Britain Denies Suspending Funding to Salone The British Government through the Department For International Development (DFID) has denied report that they were suspending funding to Sierra Leone as a result of corruption, as reported by a local newspaper in Sierra Leone. The NEWS WATCH quoted the Conservative MP Simon Hughes as saying that Britain was suspending funding to Sierra Leone, but a senior member of DFID said today the report was false and full of lies. Information Attaché at the Sierra Leone High Commission, Sorie Sudan Sesay, had contacted the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) as well as the Office of Hughes for clarification and eventual response on the issue FCO then took up the issue with DFID who immediately responded with a telephone call followed by an email denying the report. DFID’s Jonathan Tostevin said at no point in time did he, neither Baroness Northover or Simon made such remarks. Simon Hughes had invited Sierra Leoneans from his constituency at the House of Commons to lobby support from them ahead of next years General elections. Veteran politician and elder statesman Adu Seray Wurie who was at the meeting said there was no point in time where Simon made such a statement saying: I wonder where the reporter got that information from. Also, veteran Journalist and writer Ade Daramy who was also present at the meeting denied knowledge of such statement being attributed to Hughes. The report was completely inaccurate and misleading - the writer has, deliberately or otherwise decided to misrepresent what was said for his own selfish gains, Daramy said Later this afternoon, Tostevin, responded in an email addressed to Sudan writting: “ Dear Mr. Sesay, “We spoke just now about the allegations made in Newswatch today. Kerris forwarded your concerns to me to respond. As discussed, I was present at the meeting on Monday that this article refers to and can confirm that no such allegations were made by Baroness Northover, Simon Hughes, or myself. Nor is the UK suspending funding to Sierra Leone as the article suggests. The UK remains committed to working with the Government of Sierra Leone to ending the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone and the wider region. Happy to discuss further.” Sorie Sudan Sesay said he was shocked that the media would go so low as attributing such a sensitive statement of such substance to a high profiled British politician that was never said or mentioned. I dont know the motive of the said writer, but honestly this is absolutely reckless,” Sudan charged. The front cover of the publication had been making the rounds on social media particularly Facebook and Whatsapp throughout last week causing bad image not only about the government but the country as a whole.
Posted on: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 15:33:15 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015