3rd February, 2025
The Secretary to the President,
FAO: His Excellency, Rtd. Brig. Dr. Julius Maada Bio,
President – Republic of Sierra Leone.
His Excellency,
Complaint against the Office of the Ombudsman for ‘Gross Injustice & Mal-Administration, Unfair & Unlawful Summary Dismissal, Cyber-bullying, Unwarranted Deprivation to Personal Effects, Human Right Abuse and Psychological Damage
Further to my confidential and open letter to His Excellency, I humbly write again with respect to the subject particularised above.
His Excellency, this unprecedented, wilfully protracted, sensitive and emotive issue is well noted and documented, but is yet to be given any unfettered attention, investigated and/or amicably resolved, by relevant Duty- bearers and/or the Parliament of Sierra Leone.
His Excellency, as the Leader and Father of our nation, who is highly acclaimed for fighting against corrupt practices, promoting justice, human rights and good governance in Sierra Leone, please be informed that I do feel increasingly aggrieved and apprehensive, but still compelled to humbly write to you again, for His Excellency’s kind, dispassionate and empathic considerations, for an amicable resolution of this matter.
Sir, the Ombudsman Institution is mandated by an Act of Parliament to protect and promote Administrative Justice. This mandate also aligns the Institution with the Government’s National Mid-Term Development Plan and pillar 5 of His Excellency’s manifesto promises, to perform quasi-judicial and human rights functions, by serving as a ‘Grievance Redress Institution’; either through employing an ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism’ or by initiating a full-blown investigation.
His Excellency, It is, therefore, an incontestable fact that the ‘Office of the Ombudsman’ has not only acted in serious contravention of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, the Ombudsman Act of 1997 itself and the Staff Rules & Regulations of the Ombudsman Institution, but also contrary to the Sierra Leone Civil Service Codes of Conduct.
Moreso, the Ombudsman Institution has surprisingly compromised the very ‘Concept of the ‘Ombudsman’, by abusing the Office and using corrupt practices against me as an Employee and Citizen of State.
His Excellency, in spite of my immense and very laudable contributions to the operation and strategic direction of the Ombudsman Institution, this issue is seemingly being trivialised and condoned; leaving me to suffer in silence, from extreme physical and mental anguish.
His Excellency, based on my contributions to the Institution and your Government, coupled with the impunity and remorseless pity that I have experienced at the Ombudsman Office, it would truly be a ‘Shock to the Conscience of Humanity’, if this matter is ignored and left unresolved
Considering the issues herein, I have no iota of uncertainty and remain optimistic that His Excellency’s compassionate and dispassionate directive for an amicable resolution of the matter, will in effect, provide redress against injustice and also safeguard the Ombudsman Institution from negative publicity and a possible dearth in public confidence.
In pursuance of same, I do seek His Excellency’s indulgence to permit me to approach the Press Secretary, Min of Political Affairs, Attorney-General & Minister of Justice, Chief Minister, Anti Corruption Commission and the Human Rights Commission, with a view to facilitating an effective, transparent, accountable and fair process, which is in conformity with a fundamental principle of natural justice – ‘Audi Alteram Partem’.
His Excellency, please accept my fullest assurance of your highest esteem and my continued commitment to serving the ‘Sierra Leone Office of the Ombudsman’, under your distinguished stewardship.
Your’s faithfully
Ajan Fofanah
HTC, Dip.HE, B.Sc (Hons), PG.Dip, M.Sc*, MPH
Dismissed Programme Manager
Office of the Ombudsman
Contact – 078 845 765 / ajanf. ombudsman@gmail.com
CC.
- Press Secretary
- Minister of Political Affairs
- Attorney-General & Minister of Justice
- Chief Minister
- Anti Corruption Commission
- Human Rights Commission