If he would recall, in spite of his unfriendly editorial comments about me, when the then Chairman of the NPRC and head of state appointed him as minister of Lands etc. not only did I congratulate him, but I reminded him that it was a challenge which he should grab and make a success of the job. Whether he succeeded or not, is a matter of opinion.
Over a period of many years, in fact until his current appointment, he had been constantly at logger heads with the Sierra Leone Football Association, SLFA, especially with its past President the honourable Justice Maitland Tolla Thompson. Much of it was out of personal reasons rather than on principles. Although the relationship with the football association under Nahim Kade was at first non aggressive, and his criticism of it less vehement and less critical, it has now deteriorated to a degree that has invited the attention and concern of the world football governing body FIFA as well as with the Parliamentary oversight committee on sports.
Because of that strained relationship with SLFA, as soon as I heard the announcement that the President had nominated him for the combined functions of youth employment and sports, I knew his Excellency had miscalculated. I’m afraid I won’t say that he acted in good faith, because if so, then he must have been the only sports enthusiast who was unaware of the man’s strained relationship with an organisation that was now to be under his supervision. Paul had an axe to grind and a score to settle; it has not taken that long and before the sparks have started to fly and not even the intervention of the honourable Vice President has been able to control it.
The plain fact is that if it continues, FIFA having sent the first volley, would not hesitate to slap a ban on SLFA because of the minister’s and ipso facto the government’s interfere with the running of the organisation, a matter on which the world body has an uncompromising position. Before we get to that undesirable and embarrassing situation, his Excellency must arrest it without further prevarication. As I see it, (remembering Sam Short!), yes, as I see it, the head of state must sack Paul Kamara without anydelay. Alternatively he could either shift him from the present portfolio, or separate sports from youth employment. Perhaps Kemoh Sesey should prepare a brief for his boss’ consideration and leave the Goliath Ernest and David Maada affair alone.
