NEWS ITEM
1t June 2021
By: Sulaiman B. Sowa
The Regional Anti-Corruption Commission office in Kenema has, on the 10th June 2021, handed over forty (40) bags of rice and five (5) bags of Beans to the Deputy Head Teacher of Al-Qudus Primary School in Tiama Town, Dodo Section, Dodo Chiefdom, Kenema District.
The handing over took place in Dodo Town in the presence of community stakeholders and people.
Handing over the items, Senior Investigation Officer, Mohammed Jah, said that the Rice and Beans were key items to an ongoing investigation relating to an alleged Misappropriation of Donor Property.
He furthered that because the items were perishable goods, the Commissioner, Francis Ben. Kaifala Esq., had instructed that they be released to the School authorities for the benefit of the School Children. Mr. Jah reminded Community Stakeholders that the handing over was not an indication that the investigation was closed but that the said items could be used for their intended purposes since they were perishable.
Receiving the food items, Deputy Head Teacher, Al-Qudus Islamic Secondary School Tiama, Dodo Chiefdom, Noah S. Luseni, said the handing over was significant in facilitating the school feeding program. He noted that the food items will be taken to the Community and cooked for the school children with the supervision of community stakeholders to ensure that the food items are used for the intended purpose.
Regional Coordinator for the National School Feeding Program East, Ansumana Payne, said that the Ministry appreciates the handing over and shall support the Commission with relevant information to aid the speedy conclusion of the investigation. He entreated community stakeholders and school authorities to ensure that the items were used to feed primary school going children, concluding that community people should own up to monitoring the management and use of the food items.
Town Chief of Tiama, Dodo Section, Munda Lansana, said as a community, they have located a store to keep the food items and identified three women to cook for the kids. He described the handing over as a success in the fight against corruption and pledged their vigilance and commitment towards ensuring that the only beneficiaries of the food are the primary school going kids.
It could be recalled that on the 10th May 2021, 50 bags of rice and 5 bags of Beans were intercepted in a commercial truck by Community Monitor Osman Barrie in Dodo town en route Kenema city on suspicion and subsequent allegation that the said rice and beans, being school feeding items, were sold to private business people.
The Investigation Unit of the Regional office immediately commenced investigation which is ongoing with ten (10) bags of rice still subject of the investigation.
