A leadership dispute within the Sierra Leone Swimming, Diving and Water Polo Association has escalated, with aggrieved members accusing President Mohamed Turay and Secretary General Abdul Turay of constitutional violations, financial impropriety and suppression of dissent, while the embattled executives dismiss the claims as blackmail.

The association has not held an extraordinary congress in over five years, despite constitutional requirements mandating such gatherings when elections are overdue, according to members who spoke to this medium. They describe the delay as a deliberate avoidance of democratic renewal and a direct constitutional breach.

Public Relations Officer Reginald Brian Ojukutu Sawyer, who also serves as Acting Assistant Secretary General, denied the allegations, stating that the executive has operated based on the mandate provided by the association’s constitution. He confirmed that their mandate has expired but maintained that the constitution grants them authority to continue running affairs, as their reason for overstaying is legitimate.

The aggrieved members further allege suppression of democratic processes, claiming that President Turay and Secretary General Turay have repeatedly threatened or expelled members who raise legitimate concerns about the association’s management. Two senior executive members, Vice President Bobson Mansaray and Joseph Sheriee Jida-Kiz Kamara, were reportedly removed and suspended without the extraordinary congress required by the association’s constitution.

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Sawyer responded that Mansaray and Kamara were involved in activities constituting serious misconduct detrimental to the unity, stability and effective administration of the association. However, the complainants maintain that these suspensions violate the association’s laws and raise serious concerns about transparency and credibility within the Sierra Leone Aquatics constitution.

The most serious allegation involves the alleged misappropriation of 35,000 Euros received annually from World Aquatics, the international governing body for aquatic sports. Members claim that for the past four years, no proper accounting has been provided for these funds, which were meant for association operations. They allege that this financial mismanagement has led World Aquatics to suspend its yearly support to the association.

Sawyer categorically denied the embezzlement claims, stating that although the association previously received 35,000 Euros annually, they have not received the funds for the past two years. Secretary General Abdul Turay also denied all allegations, characterizing them as an attempt to blackmail the association and hold it to ransom.

World Aquatics has previously provided training scholarships to Sierra Leonean swimmers, including a two-year high-performance program for athlete Moses Sahr Yongai under the Aqua Olympics Support Program, and has supported athlete development despite infrastructure challenges in the country.

President Mohamed Turay, who has served as a member of the National Olympic Committee through his role with the aquatics association, referred this medium to the Public Relations Officer when contacted about the allegations.

Investigations by this medium revealed that the two suspended ex-officio members were removed without the extraordinary congress required by the association’s constitution, lending weight to claims of procedural violations.

The aggrieved members have called upon the National Sports Authority, Ministry of Sports, National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone, World Aquatics Integrity Unit and the Anti-Corruption Commission to take immediate action to restore constitutional order, transparency and athlete protection within Sierra Leone Aquatics.

The NSA is legally mandated to regulate and enforce compliance across all national sporting federations, while the NOC serves as the parent body for the aquatics association. The association’s leadership recently paid a courtesy call on newly appointed NSA Executive Director Mohamed Alphaka Conteh, reaffirming their commitment to collaboration in developing aquatic sports.