A handful of supporters from the main opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), on Tuesday 8th May 2012, danced through the main streets of Freetown with Councilor Mohamed Kanu-Mansaray of Ward 369, Constituency 104.
The Councilor was finally accepted and inaugurated by the Freetown City Council (FCC) as a recognized local council representative for Ward 369 in the Fourah bay community.
 |
| Councilor Mansaray and SLPP supporters on Abacha Street |
At the end of the ceremony, Councilor Mansaray was seen on a white mini bus, dressed in a green African suit, with less than one hundred SLPP supporters dancing alongside the bus from the FCC headquarters on George Street in Freetown to his residence in Fourah Bay.
It could be recalled that, Councilor Mansaray is currently standing trial in the Magistrate court on four count charges of Kidnapping, False Imprisonment, Wounding and Conspiracy contrary to Law. Councilor Mansaray was initially denied bail on several appearances and has also served detentions in police cells and the maximum prison on Pademba Road on several occasions. He was recently released on bail pending court trials. The statement of offense against Councilor Mansaray stated that, on Friday 27th January 2012, he conspired with some suspected SLPP supporters to kidnap, wound and falsely imprison one Mohamed Koroma. It was alleged that the councilor and comrades kidnapped and trafficked Mohamed from Moyamba Junction to the Masiaka Police Checkpoint in Masiaka junction where they were intercepted and arrested by gallant police personnel attached to the Masiaka Police Station.
Since he was elected Councilor in December 2011, Mohamed Kanu-Mansaray has been executing his local council powers behind bars, either in police cells or in prison. Sources from the corridors of the FCC told this reporter that the delay surrounding the inauguration of Mohamed Kanu-Mansaray by the FCC since his election in 2011, could not be unconnected with the fear surrounding most councilors. It was said that a good number of councilor in the FCC were finding it difficult to accept a “kidnapper” in their midst in council.
However, after diverse consultative meetings among councilors, it was finally agreed that Mansaray be given a let in. On another note, several Freetonians doubted the capability of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) to interpret the PPRC Act, especially with Sections that has to do with the declaration of elections campaign periods. “Why would the PPRC allow the SLPP to hold political rallies along main streets of the city when campaigns are yet to be declared open?” asked an Abacha trader.
© Copyright by Awareness Times
Newspaper in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
