It’s been over a month now since Kono Women’s Organization Network in collaboration with the women’s Network in Governance officially handed over a position paper to the Senior District Officer complaining their Resident Minister East, Karamoh Kabba.
The position paper that was signed by Three Hundred and Forty-Six (346) women from over fifty groups was calling on government’s speedy intervention in addressing what they believed was an “unprofessional and gross abuse of human rights and disrespect for womanhood” in Kono district, an utterances allegedly made by the Minister of State East during a radio interview on 27th July 2016.
In their letter the women called on the President to ‘sack’ Minister Karamoh Kabba with immediate effect for what they described as an ‘abuse’ of national office, human rights and the dignity of women in that part of the country. The also threatened to take to the street demonstrating against the minister’s retention in office as no positive responses are received.
The Vice President for Kono Women in Governance Network Rebecca Kamara said with all the odds they were faced with in the district prior to the distribution of the position paper, the Senior District Officer did receive the paper on behalf of the district for onward delivery to President Koroma. She said they were aware that the President was not in the country but went on that after he had returned from his trip they were expecting a call from the office of the President to confirm receipt of their position paper.
Mrs. Kamara said since the President returned up to date they are yet to receive a call from any senior state official regarding their position on the abusive words used allegedly by the Resident Minister East, Karamoh Kabba. She said good governance and the rule of law are pillars that help compliment democracy but in a situation where there is gap in communication, there is a tendency of instability, she pointed out.
The women vice president said they are optimistic that President Koroma will act on their position paper because according to her the matter is in their hearts and that, it a disgrace to the country especially if the President fails in his duties to address their plight. She said if nothing is done positively from the government they will think the second plan which she said they will not reveal now.
By Mohamed Kabba
Wednesday September 07, 2016