Forwarded by Arthur Peter Harleston
A Betrayal of Excellence: Why Francis Ben Kaifala is Unfit to Address Sierra Leone Grammar School’s Prize Giving Ceremony*
The Sierra Leone Grammar School stands as a beacon of academic excellence, integrity, and discipline, shaping the minds of future leaders who will uphold the highest moral and ethical standards in society. It is therefore nothing short of a travesty that an individual as tainted and controversial as Francis Ben Kaifala has been chosen as the keynote speaker for the school’s prestigious prize-giving ceremony. This decision is not only an affront to the school’s proud legacy but a dangerous precedent that signals to young, impressionable minds that abuse of power, corruption, and partisanship are acceptable qualities in a leader.
Francis Ben Kaifala, the embattled Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman, has become the embodiment of everything our nation struggles against—political bias, selective justice, and an insatiable appetite for power. His tenure has been marred by accusations of shielding corrupt officials aligned with the ruling party while launching relentless and often unfounded attacks on those perceived to be opposition figures. Instead of being a vanguard against corruption, he has weaponized his office to serve partisan interests, thus eroding public trust in the very institution meant to uphold justice and fairness.
Under Kaifala’s watch, corruption has not been tackled but rather institutionalized. The so-called ‘fight against corruption’ has been nothing but a witch hunt against perceived political opponents, while those aligned with the ruling party have been granted immunity, no matter how glaring their transgressions. How then can such a figure be allowed to stand before the bright and hopeful pupils of the Sierra Leone Grammar School to preach values he himself has so flagrantly disregarded?
Even more damning is his recent involvement in the Sierra Leone Bar Association elections, where his presence as the returning officer raised serious ethical concerns. The legal profession, which ought to be the bastion of fairness and due process, found itself compromised by a man who has time and again demonstrated that his loyalty lies not with justice but with the ruling regime. The chaos and allegations of electoral malpractice that followed further underscored the deep distrust that many have for Kaifala’s actions and intentions.
For Sierra Leone Grammar School to extend an invitation to such a figure is nothing short of an endorsement of his questionable methods. What message does this send to the pupils who are being honored for their diligence and honesty? That integrity is optional? That power can be abused without consequence? That justice is only for those who hold the right political affiliations?
It is incumbent upon the administration of Sierra Leone Grammar School to reconsider this misguided decision. The pupils, parents, and distinguished alumni deserve better. The prize-giving ceremony is a celebration of hard work and merit, not a platform for individuals whose actions have undermined the very principles the school seeks to instill. To allow Francis Ben Kaifala to address the pupils is to stain the reputation of a historic institution and betray the values upon which it was founded.
Sierra Leone deserves leaders who inspire hope, integrity, and genuine progress. If the school wishes to maintain its distinguished legacy, it must ensure that the individuals it chooses to honor with such platforms are those who truly reflect the ideals of excellence and moral uprightness. Francis Ben Kaifala is not such a person. His presence at this event would be an insult to the many past pupils who have upheld the school’s values with dignity and honor. The decision must be reversed, and the school must stand firm in its commitment to shaping responsible, ethical, and incorruptible leaders for the future.
*Authored by a Concerned Regentonian & Parent*
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