By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
Members of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) have called on the Electoral Committee of the association to start preparations for FA’s forthcoming elections for different executive positions. The calls come amidst five months of delay from the initial date set for the elections.
In a letter signed by a cross section of the association’s membership they also demanded that executive members of the FA be totally removed from the electoral process to ensure the integrity of the election is kept.
“We are asking that the Executive members be removed the entire electoral process to prevent them from interfering and using their office to influence the electoral process,” the letter stated.
Elections for different executive positions were scheduled to be held on the 17th of April this year according to the FIFA Road Map that was set for the SLFA. But a general ban on all sporting activities in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic meant that the FA had to halt plans for any elections.
However that ban had been partially rescinded last week and even before that the FA and other organizations have been holding fairly big events with attendance varying from 50 close to a 100 people.
“While we appreciate the impact of coronavirus and Government regulations banning gatherings and sporting activities, we will like to clarify that the Government had allowed public gatherings not exceeding 100 people, and our elective congress can be held and concluded with less than 100 people to comply with the legal directives of the authorities,” the letter stated.
The FA recently concluded the induction of coaches and technical staff of different categories of the national team, which attracted over 50 people at the Home Suites Hotel in Freetown.
A Presidential aspirant, Rodney Michael told Politico that the FA’s silence on election is part of their elaborate plan to keep extending their tenure.
“They are trying to manipulate and influence the outcome of the election and when they don’t think it is going their way they option they have is to stall the process and go back to FIFA and ask for ways to extend their mandate. They have been doing this since 2017, they have done it in 2018, 209 and now they are doing it in 2020,” he said.
The Isha Johansen administration has been in charge of football in the country since 2013. Johansen’s first term has been stretched now in to its 7th year.
Another Presidential aspirant, Thomas Brima also told Politico said: “It is better for the sake of the country for them to conduct free and fair elections, so football will play and everyone will enjoy the game.”
The letter which was addressed to the Chairman of the Electoral Committee was also sent to the SLFA, FIFA, CAF and the Ministry of Sports among others.
Some of those that signed the letter include representatives from Football Clubs, Referees Association and Regional Executive members.
Politico contacted the General Secretary of the FA, Christopher Kamara, on Friday evening but he said he cannot discuss the letter because he had not received it.
Ibrahim Kamara, Head of Media said he couldn’t respond until he consults with his bosses at the FA.
The FA have been silent about election plans, previous talks regarding the issue has been pushed aside blaming the pandemic. The Electoral Committee has been equally quiet.
The new demand from the membership for election processes to start has not come with any timeline, but Michael said he trusts the Electoral Committee to act swiftly and start the electioneering processes.
“They should know the seriousness of the matter; they should know that something is wrong. I personally expect them to immediately call people and find out why the delay and find solution to the issue,” he said.
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