By Thomas Dixon
FREETOWN, Aug 27 (SALONE TIMES) – Before she left Freetown for the United Kingdom on leave, the Mayor of Freetown City Council (FCC), Yvonne Aki Sawyer was invited by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for corruption related issues at the council.
In fact, a member of her party, Sylvia Blyden insinuated that the mayor was running from corruption probe by the country’s anti-graft agency.
These corruption allegations have further been given credence by the Chief Administrator of Freetown City Council, Festus Kallay responding to issues of some councilors and the mayor asking for his(Kallay) removal.
In an interview with a local radio station, Kallay explained that the problem in the council is because of the seeming inability of the mayor to ensure transparency and accountability in the council.
The CA mentioned that the mayor failed to follow procurement process for over 1M Pounds that was expended by her for which auditors have already asked question.
That as CA of the council, he knows nothing about the transfer station project as a self-created unit, Mayor’s Delivery Unit (MDU) is the one coordinating the activities of that project and that they only came back to him when there was shortage of funds for him sign for tractors which he refused.
That Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer also used $10,500 for ICLOUD without following the due process which has also been captured by Auditors.
Festus Kallay revealed that staff of the Mayor Delivery Unit were employed without advertisement and due process for which the head of MDU, Manja Kargbo who before now was Personal Assistant to Mayor in the 2018 election campaign is paid $5,000 excluding rent and other allowances.
In her response, the Mayor of Freetown Aki Sawyer said that all what the CA said are completely false.
