In a tumultuous scene on May 18, 2024, Sierra Leone’s Bar Association elections were marred by chaos, corruption, and blatant disregard for democratic principles. The day culminated in the controversial declaration of Tuma Adama Jabbi Gento Kamara (Mrs. Gento Kamara) as the winner, an outcome that has sparked outrage and dismay among candidates, observers, and the general public.
The election, which should have been a beacon of justice and fairness, instead descended into pandemonium. As the flawed procedures unfolded, it became apparent that the election was anything but free and fair. The disorder escalated to physical altercations among candidates and their supporters, with chairs being hurled in the heat of the moment.
The government security forces intervened, deploying tear gas to disperse the frenzied crowd. Amidst the chaos, the chant Ben Kelfala, Shame on you, echoed through the hall, directed at Ben Kelfala, Sierra Leone’s current Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, who supervised the elections. Kelfala is now widely accused of rigging the election in favor of his friend and SLPP colleague, Mrs. Gento Kamara.
The suspicion of foul play was further fueled by videos of Kelfala, and Mrs. Gento Kamara seen dancing together at a party the night before the election, seemingly celebrating her victory prematurely. This blatant display of partiality has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many who hoped for a fair and impartial election for a vital institution in the country such as the Bar Association.
But who is Mrs. Tuma Jabbi Gento Kamara?
She is far from being an ordinary candidate or a random woman who triumphed. She is a prominent politician and a member of the political elite with deep roots in the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). Her father, Bubuakai Jabbi, is a key political figure in the SLPP and a mentor to President Maada Bio. Mrs. Gento Kamara’s husband, Mr. Gento Kamara, unsuccessfully ran for Freetown Mayor in the 2023 General Elections. Since President Bio took office in 2018, Mrs. Gento Kamara has held significant positions within his administration, first as the Commissioner of the National Revenue Administration (NRA) and currently as the Chairperson of the NRA Board.
Her ascension to the presidency of the Bar Association represents a severe blow to the democratic fabric of Sierra Leone. The Bar Association, an institution that should be a bastion of neutrality and a vital check on government power is now under the control of a figure deeply embedded within the ruling party. This development is a chilling indication of President Julius Maada Bio’s strategy to capture all essential non-government institutions, further entrenching his hold on power in Sierra Leone.
In a damning video that has since gone viral, First Lady Fatima Jabbi Bio (Mrs. Bio), notorious for her behind-the-scenes manipulation and rigging of elections, is seen celebrating the win with Mrs. Gento Kamara at the Presidential Lodge, along with Mrs. Bio’s usual ring of debased Paopa JMB women. In the video, Mrs. Bio is heard declaring in Krio, We have won… we are the winner…, which starkly confirms the government’s covert involvement in orchestrating this sham Bar Association election in the country.
The head of the Anti-Corruption Commission, tasked with upholding the integrity of institutions in the country, has facilitated this election, which will go down in the Bar Association’s history as one of the most corrupt election processes in recent memory. The Bar Association, an institution meant to defend justice, has suffered a grave injustice at the hands of President Julius Maada Bio through his Anti-Corruptioon Commissioner, Ben Kelfala. This moment marks a dark day for democracy in Sierra Leone. The installation of Mrs. Gento Kamara as the president of the Bar Association symbolizes not just the manipulation of an election, but the broader erosion of democratic values and institutions in the country.
The result of the Sierra Leone Bar Association’s 2024 Election should be a wake-up call! A call to action for all who believe in justice and democracy to stand up and resist the authoritarian encroachment on vital institutions by the Julius Bio cabal, posing a real threat to the very foundations of Sierra Leone society’s development and progress.
Watch First Lady & Mrs. Tuma Gento Kamara’s Display of Impunity Celebrating a Rigged Election
MAMA SALONE ~ Lioness of the West Coast 