By Kadiatu Sonkah
The CSO Consortium on Petroleum has called for the Native Consortium, led by civil society activist, Edmond Abu Jnr, to be held to the same legal and regulatory standards it expects from public institutions.
In a press release issued on Tuesday the 14 July 2026, the Consortium said information established by the Ministry of Planning and Development indicates that the Native Consortium has not fulfilled the legal and regulatory requirements necessary to operate as a recognized civil society organization in Sierra Leone.
According to the Consortium, the reported non-compliance raises concerns about the organization’s authority to publish reports, make public statements, and hold state institutions accountable while allegedly operating outside the legal framework governing civil society organizations.
“The rule of law demands consistency. No organization should place itself above the very laws and standards it expects public institutions to obey. Accountability begins with compliance, and transparency starts at home,” the statement noted.
The CSO Consortium on Petroleum argued that while the Native Consortium has frequently criticized government ministries, departments, and agencies on issues of transparency, governance, and accountability, it should first ensure that it complies with all statutory requirements before assuming the role of a public watchdog.
The Consortium further called on the Ministry of Planning and Development and other relevant regulatory authorities to enforce the law fairly and without exception, stressing that all civil society organizations must comply with registration requirements, labour obligations, and other statutory regulations.
It also urged development partners, donors, journalists, and the general public to verify the legal status and regulatory compliance of civil society organizations before relying on their reports, publications, or advocacy campaigns.
Concluding the statement, the CSO Consortium on Petroleum emphasized that the law must apply equally to everyone, maintaining that no organization should demand accountability from others while failing to demonstrate the same within its own operations.
The Consortium added that Sierra Leone deserves a civil society sector that is lawful, transparent, and credible.
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14th July 2026
Native Consortium Must Be Held to the Same Standards It Demands of Others
Serious concerns have emerged regarding the legal status and regulatory compliance of the Native Consortium, an organization led by civil society activist Edmond Abu Jnr.
According to information established by the Ministry of Planning and Development, the Native Consortium has not fulfilled the legal and regulatory requirements necessary to operate as a recognized civil society organization in Sierra Leone. This raises important questions about the organization’s authority to issue reports, make public pronouncements, and hold state institutions to account while allegedly operating outside the legal framework governing civil society organizations.
The rule of law demands consistency. No organization should place itself above the very laws and standards it expects public institutions to obey. Accountability begins with compliance, and transparency starts at home.
The Native Consortium has consistently criticized government ministries, departments, and agencies over issues of transparency, governance, and accountability. However, an organization that has itself failed to comply with statutory requirements lacks the moral authority to lecture public institutions on accountability until it regularizes its own legal status.
We therefore call on the Ministry of Planning and Development and all relevant regulatory authorities to enforce the law impartially and without exception. Civil society organizations, like all institutions, must comply with registration requirements, labour obligations, and other statutory regulations before presenting themselves as credible watchdogs.
We also urge development partners, donors, journalists, and the general public to verify the legal status and regulatory compliance of organizations before relying on their publications, reports, or advocacy campaigns. Public confidence in civil society depends on integrity, legality, and transparency.
The law must apply equally to everyone. No individual or organization should enjoy the privilege of demanding accountability from others while failing to demonstrate accountability within its own operations. Sierra Leone deserves a civil society sector that is lawful, transparent, and credible.
Alphonso Manley
Chairman