Child Trafficking: Two Senior Cabinet Ministers Accused
Citizens have accused the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abdul Serry Kamal and the Minister of Social Welfare, Dr. Soccoh Kabbia (in photo) as directly responsible for child trafficking and illegal adoptions which are making headlines in our local newspapers.
Advancing reasons, a senior police officer attached to the Criminal Investigation Department who preferred anonymity said evidences that are available to prove that the adoption of the 29 children facilitated by Help the Needy Child International (HANCI) alone is enough for the government to speed up the proposed commission of enquiry on the said matter but because of the delay which both ministries refused to explain, has stimulated Ada Florence Isiodu, employee of the United Bank of Africa to use fake documents to traffic two children to Nigeria.
A legal adviser of a newly formed civil society organization (named withheld) noted that the statistics from the American Embassy about the number of illegal adoption cases from Sierra Leone is but enough to light up anger in any serious Government to deal with anyone found wanting regardless of tribe, regionalism and political connection but due to the deliberate attempt by the government to keep sealed lips on the said matter generated mixed feelings to an extent of questioning the neutrality of the government in the matter.
Another finger was pointed at the Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs for diluting the legitimate process for adoption due to financial interest as clearly indicated in the recent case of child trafficking involving a Nigerian and Ada Florence Isiodu.
A Social Development Officer, Mrs. Mariatu Bangura confessed that both parents of the boy child never gave their consent hence the million dollar question is who is the individual that took the child to the ministry?
As a result of the delay to set up the commission of enquiry, some members of the Foundation for Democratic Initiative and Development (FDID), a civil society organization outfit traveled to Makeni to hang heads with parents of adopted children on the way forward but the organization learnt from Mr. Suma, head of parents, that everything was on the desk of the President awaiting approval.
The Director, Hindowa Saidu, further appealed to the President to give a speedily approval for the commission to kick start so that the defaulters regardless of who he or she may face the full penalty of the law.
Attempts to contact the Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs, Dr. Soccoh Kabbia via phone to confirm whether or not the matter was now on the President’s desk proved futile.
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