By Foday Moriba Conteh
Concerned students of Fourah Bay College has on Monday 21st February 2020 written a letter to the President of the Students’ Union Government, Fourah Bay College, Adama Sillah requesting for a comprehensive update on the activities of the Students’ Union Government, Fourah Bay College (hereinafter known as SUG) to the general student body of Fourah Bay College.
The Concerned Students maintained that the request is coming after a plethora of students called for updates, adding that the campaigns that led to her election were really engaging and in several of her interviews or debates, she vehemently stated that she will look into the accusations of financial malfeasance against her predecessor and update the general student populace on the financial status of the Student Union Government.
“Eight months into your Government, we have not had a single student union meeting. In fact, we are deeply concerned that your Government doesn’t have a database of members of the Union. Let me hasten to remind you that not every student is a member of the Union and that only those who have paid the Student Union fees are bona fide members of the union”, they stated.
The Concerned Students pointed out that in lieu of the above, part II, Section 2 (1) of the Right to Access Information Act of 2013 requires that; “Every person has the right to access information held by or under the control of public authority.” Information is reformation and it is in nexus with part II, Section 2(1) that they wrote to request information which should be provided by documentary proof on the following matters as stated hereunder:
The students pointed out that they wish to know the number of students who are members of the union since governance is continuity; they demand a comprehensive financial update on what was raised from student union fees from the Bona-led administration to present. Being that from 2012/13 academic year to 2017/18 academic year there was no functioning union, and the administration was still charging students union fees.
They continued that they demand information on how much the Bona-led administration inherited, expenditure of the funds within that time frame and what was expended on as explained by the university and that the SAFO will also be specifically written with regards same, furthering that within the last three years, several social functions were organized by the former Government and her current administration without any follow-up report on the process of the functions and the gains accrued from them and that as much as they demand information on the dinner and award programs organized by Bona, the farewell dinner and award organized for members of his Executive and the Mr. & Miss FBC Beauty Pageant that was organized by her Government last year as that was the maiden activity since her ascension to power.
“We further request information on any monies that was disbursed into the Union by the Administration as sponsorship or Union funds, revenues generated from ticket sales, sponsorship, donations and withdrawals from the Union’s account if there is one. Also, we hereby requested documents for all projects written and those sponsored. Whether funds were transferred to the Union’s account as sponsorship or from Union funds (if any) for implementation, any procurement process undertaken and an inventory list of all items donated to the union,” they pointed out .
The Concerned Students noted that it is evident that three years ago, the college had three functional buses but at the time of them writing this letter, none of those buses are operational and that in fact, the University has been reduced into a mere parking site if not to say garage.
“Consequently, we demand receipts or ticket books relating to the operations of these buses for the last three years, revenues generated, and expenses made from the funds generated by same. Believing that the SUG prides itself on transparency, accountability, spotless and flawless integrity and also believing that you have not forgotten that the SUG Constitution unequivocally made the Students of Fourah Bay College the Supreme authority, we wish to score in aptness that; it will be expedient and prudent enough you furnish the students of Aureole with these pressing information as they border on accountability and transparency in student leadership which has been a living breath of fresh air as far as student politics is concerned,” they concluded.
Copies of this letter were sent to the Vice Chancellor and Principal, the Warden of Students and the Right to Access Information Commission.
This writer contacted the President Students’ Union Government, Fourah Bay College, Adama Sillah in relation to the said letter but she inform this medium that she has not received a copy of the letter and that she only saw it on social media. On the other hand the Concerned Students revealed that the letter was sent to her email through the Students’ Union Government email address the letter was also sent to the Minister of information FBC SUG.
