HANCI adoption case goes high court
“There is no compelling evidence for this matter to be committed to High court,” were the exact words of one of the most seasoned magistrates in the Sierra Leone legal system – magistrate Kamanda on the HANCI adaption case before his court.
In his ruling, Magistrate Kamanda told the court that the evidence before his court proved that the accused persons observed the legal procedure and all the court orders presented where issued and stamped by the Sierra Leone court including the high court. He revealed from his findings that the parents where cognizant of the process and after 15 years they decided to take another action. He granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of Le40 million which was approved by the Master and Registrar.
It could be recalled that the non-governmental organization facilitated the adoption process of 29 Sierra Leonean kids to the United States of America (USA) through the leading adoption organization in the world – Maine Adoption Placement Services (MAPS) located in the city of Maine in the USA.
The parents who the organization alleged that they willingly gave their children for the adoption alleged that the organization trafficked their children without them knowing. This disagreed clue created rift between the organization and the parent.
To address this, the Ernest Bai Koroma’s government setup the Justices Showers’ Commission of Enquiry principally aimed at finding as to how the process was done. The commission came out with its results and the government through the Justice Ministry came out with a White Paper. The White Paper stated that: the matter be sent to court, HANCI which then had 14,000 beneficiaries should stop operation immediately and the account of books of the organization should be audited.
The action of the government led to a massive demonstration from beneficiaries in all major towns in the country. This action increased public opinion of which the overriding opinion centered on out of court settlement. Government through the then Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Shaka Tarawallie on behalf of his government commenced diplomat talks with MAPS which many believed would have been the best way to connect the children with their parents.
Adama Kamara, one of the adopted kids close to her father during her last visit
From the time the commission was designed and to the ruling yesterday, many parents were able to establish connection with their children. Among them is Pa Alimamy Kamara in the picture – father of Adama Kamara, Ramatu Kargbo daughter of Mr. John M. Kargbo etc. It is worthwhile to notice that Michaela Deprince the only black ballet dancer in the world who had twenty four hours news coverage from BBC and other international media outlets was also adopted by HANCI.
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