The Sierra Leone Association of Non Governmental Organizations has issued a Public Notice on its Resolutions and Outcome from the just concluded [SLANGO] Annual General Meeting held on the 20th December, 2023.

The new Board Members of SLANGO thanked its members from all the regions for coming to grace the AGM with strong conviction. The notice confirmed that Though about ninety members came earlier by 9 am, including International partners, Government agencies including NASSIT, the media like SLBC, and other Dignitaries were intimidated by the Police.

The Public Notice further alleged that, Police officers, led by LUC Moijueh of the Central Police Station, went with 30 police personnel and brutalized one of their colleagues, Mr. Kemoh Sumaila, who was pushed and sustained a spinal injury, and he is currently in the hospital. SLAGO further acknowledged that notwithstanding this, it is further important that Section 26 of the Sierra Leone Constitution 1991 which protects the fundamental human rights to assembly and association was contravened.

The Public Notice further stated that “In addition to Article 21 of the ICCPR1 further safeguards the right to peaceful assembly, emphasizing that “the right of
peaceful assembly shall be recognized.” It prohibits arbitrary restrictions on this right and recognizes the
importance of its role in democratic societies. It recognizes every person’s right to assemble freely and
peacefully without arms and to form and belong to associations or organizations for political, religious,
cultural, or social purposes.

Reclaiming rights for activists, practitioners and the entire non-governmental organizations community in Sierra Leone, we strongly call on International Human Rights Institutions and partners; as it is even now clear that civic spaces in our country are under severe attack. If instances of this nature continue, we can only stop but ask “who will defend the defenders?”

It is worth noting that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) was invited and one of his representatives
was at the high table during the opening courtesies. Considering the AGM, just like any normal NGO
process, it was to our surprise that LUC Moijue, leading a team of over 25 police personnel interrupted
the meeting on the premise that a Police Clearance must have been sought before proceeding. Over 15
years of SLANGO’s AGM processes, just as for other organizations, we have never asked for this in the
past. As law-abiding practitioners, we asked whose instruction the police followed, all they said was that
it was from above – which we are still looking forward to unraveling.

We want our partners and the general public to note that the General Membership of SLANGO through
the AGM is the highest decision-making body of the institution. As per our constitution, the only thing
the AGM cannot do is to change a man to a woman, but the General Membership is the supreme decision- making body. But, we thank God. With all the police intimidation, SLANGO members unanimously agreed on the following resolutions:

RESOLUTION 1:
RENEWAL AND NEW REGISTRATION FEES REMAIN THE SAME WITH NO INCREMENT
● Contrary to the unilateral decision taken by the former Board Chair without any consultation with
the SLANGO membership to announce a 100% astronomical increment in the new registration
and renewal fees, the registration fees remain the same.
● SLANGO members have today agreed that the old fees stand and any further increment will scare
NGOs away as we may want to go into a massive membership drive.
The old fees are as follows:
a) Renewal National NGOs NLe 2,433.65
b) International NLe 4,532.65
c) New registration National NLe 3,309.93
d) New Registration International NGOs NLe 5,820.76
RESOLUTION 11:
MEMBERS HAVE UNANIMOUSLY AGREED TO REINSTATE MR EDWARD YOKIE WHO
HAS SERVED AS ACTING COORDINATOR FOR 22 MONTHS TO BE THE SUBSTANTIVE
NATONAL CORDINATOR IN LINE WITH THE LABOUR LAWS OF SIERRA LEONE.
RESOLUTION 111
THAT THE NINE (9) INTERIM COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO WERE NOMINATED TO
ACT FROM THE EXTRA ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING ON NOVEMBER 10TH, 2023
WILL SERVE AS THE SUBSTANTIVE BOARD
We want to conclude this public notice by thanking the representative sent by the Office of the Chief
Minister for waiting patiently to deliver the keynote address, in addition to the representative of the
European Union in Sierra Leone and all other International Partners who stood by us with all the
machinations from the former board and our detractors.
We also want to thank our Members, particularly from the regions, for their courage and conviction.
Above all, we want to thank you all for the confidence reposed on us to serve you on the SLANGO
Board.