By Barrie Alpha
The Sierra Leone Cricket Association (SLCA) on Saturday 18 March 2023 held its 80th Annual General Meeting at the Senior Police Officers’ Mess, Kingtom in Freetown, where the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Sierra Leone (NP-SL), Kobi Walker, surfaced as the only nominee for the Vice Chairman post and grabbed it uncontested.
The AGM which attracted cricket stakeholders, welcoming legal representatives from the High Court of Sierra Leone, representative from the National Olympic Committee, Hastings Spaine from the NSA, the media, and a pool of players, saw the adoption of the minutes of the previous assembly and the 2021 audited financial statement.
In his statement, the Chairman, Francis Trevor Samura highlighted happenings that guaranteed good governance over the course of three hundred and forty-seven days since the last AGM held on 25 March 2022.
New clubs which include Sussex Cricket Club, Oakland Cricket Club, and Newton Cricket Club were co-opted as new members in accordance with section 9.1 of the Company’s 2020 Constitution. This is to help extend the base of cricket and to increase participation across all levels.
Electing a new Vice Chairman formed a significant high point at the AGM. Kobi Walker, who happened to be the only nominee for the second highest post at the Company, was declared Vice Chairman of SLCA uncontested. This was met by applause of joy from stakeholders, players and the entire Cricket Sierra Leone’s family.
Getting an approved auditing firm witnessed the delegates retiring into pockets of meeting to consider and reconsider reputable names. Resuming the AGM, the Members’ Council nominated and approved Bun Tejan-Doherty & Co Chartered Accounts as auditors for the 2023 financial year.
At the finishing line, A. G. Koroma from the National Olympic Committee admonished sport administrators to desist from taking sport matters to court. He said he was impressed by the democratic manner in which the AGM was conducted.
The NOC Rep went on to say that the social media has the potential to make and break. ‘This means members of the Cricket Board should not be seen discussing decisions taken by the Board on this platform,’ he admonished.
The session was climaxed with 78 members of the delegates signing a petition for the removal of Non-functioning Directors who they claimed had violated sections of the Company’s Constitution.