NEWS Paramount Chief in Financial Scam Le 138 Million in Limbo Posted by on Jun 24, 2009, 18:46

The- day- today administration of the Nongowa Chiefdom in the Kenema District, Eastern Province is in conflict with the expectation of the people. The administration is negatively affected by a number of factors ranging from poor relationship between the Paramount Chief, his speaker and some section chiefs in the chiefdom to self-centeredness.  Corruption and greed are clearly exhibited by the Paramount Chief, Amara Bonga Vangahun, which are principal factors, causing the retrogression of the entire Nongowa chiefdom. 

The alleged level of corrupt practices perpetuated in the administration of the chiefdom, reportedly by the Paramount Chief has reached its apex, thus forcing some section chiefs and the Chiefdom Speaker Mr. Senesie Daniel Neka to break their silence.  A senior section Chief Alhaji Benson Ahmed Suwu of the Gbokakajama section told Standard Times in an interview that as a result of the continued perpetuation of corrupt practice, about eight section Chiefs and the Chiefdom speaker are left with no alternative but to expose their Traditional Leader P.C. Amara Bonga Vangahun, which in his estimation might help to put a halt to what he described an “alarming situation”. Chief Suwu said that the Diamond Area Community Development fund allocated to the Chiefdom from July 2001 to December 2007, amounting to Le138, 678,338.86 has been allegedly misappropriated from the Native Administration Account (NA) of the Chiefdom.

He said that since PC Vangahun took up office, he has only called three Chiefdom Committee meetings, noting that Nongowa as a “Class A Chiefdom” has no bye- laws and proper Accounting System.  “The Paramount Chief does not call meetings, he does not consult with anyone on chiefdom or related matter “He said, and added  even money donated for the building of the Native Administration Court, which was to be established for the benefit of the Chiefdom and the people has been abandoned and money not accounted for by the Paramount Chief” 

The Chiefdom Speaker Mr. Senesie Daniel Neka on the 15^th June 2009 wrote a letter to the Resident Minister East, Mr. William Juana Smith complaining the Paramount Chief for what he referred to as “unfair treatment meted against them by P.C. Amara Bonga Vangahun.  In his letter, Chief Senesie Daniel Neka mentioned among other things, the lack of transparency in the administration, unaccountability of money donated and revenue generated within the Chiefdom meant for development and others. “The Paramount Chief is the only the only beneficiary of the Chiefdom” He said

Investigations further revealed to this press that donations/pledges made by individuals and institutions to the Nongowa Chiefdom in 2001 to date could not be accounted by the Paramount Chief. Further more, the Paramount Chief is alleged to have received Le10M every year from the SLRA for the quarry at Ngidehun at Hangah Town.

Paramount Chief Alhaji Amara Bonga Vangahun when contacted by this reporter at his Jabbie Street Residence in Kenema said his Chiefdom Speaker and others were just tarnishing his reputation. According to him, because he failed to call them to share the Chiefdom funds, which should be used to develop the Chiefdom” and added, “Paramount Chiefs should not give reports to their Speakers but the reverse”. Chief Bonya Vangahun explained that revenue from the Diamond Area Development Fund (DADF) and pledges made were used to raise the walls of the Chiefdom Court Barry and to rehabilitate the Native Administration Quarters and, according to him was also used to pay the salaries of Chiefdom Administration Staff, but failed to produce documents supporting his claims.