By Mabinty M. Kamara
The Ministry of Defense (MOD) and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) have dismissed “inaccurate and misleading” reports about the 34 Military Hospital.
According to Major Yayah Brima, Public Relations Officer of RSLAF, a local tabloid, Salone times, recently published two articles about an alleged misappropriation of funds in the hospital. He told journalists that the publication was in relation to a visit made to the hospital by the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Defense in order to interface with all the departments and units of the hospital.
According to Brima, during this visit, the MPs were given a breakdown of how a Le100million allocated for the monthly running cost of the hospital was expended, with documentary evidence.
“MOD/RSLAF was surprised that the Salone Times had twice reported the facts otherwise,” said Brima.
He also denied an assertion in the Salone Times report that Captain Dr. Cole presented a bank statement to the committee, showing that salaries were paid to many unqualified staff. Brima said no bank statement was ever presented to the visiting committee that revealed such irregularities.
The RSLAF spokesman went on to say that Captain Dr. Cole was never employed as paymaster, and therefore could not present any bank statement or handle any financial matters on behalf of 34 Military Hospital.
“More importantly, Dr. Cole never attended the meeting,” he added.
The MOD and RSLAF called on the publication to ensure it observes professional journalism by adhering to the tenets of accuracy, balance and credibility. They further requested the paper to retract the said publication.
Major Brima then revealed that in response to the infrastructural challenges in the hospital, the government of Sierra Leone has allocated over Le37million for rehabilitation purpose. And he assured that the monthly running cost allocated to the hospital is expended accordingly on key issues such as resolving personnel welfare, maintaining routine supplies, repairing infrastructure, among others.
The Managing Editor of Salone Times, Donald Theo Harding, told Politico that they stood by their reports.
© 2019 Politico Online
