By Ilyasa Baa
Three frontline executive members of the Sierra Leone Traditional Healers Association, SLENTHA, have been suspended for corrupt practices, ranging from signature forgery to rogue registration of members, in contravention of the Association’s constitution.
According to the High Priest of SLENTHA, Musa Yira Koroma, the National Secretary-General, Pa Fabundeh, the Project Coordinator, Chief Foray and Mr. Sandy, who happened to be the Operation Officer of the Association, were suspended after they were found guilty of forging the signature of the President of the Association, Kamor Muniru Sandy, and also registering a good number of members into the Association without the knowledge of the sixteen-man committee. The suspension, Mr. Koroma noted, would last for a period of three months, effective this week.
It could be recalled that when this government assumed power, the sacked Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Anthony Brewah, appointed Kamor Muniru Sandy of Bo district as the focal point for traditional healers and President of SLENTHA, condemning the appointment of Sulaiman Kabba as President of the Sierra Leone Traditional Healers Union on the grounds that he was appointed by former President Ernest Bai Koroma.
Few months after the appointment of Muniru Sandy, the same local government Minister went ahead, through a letter, endorsing Kabba as President of the Union, which many people saw as double standards by the former minister.
However, Sulaiman Kabba was unavailable for comment, but the President of the Council of Traditional Healers, Sheku Tarawallie, has described the latest suspension as being unfortunate. He cautioned that traditional healers should not be seen meddling in corruption like politicians do.
He has called on the new Minister of Local Government, Tamba Lamina, to do things differently compared to his predecessor, whom he described as a pioneer of the current problem of traditional healers in the country.
The Leader of the Traditional Healers’ splinter group in Waterloo, Mohamed Gaddafi Sheriff, has also called on Minister Tamba Lamina to behave differently from Lawyer Anthony Brewah. He said the new minister needs to consult with ceremonial chiefs across the country before making any appointment this time.
SLENTHA was the first traditional healers’ group formed during the era of late Dr Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and the late Dr B.M.S. Turay was made focal point of traditional medicine with an office space at the Connaught Hospital in Freetown.
However, members of SLENTHA broke away to form the Sierra Leone Traditional Healers Union, placing Sulaiman Kabba as their President, after the 2007 elections.
On the other hand, the Council of Traditional Healers has broken away from the Union due to alleged corruption.