By Ralph Sesay
The Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rado Swarray, has urged journalists across the media spectrum to support the Commissions of Enquiry (COI) and join the government’s drive to maintain democratic accountability in the governance of Sierra Leone.
“Corruption,” the Information minister noted, “has been a very critical factor responsible for the underdevelopment of Sierra Leone. So media practitioners should come out clean and support this national cause.”
Mr. Swarry dismissed issues raised by the opposition APC Party, noting that the processes establishing the COI are very legitimate. According to him, the Instruments were unanimously passed through Parliament and had met all the constitutional rudiments necessary for the establishment of Commissions of Enquiry.
Minister Swarray called on journalists to help spread the message, noting “that the country badly needs accountability in the management of public funds” and dismissed whatever negative concerns the opposition is manufacturing around the Commissions of Enquiry.”
As journalists, the Minister went on, they should expose any individual or group of individuals that want to ferment trouble and “derail our hard won peace.” He noted that the Commission would be calling individuals to account for their stewardship while they were in governance and not tribes, regions or political parties.
He disclosed that the APC’s concerns around rules of evidence have, according to him, been properly laid to rest at the launching of the Commissions of Enquiry in Freetown by the learned Chief Justice and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. He called on well meaning journalists to stop peddling with such mundane ideas about the establishment of the COI.
The Information Minister reiterated the fact that the Commissions of Enquiry are here and that nobody can do anything to stop them. He said the President had made it very clear that the Commissions will be fair since “the appointed judges have got no stake on our body polity.”
President Bio, he went on, had made it very clear that persons who fail to appear before the Commissions will face the full force of the law, confirming that several options are opened to the Commissioners and they could take them when such a situation arises.
He concluded by commenting on the corruption matter involving two officials of his ministry. The officials have been accused of embezzling funds meant for the sensitization of the Commissions of Enquiry.
The individuals, according to him, include an Accountant and an Ag. Director, both in the Ministry. Both officials, he went on, are currently helping the Anti -Corruption Commission with the allegations.
The Minister and his Deputy were briefing the press on happenings in the New Direction Government at the usual Government press briefing.