By Zainab Joaque
A group of football managers and administrators opposed to the administration of the current SLFA president Isha Johansen has spoken out about issues of corruption engulfing world football by calling on the world governing body of football "to mount a rigorous investigation into the allegations and ensure that the culprits are brought to book and the credibility of the Association which has come into question in recent weeks fully..."
In a press release issued in Freetown, the body, chaired by Alhaji Unisa Sesay, commonly referred to as Awoko, owner of premier league club Anti-drug FC, urged that "transparency and accountability be enforced at all levels including but not limited to national associations and that FIFA makes clear its position particularly with respect to national football administrations that have refused, neglected and failed to be accountable to their respective membership."
In an apparent reference to the situation in the Sierra Leone Football Association, the football administrators said, "FIFA must no longer just issue a blank cheque of trust and belief to national football administrations, but must ensure that the voices of the football stakeholders be recognized and respected," and that a "reformed FIFA...should refrain from supporting, condoning and pampering administrations like the former Isha Johansen led administration in Sierra Leone that has despite numerous calls for same, failed to give account, both financially and governance wise, to its members."
They referred to the abortive Congress the SLFA called in Makeni on the 18th of April and alleged that the Congress "was rigged with corrupt practices including but not limited to the unlawful manipulation and falsification of delegates’ list, all in a bid to deprive the association of the leadership it desires and deserves."
The Stakeholders say they welcome moves by President Ernest Bai Koroma "to resolve the impasse in the football association and would wish to petition him to consider to invoke section 147 of the Sierra Leone Constitution by setting up a judicial enquiry/commission to investigate the activities of the SLFA."
© Politico 09/06/15
