by ibakarr | Oct 6, 2020 | Press
The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) today urged Sierra Leoneans to demonstrate unwavering support for ongoing anti-corruption efforts in the country, pointing out that the scourge of corruption remains a binding constraint to the country’s development aspirations.
“Corruption has inflicted unquantifiable damage to our country since Independence, and sadly, it is still prevalent and pervasive. There is no doubt, however, that if we work cooperatively, we can minimize the scourge of corruption through various measures of education, prevention, investigation and resolution”, said Ibrahim Tommy, Executive Director of Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law.
Our attention has also been drawn to the ongoing investigation of former government officials by the Anti-Corruption Commission, including former President Koroma. We believe that as a former president of our country he deserves all the respect our laws and customs confer on him. Similarly, as a law-abiding citizen, we respectfully urge him to cooperate fully with ongoing investigations into his 11-year stewardship as President of Sierra Leone, including by availing himself at the offices of the Anti-Corruption Commission whenever he is required to do so. We remind the leadership and staff of the ACC of the need to treat him fairly and respectfully, having regard to his rights under the constitution. We also urge members of his family and supporters to remain calm and peaceful, as we will continue to monitor the process to ensure that his rights are fully respected. Read the full text of the press release here
by ibakarr | Jul 28, 2020 | Press
The Executive Director of Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) has welcomed the appointment of Anthony Brewah ESQ. as the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone. Mr. Brewah replaces Dr. Priscilla Schwartz, who held the position for a little over two years.
In response to the news of his appointment, CARL’s Executive Director Ibrahim Tommy ESQ. said, “Mr. Brewah comes highly recommended as an experienced legal practitioner of almost thirty years’ standing and therefore, is well-placed to understand the myriad challenges that currently confront the justice sector. I expect him to utilise the existing opportunities to overcome those challenges”.
There are many issues that deserve the attention of the new Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, but CARL respectfully urges him to focus on the following:
Read full text of press release here
by ibakarr | Jun 9, 2020 | Press
Thanks to funding from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) today launched a $40,000 project aimed at monitoring and documenting human rights violations, ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of Sierra Leone’s Covid-19 response funds, and supporting social mobilization efforts through media outreach. Through this initiative, CARL will work with 16 Human Rights Monitors and regional partners across the country to track and respond to human rights violations, providing legal assistance to victims of human rights abuses, and to the extent possible, keeping tabs on medical and food supplies provided by the government and its partners to hospitals and quarantine facilities. Read full text here of the press release
by ibakarr | Aug 24, 2018 | Press
At the acme of 2018 elections campaigns, which seemed like a do-or-die affair, N’Daimoh A. Bangura dared to participate amidst intense violence, intimidation and discrimination, and defied these age-old barriers to women’s participation particularly in a male-dominated opposition stronghold.
As the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Chairperson in Constituency 058, in Madina, Kambia District, N’Daimoh conceived rising that far had not come easily. She is probably the only female who has attained such a position in the entire Northern Sierra Leone.
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by ibakarr | Aug 13, 2016 | Press
I can’t put anything past our Sierra Leone Police these days, but reports of police firing live bullets at defenceless protesters in Kabala today may have just taken police brutality to a whole new level. Unless the police can prove that those demonstrators were armed or that their action posed an imminent threat to their lives or the lives of other civilians, there could be no justification for the bloodletting which has reportedly happened in Koindadugu. There seems to be a standing order in the SLP for any spontaneous demonstrations to be forcefully suppressed. So much for our force for good! We need a full scale investigation into the unfortunate incident with the view to bringing to justice those responsible for the violence, especially those who gave the orders that triggered the reaction of the police. Moment of truth for the Independent Police Complaints Board!
by ibakarr | Aug 1, 2016 | Press
President Koroma has reportedly shared the findings of a 3-month covert surveillance he undertook of some public hospitals in Freetown. Among others, he found that some health care personnel sell drugs meant for the ‘free health care’ initiative; patients are routinely mistreated by health care workers; and there’s a disturbing death rate at the hospitals. Some of the health care workers named in the report have already been suspended, while investigations continue. As depressing as they are, the findings shouldn’t surprise even the most causal observer of our public health system. Maybe the President should do this every week because when CSOs and journalists cover such stories, they are easily dismissed as detractors or opposition actors. Something is terribly wrong with the way Sierra Leone’s public officials perform their functions, and unless we admit it and work together to address it, our story won’t change significantly just yet.
