by ibakarr | Jan 18, 2021 | Publication
We, the undersigned organisations, have been carefully monitoring events following the release in December last year of the Auditor-General’s reports on both the annual financial statement of 2019 and the Covid19 Response Funds. Like successive audit reports, the financial scandals revealed in the 2019 Audit across government agencies has once again exposed the underlying weaknesses in GoSL’s regulatory systems which continue to pose challenges to effective delivery of public services. Please read full test here
by ibakarr | Jul 2, 2020 | Publication
Commissioned by Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law with funding from DFID and support from Christian Aid, Restless Development and Budget Advocacy Network
by ibakarr | Jul 2, 2020 | Publication
ACTIONS, HOPES AND IMPEDIMENTS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IN SIERRA LEONE
Commissioned by Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law with funding from DFID and support from Christian Aid, Restless Development and Budget Advocacy Network
by ibakarr | May 14, 2020 | Publication
The Sierra Leone Government is currently confronted with the twin challenge of ending Covid-19 transmission and ensuring peace and order. Both seem to be arduous tasks, especially given the recent spate of violence in the country. As of 13th May, 2020, the country has recorded 387 confirmed Corona virus case, 21 deaths, and nearly 1700 persons held in quarantine centres. Amidst efforts to slow down the spread of the violence, we have witnessed a spate of violence in the last couple of weeks. In this position paper, the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law condemns violence as a criminal and unacceptable conduct, stating that it must be punished by all means. The president recently addressed the nation; arrests have been made in respect of the recent acts of violence, and some changes in the security sector are underway. We note that these steps may be helpful, but they will not, without more, address the key governance and rule of law challenges confronting the country.
The government cannot use a single-dimensional approach to addressing the problem of violence in the country. It has to lead in an inclusive and people-centred fashion, and broaden the space for dialogue with the opposition. There is need for good leadership across the board, including at the level of the justice sector and political parties. Our challenges cannot be wished away or ignored; otherwise, efforts at reconciliation may be undermined and potentially make the 2023 elections more violent. We have made a number of recommendations, including, the need for His Excellency to expand – rather than constrict – the space for dialogue with the main opposition. “Do not shut the door on dialogue”, we appeal. The spirit and objectives of Bintumani 3 must be kept alive. We note that whilst the President’s speech on 9th May was partly meant to send a strong message to those who participate in or sponsor violence, its accusatory tone may have further deepened the suspicion between the government and the main opposition APC. Read the full text of the position paper here…
by ibakarr | Jan 12, 2020 | Publication
Welcome to the third edition of the “The Justice Watch”, a bulletin produced by the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL) in partnership with Prison Watch Sierra Leone and Humanist Watch Salone. We are grateful for funding from the United Nations Development Programme in Sierra Leone and the U.S. State Department’s International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. In this edition, we will provide a final report of CARL’s activities relating to the Bail Regulations Monitoring project, and a comprehensive analysis of the data on the bail adjudication from the courtrooms across the country. This edition of “The Justice Watch” has utilized court monitoring data collected from 14 districts across the country on the implementation of the “Bail Regulations 2018”. Read more… https://carl.org.sl/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Justice-Watch-3rd-EditionFJan-2020-1-1.pdf
by ibakarr | Jul 12, 2019 | Publication
In December 2018, the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law-Sierra Leone (CARL-SL) signed a $100,000 grant agreement with the UNDP’s Rule of Law (RoL) section to undertake a project aimed at supporting the judiciary in the implementation of the Bail Regulations, 2018. Click to Download full document
