If there’s anything this current government, especially the Minister of Information and Civic Education Honourable Chernor Bah is known for, it is for credibility, sincerity and honesty in the flow of communication between the governed and the government. Minister Bah has walked through some thorny patches often crested by detractors or opponents of the government and has come out with his chin tilted high up and smelling of roses.

The deliberate drugs smear campaigns are no different, but on each occasion, he has handled the issues with dexterity and maturity and positioned the government information services as the most credible source of information even when the topics are controversial and sometimes embarrassing.

In the case of the country’s Ambassador to Guinea, Mr. Bah has been clear, consistent and forthright in his engagements with the public. Through collaboration with other Ministers and related officials, Chernor Bah has refused to be deceptive and instead chosen to say the truth, since the inception of the matter.

Just this week at the usual government press conference, Minister Bah disclosed that the recalled Ambassador Alimamy Bangura was in the company of the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Honourable Timothy Musa Kabba, en route to Freetown  for further enquiries. This is consistent with what Minister Chernor Bah had said from the onset, that Ambassador Alimamy Bangura has been recalled since news of the discovery of substance believed to be contraband in our diplomatic vehicle in Guinea, broke out.

Additionally, the Minister revealed that because at the time of the discovery, lots of issues surrounded the truth about it, more investigations would be conducted and that Sierra Leonean authorities will collaborate with Guinean authorities for the matter to be thoroughly investigated.

True to his words, Minister Bah divulged on Tuesday February 11th that a memorandum of understanding has been signed by the two countries for a judicial investigation into the matter of the discovery of substance believed to be contraband in the country’s diplomatic vehicle in Guinea. This is a clear manifestation of transparency and sincerity of the government of Sierra Leone to help peel the skin of the onion on this very serious matter, and not to strain diplomatic ties between our two countries. It further shows that the government is not covering up or shielding anyone from investigation.

On the issue of the escaped drug kingpin from the net of Dutch jurisdiction, when social media and later other news outlets carried the news, Minister Chernor Bah came out publicly together with other law enforcement officials to say that the convict Jos Leijdekkers’ identity could not be ascertained. Therefore, nobody will be arrested on such name tag since all investigations proved Jos Leijdekkers did not enter Sierra Leone using the said name.

The Minister of Information and Civic Education further said, the government of Sierra Leone had not officially, using diplomatic and other recognized channels, requested for the arrest and extradition of an escaped convict. He reiterated government’s commitment to collaborate with local as well as international actors to investigate the matter, because the nature of the allegation was international, criminal and grievous. Sierra Leone’s reputation would always be respected and protected robustly. Minister Bah affirmed that most of the allegations of Sierra Leone concealing a convict, were social media reports, but the government went into action immediately.

Just last week, the Dutch government using our embassy in Brussels and the High Commission in Ghana, filed papers requesting the Government of Sierra Leone to extradite a certain Jos Leijdekkers who is believed to be in the country.

That in itself is success for the government as before then, government was constrained to act as reports suggested. And as the Minister said, the request has been formally given to Sierra Leone’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay Esq. The request will be looked into and action definitely taken.

You cannot be more sincere and transparent than that.

Trust the process!!

Credit: Ministry of Information