Mariama Kamara: Sierra Leone Telegraph: 20 February 2018
The shocker of the Presidential Debate was the revelation from Samura Kamara, that during the three months as Head of State, in 1996, Julius Maada Bio, misappropriated $18million from the Government of Sierra Leone.
Julius Maada Bio’s rejoinder that evening indicated that they (Samura Kamara and himself) were all in it together. Following the debate, APC spin doctors have capitalised on the revelation. What they have failed to mention though, is why Samura Kamara only made this astonishing revelation now.
Why did Samura Kamara fail to disclose this previously to the Kabbah administration, which on assuming office in 1996, were at pains to explain the level of corruption that NPRC and Julius Maada Bio, in particular had been engaged in. President Kabbah, disclosed that
“… in his capacity as Chairman of the NPRC, Brigadier J.M. Bio himself on the 1st February 1996, few days before he left office, caused the Government to pay into the account of his private firm, P. Banga Investment Limited the sum of Le235,000,000 in respect of contracts that that firm had purportedly entered into with Government for the supply of spare parts for the replacement of helicopter engines which did not belong to Government. Incidentally, it was into the account of this same firm in the Channel Islands that Brigadier Bio paid his own share of US$400,000 from the passport deal which was disclosed recently.”
The amounts of money that President Kabbah referred to, pales into insignificance compared to the $18m which Samura Kamara, alleges that Julius Maada Bio embezzled from the government.
Is it reasonable then, given the economic catastrophe that Sierra Leone faced at that time, for a responsible Sierra Leonean citizen to conceal knowledge of such a blatant act of theft instead of assist the Kabbah administration to take steps to recover these funds.
Maybe, Samura Kamara himself was deeply mired in embezzlement and as such could not cooperative with the Kabbah administration.
Dr Kamara as Financial Secretary in the NPRC regime, was responsible for the Central Tenders Board (CTB) and during the NPRC regime, the CTB awarded a lot of inflated contracts.
When the Kabbah regime took over, it had to forensically cleanse the public finances, and this necessitated the dissolution of the CTB and the decentralisation of procurement to ministries and parastatals.
Under the Koroma regime, with Dr Kamara back at the helm of the Ministry of Finance, procurement gradually became centralised, with the Office of the President also being directly involved in the award of government contracts. Samura Kamara himself, is commonly referred to as Mr Ten Percent by contractors.
So what should Sierra Leoneans, make of Samura Kamara’s revelation and his failure to disclose this earlier, as they go to the polls. What does this tell us about his personal integrity and character and whether Sierra Leoneans can trust him as their next President.
It is evident, that Samura Kamara who has held a number of high profile roles in at the Ministry of Finance and in the Central Bank, since 1992 has been very closely involved in all significant contracts entered into by the Government of Sierra Leone.
Therefore, where these contracts have been over-inflated and extortionate to the tax-payer, Mr Kamara would know all persons who have personally benefitted from these contracts, especially during the APC period of government from 2007 to present.
At the close of the Parliament in December 2017, the government rushed through parliament, three mining contracts. Many questions are being asked about the award of these contracts to companies which are not very transparent is disclosing trading and operating information, such as the names of their shareholders and ownership information.
Questions have also been asked about the terms of the deal and in particular the share of the operating profits and tax regimes that the Sierra Leone government would derive from these deals.
It is evident, that Samura Kamara knows a lot about these issues, but has so far, failed to outline these to the people of Sierra Leone, while he is seeking their votes.
It is also highly likely that Samura Kamara may be involved (if not the brainchild) in putting in place the arrangements to transferring public funds embezzled through over-inflated government contracts.
If he is not involved or is masterminding such operations, it is highly likely that he has full knowledge of these arrangements, and he may be the record keeper, who can tell us who, when, where and how these payments have been made.
Samura Kamara kept Julius Maada Bio’s embezzlement of $18m for 22 years. He must be the keeper of the secrets of the APC administration and this may be the reason why, he was chosen as the APC Flagbearer.
His disclosure of the night of the debate, may have been a slip of tongue, because he was under pressure from his opponents. His poor showing, coupled with revelation of Julius Maada Bio’s best kept secret, may have left many in his party very concerned, about his reliability, to continue to keep their secrets and to take to his grave.
In any other country, his revelation would have killed off both his and Bio’s political careers instantly. But this is Sierra Leone. The spin maestros of both the APC and Paopa led SLPP have been at work.
The real question then is this – are we as Sierra Leoneans going to jump from the frying pan into the fire, by replacing Ernest Koroma with either Julius Maada Bio or Samura Kamara?
Because people keep talking about this $18 million dollar issue, Dr. Samura Kamara should come out and give clarity on this issue. According to this article, he might be invited to witness in the present commission of inquiry. I personally believe that something will happen that will force Dr. Kamara to clear the mystery behind this issue. If it is true, false or just a political slander on the president, then the world will see. TIME WILL TELL. AMEN AND AMEN.
Please give Maada Bio the time to rule.
I say change is necessary in Sierra Leone now. Our country is not owned by a clan family. It is not one person’s private personal property. Every Government on the face of the earth embezzles money from their country, but the rule of thumb is WORK first then PLAY later.
This rule applies to each and every person from childhood to adulthood. Therefore to our newly elected President Maada Bio keep your promise of Public Oath to the people of this great Nation and make them the happiest. Let us make Sierra Leone GREAT again and the PLACE AND COUNTRY TO BE FOR THIS NEW MILLENNIUM. May God Bless the Republic of Sierra Leone.
Samura Kamara and himself were all in it together. Following the debate, APC spin doctors have capitalised on the revelation. What they have failed to mention though, is why Samura Kamara only made this astonishing revelation now. Why did Samura Kamara fail to disclose this previously to the Kabbah administration, which on assuming office in 1996, were at pains to explain the level of corruption that NPRC and Julius Maada Bio, in particular had been engaged in.
President Kabbah, disclosed that “in his capacity as Chairman of the NPRC, Brigadier J.M. Bio himself on the 1st February 1996, few days before he left office, caused the Government to pay into the account of his private firm, P. Banga Investment Limited, the sum of Le235,000,000. This was in respect of contracts that the firm had purportedly entered into with the Government, for the supply of spare parts for the replacement of helicopter engines which did not belong to Government.
Incidentally, it was into the account of this same firm in the Channel Islands, that Brigadier Bio paid his own share of US$400,000 from the passport deal which was disclosed recently.
The amount of money that President Kabbah referred to, pales into insignificance compared to the $18m which Samura Kamara, alleges that Julius Maada Bio embezzled from the government.
Is it reasonable then, given the economic catastrophe that Sierra Leone faced at that time, for a responsible Sierra Leonean citizen to conceal knowledge of such a blatant act of theft, instead of assisting the Kabbah administration to take steps to recover these funds. Maybe, Samura Kamara himself was deeply mired in embezzlement and as such could not cooperative with the Kabbah administration.
Dr Kamara as Financial Secretary in the NPRC regime, was responsible for the Central Tenders Board (CTB) and during the NPRC regime, the CTB awarded a lot of inflated contracts.
When the Kabbah regime took over, it had to forensically cleanse the public finances, and this necessitated the dissolution of the CTB and the decentralisation of procurement to ministries and parastatals.
Under the Koroma regime, with Dr Kamara back at the helm of the Ministry of Finance, procurement gradually became centralised, with the Office of the President also being directly involved in the awarding of government contracts. Samura Kamara himself, is commonly referred to as ‘Mr Ten Percent’ by contractors.
So what should Sierra Leoneans, make of Samura Kamara’s revelation and his failure to disclose this earlier, as they go to the polls. What does this tell us about his personal integrity and character and whether Sierra Leoneans can trust him as their next President.
It is evident, that Samura Kamara who has held a number of high profile roles at the Ministry of Finance and in the Central Bank, since 1992 has been very closely involved in all significant contracts entered into by the Government of Sierra Leone.
Therefore, where these contracts have been over-inflated and extortionate to the tax-payer, Mr Kamara would know all persons who have personally benefitted from these contracts, especially during the APC period of government from 2007 to present.
At the close of Parliament in December 2017, the government rushed through parliament, three mining contracts. Many questions are being asked about the award of these contracts to companies, which are not very transparent in disclosing trading and operating information, such as the names of their shareholders and ownership information.
Questions have also been asked about the terms of the deal and in particular the share of the operating profits and tax regimes that the Sierra Leone government would derive from these deals.
It is evident, that Samura Kamara knows a lot about these issues, but has so far, failed to outline these to the people of Sierra Leone, while he is seeking their votes.
It is also highly likely that Samura Kamara may be involved (if not the brainchild) in putting in place the arrangements to transfer public funds embezzled through over-inflated government contracts.
If he is not involved in masterminding such operations, it is highly likely that he has full knowledge of these arrangements, and he may be the record keeper, who can tell us who, when, where and how these payments have been made.
Samura Kamara kept Julius Maada Bio’s embezzlement of $18m for 22 years. He must be the keeper of the secrets of the APC administration and this may be the reason why, he was chosen as the APC Flagbearer.
His disclosure of the night of the debate, may have been a slip of tongue, because he was under pressure from his opponents. His poor showing, coupled with revelation of Julius Maada Bio’s best kept secret, may have left many in his party very concerned, about his reliability, to continue to keep their secrets and to take to his grave.
In any other country, his revelation would have killed off both his and Bio’s political careers instantly. But this is Sierra Leone. The spin maestros of both the APC and Paopa-led SLPP have been at work.
The real question then is this – are we as Sierra Leoneans going to jump from the frying pan into the fire, by replacing Ernest Koroma with either Julius Maada Bio or Samura Kamara?
Personally, giving my advise to the voters, if Samura Kamara can hide the Maada Bio’s secrets for over 22 years who knows how many of secrets he has for his boss E.B.K.? Please do not trust this man. Koroma and others must stand a trial.
The only qualification that President Ernest Koroma based his decision to choose Samura Kamara over 27 other candidates aspiring for the flagbearer of the APC, was “Mr. Samura Kamara’s hands are clean and have clean record with regard to corruption” has now been discredited by Samura kamara himself simply by being an accomplice.
His baseless accusation about his former boss Retired Brigadier Maada Bio, which was only revealed on stage during the nation’s first presidential debate after being in all the different governments after our civil war just shows his level of dishonesty and low level of integrity and credibility to lead this struggling nation at this crucial time.
His lack of charisma and ability to articulate some of the progress that his party had made within the past decade was evident on stage and he has no option but to drag the whole debate to the ground even though the moderator Mr. Hassan Harouni, did his best to uphold the debate to higher standards by showing respect to all the contestants.
I personally believe that Samura kamara is really unprepared for this task and he is definitely not qualified to be the next president of this great nation.
This is just a prime evidence of a man drowning. The man drowning can hold on any thing to save his life. Dr. Kamara knows the problem when Mr Bio took power. To my understanding the soldiers were at their low ebb. They needed money to be paid and moral in their fight against the rebels, and there was no money, as people refused to pay their taxes. What has swept the country is the continuous corruption and mismanagement of the state funds. Can you hold Mr. Bio for that problem? I do not think so.
Dear Sierra Leone Telegraph,
Why do you only focus on one revelation targeting Maada and ignoring the one against Kandeh Yumkella? You seems to be with the NGC in all your publications. I have never read an article published by this media against KKY. Remember that during the debate, two key revelations were made by Dr. Samura Kamara against Maada and Dr. Kandeh.
When will you publish the implications of the allegation against Dr. Kandeh as you have done with Maada? It was alleged that Dr. Kandeh in his capacity as Trade Minister sold the only Oil Refinery we have in Sierra Leone without accounting for the money.
This news has been circulating about Kandeh’s sale of the Oil Refinery for months since he expressed interest in running for the highest post in the country but was now openly revealed during the debate by Dr. Samura. ALL EYES ARE NOW ON THIS MEDIA HOUSE TO PUBLISH ANOTHER QUESTION ON THE SALE OF THE OIL REFINERY AND DR. KANDEH HOW MUCH HE SOLD THE OIL REFINERY AND WHAT HAPPEN WITH THE MONEY.
I am asking you the same question: Why have all the candidates waited for ten years before talking or telling the people about the wrongs of the APC?