On Monday 17th December the Ombudsman and Team met with staff of the Office of the Ombudsman in Kenema to have a firsthand update on the wellbeing of staff and other staff concerns. The head of Office in Kenema, Gawa Wilfred Amara, gave an analysis of cases received by the office. He stated that they have completed 36 out of the 41 cases received within the year, he noted that there is no computer for the mediation officer and that his office is the only one with an air conditioner. He also requested the Ombudsman to support them with a vehicle or motorcycle to help them to dispatch correspondences and also visit area under their watch.
Responding, the Ombudsman, Leon Jenkins-Johnston, thanked the staff for holding the fort amidst the challenging situation, he maintained that the challenges are not peculiar to this institution only but many other institutions and promised to look into their issues and find possible solution to some of the challenges highlighted. Whilst in Kenema the Ombudsman and team paid courtesy call to the Paramount Chief of Nongowa Chiefdom P.C. Alhaji Alhaji Gbewa Kallon, P.C. Alhaji Alhaji Gbewa Kallon welcomed the Ombudsman and team and expressed thanks and appreciation on behalf of the people Nongowa Chiefdom, he said that he was aware of the operations of the Office of the Ombudsman in Kenema and pledge his support for the office.
Town Chief Alhaji Momodu Gbolia, reported to the Ombudsman that they leased their land to the government and that the lease has not been paid for several years now, as they were promised that they would be paid but that promised has not been fulfilled.
Responding the Ombudsman explained the function of the Office and noted that he will do a follow-up on the matter as reported with the Minister of Land, housing and the Environment Dr. Dennis Sandy.
Also in Kenema the Ombudsman and team visited the Resident Minister East Hon. Andrew Ansu Fatorma. The Ombudsman Leon Jenkins- Johnston explained the functions of the Office to him and the Senior District Officer, he stated that the president has requested that all institutions within the government should work amicably in achieving national development.
Responding, the Resident Minister East, Hon. Andrew Ansu Fatorma said that he was happy to receive the Ombudsman and team in Kenema and promised to give the necessary support to the office. He thanked the Ombudsman and team for the visit and ask that the Office work within its clear mandate, he noted that, there is need to advice all MDA’s to work within their mandate as some MDA’s overstep their bounds. He revealed that a lot of authorities do commit maladministration because of the mode of application for job and remuneration for staff is also an issue. He noted that many offices who have operations in Kenema always have to revert to their offices in Freetown for decisions to the taken on the ground. He maintained that he will continue to give the Office of the Ombudsman the necessary support. He asked that a review of the Ombudsman’s act be done to include private security companies as they are not being regulated.
The Ombudsman and team also paid a courtesy call on the Chairman Kenema District Council Mohamed A. Sesay. The Ombudsman Leon Jenkins-Johnston said that the Office of the Ombudsman serves as an interface between the superior and staff in all government institution. He noted that the office tries to resolve issues such as maladministration between employers and employees as some employers takes inconsiderate decision and do not operate within their mandate. He maintained that the office is empowered to ask institution so reverse decision that are not consistent with their grievance redress mechanism. He revealed that the president ask all institution to use the reset button as he is trying to turn the country into a better place for us all. He maintained that the office is created by an Act of parliament and that the Ombudsman has the power of a judge of the courts of Sierra Leone
Responding the Chairman Kenema District Council Mohamed A. Sesay, congratulated the Ombudsman on his appointment and noted that he has been collaborating with the Office in Kenema and that his doors are always open to receive officer from the office to respond to any issue. He pledged his council support towards the office in Kenema.
Also in Kenema the team paid a courtesy call on the AIG East CSP Francis Nyambe. The Ombudsman Leon Jenkins-Johnston said that the purpose of the visit is to familiarise himself with the police in Kenema. He said he was also on the trip to get a firsthand update on the issues the office is faced with and to also meet stakeholders to develop a working relationship. He revealed that the Office was established by section 146 of the constitution of Sierra Leone. He explained the functions of the office. He stated that it is the presidents dream to see that standards are brought back to its past as there should not be any injustice in public institutions. He noted that the work of the office is to see that laws are implemented without bias or favouritism and to see a Sierra Leone that works for all.
Responding the AIG East CSP Francis Nyambe, thanked the Ombudsman and team and expressed commitment to work closely with the Office of the Ombudsman in Kenema. He stated that the Office has played a pivotal role in restoring sanity to the Government Institutions in the district.
Whilst in Kenema the Ombudsman and team met with the Mayor of the Kenema City Council Mayor Thomas Baio. Briefing the Mayor the Ombudsman, Leon Jenkins-Johnston said that the team was there to pay respect as tradition demands. He noted that the president has placed priority on discipline and that public life should improve. He revealed that the office of the Ombudsman has several mechanisms to handle complaints but chose mediation as means of settling dispute.
Responding, Mayor Thomas Baio expressed thanks and appreciation to the Ombudsman and team for the visit. He expressed his deepest appreciation to the head of Office, of the Office of the Ombudsman in Kenema whom he referred to as an asset as he has paid a great role in ensuring the administrative justice takes precedence in the council.
Chief Administrator Kenema City Council, Victoria Senessie, express thanks and appreciation to the Ombudsman and team and revealed that she had been a beneficiary of the work of the office of the Ombudsman. She requested that the office should involve in regional sensitization and also ensure that the decisions of the Office should be binding on the institutions.
Concluding the trip to Kenema, the Ombudsman and team paid a Courtesy call on the Commanding Office of the 2nd Infantry Brigade in Kenema Lt. Col. J. Johnson and team. Briefing the Commanding Officer, Ombudsman Leon Jenkins-Johnston said that the Office of the Ombudsman has a direct relationship with the Military as it is also established by the constitution. Ombudsman Leon Jenkins-Johnston Esq. read part 1 of the Ombudsman’s Act which states defines “prescribed authority” as “the bodies or persons referred to in the preamble, the Public Service Commission, the Armed Forces, the Police Force, the Prison Service or any institution for which a minister is answerable to Parliament”. He however noted that though the military has its own grievance mechanism it is too complex.
Responding the Commanding Officer Lt. Col. J. Johnson thanked the Ombudsman and team for the visit and pledge his support towards the work of the ombudsman. He requested that a copy of the Ombudsman’s Act be sent to them so that they can better explained them to the Officers and Men of the Brigade during morning parade.
The Executive Secretary in the Office of the Ombudsman, Dr. Sheku S. Conteh said that the Office of the Ombudsman is not against the use of the military’s internal redress mechanism but to work as partners in fighting injustice and hoped that the brigade and the Office continue to work together.
Head of Complaint, Mediation and Investigation Alhaji Mansaray said that the military should not see the Office of the Ombudsman as intruders but the office is there as an administrative watchdog for administrative justice.
