Ex-soldiers demand retirement benefit

Three hundred and eleven soldiers who were sent on retirement from the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces on medical grounds and named as war wounded in action are calling on government to pay them their benefit. (Photo: President Ernest Bai Koroma, Commander in Chief of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces)

Chairman of the association, Ibrahim Conteh who has served in the army for over 14 years said that the 311 of them have spent even more years but were all retired on medical grounds and since then only a pittance has been doled out to them in the form of a grant.

He also went on to say that in April 2008 an account was opened at the International Commercial Bank where promises were made that their benefits will be paid but this has still to materialize.

He further noted that they have laid an official complaint to the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and Office of the Ombudsman, both of whom have advised them to take their case to the Human Rights Commission, which they have already done.

The chairman reported that out of that number, 125 have passed away. These soldiers are imploring the government under the leadership of His Excellency the president Dr Ernest Bai Koroma who is the Commander in Chief of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces to pay them their benefits as they believe the president is a God fearing man and a man of his word.

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