As FIFA backs SLFA over use of funds…
September 22, 2016 By Sahr Morris Jr.
Just after the world football governing body, FIFA, backed the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) of no wrong doing in ‘misuse of the funds’, commissioner of Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Ady Macauley Esq. has insisted that they remain committed to fighting corruption in the country.
According to report from the BBC, a letter from FIFA stated that the world governing body has no cause to suspect the SLFA of any misuse of FIFA funds and further warned both the ACC and Sports Ministry against interfering in SLFA business.
“Fifa has no reason to suspect there has been misuse of funds that Fifa has provided to the SLFA. In addition, over the course of the last three years, Fifa has noticed several activities of third parties that could be considered as interference (in) the running of the SLFA. These have caused continuous instability to the legitimate and recognised leadership of the federation,” the BBC quoted the FIFA letter that was also copied to the African football body, CAF.
However, in an exclusive interview with Concord Sports, the ACC boss admitted that they are yet to get any correspondence from FIFA, but reaffirmed their commitment to hold accountable any individual involved in management of public and donor funds.
“Laws of Sierra Leone are supreme and have precedence over all other laws, regulation or personal sentiment,” the ACC boss said.
Earlier, the Commission’s Public Relations Officer, Alhassan Kargbo, said they are not interested and will not interfere with the operation of football or the politics within the SLFA. “We are not interested in the politic of SLFA but doing what is under our jurisdiction and the laws of Sierra Leone, which is supreme,” Kargbo said.
On 7 September, SLFA President Isha Johansen, together with her Vice-President Brima Mazola Kamara and General Secretary Christopher Kamara were all detained and questioned by the ACC over corruption.
Johansen was released on bail the following day with no charges, so was her vice president and general secretary, who spent two and seven night’s respectively in police detention.
The trio’s arrest came after the ACC said the SLFA President had failed to attend several hearings set up by them. The commission is investigating the use of funds the SLFA received from FIFA, CAF and the Sierra Leone government.