The management of Munafa M’Patie Federation, a local community-based organization, elected a new Board of Directors to steer the affairs of the organization in early June 2018. The election brought together 36 cluster members from the four operational areas including, Kamasigie, Kamabai, Binkolo and Paki Masabong in the Bombali district. Elections were held for seven positions including Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Auditor and their deputies and two child representatives (boy and girl) from among the 36 elected chiefdom development committee members. The position of the chair was keenly contested by the incumbent Chair, Isidore Fatha Kanu from Safroko Limba chiefdom and his Secretary, Mohamed Sahid Kamara from Biriwa Limba chiefdom. Eight children including four boys and four girls contested in the children’s category. Out of 36 delegates, 33 votes were cast with the incumbent chair, Kanu scoring 14 votes or 42%. His former Secretary, Kamara polled 18 votes representing 55%. There was one void vote.
In the children’s category, Alhahji K. Sheriff from Kamasigie cluster was elected to represent the boys and Sarah Sesay from Kamabai cluster was elected to represent the girls.
Sara Sesay said there are lots of challenges ranging from early marriage to forceful initiation into the secret traditional society, child abuse and violence. She said her plans are to constantly remind the adults on the board of the importance of education.
The Munafa M’Patie was formed in 2007 and, according to them, have touched the lives of 16,500 children in Bombali District. The word Munafa M’Patie is a coined word from the three tribes; Mandingo, Limba and Themne which means, “Benefits to the Children.”
The Munafa M’Patie Federation Program Manager, Musa Sanu Conteh, said they have been working in 143 villages in the three chiefdoms with a total of 6,100 enrolled children as direct beneficiaries of their sponsorship programs.
MK/16/6/18
By Mohamed Kabba,
Twitter: @chikakabba
Monday June 18, 2018.
ADVERTISEMENT