Freetown 28/11/2020: In a bid to cascade the rationale behind the recent Government White Paper, Officials of the Ministry of Information and Communications over the weekend visited Ataya bases and spots at which cars are washed at Tombo, Calaba Town, Banana Water in Muray Town , Fire Stone – Central Freetown, Goderich and the Mountain Rural Communities in the Western Area.
These engagements were very interactive and participatory with opportunity for the less privileged to express their opinions on issues bordering on the fight against corruption, accountability and transparency.
However, many misconceptions about the white paper were corrected. Some people misconstrued the White Paper report to be a witch hunt or political gimmick to silence the opposition ahead of the general election expected in 2023, but the team took the greatest exception to that view on the grounds that if one appeals against the decisions of the judges within the 90-day timeframe and wins they would be allowed to exercise their political rights. On the other hand if they refunded unexplained wealth no one will ban them from holding public offices.
In Tombo, the Youth Chairman Mbaimba Kamara confirmed that they had been very apprehensive over the White Paper due to several misgivings, noting that with the involvement of professionals at the Directorate of Information they were now equipped enough to pass on the right messages to their followers. He appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Information and Communications for simplifying the content of the white paper to them.
The team from Ministry of Information and Communications was led by Ahmed Fonike who categorically allayed the fears of the residents of those communities by explaining to them the objectives of the White Paper. The white paper neither recommends jail term or imprisonment nor bans the public officials who served in the past political administration from holding public office but rather seeks to retrieve all unexplained wealth to resuscitate the national economy.
The whole exercise lasted for three days.
By Hasbin Shaw
7/12/2020. ISSUE NO: 7963