By Nasratu Kargbo
Member of Parliament Musa Shiaka Sama from Constituency 104 in Pujehun district has told Politico that the Paramount Chief in his chiefdom, PC. Brima V. S. Kebbie III has never conducted an election for town chiefs in the chiefdom as stated in the Chieftaincy Act 2009, but instead solely appoints them.
“He has never conducted elections since he was elected in the 1980s,” said Sama. The MP on the 18th July 2022 stated that the situation has happened on different occasions, but made mention of a recent one in Ngandorhun Town.
The MP explained that the Chieftaincy Act 2009 makes provision for chiefs to be elected when there is a vacancy, noting that the law states that the taxpayers in the town where the vacancy is, should elect the Town Chief. Section (24) Subsection (1) of the Chieftaincy Act of 2009 states that: “A Town Chief shall be elected by the taxpayers in the town in accordance with the customs and traditions of that town within the chiefdom”.
He explained about a situation in his constituency in Malen Chiefdom where there was a town chief vacancy, but that the Paramount Chief went ahead and appointed one instead of allowing an election to be conducted. Sama emphasized that the law does state that town chiefs should be appointed, and described the action of Chief Kebbie as “imposed”.
The Independent MP added that when there is a vacancy, the District Officer (DO) should be informed, and a credible body such as the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) should conduct the election.
He said apart from informing parliament about the said issue, the MP said they have written letters to the D.O, pointing out that recently there should have been an election in Ngandorhun, and that even when the aspirants wrote a letter to the D.O, nothing has been done in that regard.
Politico tried to reach Chief Kebbie for his side of the story but his mobile phone was off.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (20/07/22)
