By: Mamajah Jalloh
Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, has intervened in a dispute between the management of Koidu Government Hospital and the local Muslim Jamat over the proposed demolition of a mosque to pave the way for the hospital’s expansion and future development.
During an engagement in Koidu, members of the Muslim Jamat expressed support for the hospital’s development plans but raised concerns about securing an alternative place of worship and making adequate arrangements for the transition before the existing mosque is demolished.
Dr. Juldeh Jalloh, who has experience in conflict resolution and mediation through his previous work with the United Nations, clarified that his intervention was not intended to impose a decision on either party but to facilitate dialogue and achieve an amicable settlement.
He emphasised that the matter required mutual understanding, cooperation and goodwill between the hospital management and the Muslim community.
“My role is to mediate this process and encourage both parties to work together towards a peaceful resolution that accommodates the concerns of the Muslim community while allowing the hospital’s development to continue,” he stated.
The Vice President encouraged both parties to convene a goodwill meeting to agree on practical transitional arrangements that would address the community’s concerns while ensuring that the hospital’s expansion plans were not unnecessarily delayed.
The Koidu District Medical Officer, Dr. Mohamed Gbessay, explained the circumstances surrounding the construction of the mosque and assured the Vice President that the hospital management was prepared to work collectively with the Muslim community to address the concerns and reach an amicable solution.
Representatives of the Muslim Jamat reiterated their support for the hospital’s expansion, stressing that their primary concern was the availability of an alternative place of worship for hospital staff and other members of the Muslim community during and after the proposed demolition.
Following the engagement, Dr. Juldeh Jalloh visited the existing mosque earmarked for demolition and an alternative mosque located approximately 100 metres away, which has been identified as a potential interim place of worship should the proposed demolition proceed.
The Vice President’s intervention is aimed at ensuring that the hospital’s development aspirations are pursued through dialogue and consensus, while respecting the religious concerns and worship needs of the Muslim community.