By Mustapha Sesay
A report by a Sierra Leone advocacy group, Network Movement for Justice and Development has criticised some civil society organisations for “compromising the intents for which they are established”. Launched at the Santanno House on Howe Street in Freetown, the report profiled fourteen national civil society platforms in Sierra Leone as part of a project tiled: “Initiative to Build Social Movement in Sierra Leone.” Its executive director, Abu Brima, said “the primary objective of the action–oriented research on those fourteen national civil society platforms was to generate information that would help to address the seeming lack of visionary and dynamic leadership in social movements.” The report specifically slammed two civil society groups, the National Youth Coalition, NYC and Civil Society Alternative Process, CSAP for compromising their platforms. “The NYC went beyond its mandate which is to advocate for the Sierra Leonean youth to taking side on issues that have nothing to do with youth. For example the procurement of arms and ammunition by the government in which it supported the government was cited as one of it biases,” he said. He also accused CSAP, formed as an alternative to undemocratic civil society platforms in Sierra Leone, of being undemocratic and of not changing leadership since its formation in 2004. The report, however, commended the National Elections Watch, Budget Advocacy Network, Sierra Leone Union on Disabilities Issues for illustrating best practices in internal governance, collectivism, resource managementfor which their membershipswere generally satisfied. NYC’s Western Area coordinator, Ibrahim Turay, said they successfully challenged the government on the increase of fuel price and forced it to rescind its decision. “We have never compromised our positions and we will never,” he assured. Meanwhile, national coordinator for CSAP, Saa Matthias Bendu, said there was a collective leadership arrangement in place up until 2009 when the organisation almost crumbled. “In 2009 there was a change but the constitution was still being reviewed and modified so it was not being used. Leadership was supposed to last for four years, after which there was to be a change of leadership,” he said. He claimed that one of the founding members, Fallah Ensa Ndayma, who was the national coordinator, had refused to be replaced. “He eventually left after he was forced to, took away sensitive documents and threatened to fight back because he was pushed out against his wish,” said Bendu, adding that his actions had since discouraged donors from working with the organisation. But Mr. Ndayma has dismissed claims by NMJD and Mr. Bendu, arguing that the latter was never a national coordinator of CSAP. He said Mr. Bendu was a programme manager whom he personally employed and paid from his salary. “NMJD’s claim about the leadership of CSAP is wrong. I took over in 2005 and served for three years. By 2007 at our third annual general meeting in Kenema chairman Abu Brima, Alfred Carew and I as coordinators were returned to office,” he said, adding that he left in 2010. (c) Politico 11/04/13
