As a proud and eminent Kissi and a founding member of the MAKONA RIVER UNION, who hail from Bayama, Lela Section. Kissi Teng Chiefdom, Kailahun District, I was appalled by the Friday, January 7, 2011 edition of the African Champion with the above mentioned headline. It affirms my contention of the APC’s Agenda for Chaos.

Throughout history, the Kissis have been characterized to be peaceful, united, hardworking and hospitable. For us, the mentioned characteristics have been a norm and no amount of cheap propaganda by couple of selfish self styled Kissis can change that.

It’s ironic that the APC can talk about Kissi repression. Can I conclude that the writer of the article is completely ignorant of the MAFANTA days when our innocent Kissi elders were carted away in trucks like slaves to Mafanta prison for simply being supporters of SLPP or just want to remind the Kissi people of those ugly autocratic years of the Siaka Stevens regime?

Recently, the Ernest Koroma administration made a mockery of the Kissis by disgracing a full cabinet Kissi minister with a sacked former Kissi Police officer for a Deputy Minister 2 position.

If anything, I will proudly contend that the Kissis have been recognized positively by the SLPP. Below are just a few lists of Kissis that held Prominent positions during the Kabbah administration which culture continues to date:

1. Ambassador Patrick Foyah - Former SL Ambassador to Liberia
2. Mr. Sahr Ngayenga - Former Deputy MD for NASSIT
3. Prof. Sahr Gevao – Deputy Vice Chancellor and Head of Medical School
4. Mr. Saa Kpulun - Executive Director, NaCSA
5. Mr. Augustine Kortu - Chairman, Kailahun District Council
6. Mr. Tom Nyuma - Chairman, Kailahun District Council

More importantly, the SLPP restored the dignity of the Kissis by ending a war imposed upon them and thereby empowering them to do what they know how to do best, HARDWORK.

The Kissi tribe stretches from the three kissi chiefdoms in Sierra Leone to Foya District in Liberia and Quekedou in Guinea. The Vice President of Liberia is a Kissi.

The Kissis have always competed positively for their desired aspirations and never been lead or pushed around by any tribe or particular individual. Since the Kissis are not subordinate to any tribe, it is absurd for anyone to attempt portraying such a notion.

In this connection, I contend that no true Kissi will fabricate such a senseless claim except the very few ‘African Champion Kissis’ that may want to drum up tribal sentiments for their own personal gains.

With the above, I challenge the African Champion’s Sahr Nyuma to provide any report or evidence of SLPP repression of the Kissis in Kailahun District. 

Ambassador Patrick Foyah
Bayama Lela
Kissi Teng, Kailahun District.