One of the drafters of the 1991 Constitution has passed on…
In the early hours of Monday 16th May 2016 AD, the octogenarian Dr. Thomas Kahota Kargbo (in photo) was at his residence at 44e Lower Pipe Line, Wilkinson Road in the far west of Freetown, planning to pay condolences to a relative when he suddenly went to meet with the ages. Dr. T. K. Kargbo was born in Kamasasa village in Kambia District Northern Sierra Leone and later left for the Southern Province in Bo in quest for education where he attended The Bo Government Secondary School and sat to both Ordinary Level and Advance level examinations respectively in the sciences, immediately after that he became the best Commonwealth student and was given a scholarship to school in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, studied medicines at Leeds University and specialized as a Surgeon, Obstetrician and gynecologist and was made a member and fellow of the Royal College of Obstetrician and Gynecologist in UK. He was married to a loving wife Mrs. Aminata Kargbo a nurse by profession. He came home to start practice working for the government of Sierra Leone in Bo, Kenema and Makeni and later was posted to Freetown at the government hospital of Connaught and PCMH, where he served with pedigree.
Dr. Thomas Kahota Kargbo was elected twice as president of the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association, he was later awarded Fellows of the West African College of Surgeon (FWACS) as he continues providing astute leadership within and amongst his colleagues he was appointed as the Chief Medical Officer of the Republic of Sierra Leone from 1986 to 1991, during that period he chaired the committee that set up the Medical school now called the College of Medicines and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS). During his tenure as Chief Medical Officer he was also appointed as a member of the 1991 constitutional review committee that is currently being used in the country that brought Sierra Leone back to multi-party democracy. Most of the medical provisions enjoyed by Sierra Leoneans today was as a result of the medical input from Dr. Thomas Kahota Kargbo who was not just working for the government of Sierra Leon but later in his practice established a clinic called Mansu Health Clinic in the heart of Freetown to render low cost medical services especially to pregnant women, children under five and lactating mother which the government of Sierra Leone in recent times has thought it wise to replicate across the country.
As Dr. Thomas Kahota Kargbo continues to provide mentorship for his colleagues and also providing low cost medical services for the vulnerable especially the poor and deprived he was appointed by former President Joseph Saidu Momoh (Major General retired) President of the republic of Sierra Leone deceased as Honorable Minister of Trade Industries and State Enterprise where he worked for six months with lots of reforms in the prize of fuel and other industries operating in the country at that time.
Sometimes in 1981 at Biriwa Chiefdom Northern Sierra Leon he was elected in the midst of Dr. Siaka Probyn Stevens President of the republic of Sierra Leone as Deputy Chairman 3 of the Limba friendly society called Ekutay because of his fluency in speaking Limba at the time he was asked by the then editors of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service now Sierra Leone Broadcasting Cooperation to moderate programs in Limba to reach out to his people and guide them medically. He was also appointed as the Chief Returning Officer to conduct the Limba Tribal Head elections in 1986, he presided over the election with 29 candidates at the Siaka Stevens Stadium, the outcome of the elections was successful and all parties were comfortable with the process.
During the tenure of the National Provisional Ruling Council government he was asked to serve the country as Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United States of America from 1993 to 1996, a decision that was very difficult for him to take but later agreed and served with pedigree, provided the rights kind of leadership among his colleague Ambassadors, he won the most prestigious award amongst the fifty four African countries as the best African Ambassador. In August of 1997 he was asked by the author of this piece about the current leadership of that government Dr. Thomas Kahota Kargbo has this to say
‘I am no more interested in politics because my ambition in life was to become a Medical Doctor, Infarct later in the years my country recognizes my hard work and they made me Minister of Trade, Industries and State Enterprise, the country sent me to serve as the Ambassador to the United States, so I have fulfilled all that I can as a man from a very humble beginning what else, in fact my children have advised that I get my hands off politics which I am willing to adhere to”.
In his last days on earth the current president of the republic of Sierra Leone Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma thought it wise to award him the highest honour of the land as Grand Commander of the order of the Rokel which he had at State House on the 27th April 2014.
Dr. Thomas Kahota Kargbo was married to a loving wife with six successful children and grandchildren who are now making waves in the diaspora and in country, may his soul res in perfect peace till we meet again.
Written by:
Thomas Pa Alie Babadie (Mr.)
Executive Director: Forum of Sierra Leonean Youth Network (FoSLYN)
Second Floor, 74 Pademba Road, Freetown
Cell +232 77 595 421
Email: foslynsalonepupils@gmail.com
Website: foslynsalonerpupils@gmail.com (under construction)
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