ‘all change’ for the six million people of Sierra Leone.

The changes recommended and announced by Justice Cowan (Photo: left and Koroma  – right)and his Constitution Review Committee (CRC) yesterday, are now subject to public discussion and ratification through a national referendum, which is unlikely to take place in due time for the celebration of the country’s 55 years of independence on the 27th April 2016. The final report will be submitted to the government of Sierra Leone in March 2016.

In it executive summary, the CRC says that its mandate  is to review the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, alongside the Peter Tucker’s Constitutional Commission Report (PTCR) that was submitted to the government in January 2008 as a working document.

The CRC was launched by president Koroma after appointing its eighty strong membership, representing different stakeholders in society, including political parties, democratic institutions, NGOs, the media and key independent bodies.

The 1991 Constitution and the 2008 Constitutional Review Commission report included emerging issues and thematic areas which have been deliberated and consulted upon during the last two years of the review process.

And during their two years of work, the CRC carried out extensive consultations with Sierra Leoneans both inside the country and in the diaspora.

This process it says included consultative meetings, collecting and collating more than a hundred (100) position papers submitted by many CSOs, individuals, social and political groups, parliamentarians, government MDAs, international and local organisations. They also reviewed the Constitutions of seventy-five (75) countries, and took evidence from a wide range of experts, and listened to public opinion across the country.

 So why change the country’s 1991 Constitution?

According to the CRC: “The main goal of the revised Constitution is to strengthen the existing multi-party democracy and to create an open and transparent society.”

Perhaps what is most significant about the changes recommended by the CRC, are the four new chapters that are to be added to the constitution, which it says will help strengthen the existing multi-party democracy and create an open and transparent society.  The four new chapters proposed are:

Local Government and Decentralization

“The justification for this proposal is to strengthen decentralisation process of power and devolve it on the districts and at council level.

“Opinions expressed by experts, position papers and public consultations held nationwide were considered and taken into account before drafting the proposed chapter. Also given serious consideration were some strong recommendations obtained from a two-week fact-finding mission undertaken by the CRC between October and November 2015 to Ghana and Kenya.

“The CRC appreciates the views expressed by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) and CRC nationwide consultations with Paramount Chiefs and Local Councillors. The councillors had expressed their opinions and views that they wanted to be part of the decentralised system. They wanted their decisions to be heard and integrated into the proposed new chapter. They wanted proper terms of reference of their role to ensure better governance.  As it stands they are currently in charge of development in their communities.

“The CRC thanks the Paramount Chiefs for their position paper relating to the establishment of a House of Chiefs.

“This is in line with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) report of 2002 and the Lomé Peace Accord that the Constitution should have a separate chapter with the title, Local Government and Decentralisation,” says the CRC.

The main sections of this chapter will be as follows:

1. There shall be a system of Decentralized Local Government and Administration for Sierra Leone
2. The Local government system shall be based on the principles of Democratic Good Governance
3. The Local Government system shall establish the following councils-                (a)  City council;                                                                                                      (b) District Council; and (c) any other council as the system may deem necessary.

4. A Local Council shall be the highest political authority in the locality and shall be responsible for the general administration of its locality
5. A local council shall consist of-

(a) a General Assembly —

comprising all councillors of the council which shall be headed by a Chairman elected from amongst them; and

(b) an Executive body—comprising of all chairmen of committees, core staff, Mayor and deputy mayor, responsible for the execution of the policies of the council, which shall be headed by a mayor in the case of a City Council and a Chairman in a case of a District Council

1. c) a council elected under this section shall consist of not less than 12 members and not less than 30% of whom shall be of one gender
2. There shall be a Chief Administrator who shall be secretary to the Council and head of administration in the executive body.
3. It was agreed there should be a unified date of Parliamentary and local council elections and the term of office should be five years. Local Council Elections should be non-partisan.
4. There shall be a National Local Government Finance Commission, which shall ensure equitable distribution of national resource and shall have such other powers and functions as may be conferred on it by this Constitution or an Act of Parliament.

The National Local Government Finance Commission shall —                                                 (a) receive all estimates of revenue and all projected budgets of all local government authorities; (b) supervise and audit accounts of local government authorities, in accordance with any Act of Parliament or Council, subject to the recommendations of the Auditor General; (c) make recommendations relating to the distribution of funds allocated to local government authorities; (d) vary the amount payable to an area periodically based on economic, geographic and demographic variables; (e) prepare a consolidated budget and estimates for all Local Government authorities and after consultation with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, which shall be presented to Parliament by the Minister responsible for Local Government before the commencement of each financial year

Citizenship

“There had been some very influential and persuasive reports, submissions and representations made that the revised Sierra Leone Constitution needed to include a new Chapter on Citizenship, defining who is a citizen and how citizenship may be acquired without reference to race or gender.

“The CRC placed weight on the imperative recommendation made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) that the details of acquisition of citizenship, which must be without consideration of race and gender and the principles of rights and responsibilities, should be enshrined in the Constitution. This was endorsed by the Law Reform Commission of Sierra Leone.

“The Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) proposes a new chapter in the revised Constitution to be titled Citizenship. The 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone has no provision for the definition of citizenship but the word “citizen” is mentioned in various sections throughout that Constitution.

“The CRC also noted this recommendation had been endorsed by the PTCR and a large number of position papers and expert recommendations submitted by several institutions and individuals.

“The CRC took account of the overwhelming support for making a provision for citizenship in the Constitution during the District Level Consultation (DLC) exercise and the Western Area Level Consultation (WAC) meetings; this had been reflected in the reports of these meetings

“The Secretariat also looked at other provisions for Citizenship in other Constitutions including Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda. It recommends the inclusion of a definition of citizenship within the revised Constitution, which should contain no reference to race or gender,” says the CRC.

The main sections recommended for this important chapter are:

1.Subject to the provisions of this Constitution every citizen shall be entitled to the rights, privileges and benefits of citizenship.

2.Citizenship may be acquired by birth, naturalisation, marriage or adoption

3.A person is a citizen by birth if on the day of the person’s birth, whether in Sierra Leone or not, either the mother or father of the person is a citizen of Sierra Leone.

4.A person may apply to be a citizen by naturalisation if that person –

(a) has been resident in Sierra Leone for a period of  ten years ;

(b) has made or is capable of making useful and substantial contribution to the advancement, progress and well-being of Sierra Leone ; and

(c) satisfies the conditions prescribed by an Act of Parliament

5.A person may apply to be a citizen by marriage if that person has been married to a citizen for at least five years.

6.A child who is not a citizen, but is adopted by a citizen, shall be entitled on application to be naturalised.

7.A child found in Sierra Leone who is, or appears to be, less than five years of age, and whose nationality and parents are not known, shall be presumed to be a citizen by birth.

8.citizen by birth shall not lose citizenship by acquiring the citizenship of another country

9.Citizenship shall not be lost through marriage or the dissolution of marriage

10.If a person acquires citizenship by naturalisation, the citizenship may be revoked if the person––

• acquired the citizenship by fraud, false representation or concealment of any material fact;

• has, during any war in which Sierra Leone was engaged, unlawfully traded or communicated with an enemy or been engaged in or associated with any business that was knowingly carried on in such a manner as to assist an enemy in that war;

• has, within five years after naturalisation, been convicted of an offence and sentenced to a fine and imprisonment for a term of five years or longer; or has, at any time after naturalisation, been convicted of treason, or of an offence for which a penalty of at least seven or more years imprisonment may be imposed.

The citizenship of a person who was presumed to be a citizen by birth, as contemplated in section 7, may be revoked if––

• the citizenship was acquired by fraud, false concealment of any material fact by any person;

• the nationality or parentage of the person becomes known, and revealed that the person was a citizen of another country; or the age of the person becomes known, and it is revealed that the person was older than five years when found in Sierra Leone.
• Parliament shall enact legislation:

• prescribing procedures by which a person may become a citizen;
• governing entry into and residence in Sierra Leone;
• providing for the status of permanent residents;
• providing for voluntary renunciation of citizenship;
• prescribing procedures for revocation of citizenship;
• prescribing the duties and rights of citizens; and
• generally giving effect to the provisions of this Chapter.

Lands, Natural Resources and the Environment

“The Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) proposes a new chapter in the revised Constitution to be titled “Lands, Natural Resources and the Environment”. This chapter is sub-divided into 3 sections: Lands, Natural Resources and the Environment. The justification for this sub-division is because they have three distinct definitions and each has its own thematic area.

“Arguments put forward by organisations, position papers and public consultations held nationwide were reviewed, synthesised and incorporated. Inspiration for ideas was drawn from world constitutions, national and international documents, including academic papers and opinions expressed by experts. Also given serious consideration were some strong recommendations obtained from a 2-week fact-finding mission undertaken by the CRC between October and November 2015 to Ghana and Kenya.

“The CRC appreciates the views expressed by the Government of Sierra Leone in The National Land Policy of Sierra Leone  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Climate Change, Environment and Forest Conservation Consortium – Sierra Leone (CEFCON –SL), National Protected Area Authority (NPAA), The Office of the Chief of Staff, National Democratic Alliance (NDA),” says the CRC.

Below are the significant issues pertaining to this proposed new chapter identified by the CRC for validation by the people:

1.Land in sierra Leone shall be classified as follows:-

Government Land (inclusive of State  and Public Land) and; Private Land (inclusive of land under customary tenure).

Definitions of classification are based on the following general law:-

Freehold                                                                                                                           Leasehold

a) Government, State, Public Land

All land which belong to the state by virtue of any treaty, concession, convention or agreement, and all lands which have been or may hereafter be acquired by or on behalf of the state, for any public purpose or otherwise howsoever and land acquired under the provision of the public land act and includes all shores, beaches, lagoons, creeks, rivers, estuaries and other places and waters whatsoever belong to, acquired by, or which may be lawfully disposed of by or on behalf of the state.  (From National Land Policy)

b) PRIVATE LAND these are land held under customary tenure. Private land refers to land in respect of which sovereign title is held on behalf of a community, by family or an individual, groups of individuals or other entity under any one of the tenure regimes in force in Sierra Leone. All private lands are held on terms subject to the power of compulsory acquisition; subject to the right to take as bona vacantia in case where the owner dies without any heirs or, if held under customary laws, subject to the community or family’s residual right reversion if the owner dies without heirs or abandons the land.

2.Every Citizen has the right to acquire, inherit, transfer or receive as gift any interest in land in Sierra Leone.

3.Non-citizens interest in Land is only limited to Leasehold. (During consultations citizens profoundly recommended cap limitation on size and timeframe for non-citizens interest in land. Also land preservation and conservation use by investors must also protect the environment and local communities/population. (Position papers – National Land Policy, Human rights Commission, 50:50 Group, Dr Joe A.D. Alie also recommended the same)

4.Land Tenure System. This issue continues to pose tremendous division and hence considering various position papers, consultations held with the general public, the CRC brings the matter back to the people for further deliberation.

However CRC plenary agrees to harmonise the two tenure systems pending the outcome of these deliberations

Challenges: Harmonization or Status quo? 

 

Information, Communication and the Media

“The Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) proposes a new chapter in the revised Constitution to be titled “Information, Communication and the Media”. The justification for this proposal is to bring about an independent media.

“Opinions expressed by experts, position papers and public consultations held nationwide were considered and taken into account before the proposed changes. Also given serious consideration were some strong recommendations obtained from a 2-week fact-finding mission undertaken by the CRC between October and November 2015 to Ghana and Kenya.

“The CRC appreciates the views expressed by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), media practitioners of both print and electronic, Independent Media Commission (IMC), Media Law and Regulatory Review paper for IMC, MRCG UNDP and UNESCO in their feedback during this consultation process.

“These stakeholders had expressed their strong opinions and views that they wanted to be part of the review process. They wanted their decisions to be heard and integrated. They strongly advocated for the media to be strengthened and make it completely independent in order to allow journalists and media houses to practice decent journalism in line with international best practices,” says the CRC

Key sections of this new chapter includes:

1.The mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Constitution. No body  shall own, establish or operate a television or wireless broadcasting station for any purpose whatsoever unless that body holds a licence issued by the IMC.

2.Media freedom and independence are hereby guaranteed but does not extend to—(a)propaganda for war; (b) incitement to violence; (c)hate speech; or (d)advocacy of hatred that—

3.The state shall not—

• exercise control or interfere with any person engaged in broadcasting (Radio, Television, Internet), the production or circulation or dissemination of any publication (newspaper, magazine or any periodical) or the dissemination of information by any medium
• Broadcasting and other electronic media shall have freedom of establishment, subject only to licensing procedures that— are necessary to regulate the airwaves and other forms of signal distribution; and are independent of control by government, political interests or commercial interest.

4.All state/public-owned media shall—(a) be free to determine independently the editorial content of their broadcast or other communications; (b) be impartial; and (c) afford fair opportunity for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinions.

5.There shall be an Independent Media Commission in Sierra Leone.  This should consist of 11 members.

6.The IMC shall consist of the following members

• One expert in the field of print journalism, nominated by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists;
• One expert in the field of electronic journalism nominated by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists;
• One expert in the field of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), nominated by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists;
• One expert in the field of telecommunications, nominated by the Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers;
• Two legal practitioner qualified to hold office as Judge of the High Court of Sierra Leone, nominated by the Sierra Leone Bar Association;
• One expert in Mass Communication nominated by a recognised tertiary institution offering communication/journalism studies;
• One person nominated by the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications;
• Two person nominated by the Inter-religious Council of Sierra Leone;
• One representation from the National Communications Commission

The nominees shall be subject to the approval of Parliament.

7.Upon approval by parliament, the commissioners shall elect one person from amongst them to be chairman; provided that no person shall be eligible for election to the position of chairman unless that person has a wide experience as a media practitioner, or is a legal practitioner qualified to hold office as a judge of the High Court of Sierra Leone.

8.The act of parliament shall define the functions and duties of the IMC that shall include promoting a free and pluralist media throughout Sierra Leone.

Other significant Changes Recommended by the CRC

There are three major changes recommended by the CRC, which may please, though not come as a surprise to those strongly opposed to (a) president Koroma’s decision to unilaterally and arbitrarily sack the country’s vice president and his subsequent backing by the Supreme Court; and (b) those calling for an extension of the presidential term limit. They will today say that justice is on their side.

These three changes are that:

1.The President and Vice President should not be removed from office if they lose their political party membership after assumption of office

2.The President and Vice President should only be removed from office in accordance with the procedures set out in Sec 50 and 51 of the 1991 Constitution.

3.The term of office of the President should remain as it is in the 1991 Constitution-Maximum of two terms of 5 years each whether the terms are consecutive or not.

The Sierra Leone Telegraph will in the coming days provide extended analysis of each of these proposed changes , including the following:

The Office of Attorney General separated from the Minister of Justice

 Local Council Elections to be conducted every 5 year instead of four

Local Council Elections to be non-political

Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council Elections to be held on a fixed calendar date

The President is not exempted from personal taxation

The President should no longer be a Member of Parliament

A House of Paramount Chiefs to be created. No second Chamber or Senate

CRC is seeking further information on whether or not the death penalty should be abolished

The retirement age of Judges/Justices of the Superior Court of Judicature shifted from 65 to 70 years

The African Negro requirement to be a citizen of Sierra Leone should be eliminated

Stateless children under 5 years found in Sierra Leone should be granted citizenship status

The Chief Justice to be appointed by the Judicial and Legal Service Commission

The two land tenure systems in the country should be harmonized

Members of Parliament should only be qualified for pension and gratuity after serving two consecutive terms as MPs.

Education, health and right to shelter are now justiciable

On the whole, the changes recommended by the CRC must be supported by the president, government, the ruling APC, opposition parties, civil society groups, and citizens of Sierra Leone.

These constitutional changes are the most radical, yet progressive steps Sierra Leoneans will ever take towards equality, inclusiveness, justice and democracy, since gaining independence in 1961.