LOCAL GOV’T COMPLETES INVESTIGATIONS OF CONDUCT OF PARAMOUNT CHIEFS IN KHONIMAKHA & PENGUIA

LOCAL GOV’T COMPLETES INVESTIGATIONS OF CONDUCT OF PARAMOUNT CHIEFS IN KHONIMAKHA & PENGUIA

LOCAL GOV’T COMPLETES INVESTIGATIONS OF CONDUCT OF PARAMOUNT CHIEFS IN KHONIMAKHA & PENGUIA 

Team Khonimakha holding interview with religious leaders

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) has completed administrative investigations into the conduct of Paramount Chiefs of both Khonimakha in Kambia District and Penguia Chiefdom in Kailahun District. The investigations were conducted from 30 May – 3 June, 2021.

It could be recalled that MLGRD set up and dispatched two teams of administrative investigators to complete thorough investigations on allegations against the Paramount Chiefs of the said Chiefdoms. This was in connection with the fact that the Paramount Chiefs in the above Chiefdoms had either fled their territories or ceased to perform their roles as Paramount Chiefs because of disputes between them and their subjects.

The investigations were conducted strictly based on the Generic Terms of Reference developed by the Ministry in line with complaints received against the Paramount Chiefs. 

Team Penguia holding interviews with Paramount Chief Samuel Sheku Gibrilla

In his uniform message to all the groups that his team interviewed, the Team Lead of investigators to the Khonimakha Chiefdom, Abu Bakarr Kamara, who is also the Senior District Officer of Bombali District, said they were in the Chiefdom to look into allegations against Chief Kandeh Kaba Seidu 1, adding that it was an opportunity for all the targeted stakeholders to explain what they know about same.

“It is alleged that the Paramount Chief was imposed on this Chiefdom by his uncle, that he used to strip young men naked, tie them with rope and display them in public, and that he was involved in sexual harassment, embezzlement of Chiefdom funds and that he had no respect for the customs and traditions of the Chiefdom, plus many other allegations,” he outlined.

He assured the residents that his team would look into all of the allegations, write report with recommendations and present it to the Local Government Ministry.

Andrew J Fofanah, the Team Lead of the investigators to Penguia Chiefdom, who is also the Provincial Secretary of the Eastern Region also outlined all the allegations against Paramount Chief Samuel Sheku Gibrilla throughout the interview sessions, and appealed to the residents to comply with the process. 

“We are here to get your sides of the allegations against your Paramount Chief, which is more or less the reason why he was chased out of this Chiefdom, and the truth is, we are impressed with your cooperation throughout the sessions,” he noted.

MLGRD’s Minister Tamba Lamina had instructed the two teams not to leave any stone unturned in the course of the investigations, which made the teams to engage the Resident Ministers, Police Heads and Heads of Councils of the two Districts after the investigative exercises in the Chiefdoms.

For more enquires:

Frederick V Kanneh

Information Officer

MLGRD

+23279788989

fkanneh@mlgrd.gov.sl

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