The Ministry of Political and Public Affairs’ (MPPA) office at 9 Senyia Street, Simbeck Section in Kenema has been shut down for not paying office rent. The Magistrate at court no. 2 in Kenema, Joseph Tobi, ordered the MPPA representative to pay Le3 million as cost to the court and Le4 million as rent to the landlord, Haddy Jalloh, and to immediately quit the property on or before 14th September 2020. The MPPA representative pleaded with the magistrate to give them time to relocate their office, but the magistrate said the court order stands.
A woman in the court, Baindu Lahai, said she had never heard about such an office operating in Kenema City for the past years, not even over the radio. She questioned if the office’s closure in the region was not “negative politics” being played by some staff to undermine the government. Awoko learnt that the MPPA’s regional office has been rent-dormant since its establishment two years ago; the office in Bo was closed in 2019 and the Makeni office has also been given notice to vacate.
Outside the court, Awoko spoke to Kwami Yankson, Permanent Secretary of MPPA, and Director James Bongor Sesay on the line from Freetown about the status of the regional offices: Kwami Yankson declined to comment and the Director denied all allegations, adding there were mishaps during the last management.
By Saffa B. Moriba in Kenema