By Amb Sidikie Elvis Fornah
For decades, the voice of young people in Sierra Leone has been muffled under the heavy hands of older generations who continue to control, manipulate, and handpick youth leaders to serve their own interests. This entrenched culture has weakened genuine youth participation, stifled innovation, and reduced leadership opportunities for the very people who are supposed to be the torchbearers of tomorrow.
Despite the existence of the National Youth Policy of Sierra Leone, which aims to empower young people, promote transparent leadership structures, and encourage democratic participation, the reality on the ground often tells a different story. Section 4.5 of the policy clearly states that “youth structures at chiefdom, district, and national levels shall be established, strengthened, and run in a democratic manner to ensure free, fair, and transparent leadership selection processes.” Yet, many times, these principles are undermined by political interference and personal interests.
One recent example is the ongoing legitimacy dispute surrounding the position of Chiefdom Youth Chairman under the Kunikie Sanda Youth Council (Masingbi Town) in Tonkolili District A few months ago, a group of self-selected youths began circulating documents on the chiefdom’s main WhatsApp forum, claiming to have succeeded in replacing the legitimate chairman, Mr. Mohamed S. Kargbo, who had been duly appointed by the Tonkolili District Youth Council.
These “flying documents” contained lists of signatures some reportedly obtained without consent and declared the installation of a new chairman. Several stakeholders later distanced themselves from the process, rejecting any involvement in the attempted removal. The accusations against Mr. Kargbo included corruption, abuse of office, and overstaying his tenure, though no credible evidence was presented through due process.
In response, the Tonkolili District Youth Council categorically reaffirmed its authority, citing the National Youth Policy, which grants it the power to appoint and dismiss any appointee to the position However, behind the scenes, it appears that certain influential figures have been pulling strings, attempting to bend the rules for their own convenience, believing they can wake up one morning and rewrite the laws without accountability.
This saga reveals a deeper problem: the absence of clearly defined guidelines at the chiefdom level regarding the scope, functions, tenure, election procedures, and removal processes for youth leadership positions. Without such structures, opportunistic actors will continue to exploit the system, and young leaders will remain vulnerable to manipulation.
The District Youth Council and the National Youth Commission must act decisively and urgently to resolve the crisis in Kunikie Sanda before it escalates into broader conflict. More importantly, they must strengthen democratic processes to ensure that youth leadership truly reflects the will of young people, not the vested interests of older political power brokers.
Until this paradigm shifts, the struggle for genuine youth leadership in Sierra Leone will remain trapped in the tight grip of the old guard.