The Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs has held an orientation ceremony for four newly elected Paramount Chiefs from the Eastern and Southern Regions of Sierra Leone, as part of efforts to strengthen traditional governance and promote accountable leadership across chiefdoms.
The event brought together Paramount Chief Amy Miatta Myers VI of Small Bo Chiefdom, Kenema District; Paramount Chief Larry Bojohn Fangawa IV of Wandor Chiefdom, Kenema District; Paramount Chief Mohamed Kpakra Mansallay IV of Perri Chiefdom, Pujehun District; and Paramount Chief Usman Ansumana Wai II of Barri Chiefdom, Pujehun District.
Speaking on the purpose of the orientation, Brima Newman Combey, a senior official at the Ministry, said the session was designed to introduce the new Paramount Chiefs to the dos and don’ts of the chieftaincy institution. He noted that in the past, the Ministry encountered challenges due to newly elected Paramount Chiefs being unfamiliar with the administrative and customary expectations of their office.
Addressing the gathering, the Resident Minister for the Eastern Region, Gbessay Jusu Jaka Ngobeh, urged the new chiefs to uphold the customs and traditions of their respective Chiefdoms and to govern fairly. He said one of the main reasons for strained relationships between chiefs and their people is the failure of some chiefs to protect the very traditions that define their leadership.
“Expect opposition,” he advised. “Not everyone will agree with you, but what matters is how you manage those relationships. Govern with fairness, patience, and integrity.”
In his keynote address, the Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Ambassador Tamba Lamina, said the Ministry’s mandate is to supervise over 190 Paramount Chiefs nationwide and ensure that they govern in accordance with the 2009 Chieftaincy Act, which promotes peace, accountability, and local development.
He revealed that this was the first orientation ceremony organized prior to the formal recognition of Paramount Chiefs by His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, following a presidential directive that all newly elected Paramount Chiefs must undergo orientation before their official recognition.
“The President made it clear that chiefs must first be trained before recognition,” Ambassador Lamina said. “This is part of his commitment to strengthening traditional leadership as a cornerstone of peace and governance.”
He added that the Kono event catered to Paramount Chiefs from both the Eastern and Southern Regions, while the Ministry is set to proceed to Kambia District next week, where the President will formally recognize 17 additional Paramount Chiefs from the Northern and North-Eastern Regions.
Ambassador Lamina explained that the Ministry had initially planned a three-day induction for all newly elected Paramount Chiefs, but due to logistical challenges, it opted for this pre-orientation and will later organize a two-day comprehensive training session.
He emphasized that the orientation was necessary because eligibility for Paramount Chieftaincy is limited to individuals born into ruling houses regardless of educational background resulting in a wide variation in leadership experience.
“Every Paramount Chief is accountable to his people,” he reminded. “Gone are the days when subjects remained silent. Today, with technology and awareness, people demand transparency and inclusion. Chiefs must therefore be open, fair, and work closely with their Chiefdom structures.”
He further cautioned against neglecting customs and traditions, noting that many disputes between chiefs and their subjects arise when local practices are disregarded.
Following the keynote address, several stakeholders including the Directors of Local Government and the Decentralization Secretariat, the Chiefdom and the CCAC of Kono District, the Provincial Secretary of the East, the Senior District Officer of Kenema, and the Chairman of the Kono District Council, made presentations on topics such as chieftaincy elections, Chiefdom committee composition, revenue mobilization, local tax administration, law and order, boundary disputes, and the relationship between local councils and Chiefdom administrations.
The ceremony ended with a renewed commitment from the newly elected Paramount Chiefs to promote good governance, peace, and inclusive leadership in their Chiefdoms
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Frederick V. Kanneh
Information Officer
MLGCA
