4 April, 2008

Raymond Bai Kamara, Koinadugu District

NaCSA To Account for Le 240 Million

A report from Koinadugu District is indicating that the sum of Le 240 Million funds for the construction of a community school at Yirayah Chiefdom has allegedly been misappropriated.

According to the Chiefdom speaker, Thomas Marrah, the said money was donated to the community by a foreign agency, sometime in January 2002. He said NaCSA was contracted to implement the building project.

It is alleged that some NaCSA authorities connived with some unscrupulous contractors to implement the project. Following the 2004 work report that was presented to the Anti-Corruption Commission, the workers were found wanting for corruption charges. This led the Commission to replace the previous contractor with one Mr. Mohamed Benya, who was to complete the school construction project.

When Sierra Express met with Mr. Mohamed Benya for him to explain the way the money was used, he denied having knowledge of the said Le 240 Million project. I know about Le 100 Million project designed for the construction of a school and staff quarters, he said. He told Sierra Express that the community residents were selfish to the point that they failed to choose their own contractors.

Madam Mansaray, the village Chairlady, told Sierra Express that NaCSA advised them earlier to contract local builders and use materials at their reach for the construction of the school, which they did. “All of a sudden the project failed, later we learnt that NaCSA’s contractors have embezzled the money and no effective work was done.” the woman said with heavy heart.

The Chairlady expressed concern that the children are being denied the right to acquire education. Yirayah Community is 35 miles away from Kabala. This community has been without a school for decades.  In recent times pupils have attended school in poor rural palm thatch structures and settings with no sitting accommodation, thus having a poor learning atmosphere.

The Chief said some of their children have suffered victimization at various levels as a result of leaving the village to go to other towns in search of an education. He pleaded with the Government to help salvage their situation.

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