Category: news
Hits: 6941

EU Delegation

The Ombudsman of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Leon Jenkins-Johnston and team on Tuesday 19th February 2019, has paid a courtesy call on the Head of the European Union delegation to Sierra Leone Ambassador Tom Vens at his Leicester Peak Office in Freetown.

Engaging the Ambassador, the Ombudsman Leon Jenkins-Johnston gave a brief background about the creation of Office of the Ombudsman. He said that he has concluded a regional tour to the provinces in December upon his assumption of office. He stated that the tour was to enable him assess the regional offices and to also meet with stakeholders.

He revealed that the task ahead is huge and that, with the late payment of allocation/subvention from government the institution would not be able to function properly and also will not be able to fully implement its strategic plan. He noted that he is seeking support from the international community to implement the Office’s strategic plan 2018-2022.

 He stated that he is faced with a huge challenge at the office as he has no qualified legal personnel apart from himself. He revealed that he will soon launch the Ombudsman’s Agenda to map out ways that institutions will follow. He furthered that Prison monitoring and unlawful arrest and detention are part of his priority areas.

He stated that he would have engagement with the Sierra Leone Police Force to resolve some of the issues received from them. He noted that the Office of the Ombudsman would want to be seen as an independent institution operating without external influence.

Responding the head of the European delegation to Sierra Leone Ambassador Tom Vens, said that the Office of the Ombudsman has a huge space to work on as Sierra Leone is a country with systemic weakness in almost all institutions in the country. He noted that, government institutions have structural weaknesses and that there has been no systemic approach to solve these problem.

He noted that the European Union is currently focused on Policy Dialogue, Political support and also working with other institutions and reforms i.e. supporting capacity building.

He furthered that the European Union has programs cycles and Country Strategy indicating their areas of support. He stated that their current areas of support are: Agriculture, Education and governance. He said that the education package support is done through the Ministry of Education through its management system.

He noted that the agricultural cycle is focused on creating viable opportunity for the agricultural sector and partnering with private institutions for the first time. He noted that the European Union also focuses on governance with budget support towards capacity building in institutions like National Electoral Commission, Decentralization Secretariat, District Councils and Civil Societies

He stated that the European Union has a clear policy on investment and it plans to allocate resources and conduct mid-term reviews on performance.

He revealed that the European Development Fund regulates and design dynamics that looks at performance. He stated that the European Union is currently reforming its agenda as it into elections in the coming months.

He however, encouraged the Ombudsman to work with the governance working group of the European Union delegation and highlight specific areas in the strategic plan as priority areas.

The Ombudsman thanked Ambassador Tom Vens for the reception and looks forward to working closely with the European Union Delegation.

Category: news
Hits: 7307

Irish

In continuation of his Courtesy calls on the Diplomatic and Consular Corps in Freetown, the Ombudsman of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Leon Jenkins-Johnston has paid a visit to the Embassy of Ireland in Sierra Leone, where he met with the Second Secretary Niamh Kavanagh and Program Advisor – Governance Josephus Ellie.

Briefing the team the Ombudsman Leon Jenkins-Johnston Esq. said that the Office of the Ombudsman was created by section 2 of section 146 of the constitution of Sierra Leone Act No. 6 of 1991. He noted that the office is created to look into issues of maladministration within government institutions. He revealed that the office lacks the capacity to handled cases as he is the only legal practitioner in the office.

He further stated that upon assumption of office, he met a well-structured and developed strategic plan that has not been implemented. He noted that he is seeking support for the implementation of the goals within the strategic plan which are:

  1. To create a technically competent, internally cohesive, efficient and effective institution
  2. To be Autonomous and Financially independent
  3. To be more visible and accessible to the public
  4. To Impact positively on governance and service delivery.

He expressed his willingness to work with the governance portfolio within the Irish Aid to achieve these goals.

Second Secretary in the Irish Embassy, Niamh Kavanagh, on behalf of the Ambassador of Ireland to Sierra Leone, thanked the Ombudsman and Team for visiting the Embassy. She noted that the embassy is in the process of developing its strategic programs for the next five years. She therefore requested that the Ombudsman present a specific proposal for the consideration of Irish Aid. She thanked the Ombudsman and Team for the work that they have been doing under the present condition and promised to work with the Office in future endeavors.

Program Advisor- Governance, Josephus Ellie, said that the work of the governance portfolio is to strengthen Civil Society Organizations and National Institution working on the governance structure. He noted that they are now in the decision making process and hoped that the office of the Ombudsman would work closely with the Irish Embassy to be included in the package.

Communications Unit

Office of the Ombudsman

Republic Of Sierra Leone   

Category: news
Hits: 6702

Out Gone ES and Omb

The Ombudsman of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Leon Jenkins-Johnston esq, has bade farewell to the former Executive Secretary, Dr. Sheku Sorsor Conteh.

In a short ceremony, which was held at the conference room in the office, Members of staff gave their experiences in working with Dr. Conteh and wished him well.

The Ombudsman, Leon Jenkins-Johnston Esq. thanked the former Executive Secretary, for his service to the Office of the Ombudsman. He thanked Dr. Sheku Conteh for the support accorded him and wish him well in his future endeavors.

Responding Dr Sheku Conteh, thanked the government of Sierra Leone for giving him the opportunity to serve as Executive Secretary for about Eight years. He noted that he will miss the working relationship that had been built at the office especially with the current Ombudsman, who he referred to as his younger brother. He thanked all staff for the support given to him during his tenure and wished all success in the years ahead.

Category: news
Hits: 6909

 

Ombudsman and Executive Secretary

The Ombudsman, Leon Jenkins-Johnston Esq. has welcomed the New Executive Secretary appointed by President Julius Maada Bio, Kanja Ibrahim Sesay.

The Ombudsman, thanked the new Executive Secretary for taking up the challenge to join in the fight against administrative justice.

Mr. Kanja Ibrahim Sesay, is a graduate from the University of Bradford and Westminster Kingsway College in United Kingdom. He was the Community Engagement Officer, Greater London Area (GLA) Mayor of London. He served as Diversity and Inclusion Adviser for Students an Oxford Brookes University; Attainment Project Officer, University of Bradford; Team Mentor, the Challenge Network and was also National Union of Black Students Officer; Media and Entertainment Officer, University of Bradford Student union.

Mr. Sesay thanked the Ombudsman and staff, for the good work been done to promote administrative and good governance in the country and expressed his willingness to work with the team and achieve the mandate of the Office of the Ombudsman.

  1. Office Of The Ombudsman Recruits Two New Staff
  2. Ombudsman Engages British High Commissioner
  3. Ombudsman Conducts Unannounced Visit To Institutions Of Higher Learning In Makeni
  4. Ombudsman Engages Sierra Leone Police
Quick Links
News Update