President Julius Maada Bio has said the Government prefers retrieving stolen monies from corrupt people over imprisonment. He made this assertion on Friday 18th January 2019 at the Community Field in Koidu City. The President said the Commission of Inquiry is not a “witch, tribal, regional or political hunt” but rather it is geared towards ensuring people in positions of trust are accountable to the citizens. He said the Government is more than ready and prepared to do all they can in ensuring the Commission of Inquiry happen to return stolen money because, according to him, the money is the people’s money. The President went on, “We are hunting the people’s monies and there is no need for imprisonment. So, if you know that you have stolen the people’s monies all you are required to do is to bring it back and save yourself from the Commission of Inquiry (COI),” he stressed. He said the Government will try to retrieve all stolen money. He said the money previously recovered has been invested into the education sector. Adama Finda Borway, a student of the Koidu Girls Secondary School, on behalf of her colleagues, pledged their support and commitment in the fight against corruption. She explained that extra school charges have been an obstacle for parents. She said the extra charges are depriving her colleagues, especially girls, from completing primary school and missing out on secondary school. The Mayor of Koidu, Komba Matthew Sam, pledged to support the fight for accountability and against corruption. He assured that they are fully in support of anything that is in the interest of accountability and the fight against corruption. Mayor Sam disclosed that the people of Kono are in full support of the Commission of Inquiry, the Hands Off Our Girls campaign and all other government projects because they are geared towards improving the lives of the ordinary citizenry.
MK/21/1/19
By Mohamed Kabba
Twitter: @chikakabba
Tuesday January 22, 2019.