IS IT A DISGRACE OR AN EMBARRASSMENT?”
By John Kelly Marah
“So much depends on reputation, guard it with your life. Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone, you can intimidate and win. Once it slips, however, you are vulnerable and will be ‘ATTACKED’ on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your rivals by opening holes in their reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.” – Robert Greene.
Honourable Paran Tarawallie, the suspended Clerk of Parliament, who has been involved in credibility and integrity issues with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for a couple of months, is set to be returned as the substantive Clerk of Parliament. This raises the question of whether President Bio is ready to fight against corruption in Sierra Leone, given his intention to reinstate Paran Tarawallie.
It’s worth remembering that in 2024, Umar Paran Tarawallie was accused of abuse of office and fraud involving himself and his wife, Abibatu Tarawallie, offenses punishable by imprisonment under Anti-Corruption Laws. Umar Paran Tarawallie was found to have improperly employed his wife, Mrs. Abibatu Tarawallie, who received salaries and other allowances from September 2021 to March 2023 without actually working or being entitled to it. She was receiving a salary of 7,676 Leones as a ghost worker in the human resource department in Parliament. Mrs. Abibatu Tarawallie shamefully refunded the full amount that was paid to her as a ghost worker with an interest of ten percent (10%) and is precluded from holding office for five years.
This corrupt practice exposed Paran Tarawallie as lacking sincerity and suitability for leadership in Parliament. Patriotic Sierra Leoneans were hoping to see President Bio take action against Paran Tarawallie, as SLPP party stalwarts are concerned that his return to Parliament as Clerk would bring embarrassment to the party. Despite this, Paran Tarawallie will indeed be returning to Parliament, under President Bio’s endorsement.
It has become an open secret that our president’s fight against corruption is selective in nature and based on ‘party pikin business’, which is detrimental to our democracy and good governance. There are concerns that Paran Tarawallie may employ his associates as ghost workers in Parliament, receiving hefty salaries without working for them. ‘OOh Salone’, posterity will judge you all.”
