News Story

FREETOWN: NEW PEOPLE CORRESPONDENT: The Government of President Ernest Koroma seems willing to risk social disturbance just so that it can access interest-specific donor funds as his government is virtually bankrupt mainly because of his failure to fulfill his promise to Sierra Leoneans that he would run the country like a business and, especially, usher in an economic boom. But the signs are not looking good. With rice running at al all-time record high of Le130,000 and fuel running at an all time high of Le16,200.00, prices of everything in the country are shooting up. As if the hunger and starvation in the country is not enough, the APC government wishes to add another dimension to the suffering to the women in Sierra Leone.

Disturbing reports reaching this press indicate that the APC government's Gender and Children's Affairs Minister, Haja Musu Kandeh, has all but concluded a $20 million assistance agreement if the APC government bans the Bondo society. Earlier in February 2008, Haja Musu Kandeh had announced at a workshop on the issue that "my government, the APC government, has an expressed commitment to ban the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM)." Although she had not announced a date when the ban would take effect, she had further stated that, "Female genital mutilation is a harmful practice and my government will work to eradicate it in this country."

This latest revelation that Haja Musu Kandeh and the APC government intend to ban Bondo for $20 million therefore comes as no surprise.

What is surprising however is that then, as now, the APC government is completely insensitive to the voices of the majority of women in this country who have stated opposition to the minister's position.

Moreover, the APC government seems to have failed again to engage all groups with an interest in the debate on Bondo in Sierra Leone.