APC at it again – nepotism, favouritism etc!

If anyone thinks that the ruling APC would change its ways or listen to constructive criticism, it will be an illusion. They have a set agenda the pursuit of which leaves no room for consultations, compromise  or listening to a different opinion which is certainly not part of it. (Photo: Dr. Sama Banya)

A self-labeled NGO which calls itself by the high sounding name of Environ-Carbon Access has reportedly signed a memorandum with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security. The Minister has been quoted as hailing it as a breakthrough in the effort to preserve the environment. Sadly, Jartu Jalloh, nee Fornah  the environmental guru is also reported to be full of praise for new NGO which they all declare is a great asset to the government and to the ministry. What the minister of Agriculture should actually say is that this is another move to put easy money into the pockets of APC functionaries and their patrons and  friends. Let no one, best of all the unsuspecting public be under any illusion that the two people behind the project, a Dauda Kamara jr. and a Marie Kamara are in it primarily for environmental protection. Incidentally enquiries have revealed that the Dauda Kamara is in fact the son of the honourable minister of internal affairs and community development and local government. Is his boy exploiting the position I wonder?

The question to ask is what has been the involvement of the group in environmental activities in the two years of their reported existence? What advocacy have they promoted and what coordination or cooperation have they had with established and recognized NGOs like Environmental Forum For Action, ENFORAC, or Green Peace. Friends of the Earth or with the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone, CSSL and the Gola Rainforest Conservation Programme all of who have been in the field for years?

The whole thing is shrouded in deception. As part of its strategy to halt the widespread deforestation everywhere and which results in Global Warming and in Climate Change, the international community has continued to examine various options. One of them is a system referred to as Carbon Credit. We have learnt that trees absorb the carbon dioxide in the air which we are constantly exuding for the manufacture of their food. It involves sunlight as well and is known as photosynthesis. Therefore, as the theory goes, if large tracts of forests are preserved by communities, those forests will continue to absorb much of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and prevent the formation of greenhouse gases. The quantum of compensation would be based on the estimated quantity of carbon that the area is expected to absorb. The money would be paid in perpetuity as long as the forests remain in perpetuity. One can imagine how much money would accrue to the Gola Forest which has yet to be declared a national park. Rather it is the much latter Peace Park of Liberia and Sierra Leone that has been gazette as a national park. The same will be true of the Otamba Kilimi National Park OKNP in the Tambaka chiefdom of Bombali district as well as elsewhere, may be the Western Area Peninsular Forests as well.

It is the prospect of the income from such a scheme that Dauda Jr. and his partner are trying to access for their own selfish benefit to the exclusion of the forest communities and the country at large. Could anything be more selfish and here we have the minister himself hailing it as a great stride? An example of what I am trying to put across is happening in the Gola Forest area where the seven chiefdoms surrounding the forest have agreed on a ban on logging and any activity leading to deforestation. The communities are getting their loyalties in perpetuity along with development projects while the forest remains in perpetuity?

Why would not people like Dauda Kamara, the son of a senior APC government minister put the welfare of the country first?

Why would the minister in charge of preserving our forests fall to such cheap and destructive Nepotism?

I have written at length on this carbon credit affair before and even mentioned it in one of my interviews on the former UN radio tea break programme, but do these people care. As long as the party coffers are filled. Very soon we shall begin to invoke Governor Clarkson’s prayer against such unpatriotic and selfish behavior. But the party IS THE APC and it is in power.

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