NEWS Paramount Chief Vangahun “Uuder Fire” Posted by on Jul 2, 2009, 09:52

Paramount Chief Amara Bonya Vangahun of the Nongowa Chiefdom in the Kenema District is not breathing fresh air at the moment as his Chiefdom Speaker and Section Chiefs are constantly piling pressure on him to account for Million of Leones, he allegedly converted to his own use and benefits.

Reportedly, the Chiefdom Committee members total eight including the Chiefdom Speaker Daniel Neka are demanding that an investigation be conducted, and have written a letter to the Resident Minister, Mr. William J.Smith urging him to take the matter seriously, or be prepared for the unexpected. Funds allegedly received on behalf of the Chiefdom from 2001-2007 to the tune of L138 Million should be accounted for according to the document sent to the Resident Minister.

Also, the Minister should put a hold on the construction of the Native Administration building and explained how the sum of Le64 Million was utilized, which the Paramount Chief allegedly collected from the Ministry of Mines as surface rent meant for the Diamond Mining Development Fund. The situation, according to a member of the committee, comprising eight Section Chiefs urgently requires government intervention.

The Resident Minister Mr. William J.Smith when contacted o the phone confirmed to this press that he received a letter of complaint from the Chiefdom Committee about the activity of Paramount Chief Amara Bonya Vangahun in which a number of allegations that bother on fraud and misappropriation of Chiefdom funds were reported to him. “I have instructed the Provincial Secretary to summon both the Paramount Chief and Chiefdom Speaker to my office this week for explanation” Smith said, and added “This is a serious matter, which should be treated with all seriousness and caution” Paramount Chief Vangahun told Standard Times that he is prepared at anytime to respond to the invitation of the Resident Minister and concluded, by saying “I am the custodian of the Chiefdom and if a senior government extends an invitation to me I must honour it”