By Septimus Senessie in Kono
Some aggrieved stakeholders in Kono District in the eastern province of Sierra Leone have questioned the inclusiveness of the ongoing constitutional review process.
The concerned people who include a Paramount Chief and a Civil Society activist say despite assurances by the Constitutional Review Committee, grassroots people have not been considered in the ongoing discussions and some even believe the committee may have already done its job and that it was only putting up a show by gathering a few selected people to appease its sponsors.
The process of reviewing the 1991 Constitution started in 2013 but it was interrupted by the outbreak of the Ebola epidemic.
Last week the committee announced commencement of discussions in the Western Area, following similar consultations in the provinces.
But in Kono, some say the process is “non-participatory and stage-managed.”
Komba Manga, Secretary General of the Kono District Civil Society Network (KDCSN), told Politico that the process was not “citizen led.” He recalled last year at the Bank Complex in Kingtom, Freetown, at a well attended CSOs national engagement organized by the review committee, where one of the recommendations that stood called for the involvement of the least village in the country.
“That has not been the case in Kono,” Manga said. He also cited a survey conducted by CSOs in the 14 chiefdoms of the district on the citizen’s perspectives on the constitutional review process, noting that it was discovered that about 98% of the population of the district had not received any information about the process.
“This percentage is huge to be kept out of such an important activity,” the activist said.
“It looks like the committee of the constitutional review process has already amended the portion of the 1991 Constitution it wanted and it is just observing protocols as a way of satisfying the international organizations that put their money into the process,” he added.
KDCSN is the umbrella body of about 80% of CSOs in Kono District.
Manga said the constitution was a national document and that any attempts to amend it should have national flavor with every citizen having participated fully in the process. He said any form of manipulation of the process by few individuals to meet their “selfish ends will be rejected by the masses.”
Mr. Manga also expressed disappointment over the performance of sub committees of the CRC, singling out in particular the Natural Resources Committee for failing to mention in its preliminary presentations, following its last visit to Kono, mining lease agreement between the people of Sierra Leone and multi-national mining companies and the resettlement of mining affected communities.
Kono, known for its trademark diamonds, has been a landmine of confusion between mining companies and community people over lease agreements, tax payment and resettlement issues.
Manga said the CRC should not ignore such issues, citing pervious incidents that have led to loss of lives during riots emanating from related concerns.
He cited OCTEA Koidu Limited as a case in point; whose activities he said had led to loss of innocent lives after affected mining communities took to the streets in demonstration against their excesses.
One Paramount Chief, who spoke to Politico on condition of anonymity, confirmed that local authorities were yet to be involved in the constitutional review process.
“Sierra Leone can only have a better constitution, owned by all, through the inclusion of the grassroots people and not the one that has already been amended by few people who are pretending to the public as if they were leading the process,” the chief said.
The almost 80-year-old paramount chief added that constitutional amendments have hardly been participatory in Sierra Leone, stating that “governments in power would only amend certain portions of the constitution that suit them and the most important areas are left untouched.”
“This is the reason why our constitutions, including the current one, have failed to stand the test of time,” he said.
Paul Sahr Sam, Principal of the Lei Agriculture Vocational Secondary School in Lei Chiefdom, said only two of his teachers were given two sets of questioners, one on the Judiciary and the other on the executive arm of government, and asked to fill out and return. He said the teachers in fact only had the opportunity while on vacation in Koidu Town.
Mr. Sam said up to the time of this interview this week, like in other chiefdoms in the district, the people of Lei Chiefdom have had no knowledge about the constitutional review process.
At the Konomanyie Lorry Park in Koidu Town, Sia Marhta, a plantain seller, said she had no idea that a constitutional review was ongoing. But she added that even if she was told about it, she couldn’t care less.
“It is the business of the educated society and not an illiterate plantain seller like me,” she said.
Meanwhile, in Freetown a spokesman for the CRC assured that the process would be inclusive enough for all to participate.
Mohamed Faray Kargbo, Communications Director at the committee`s Miatta Conference Center`s head office, said whatever consultations have taken place were just the beginning and every Sierra Leonean will at the end have had a chance to make their input into the final constitution.
According to Kargbo, consultations and public meetings held so far have attracted over 200 people at every meeting. He said everyone was given the opportunity to speak freely. He said they`d also done radio programmes.
“This is just the start. People will get more chance to participate,” he said.
The CRC spokesman however denied that they have already amended the constitution, in response to claims that they were only putting up a show to appease sponsors.
He said after the consultations the draft documents will be taken back to the people for verification, which will let them see their inputs, before the planned referendum for universal endorsement.
“There is no way we can go round the country talking to people when it has been done,” he said.
(C) Politico 26/06/15
