On January 11th, 2024, the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO) Board filed a formal complaint with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over an alleged attempt to open an illegal bank account in the organization’s name.

The complaint points fingers at Mr. Christian Kamara, the former defunct Board Chairman of SLANGO, and accuses him and his associates of collaborating with a public servant at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) to establish this unauthorized account.

The letter, addressed to the ACC Commissioner, emphasizes the long-standing history of SLANGO and its financial management. The NGO has maintained bank accounts since 1994, with various leaders overseeing the accounts. Presently, Mr. Edward Yokie, who assumed the role of National Coordinator in January 2022, is in charge of these accounts. SLANGO operates accounts at Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Zenith Bank, and Ecobank for different purposes, such as handling registration fees, support projects, and managing funds from international and national NGOs.

The complaint alleges that a faction within the defunct SLANGO Board, led by Mr. Christian Kamara, is attempting to undermine Mr. Edward Yokie’s position. It suggests that there are efforts to create a new bank account, separate from the established ones, with the purported intention of collecting registration fees. The letter indicates that these actions have raised concerns among international and national NGOs, who have reportedly been informed about the plan to open a new account.

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To counteract these alleged plans, the current SLANGO leadership has taken preemptive measures, including freezing bank accounts for safety purposes. The letter notifies the ACC of this perceived corrupt scheme and warns that any attempt by Mr. Christian Kamara, the defunct Board, or any participating NGO to deposit funds into the new account will be subject to corruption charges.

The SLANGO Board expresses gratitude to the banks involved for their diligence in handling the situation. However, it remains steadfast in seeking the ACC’s support to prevent any deviation from established financial protocols. The letter concludes with a plea for the ACC Commissioner’s assistance and emphasizes the commitment of SLANGO to uphold transparency and integrity within the NGO space.

This unfolding situation brings attention to the potential misuse of funds within non-governmental organizations, emphasizing the importance of regulatory bodies like the ACC to safeguard against corruption and maintain the public’s trust in the NGO sector.

Read The Full Letter Below ⬇️

The Commissioner Anti-Corruption Commission
Tower Hill
Freetown
11th January, 2024

Dear Commissioner,
RE: LETTER OF COMPLAINT

On behalf of the SLANGO Board and Membership, I would like to bring to your attention and to the attention of the Anti-Corruption Commission the behaviour of one Mr. Christian Kamara (the former defunct Board Chairman of SLANGO) and his cohorts the intent to clandestinely establish a different bank Account in the name of SLANGO with the full help of a public servant at MoPED.

Mr. Commissioner, I have been an activist and part of this NGO space for 27 years. The first time SLANGO had a bank account was in 1994 under the leadership of Madam Isha Josiah, and Madam Shellac Davies took over the account in 2007, and Mr. Edward Yokie took over the account in December 2021, when Madam Shellac Davies retired. That account is at the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank where all International and National NGOs “(I)NGO” pay renewal and new registration fees. There are two Leones accounts at Sierra Leone Commercial Bank. There are also accounts at Zenith Bank and Ecobank under the name of SLANGO that are for other support projects, for example projects with New Deal or EU support to SLANGO. The account at Zenith Bank is a Leones account, while the accounts at Ecobank are a Leones account and a USD account. All of these accounts are presently under the control of Mr. Edward Yokie who has been serving as the National Coordinator since January of 2022.

We are getting waves because the defunct Board and some operatives within the MoPED want to eliminate Mr. Edward Yokie who has been serving as the Acting National Coordinator of SLANGO since January of 2022. We have stood with Mr. Yokie to stop all nonsense and have even frozen the bank accounts for safety purposes.

We have heard information from some International and National NGOs that the defunct Board has informed them that they are going to open a new account for registration fees. We want to inform your Commission of this corrupt attempted plan by Mr. Christian Kamara of the YMCA and the defunct Board to open a new bank account apart from the accounts at Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Zenith Bank and Ecobank. We are formally informing your office that any attempt by Mr. Christian Kamara and the defunct Board and any (I)NGO who makes any deposit into the new account/s opened by Mr. Christian Kamara and the defunct board, apart from the established accounts will be brought before you for corruption, including the (I)NGO that will make such payment.

Already the banks have done a fantastic job but Mr. Christian Kamara and the defunct Board want to circumvent the accounts, and for us even the thought of this is tantamount to corrupt practice

Thank you very much Commissioner as we look forward to your support.

Yours sincerely,

Edmond Abu (Jr)

Board Chairman.

+23276617240.

 

Cc:
· Madam Honorable. Minister (MoPED)
· Development Secretary (MoPED)
· Director, NGO Affairs (MoPED)
· SLANGO Board and Membership
· Secretary General (Peace Commission)
· Managing Director (Sierra Leone Commercial Bank)
· Managing Director (Zenith Bank)
· Managing Director (Ecobank)
· Legal Team
· Former Board Chairman (SLANGO)