KDGO’S TELECONFERENCE MINUTES The KDGO’s General Body teleconference meeting was held on Saturday, 06.12.14 and was moderated and chaired by the Chairman, Mr. Aiah Fanday. Conference was called to order at 21.20 GMT. Chair kindly asked Vice Chair, Isata Sambaya Sangbah to offer Christian prayer and PRO Kemoh Sidibay to lead the Muslim prayer. 30 members logged in on the night but only 22 announced their names: Those who announced their names were: 1. Aiah Fanday (USA) 2. Isata Sangbah(USA) 3. Dr. Aiah Ndomaina(USA) 4. Hilton Gbolie (USA) 5. Samuel Kanjama (USA) 6. Sahr Sylvanus Sinah (UK) 7. Komba Wusu Foday (UK) 8. Tamba Gbamoi (UK) 9. Alphonso Bah (USA) 10. Abdurrahman Jalloh (Denmark) 11. Peter Kanjama (USA) 12. Kemoh Sidibay (USA) 13. David Solleh (Holland) 14. Finda Kamanda (USA) 15. Miatta Bona (Germany ) 16. Saa Anthony Bellie (Sierra Leone) 17. Kudos Koedoyoma ( Sierra Leone) 18. Osman Charm (USA) 19. Paul Koroma (Sierra Leone) 20. Balla Aziz Bah (USA) 21. Aiah Jimingo (Sierra Leone) 22. Sahr Fillie ( USA). After roll call chairman Fanday asked KDGO Whip, Mr. Komba Wusu Foday to read out the conference rules. In his opening remarks, Mr. Fanday thanked all members both new and old who took time off their busy schedules to participate in the conference. He admonished conference about the need for unity, working as a team and in the interest of Kono. He assured members that although KDGO is in its embryonic stage, it’s pretty clear that we now have a very formidable team, strong Leadership and making progress. Chairman encouraged each and every one of us for our collective will, resolve and commitment to continue sacrificing for our people back home in Kono. He declared to conference that KDGO’s goals and activities will be opened and there will be no hidden agendas. This is in accordance with our flagship policy of transparency and accountability he said. In his remarks, Chair also informed conference that Mr. Sinah has contacted Mayor Lamina who promised to participate later on in the conference after his emergency meeting with UN representatives regarding the opening of a new Ebola treatment centre. He also went further to state that the Mayor has copied the organisation a letter that was written to the Director-General of the National Mineral Agency lodging a formal complaint in relation to OCTEA’s non-compliance with its cooperate social responsibilities. In the chairman’s conclusion, he informed members that during our last conference call a fortnight ago he was assigned the task of contacting our sister Diana Konomanyi Kabba, the Local government Minister about the possibility of addressing us in the Diaspora. He confirmed to conference that the contact was made and the lengthy discussion was very cordial. According to Mr. Fanday, the down side of the conversation was that Diana made it blatantly clear she is not ready to address diasporans and that we have already taken sides. Chair informed the house that Diana went further to state that she has done a lot for VP Sam –Sumana but VP has proved not to have appreciated all her efforts” In his response to our sister’s accusation that we in the Diaspora are taking sides, Chairman Fanday unequivocally pointed out to the Minister that we are not taking sides and will never take sides. He went further to tell Diana that our main objective is to bring peace between herself and VP, help promote Peace and Unity in the district, the redemption of our people from the current political bondage and the promotion of socio-economic development of the district. Chairman Fanday also told conference that three weeks ago he had telephone conversations with Karamoh Kabba on the same issue but he promised to get back to him. I’m yet to hear from him our visionary chair lamented. In response to chair’s opening remarks, Mr. Gbamoi suggested to conference that the secretary should write formal letters to those concerned and that we should not relent. We should keep knocking on their doors and that it will be absolutely necessary for Mr. Fanday to make one final attempt to contact them on the same issue. In his contribution, Dr. Ndomaina agreed with Mr.Gbamoi for us not to relent but disagreed with him on the issue of writing separate letters to them as long as it’s documented that contacts were made to them. Vice Chair Isatta reiterated the need for us to move forward. She reminded conference that she did point out during the last general teleconference that Diana will find it difficult to engage us in the Diaspora and that it’s inevitable that some individuals will definitely take sides. She again emphasised that if the politicians need us or want to engage us fine, if not we have to move forward. Let no politician obstruct our vision for Kono, the KDGO Iron Lady said. At this juncture, Mr. Peter Kanjama asked if the meeting is about the politics in Sierra Leone or about things to do to help our people or address their needs. Chair responded that the conference is not about the politics in Sierra Leone and instructed that we move on to the next agenda--- KDGO’s short and long term goals. Under short and long term goals, chair clearly stated our goals which included the following: SHORT TERM GOALS 1. Education – Developing KDGO Primary Schools 2. Establishing a non-profit Bye Laws 3. Increase Membership 4. Fund Raising Opportunities 5. Addressing OCTEA Mining Agreement 6. Obtaining 501(3) (C) Tax Exempt Status In addressing education, Mr. Fanday proudly informed members on the night that the organisation now has a primary school in Kono that is providing sound elementary education for children in Titambaya and its environs. In upholding our flagship policy of Education, Education and Education, chair also informed conference that our long term educational goal is to open a secondary school and a technical institute thereafter. Another goal but a short term one is the drafting and approval of our bylaws. Chair emphatically stated that in two weeks time the organisation will present its bylaws to members for approval before posting the approved document to the general forum for their perusal. Chair paid tribute to his deputy Isata by thanking her for an excellent job done. Under membership chair reminded members present that KDGO is open to all irrespective of tribe, status, gender, geographical locations, religion etc. He emphasised that KDGO is a global organisation meaning it’s an organisation that extends membership to sons, daughters, friends of Kono and kono organisations at home and abroad that want to come on board to promote the interest of our people and district. Chair assured members that we will raise funds and look for grants in order to achieve our goals and objectives. In addressing OCTEA Mining Company, Chair told conference that we will work with the current Mayor and any future mayor in order to secure the best deal for our people and we shall not relent until our voice is heard. Finally, Mr. Fanday also assured members that he and his dedicated team will diligently work towards obtaining 501 (3) Tax Exemption Status for KDGO. In concluding, Mr. Fanday told members that we will use our influence or serve as a pressure group to pressurise the government in power to promoting or achieving our long term goals like electricity, feeder roads, pipe borne water supply for Kono. Although KDGO is a non-political organisation chair however highlighted the importance of politics, and that we must engage politicians who definitely want to talk to us as an organisation. In her contribution, Vice Chair Isata acknowledged our short and long term goals but advised members of over ambitious goals that we cannot accomplish. She told conference that the organisation needs to address our goals one at a time. In addressing our educational goal, Vice Chair admonished the house about the need to establish a development fund and to come up with a short term project that we can work on. She was very precise to say we must accomplish one goal at a time and must involve proper planning and implementation. Dr. Ndomaina who is one of the organisation’s credible board members totally agreed with our iron lady. He too buttressed and emphasised the notion that in achieving any short term goal like taking over of the KDGO Primary school we definitely need to establish a fund now. Another credible board member in the person of Mr. Hilton Gbolie wasted no time in commending Chairman Fanday as KDGO Chair but highlighted the following valid points: 1. When you are talking of establishing a primary school you have to break it down to incremental steps so that people can understand and know what they can do. 2. We have to establish a financial target before we can take up a project. Mr. Gbolie stressed that with money everything is possible. 3. Build a very strong and effective organisation. In order to create a major impact we have to focus on the financial objective which is very important. In Mr. Gbamoi’s contribution, he endorsed Mr. Gbolie’s ideas to be beautiful. He also agreed that finance is very important if we want to achieve our goals. He further stated that in line with our educational objective, we have started paying the teachers’ salaries (4 months). He confirmed with conference that he has sent money to the supervisor of schools in Kono, Mr Clint Foday. Mr. Peter Kanjama and chairman Fanday both also supported the idea of establishing a development fund. In his contribution, Mr Balla Aziz Bah told conference that he is extremely happy for the progress we are making but he would like to be briefed on our objectives and projects. In an assertive mood Mr. Bah informed members that he always wants to be a winner and does not want to commit himself to an organisation that is doom to fail. He also reiterated the dare need to raise funds. Let’s invest on the organisation first, he said. Mr.Alphoso also contributed by hammering home the need for us to be organised. He emphasised the need for unity before progress can be made. However, he accused the organisation of selecting its executives instead of electing them. He also went further to brief conference that he was a member of the constitutional committee and was surprised to note how the organisation has transformed into KDGO with Mr. Fanday being the chair. In response, the Vice Chair was quick to dismiss Mr. Bah’s claims as ridiculous and baseless and that the organisation he was serving as a constitutional committee member was not KDGO but another organisation that collapsed before it was even formed she joked. In a no nonsense mood the Iron Lady made it known to Mr. Bah that KDGO is a totally different organisation from the one he was referring to and went further to let him know the journey we’ve started and where we are today. Vice chair also put it to Mr. Bah that KDGO is here to stay and that Mr. Jalloh was solely responsible for his disgraceful exit but he is welcome to come back if he chooses to the iron lady said. Mr. Gbamoi in his normal straight talking and in response to Mr. Bah blatantly stated that the visionary KDGO Executives were duly elected and committed sons and daughters of Kono that will be working tirelessly in the interest of our District. In discussing the non compliance of the OCTEA Mining Company, the PRO Kemoh Sidibay was instructed to read our press release which he did. In his contribution to the discussion Mr Gbolie was eager to know whether anyone has seen the mining document and whether the stakeholders are based in the UK or America. In answering Hilton’s questions Isata informed members that the document is on line and Mr. Sinah stated that the stakeholders are based in London. At the end of the discussion it was agreed that we hold on to the press release until contact is made with the Mayor. The teleconference meeting was concluded by Isata Sangbah giving the vote of thanks. The meeting was then adjourned to Saturday, 20th December 2014.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 08:34:06 +0000
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