In a chiefdom meeting held on Thursday, stakeholders and representatives from the entire Kowa chiefdom in Moyamba District voiced their concerns over alleged fraud in the revisions of the 2022 local tax system, which impacts the qualification process for Tribal Authority (TAs).

The meeting, chaired by Mr. Musa Saccoh, highlighted several troubling issues that have caused panic within the community.

The attendees alleged that over 90 percent of the old TAs’ names were missing from the final gazette produced for the upcoming paramount chieftaincy elections.

Furthermore, only five out of the eight sections received the 2022 taxbooks, and the majority of section chiefs, youth leaders, headmen, and other stakeholders’ names were omitted from the gazette as well. Additionally, most of the aspirants’ for the PC names were not listed as TAs in the gazette.

These discrepancies have raised serious concerns and led to a sense of unrest within the Kowa chiefdom. The stakeholders and the entire community are calling on the government, through the local government ministry, to take immediate action to address the situation.

The Kowa chiefdom emphasizes the need for a swift response to rectify the alleged fraud and ensure a fair and transparent electoral process. The community is urging the government to investigate the matter thoroughly and provide a resolution that restores trust and confidence in the local tax system and the paramount chieftaincy elections.

The chiefdom awaits an official response from the government and hopes that appropriate measures will be taken to address their grievances promptly.