Mr. Paul M. Kamara, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Youth Employment and Sports, is Queried by Women

11/07/2012 Othman Sheriff

Paul Kamara, Minister of Youth Employment and Sports
Dear Sir,  We refer to an article published in the Opinion page of Africa Young Voices (AYV) online newspaper on June 12, 2012 in which you were quoted as saying, “Chicken dear pass woman na Salone.”  According to the article, this statement was allegedly made during an address to “hundreds of youths gathered at the Presidential Lounge of the National Stadium in Freetown at a three day workshop organized by the Sierra Leone Youth and Adolescent Network (SALYAN ) in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Employment and Sports” (End quote).

The article as it is reported, has generated widespread debate ― more than 1000 comments―on the Open Forum for Future Economic and Social Development in Sierra Leone. A group of contributors to the forum has taken exception to the comment reportedly taken from your speech. We find the choice of words, as reported in the paper, unfortunate and demeaning, as it affronts the integrity and dignity of womenfolk in our beloved Sierra Leone. We view this as an assault on our mothers, sisters, daughters and ourselves who have worked tirelessly in different historical and cultural contexts to rid our society of sexist, negative vernacular stereotypes of Sierra Leonean women.

We note that at the launching of the Youth Employment and Sports Ministry on December 4, 2010, you reportedly said that the government’s overall objective is to promote the youth of Sierra Leone, mobilize youth, transform them into useful citizens while appealing for continued support to government’s youth development projects. With more than 800,000 young people either unemployed or underemployed, we know your ministry has its hands full in offering hope to the young about their future prospects, improving skills that are being demanded by the market and equipping our young people for meaningful employment.

Therefore, it is with grave concern that the newspaper report portrays someone who holds such a position of great responsibility and power saying something that is contrasting to the policy objective of government and what apparently amounted to be a humiliating and dehumanising experience for young women at the event and women of Sierra Leone everywhere.

As very concerned citizens of Sierra Leone, and as women, we are seeking clarification from you on the matter.

Sincerely yours,
Representatives of the debate on the AYV Story – Open Forum for Future Economic and Social Development in Sierra Leone

 

Click here to view article as it was reported in the Africa Young Voices online newspaper

 

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About Othman Sheriff 350 Articles
Othman Sheriff is an experienced Sierra Leonean development professional, peacebuilding practitioner, professional journalist and human rights advocate with over two decades of engagement in community development, youth empowerment, education, humanitarian assistance and international development cooperation. Born and raised in Kenema District, Eastern Sierra Leone, he has dedicated much of his professional career to improving the socioeconomic conditions of vulnerable and marginalised populations, particularly disadvantaged young people, women, children and underserved rural communities. As the Founder and Programme Director of Youth in Action for Development (YAD), Sheriff has played a leading role in mobilising international development assistance and coordinating community-driven interventions aimed at poverty reduction, sustainable livelihoods, social inclusion and grassroots development. Over the years, he has facilitated the mobilisation and implementation of development projects worth billions of Leones, supported by international development partners, including European development institutions, humanitarian organisations and United Nations agencies. A committed advocate for free and inclusive Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Sheriff spearheaded the establishment of the Youth Resource Academy (YRA) in 2018, through which he has championed access to practical, employment-oriented education for underprivileged youth, particularly young women, school dropouts, single mothers, widows, unemployed youth and individuals from economically disadvantaged households. So far, the Academy has provided vocational, technical and entrepreneurship training opportunities to more than 2,000 youth helping them acquire marketable skills, pursue self-employment and improve their economic independence. He also solicit funds to provide start up kits for the youth who graduated from the academy. In addition to his development and humanitarian work, Sheriff serves as the Editor-in-Chief and CEO of Critique Echo Newspaper, using journalism as a platform to promote accountability, responsible governance, social justice and public awareness of critical socioeconomic and human rights issues. He is a dedicate member of many international peacebuilding networks including the United Religions Initiative (URI), International Association of Educators for World Peace (IAEWP), Intercultural Leaders Network of the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC)`s Youth Solidarity Fund, and the alumni Association of King Hamad Youth Empowerment Awards. Through his leadership, advocacy and international partnerships, Sheriff continues to champion a vision of Sierra Leone in which disadvantaged young people have equitable access to education and economic opportunities, women and girls live free from violence and discrimination, human rights are respected, and communities are empowered to pursue peaceful, inclusive and sustainable development.

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