From Awareness Times Newspaper in
Freetown
Sierra Leone News : As President Koroma De- amalgamate the country... Sierra Leone now has 190 Chiefdoms and 16 Districts
By Emmanuel I. Kamara
Jul 31, 2017, 12:12
His Excellency President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has on Saturday 29th July 2017, launched the de-amalgamation of chiefdoms in Sierra Leone.
The de-amalgamation process saw forty-one (41) chiefdoms added to the initial one hundred and forty-nine (149) chiefdoms, making a current figure of 190 chiefdoms across the country. These chiefdoms are now in sixteen (16) districts, with an additional of Karina and Falaba district to the initial fourteen (14) districts.
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New Map of Sierra Leone Showing, Districts and Chiefdoms |
The historic event which brought together religious leaders, government ministers, senior civil servants, Members of Parliament, paramount chiefs, representatives of UNDP and World Bank, and a huge number of supporters and well wishers took place at the University of Makeni (Unimak) Auditorium in Makeni City, Bombali District, Northern Province of the Republic of Sierra Leone, also saw regent chiefs being given temporary status.
In his keynote address, President Koroma described the occasion as a great moment not only for him but the nation. He considered the decision to de-amalgamate the chiefdoms and districts as the most key step/decision he has took in his capacity as president of Sierra Leone. President Koroma also described the de-amalgamation of chiefdoms as the software in our development process. He likened it to be equally important as the energy, road construction, health, education, agriculture sectors and more.
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New Map of Sierra Leone Showing, Regions and Districts |
President Koroma disclosed to his audience that in pre-colonial era, Sierra Leone had 217 chiefdoms and 13 districts, but that they were down-size by the British into 147 chiefdoms. He noted that, when he started the idea of the de-amalgamation process, some of his cabinet ministers were not supportive, likewise his APC senior comrades and seating paramount chiefs. “I continued in the engagement process and at one point, one paramount chief in Koinadugu district openly accused of reducing his authority. I cancelled the meeting and rescheduled it again and explained to them that if a chiefdom is amalgamated, that will derail development. Some three chiefdoms are amalgamated to one and that has led to the underdevelopment of those chiefdoms,” the President stated.
Addressing the newly appointed regent chiefs to serve in the newly de-amalgamated chiefdoms, President Koroma assured them that they now have the symbol of leadership to rule with fairness and expedite justice without favour. He cautioned them that their leadership is short while and will not last long as he will engage development partners to raise funds to speedily conduct those paramount chieftaincy elections soonest.
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President Koroma making his statement during thede- amalgamation process |