March 18, 2021
By: Sulaiman Stom Koroma
The Sierra Leone Football Association’s elections have been marred by controversies and bone of contentions and tussle. This has been happing since the days of Justice Tholla Thompson, Nahim Kadi, and now Isha Johanson. The issues have always been voter’s eligibility, the timing of the congress, approval of the finances of the FA, and other problems.
During Tholla Thompson’s rule from 1996-2004, no presidential candidates were disqualified, although, in his second bid, one of his opponents, Eke Halloway withdrew from the race citing progress of work by the executive. Nahim Khadi took over the reign of rule from 2004 to 2013. Again, during this period there was no disqualification of candidates. “We never had disqualifications, though elections by then were competitive we allow free participation,” said Alimu Bah, Former Secretary-General, Sierra Leone Football Association.
But according to Musa Kamara, a sports journalist, “the reason why many disqualifications were not happening at this time is that there was no FIFA code of ethics at the time, as the FIFA code came into existence in late 2003 to 2004.”
As the election was drawing closer for Isha’s election, the world governing body, FIFA, endorsed the decision by the Football Associations normalization committee, to disqualify some key contestants in the elections. Such names were Mohamed Kallon, Rodney Michael, and Foday Turay- these were all aspirants for the position of President. Owing to this, they decided to boycott the elections which were slated for (2013) Saturday, August 3rd.
“The thrust of the 2013 elections goes far beyond the FIFA angle. There was existing government interference in favor of Isha and cohorts,” Said Alima Bah who was Secretary-General of the Sierra Leone Football Association from 1996-2013.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Kallon who was the Former captain of the Leone Stars was disqualified because they say he has not lived in the country for about five years before the congress for which he seeks elected.
Rodney Michael and Foday Turay were also candidates contesting as president under the same election, they were disqualified because they say they contravened Article 25 of the FIFA Code of Ethics which deals with betting, gambling, lotteries, and similar events or transaction connected with football.
Though the elections were due in January 2013, it was delayed as a normalization committee was set-up in the wake of the 2012 presidential elections in the country. The interim body was apparent at the time, as FIFA has already dissolved the SLFA executive committee because the then President- Nahim Khadi, was ill, and his Vice-President Alie Kargbo stepped down, leaving a big vacuum in that position.
Pundits say, the election in itself was fraudulent and skewed to aid Isha’s ascendancy to power. “The elections were conducted on an unfair playground, Isha was given the election,” says Hassan Kanu a football fan who was present outside the football academy after the elections.
After the elections, Isha Johansen promised to work together with the disqualified contenders “I want to use this month of Ramadan and this opportunity to extend my hand of peace to Rodney Michael, Mohamed Kallon, and Foday Turay. I’m the winner but I don’t consider them as losers, we can work together because I don’t have all the ideas – I appeal for the anger to stop. In the next three months, we’ll be holding an extraordinary conference to map out the way forward, we’ll have a blueprint.” She said
Before the build-up to the SLFA elections, the elections were postponed several times. This was due to several disagreements over the eligibility of presidential candidates. The situation was exacerbated so much so that it almost led to a global ban in September 2012. The then Sports Minister Paul Kamara was forced to withdraw a decision he had taken to dissolve the SLFA board due to incompetence.
On becoming the president of the Sierra Leone Football Association, Isha Johansen became one of just two females who has clinched the position of FA president in the world. Africa’s only female FA president took office in 2013 but his reign has been tainted with controversy, infighting. Worse still- the Ebola epidemic crisis compounded by the following:
- Johansen spent a night in custody when detained by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) after failing to attend a hearing, whereupon ACC officials and armed police raided the SLFA secretariat.
- The ACC investigating the FA for the use of funds received from FIFA, she was later released without charge.
- The High Court of Sierra Leone froze the local FA’s assets after ordering a court injunction, again this was lifted after FIFA visited the country.
- This injunction was filled by Isha’s rivals who felt dissatisfied with the way and manner in which Johansen is running the FA and more especially that her mandate had expired after the elections were delayed.
“I think her tenure was mixed with both some positives and mostly negative effect, so many problems, and issues for her, in so far she was unable to deliver most of her promises because of the lack of support from stakeholders. But with all this, she organized the league, and participated in most football competitions,” said Mustapha Kalma, a sports writer.
Even though she has spent seven years in office, Isha is again contesting as president of the Football Association for the second time “I have decided to run for a second term in office – after careful deliberation, I would like to finish what I started. There is unfinished business ” Johansen told BBC Sport. She went further to state that the Ebola took away two years from her tenure and the remaining two years were marred with controversy, infighting, boycotts by those she says opposed her leadership.
Though the elections should have been held on 3 August several factors have dragged the process, one of which was the match-fixing scandal. The world governing body was in Freetown to create an amicable platform for the elections but more importantly, look into the issue of match-fixing. Since 2014 when the issue of match-fixing came up, eleven officials and four players were suspended by the Sierra Leone Football Association pending investigation. A recent verdict from FIFA denied them of any wrongdoing.
After Isha’s declaration, other interested football stakeholders also did the same, one of them was the former Chairman of the Bo District Football Association, Rodney Edmond Michael. Rodney promised a change for the Heroes Foundation, Referees and Coaches Association, female members of the Association “Under my leadership, I shall amend the statutes and remove the delegate status from organizations to the independence of Heroes Foundation, referees and coaches association will have their delegate status replaced with permanent executive positions, to be determined solely by their members and that they will no longer be taken advantage of or compromised in exchange for votes,” he said.
Already, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Sierra Leone Football Association, Dr. Oluniyi Robin Coker has announced the 26th & 27th February 2021 as the new dates for the SLFA Elective Congress which is to be held in Makeni. This is the second date pronounced by the commissioner, the first was the 17th April 2020, but was postponed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. The elections Dr. Coker says is going to be guided by the SLFA Electoral Codes 2012, the SLFA Statutes 2019, and all other relevant statutes, regulations, by FIFA, CAF, and SLFA, other requirements were that candidates should be nominated by a member of SLFA, who is fully paid up and qualified. A nomination fee of Le 10 Million should be paid by Presidential candidates; Le 5 Million by Vice Presidential candidates; and Le 3 Million by Executive Committee members.
Nominations were then opened and were closed on the 8th January 2021. At the expiration date of the nomination process, 17 successful nominations were received before the deadline date. 5 for the position of President; 4 for Vice President 1, 2 for Vice President 2, and 6 for Executive Committee positions.
The nomination was crowded with commotion and fighting after Mohamed Kallon and others were disqualified from contesting. The said commotion led to an injury on the head of Isha’s campaign manager- Victor Lewis. Because of this awful event, the electoral committee fined some members and clubs for what the commission says, “they were bringing the game to disrepute.”
As the euphoria continued, on the 5th of February 2021, the Parliamentary Committee on Sport invited the Football Association and other relevant stakeholders in the electoral process to see how the issue should be resolved. After the meeting, the Parliamentary Committee on sport put a hold on the elections until the issues around the elections are settled. “We as an Oversight Committee on Sports has ordered the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) Electoral Committee to ‘stay action’ in their ongoing 2021 electioneering process until the Committee concludes its engagement with the football family”. Honorable Alusine Kainde Alu-Conteh, Chairman of the Committee.
This decision was frowned upon by FIFA, which led to the issuance of a release warning of government interference. “In this context, we would like to remind you that according to art. 14 part 1 I and article 19 part 1 of the FIFA status, all member association of FIFA including SLFA are obliged to manage their affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties, including government authorities. Any breach of this obligation may lead to sanctions as provided for in the FIFA status, which may also include the suspension of the member association”. The release states.
Knowing how transparency is important in Football, the Electoral Committee, wrote to the FA and the relevant football stakeholders, that they will indefinitely suspend the elections which were slated for the 26th and 27th of February 2021, until the Ethical Committee concludes all investigations and matters they are handling with regards the elections, which will allow a fear competition among all competing parties in the elections. this decision by the Electoral Committee was received with almost the same fillings among fans, clubs, and aspirants.
“This Sierra Leone Football Politics has taken a long time with its challenges in the game of football, if the stakeholders are on the same path, football will grow in the country. But when they have different minds, it’s hard to see football grow, it was better that the elections were postponed so that we can have better organization and give everybody an equal opportunity to compete”. Usuf Bangura, Football fan.
Another comment on the issue was captured: “The electoral body should now ensure they properly look into the issues that warrant the press release and give a second chance to all parties to correct their earlier mistakes, set a level playing ground for all and ensure a peaceful and transparent election” Musa S. Kamara, Sports Presenter, Radio Democracy.
“It was better than the elections were postponed so that the committee will take their time and do the right thing and make a better decision, when wrong decisions are made it does not only affect the elections but the entire football game. So it is better to see the right process done than allow mistakes to happen”. Victor Lewis, Chairman East End Tigers Football Club.
“The reasons advanced by the committee seem legitimate and it is also constitutional because the committee should be able to conclude their work before the elections are held. The complaints were many at the time that it should have not been completed before the stipulated election date. My only concern is that it has taken over a month now and nobody has communicated to us about progress, because the whole process should have lasted for just two weeks”. Rodney Michael, Aspirant SLFA Presidential Election.
It is still not known when the elections will be held, now the date the Ethics committee will conclude their work. While some are waiting with clear faith to contest the elections others faiths are in a state of despondency.
Records have it that all recent presidents who have contested for a second term have succeeded. This election has got its twists and turns, making it possibly impossible to judge who the winner for the president will be. Mohamed Kallon and Rodney Michael are contesting for the second time as president; the two boycotted the last elections after they were disqualified. Unlike Mohamed, Michael has also contested for the position of Vice President twice but failed on both occasions.
As for Isha, her first attempt was a sure ball, she won her first contest at ease, though pundits say the elections were riddled with controversies. If she wins the next election, then, she will join her predecessors on a two straight win, but if she loss, she will become the first in recent times.