The presidential aspirant of the Alliance Democratic Party (ADP) Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray has publicly declared his assets valued of $2million ($2,058,473 USD) or about Le15.8 billion.
On Wednesday 25th October 2017, at the Harry Yansaneh memorial hall at 56 Campbell street in Freetown, Mansaray disclosed that he owns five houses in the United States of America and two in Sierra Leone valued collectively at $1.5 million ($1,538,000.)
In addition, the ADP flag-bearer aspirant has six (6) vehicles in Sierra Leone worth $123,000 USD. Six bank accounts collectively valued at $359,473.11 USD with cash in hand of $38,000 USD.
While he was addressing journalists, civil society activists and members of his Party, Mansaray said the declaration of his assets was in fulfilment of his commitment to the people of Sierra Leone five years ago. “When I entered politics, I declared my brand of politics as the ‘Politics of Truth’.”
Mansaray called on all presidential and parliamentary candidates to do the same.
The Anti-Corruption Commission Act of 2008 demands that public officials declare their assets and liabilities. A public officer, according to the Act, means, “an officer or member of a public body including a person holding or acting in an office in any of the three branches of government, whether appointed or elected, permanent or temporary, or paid or unpaid.”
Mansaray said though he does not fall under the category prescribed by the Act, he decided to declare his assets in order to promote transparency in the country’s political dispensation in line with the citizen’s manifesto developed by the Standing Together for Democracy Consortium. It is very important that those occupying high public offices disclose their financial status to the public.
“The first testament of how my government will tackle public service corruption if elected President, will be that everyone appointed to high positions of public trust such as cabinet and heads of public corporations will be required to declare their assets publicly as a matter of policy. My government will also accord high priority to the formulation and passage into law a National Code of Conduct which all public servants will be subjected to.”
Andrew Lavali, representing the Institute of Governance Reform (IGR) said the ADP Leader’s move has never been seen in Sierra Leone, in Africa, in many places around the world. “It is historically unprecedented. On behalf of the Standing Together Consortium, let me say ‘congratulations’. There are other political parties around, as citizens, let us encourage all of them to come forward and do the same. If we do this and if we continue to do this, our story will be different.”
Sheikh Alie Kallay saw the move as impressive. He said, “This is the first time that we have someone coming forward. This has something to do with morals.”
ES/25/10/17
By Edna Smalle
Thursday October 26, 2017.
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