The dawn of an era: Koya chiefdom and KPA progress report
The anticipated day August 28, 2010 meeting came and went. The 97 degree scorching heat did not deter the determined Koya Progressive Association (KPA) members from different parts of the United States to congregate in the Commonwealth of Virginia (at Edsall Road) in Alexandria city. The meeting began two and half hours late, an African unbearable traditional timing (AUTT).
Among the dignitaries was key note speaker the Sierra Leone Ambassador H.E. Bockari K. Stevens (in photo), who is commonly known as the People’s Ambassador as a result of his untiring effort to mingle with his people regardless of his busy official schedule. He was introduced by the organization’s current president Mr. Mohamed H. Bangura (Koya).
In his short speech the ambassador thanked the Koya Progressive Association (KPA) president and the entire membership for inviting him, and most importantly for staying committed to the home base Koya Chiefdom. KPA is among many organizations in operation in the Diaspora. It is among the very few that command respect and its activities are worth emulating by other organizations, he said. He admonished unity among its members and advised that they should stay the cause of looking out for its chiefdom that is experiencing quite a significant development.
Ambassador Stevens updated attendees regarding the Peace Corp’s return to Sierra Leone. Forty-five (45) are presently on the ground and fifty (50) more to join their counterparts in few months. He also mentioned the five million dollars (US$5 M) anonymous donation to rebuild the Bunce Island slave holding port. At its completion it will attract tourists from every part of the globe to the once forgotten enclave of Sierra Leone. The donation was attained through the indefatigable efforts of two Professors: John Opala and Arthur Abraham. They turned the jungle cave to a Palace-Home (the slave chains and rut from centuries was undisturbed) during their research and they were labeled terrorists and members of Al-Qaida organization by few Sierra Leone journalists.
In the writer’s efforts to destroy the reputations of the professors, they are in essence destroying their own reputations and especially their nation’s image, he concluded. He emphasized that people should embrace President Koroma’s agenda for attitudinal change. It is the right thing to do, and it is the right time so that we can leave a positive and lasting legacy for our children.
The Chairlady Mrs. Mariama Lowe-Bangura is the wife of a prominent Sierra Leone businessman (Health Services) Mr. Mohamed Bangura in Virginia. She pacified the crowd with her breathtaking African attire which placed her more in the African professional models category. She shattered the tranquility and burdensomeness in the jam-packed recreation hall and mesmerized her audience with a long list of current developments that are taking place in the Koya region. She stressed the awareness among the populace regarding land effective utilization. Mrs. M. Lowe-Bangura’s peace, unity, land accusation and utilization lecture were educative and were well noted by members. Also, she reminded the attendees regarding another burning issue to Koya people which is the 2007 General Election government’s decision to remove from Koya Chiefdom; Rokel, Matenneh and Mawomah sections to increase the political demography of the Marampa Chiefdom constituency which reduces both political and socio-economic advancement of Koya Chiefdom is quite unsettling, she said. The move is a political travesty at its best as it socially, politically and economically affects the smooth running of the affairs of the Koya chiefdom. The people of Koya in collaboration can only bring these sections back to Koya chiefdom through unity and action with Koya descendants in the Diaspora, Mrs. Mariama Lowe-Bangura concluded.
Crowd listening to Chairlady Mrs. Mariama Lowe-Bangura
Ms. Kalyca Thomas, a Member of Friends of Sierra Leone (FOSL) and a teacher in the New York Public Schools is the Chairwoman of the FOSL educational wing was also present. She is interested in improving the standard of education of the teachers, Elementary and Secondary Schools students. She was equally given a platform to report her FOSL’s endeavor in Sierra Leone. In 2009, her commitment in playing a role in her own little way spurred her to co-facilitate a Teachers Workshop for both Primary and Secondary Schools at Bo town in the Southern Province.
The visiting guest speaker the District Outreach Officer Pa Komrabai Mohamed S.D Kargbo (Paramount Chief’s Adviser), updated the Koya Diaspora on the development of the Koya chiefdom. His presentation was quite impressive and educative. It was much-needed information to the Koya descendants in the United States.
He methodically journeyed his excited audience from agricultural developments including environmental, capacity building – micro-finance for women, feeder roads, secret societies to the weekly Lumars, which is a rendezvous for local traders. He added that there are 112 Primary schools, approximately five secondary schools (upper Koya), Solar Electricity Training establishment and Health Centers (Preferred Health Units.
Mr. M.S.D Kargbo did a fantastic job by using power point presentation. While it was appreciated, it also raises many questions among many as respectively stated by Mohamed Buya Tarawaly from Maryland, Mohamed Bundu Sankoh from Washington, DC, and Mr. Ahmed Kanu from Ohio, who noted that Koya is the second largest chiefdom in the Port Loko District. It has an Upper Koya and Lower Koya. But looking at the power point presentation and listening to the update from the District Outreach Officer (DOO) Mr. Mohamed Kargbo, the above mentioned members wanted to know why the ongoing developments are concentrated only in the Upper Koya (Masaika) region. They believed the developments are not proportional.
The DOO answered that developments (contracts) are bided by NGO’s who represent government and other outside funding agencies. He further stated that the authorities sometimes travel to sights in other to appraise the underling needs of the area prior to a certain program or development is committed to a specific locale.
In their follow up comments, it suffice to conclude that there are biases in the decision making of DOO’s office because the NGO officials go through national authorities and foreign representatives who only travel to places suggested or recommended to them by the Koya officials. In this case, the DOO’s office, as it seems it does not serve the interest of the entire Koya chiefdom. As a result, Lower Koya is being left out of the equation by the DOO’s office. For example Songo Town, which is neglected and marginalized, is still the capital of the chiefdom since its inception, Mr. Ahmed Kanu and others respectively concluded.
For the record 3/4 of the attendees at the meeting are from Lower Koya and the above assertions are believes that are upheld by these majority.
The newly formed International Committee for the Economic and Political Advancement of Koya Chiefdom (ICEPAK) was introduced at the meeting by one of its officials
Mr. Mohamed Bah who labored to explain the relevancy of the newly formed organization. Most of the attendees at the meeting were left with no clear understanding of the need and purpose of the formation of the International Committee for the Economic and Political Advancement of Koya Chiefdom (ICEPAK). Koya Progressive Association (KPA) is an apolitical organization; it is seen as piggy-bagging ICEPAK which is perceived by several members as having the semblance of a Political entity.
In another development, the Dr. Ernest B. Koroma’s administration is working in tandem with an Italian airport construction company to build an International airport at Koya. The airport when completed will be a state of the art outfit with all airport amenities including a near by Government Hospital. The contracted company is currently soliciting European Union (EU) funding. Another Italian company is also interested in developing a fruit plantation and a fruit processing factory. This was confirmed by Sierra Leone ambassador to Germany, H. E. Jengo Stevens, who also over see both the Italian and the Austrian missions.
The agenda of the meeting was to unite all descendants and to formulate a joint approach to dealing with the outstanding socio-political and developmental concerns affecting the sub-region. With the prospect to Development initiatives both large and small. The acceleration in urban expansion and related challenges such as land acquisition and to establish among many things a platform for responsible intervention and quality international, parliamentary, local representation and advocacy that the region has lack for far too long. It is sufficed to say that the meeting’s agenda was quite ambitious; while a fourth was not attainable it was none the less very informative and educational. And the experience will act as a guide for future undertakings.
The founders of the Koya Progressive Association (KPA) saw a need to promote unity, peace, love and progress in the region. Also to fight the ills of a land call home (USA) away from home (SL). The Organization gives out assistance to members on a need basis, which ranges from immigration problems, health to social issues. But KPA experienced a seismic change during and after the rebel war which devastated much of Koya region. As a result, after the rebel war KPA shifted its focus on the current burning issues of returning students into the classrooms. Under the able leadership of Mr. Mohamed H. Bangura (Koya) as president (1998- present), the organization has reconstructed the Tom Linson Secondary School at Songo and built a District Council School at MaMowa.
Additionally, immediately after the rebel war’s catastrophe that changed the lives of our people, the KPA shipped containers of clothes, foodstuffs, medical equipments and school supplies to the region. Today the Koya Progressive Association (KPA) has an office to run the affairs of the Koya Progressive Association in Sierra Leone.
2010 Executive includes: Abdul Karim Conteh, Lamin Bundu, Mohamed Bah, M. Komkanda Bangura, Mamusu Konteh-Bangura, Alhaji Andrew Kamara, Nana Sesay, Abdulai Kargbo, Dauda Bunduka and Mabinty Kamara).
The Koya Progressive Association members and the people of Koya chiefdom proudly embrace President Ernest B. Koroma’s agenda for attitudinal change. Like many organizations with internal conflicts, Koya Progressive Association is no exception. At the end of the convention-like meeting there was trajectory for hope for equitable Koya development, and peace, and unity in the organization. The KPA is one of the most progressive and industrious African organization of the 21st century in the United States. (Next on Koya – An Up-close look at the Chieftaincy and the Chiefdom.
By Arolyn I. Koroma, Washington DC, USA
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