The Woman in Dr Sarah Bendu

Dr. Bendu, DG SLRTA

In a country like Sierra Leone, it is very uncommon for public officials other than the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to unearth corrupt cases, especially in high places like Government’s ministries and other institutions.

This is largely because some of our public officials at the helm of affairs are themselves highly corrupt and believe that is the quickest way to get rich—or because they fear the backlash either directly or indirectly.

I have always maintained that there is no crime doing the right thing, and this is one area where I have great respect for President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma for being a strong believer in and supporter of people with uprightness in the execution of their duties.

The ACC has a great job to do in eradicating corruption in Sierra Leone which has become rather endemic in our society especially in high places.

Believe it or not, the fight to eradicate corruption in our society obviously requires the collective effort of us all and there is no way we can succeed as a nation if we leave it in the hands of the ACC alone.

I have been following events at one of Sierra Leone's most successful income generating institutions –the Sierra Leone Road Transport Authority (SLRTA). Just last week, the SLRTA released a press statement exposing massive alarming corruption allegedly involving some of its senior officials. And if you think this latest development is alarming then you have little knowledge about the history of the SLRTA.

There are times when I feel very sorry for Sierra Leone; and there are times also when I wonder what manner of men (and some women sometimes) is some of our public officials especially those in high places. What would you say about a President who hardly sleeps working tirelessly to make things work for his country, yet few others are milking the nation dry? Don’t call it sabotage – its heartlessness.

We should not in any way allow SLRTA corruption issue to be swept under the carpet just like that. And please don't get me wrong here; I am not in anyway passing judgement on those already being implicated in the financial mess - afterwards investigations have just begun. 

My point here is that such acts should be condemned in totality and those found guilty be made to face the full penalty of the law to serve as deterrent to others.

Come to think of it, the SLRTA has a record of such corrupt practices involving high level public official but thanks to the timely intervention and iron-fisted policies of the Authority's Executive Director Dr Sarah Bendu.

Dr. Bendu is one of three women including NRA's Haja Kallah and EPA's Jattu Jalloh who have given reasons and justifications to President Dr Ernest Koroma's appointment of women into high places. But if you should ask me I will tell you why Dr Bendu has set an exemplary precedent for others to emulate.

Over the years, under her leadership, she had succeeded in bringing massive awareness to road safety in Sierra Leone making the SLRTA one of the most successful roads authority in the sub-region.

Exposing corruption in present day Sierra Leone is definitely not a child's play and for a woman, for that matter, to succeed in such a manner in once a corrupt infested place like the SLRTA, no doubt deserves not only public commendation but also the protection and cooperation of the highest office in the land. I hope President Koroma could hear me!

Sarah had been a victim of corruption syndicate at the Road Transport when he first took over office to the extent of being implicated by the very corrupt people surrounding her at that time until the Anti-Corruption Commission vindicated her.

Today, some of these corrupt officials are seeking the protection of corrupt officials including government ministers to have them reinstated into the institution even though they have been declared not fit to hold any public office again.

I see a group of desperadoes seeking revenge on her pound of flesh - from government officials trying to overturn a Board and anti-corruption decision; and to the press in an attempt to blackmail the poor woman.

This is again another area I pity His Excellency for having some of his men including of course, government ministers working contrary against the policies of his Agenda for Prosperity.

In essence, the lukewarm attitude of those who are supposed to set a brighter example for others to emulate, is leading to people engaging in corrupt practices, knowing fully well that they would get away with it.

But the truth is in black and white and nobody can wipe it off. Fact of the matter is that we have to change our attitude - it should no longer be business as usual if we are to progress as a nation.

People must no longer be allowed to ‘eat their cake and have it’ at the detriment of the majority of Sierra Leoneans especially at this desperate point in time of our country’s history.

We have to send the right signals out there that corruption is no longer tolerated in our society taken into consideration how much it has eaten deep into the fabric of our society.

In the meantime, let’s fold our hands; wait and see what the outcome of this latest corruption episode at the Roads Authority could be.

The SLRTA can do more in terms of revenue generation as they have been doing and the government knows that – but this cannot be possible when few individuals are bent on milking the authority dry just to satisfy their selfish desire.

As a press, we have a role to play in making this happen; and as a government we can do more to encourage Bendu and those like her to do their work amicably – providing them with the support and protection they needed.

We definitely need the likes of Dr Sarah Bendu.