Category: news
Hits: 6719

On Thursday 20th December 2018, the Ombudsman and team paid courtesy call on the Chief of Maforki Chiefdom, Alimamy Maforki Kamara, where the Ombudsman was greeted by the people of Maforki Chiefdom with singing and dancing. The Ombudsman Leon Jenkins – Johnston explained the work of the office of the Ombudsman to the people of Marforki and asked them to take their complaints and grievances to the Office of the Ombudsman in Port Loko. He emphasized the Presidents call for the Free Quality Education and advised the people of Maforki not to give their children of school going age to be marries away but use this opportunity to educate them as they would take up the mantle of responsibility in the future.

Responding, Chief Alimamy Maforki Kamara, thanked the ombudsman and team for visiting the people of Marforkti. He stated that he is aware of the Office of the Ombudsman in Port Loko and ask that the Ombudsman looks into issues affecting them. He stated that since the previous government, the people of Marforki have been marginalized as they are not consulted when decisions are taken and also they do not benefit from developmental activities when they are brought to Port Loko. He thanked the Ombudsman for the good work the office in Port Loko is doing as at first they had no money and nowhere to report the advantages that are taken on them. He expressed thanks and ask anyone of his subject to seek redress whenever any government official takes advantage of them.

The women of Marforki Chiefdom showed appreciation for the Ombudsman as they sang and dance before him.

The Ombudsman and Team also paid a brief courtesy call on Paramount Chief Alikali Mella II. The Ombudsman explained the creation, functions and mandate of the Office of the Ombudsman. He thanked Paramount Chief Alikali Mella II for the support he has been given to the office and asked that it be continued.

Responding, Paramount Chief Alikali Mella II, thanked the Ombudsman for the visit and promised to continue to work with the office of the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman and team paid courtesy call on the Senior District Officer, Port Loko District David C. Conteh who also doubles as the chairman of DISEC. The Ombudsman Leon Jenkins- Johnston explained the mandate and functions of the Office of the Ombudsman. He stated that the office seeks to fervent injustice, bias and other forms of maladministration. He furthered that he is meeting with stakeholders to seek support for the Office in the region.

The Senior District Officer, David C. Conteh thanked the Ombudsman for the visit and continue to pledge the DISEC commitment to supporting the work of the Office of the Ombudsman. He thanked the President for appointing young People to position of authority.

The Ombudsman and Team also paid a courtesy call on the Chairman Port Loko District Council Ibrahim Bangura. The Ombudsman Leon Jenkins-Johnston said that he is meeting with stakeholders in the country to seek support for the Office of the Ombudsman across the country. He further explained the mandate and functions of the Office.

Chief Administrator Raman Tom Farmar, thanked the Ombudsman foe taking his time to visit the Council. He revealed that they have a good working relationship with the office and is looking forward to working very closely with the office.

Thanking the Ombudsman, the Chairman, Port Loko District Council, Ibrahim Bangura said that the council faces a lot of challenges prominent among which is the non-payment of Benefits of retired workers and also they as chairmen are not paid salaries but sitting fees which is not enough for them to take care of their families. He reveled that people are under paid in the council and due to the ignorance of the law governing the office environment many do not seek redress. He thanked the ombudsman for the visit and promised to convey the message to the Councilors.

The final stop in the tour was the Port Loko City Council, where the Ombudsman and team met with the Deputy Mayor Zachariah Kamara and Chief Administrator Joseph Gando. The Ombudsman explained the mandate and functions of the Office. He stated that he was on a fact finding mission to seek support from stakeholders for the Office of the Ombudsman in Port Loko. He stated that the Office is an outlet to make complaints against government institutions. He thanked them for the support they have been giving to the office.

Chief Administrator, Joseph Gando, said that they are working under very tedious conditions. He stated that they are faced with a very big task in collecting dues as they do not have the required personnel to carry out such function and they are prevented from recruiting personnel to do the job. He stated that even the staff that are working in the council are not on salary. He revealed that he has served the councils for eight months without salary.  He furthered that the Mayor and his deputy are not on salary but provided sitting fees. He stated that they have complained to their representatives in parliament but nothing seems to be happening.

Responding the Deputy Mayor, Port Loko City Council Zachariah Kamara said that the issues are not unique to the Port Loko city Council alone but other councils across the country. He requested that the Ombudsman championed some of the issues raise on their behalf. He thank the ombudsman for building confidence in them and reiterated that the Ombudsman negotiate with the ministry of Finance on their behalf.

Category: news
Hits: 7123

Meet the press 022

Meet the press 011

OMBUDSMAN MET THE PRESS

The Ombudsman of the republic of Sierra Leone Leon Jenkins-Johnson Esq. has met with members of the fourth estate at a press conference held at his Office at 26 Charlotte Street to brief them on his plans for moving the office forward. The theme for the briefing was “Improving the delivery of services to enhance administrative justice and safeguard human rights.

Making a presentation, the Ombudsman Leon Jenkins-Johnston Esq. thanked His Excellency the President Julius Maada Bio, for the confidence reposed in him to serve as Ombudsman of the Republic of Sierra Leone. He noted that with the confidence of the President he is ready to serve this nation without fear of favor.

He revealed that according to the Ombudsman’s Act 1997 mal-administration includes, bias, unfair discrimination or failure to explain grounds of decision which appears discriminatory. He maintained that section 20 of section 146 of the constitution provides that the functions of the Ombudsman shall include investigation of any action taken or omitted to be taken by or on behalf of:   

        a.     Any department of Ministry of Government

        b.     Any statutory corporation or institutions of higher learning set up entirely by public funds

        c.     Any member of the public.

Giving an update on his accomplishment Ombudsman Leon Jenkins-Johnston said that since he assumed office, he has conducted a regional familiarization tour in the four regions to engage stakeholders and staff to develop an agenda to continuously improve on the services rendered to the public. He said that his programmes are geared towards the issues within the purview of the Ombudsman. These key issues he revealed includes but not limited to:

         a.      Effective Prison/Correctional Service monitoring

         b.      Unlawful Arrest and Detention of persons

         c.      Improving Grievance Mechanism

         d.     Introduction of subpoena to enhance compliance in accordance with section 10(4) of the                                                       Ombudsman’s Act which makes the following provisions:” The Ombudsman shall have such powers,                                    rights and privileges as vested with the High Court of justice or a judge “

          e.     Protection of Vulnerable students at institutions of Higher Learning in Sierra Leone.

Speaking on Complaints received, resolves and transferred by the office of the Ombudsman, Ombudsman Leon Jenkins-Johnston stated that the office received 519 complaints in 2018 of which 253 were resolved, 126 referred and 40 under investigations.

He noted that the highest complaints were received in Freetown with 264, Bo with 111 Makeni with 52 Kenema with 47 and Port Loko with 45. He noted that the nature of complaints that the office has dealt with ranges from:

        a.     Non-payment of Salaries/ Arrears and Benefits

        b.     Non or late payment of gratuities/ pension from NASSIT

        c.     Wrongful dismissal

        d.     Bias / unfair treatment

        e.     Harassment and other issues relating to mal-administration.

He revealed the he will be visiting various ministries department and agencies especially the ministry of Lands, Ministry of Social Welfare and NASSIT

He pledge his determination to fight maladministration in public life and indicated his institutions receive complaints from aggrieved persons, handling backlog cases as well as resolve emerging complaints the falls within the remit of the Ombudsman.

CHRISTOPHER WALLACE-JOHNSON

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN

REPUBLIC OF SIERRA LEONE  

Category: news
Hits: 7279

Ombudsman with DG and Commanders of SLGS

OMBUDSMAN VISITS SIERRA LEONE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES

The Ombudsman Leon Jenkins-Johnston and team has on Monday 22nd January 2019 met with the Director General and Commanders of the Sierra Leone Correctional Services at their headquarters at new England Ville. The meeting is a continuation of the familiarization tour undertaken by the Ombudsman to meet with stakeholders and explain the mandate, functions and powers of the Ombudsman.

Giving a background to the meeting the Ombudsman Leon Jenkins-Johnston, said that the relationship between the Ombudsman and the Sierra Leone Correctional Services is established by the Ombudsman’ act of 1997. He revealed that section 7 (a) of the  Ombudsman’s Act explains its function which primarily is to investigate any administrative act of a prescribed authority of which the Sierra Leone Correctional services falls under as a minister is answerable to parliament for the department.

Ombudsman Leon Jenkins-Johnston congratulated the Director General and Team for the good administrative stance to fight against injustice as the Ombudsman did not receive any complaints of maladministration in 2018.

Responding, the Director General, Sierra Leone Correctional Services Sanpha Bilo Kamara thanked the Ombudsman and Team for the visit. He noted that the service has a well-structured organogram that takes into consideration the aspect of injustice.  He told the Ombudsman the he will soon be getting complaints from the institution as they are in the process of weeding out rouge personnel who have recently invaded the recruits. He noted that some of the personnel are under investigation and they will be dismissed soonest for contravening the services rules. He highlighted the some of these personnel’s bring in banned substances into the center and sell to inmates.

Director General Sanpha Bilo Kamara, revealed that the Pademba Road Correctional Centre was built for 324 inmates but now currently holds 2218 inmates which is (7) seven time over its capacity as (9) nine inmates are placed in a cubicle meant for (3) three Inmates. He noted that there is only one bowzer to take water from a source at Regent which cannot supply all the facilities in the city. He noted that the late or non-arrival of subvention adversely affect their work as there is an outstanding of 17 billion Leones owed to contractors for 2018. He also revealed that the vehicles used to carry Prisoners are very old as the cost for repairs are very high.  He revealed that some of the prisoners will be released on the 22nd January in line with the Presidential Clemency made on the 1st of January 2019 by President Julius Maada Bio.

The Ombudsman and Team also made a stop visit to the Female correctional center in New England where the Ombudsman, spoke to all the female inmate. He told the inmates that the office of the Chief Justice is looking into the sentencing pattern within the judiciary so that the courts will be implementing custodial sentencing as against jail terms.

A female inmate on behalf of her fellow inmate thanked the Ombudsman for the visit and ask that he help them in securing indictment for (11) eleven of her colleagues who normally go to court and their cases are not heard. She also pleaded with the Ombudsman to appeal to the Chief Justice for reduce sentencing for female as the sentencing they are receiving are too high. She also asked that the government should try to fine solution for Children who are born within the centers and also to provide medical support to abnormal inmates 

The Ombudsman noted that he will discuss with the Chief Justice on the points made by the Inmates. 

At a brief stopover at the Male Correctional Center at Pademba Road the Ombudsman and Team met with the Regional Commander West Ahmed A. Turay and team. Ombudsman Leon Jenkins-Johnston thanked the Officers for the good work they have been doing amidst the challenges. He encouraged them to do their utmost so that the inmates will service their sentences without fear.

Thanking the Ombudsman and Team for the brief stop, Regional Commander West Ahmed A Turay revealed that a total of 124 inmates are to be released from the Male and Female Correctional Centers. He noted that he will give his fullest support to the work of the Ombudsman. He highlighted the issue of Funding, Medical and backlog payments to contractors.

Category: news
Hits: 7115

Ombudsman and Staff of Njala       Ombudsman and Team          

OMBUDSMAN VISITS NJALA UNIVERSITY FREETOWN CAMPUS

The Ombudsman of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Leon Jenkins-Johnston on Thursday 24th January 2019 has paid a visit to the Administration and Students of the Njala University, Freetown campus. The aim of the visit is to explain the mandate and functions of the office of the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman explained that the Office was established by subsection 2 of section 146 of the constitution of Sierra Leone to look into matters of Maladministration within Ministries, departments and agencies of government and also any statutory corporation established wholly of partly by funds from government and institutions of higher Learning.

He noted that Njala University as one of the institutions of higher learning, it was prudent for him to undertake a visit to inform the student body and the administration of the University about the Work of the Ombudsman.

After his presentation, questions were asked by the students.

Ombudsman and Registrar Njala

 

  1. The Ombudsman Paid Courtesy Calls On Various Stakeholders In Freetown.
  2. Ombudsman Lectures Freetown Teachers College Administration And Students
  3. Ombudsman Lectures CDIID Personnel
  4. Ombudsman Meets Honorary Consul of Spain
Quick Links
News Update