By Fatima Kpaka
On Thursday, April 3, 2025, Abu Bakarr Kamara, the Provincial Secretary of Bumpe Gao Chiefdom, testified before Justice Alfred Tommy Ganda regarding the procedures for conducting chieftaincy elections in the chiefdom. The case, brought by petitioner Sakpa Jibao Gbekpa, challenges the legitimacy of Alfred Sovula Gbandoma’s election as paramount chief. The respondents in the case include the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), the Provincial Secretary’s office in Bo, and Alfred Sovula Gbandoma.
The dispute arises under Section 13 of the Chieftaincy Act of 2009. The petitioner alleges irregularities in the election process and has secured a court injunction, halting all election activities in the chiefdom until the matter is resolved.
During his testimony, Kamara, a civil servant with the Ministry of Environment, explained his role as the declaration officer for chieftaincy elections. He confirmed his presence at the declaration of rights ceremony and identified a joint report he prepared with councilors and tribal authorities. Kamara emphasized his familiarity with the Chieftaincy Act and its strict guidelines for the declaration process.
The court heard that objections were raised during the declaration ceremony. Notably, Madam Irini Labor contested the eligibility of Alfred Sovula Gbandoma, claiming his lineage did not belong to a ruling house and that his grandfather was not a paramount chief. Kamara testified that these objections were documented and investigated, with one Ansu Gbandoma presenting a 2002 receipt as evidence of their grandfather’s status. However, Kamara admitted that other supporting documents were lost in a fire.
The court also scrutinized discrepancies in Kamara’s report, which listed the declaration date as August 7, 2024, instead of the actual date, September 7, 2024. Kamara attributed this to a clerical error, asserting that the report was prepared post-declaration.
The case has been adjourned until May 7, 2025, for further proceedings.