Leadership Crisis Rocks Kunike Sanda Chiefdom Youth Council Over Allegations of Embezzlement

A leadership crisis has engulfed the Kunike Sanda Chiefdom Youth Council in Tonkolili District, Northern Sierra Leone, following allegations of embezzlement, abuse of power, and misappropriation of public funds by Chairman Mohamed Samuel Kargbo.

The allegations, which include the misappropriation of community funds and assets such as solar panels, a decoder, and plasma, have sparked concern among youths in the chiefdom.

In a letter to the Officer in Charge of the Masingbi Police Station, the youths expressed disappointment and frustration over the authorities’ failure to act on their complaints against the Chairman’s alleged misconduct.

Tariq Omar Sadique, a stakeholder and chairman of the Sierra Leone People’s Party in the area, described the allegations as unfortunate. He revealed that the Chairman had allegedly received four solar panels, a decoder, a plasma, and other items, which he failed to deliver to the youths. Instead, the items were retrieved from a neighbour after the youths protested.

Mbalu Binta Jalloh, a Board Member of the National Youth Commission, expressed concern over the Chairman’s alleged misconduct and lack of transparency and accountability. She said the youths had tried to work with the Chairman, but it seemed he was being backed by external forces.

The Chairman is also accused of dissolving the executive without following due process, allegedly to eliminate non-conformists. Chiefdom authorities have expressed similar concerns and called on the Youth Ministry to intervene to prevent further escalation.

When contacted, Chairman Kargbo denied the allegations, claiming that the matter had been investigated by the District Security Committee (DiSeC) in Tonkolili District, which found him innocent. He said all the properties were accounted for and produced during the investigation. However, stakeholders remain concerned and are calling for an independent investigation into the issue.

The crisis has divided the Youth Council, with factions emerging. Stakeholders are urging calm and calling for a resolution to the impasse.