{"id":53768,"date":"2013-03-06T16:28:24","date_gmt":"2013-03-06T16:28:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sierraexpressmedia.com\/?p=53768"},"modified":"2013-03-06T16:28:24","modified_gmt":"2013-03-06T16:28:24","slug":"the-problem-with-customs-posts-and-security-in-sierra-leone-a-case-for-public-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sierraexpressmedia.net\/?p=53768","title":{"rendered":"The problem with customs posts and security in Sierra Leone – A case for public safety"},"content":{"rendered":"

An independent nation should be able to protect not only its citizens but also its territorial integrity. \u00a0In addition, it should meet conformities that satisfy the standards of the country\u2019s security, even if not adequately, to protect her customs posts. \u00a0Yet, in Sierra Leone, customs posts are placed considerable distances from borders, providing no protection against modern-day terrorism, smuggling, and other vices that counter the needs of the state. \u00a0The result of poorly placed posts is the preponderance of rebel incursions that cost human lives and lead to the potential downfall of the state.\u00a0 (Photo: author,\u00a0Michael Fayia Kallon)<\/em><\/p>\n

For instance, in the Kissi Teng chiefdom in Sierra Leone, the border between Sierra Leone and Liberia is in Mendekorma, Liberia or Baeldu, Sierra Leone. \u00a0In the past, one could see only the Liberian customs post in that location. \u00a0The customs post located in Koindu, Sierra Leone, is almost three miles from the Mendekorma border. \u00a0This distance enabled smugglers, rebels, and maybe terrorists to veer off footpaths and enter Sierra Leone unnoticed; the result was the human carnage that engulfed our nation when the war spilled across our porous border between Liberia and Sierra Leone.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, the Yenga issue should be taken into consideration. \u00a0The Makona River forms the boundary between Sierra Leone and Guinea, of which Nongoa, a town in Guinea, is just on the bank of the Makona River; the Guineans have a customs post in that town. \u00a0On the Sierra Leone side, Yenga is almost a mile from the Makona River, and a mechanized Guinean army set up camp on a hill just a stone\u2019s throw from the Makona River on Sierra Leone soil. \u00a0In the past, a small contingent of Sierra Leone police sat in Weimah, a town two miles from the Makona River. \u00a0That also shows how porous our boundary has been with Guinea. \u00a0The customs post has always remained in Koindu, two-and-a-half miles from the Yenga area and from the Makona River. \u00a0It means that, since independence, there has never been any customs post between Guinea and Sierra Leone in the Yenga area. \u00a0The security has always been questionable between Guinea and Liberia in the northeast sector of Sierra Leone.<\/p>\n

One should note that there is a customs post in Buedu in the Kissi Tongi Chiefdom that is almost six miles from the one in Koindu. \u00a0Why that was built such a considerable distance remains a mystery since vehicles that smuggle goods can just slide through Dia in the Kissi Kama Chiefdom to Kailahun, the district headquarters, and then to the capital city of Freetown, instead of being checked in the customs post in Bueda? \u00a0That is a clear indication of the security breach in that area. \u00a0Those vehicles are never examined until they empty their goods in the capital city of Freetown.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, Sierra Leone in this work should be considered a \u201cfree country,\u201d considering immigrants just enter the country, make themselves comfortable, and disrespect the immigration laws. \u00a0They apply for passports and parade smuggled goods across the country as long as they pay some money at the police checkpoints where their bundles are not properly checked for arms or goods that may cause material damage and\/or human havoc. \u00a0Terrorism is on the rise, and terrorists have maintained a steady supply of money which is crucial to lubricate the wheels of terrorism.<\/p>\n

There are rumors that unscrupulous business men and women in most African countries are today manufacturing the currencies of most African countries in the northeast Asian countries. \u00a0Such counterfeit currencies, neatly packed in containers, have been retrieved successfully in the harbors of these countries and have been invested in illegitimate businesses across the continent, just because of security lapses.<\/p>\n

The newly built customs post at Forecariah between Sierra Leone and Guinea stands majestically. \u00a0Although it has not been completed, it is hoped that it will meet the paramount responsibility of the governments of Guinea and Sierra Leone: to assure the security of all persons, citizens or not, who legally reside within their sovereign territories. \u00a0The roads leading to both capital cities of Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Conakry, Guinea, have been paved and meet the standards of today\u2019s engineering feat.<\/p>\n

In this respect, Sierra Leone is an unsafe country, one where money laundering can be seen on all of its streets. How on Earth can any nation survive economically when one can observe economic hooligans standing on street corners trading in the black market, as they exchange money which should be done in banks so that the country can benefit from foreign exchange? \u00a0Sierra Leone, like most African countries, has not improved its counterterrorism capabilities; increased cooperation among governments in Africa is still lacking today. \u00a0This means that Sierra Leone should be termed a \u201cwelfare state\u201d because with all the riches in the country, corruption has contaminated the mindset of her politicians. \u00a0That is the most worrisome part; only God has protected the country from modern terrorism. \u00a0This rich nation sits and awaits international donors to feed her people while politicians fight to usurp every ounce of unscrupulous behavior, even if the country stays unprotected and is cannibalized by malfeasance and by the abuse of public office. \u00a0This has created an anemic situation where poverty and crime have been concentrated not only in cities but in towns and villages across the country, thus depriving the poor of legitimate educational, occupational, and economic opportunities. \u00a0The politicians, on the other hand, want the poor to vote for them while they are more concerned with acquiring wealth, filling their pot bellies, and getting money at any cost, even if it means emptying the country\u2019s banks.<\/p>\n

Such graphic details about the how fragile and unprotected the borders of Sierra Leone are only ignite the reasons people break the law. \u00a0Legitimate efforts to succeed are not as highly valued in the Sierra Leonean culture; corruption, malfeasance, and political hatred among tribes have grown to colossal size and power. \u00a0One can then conclude that the growth of economic prospects of any nation should be the drive to build dynasties that could extend its power, and to invent viable policies and the adequate ability to protect her borders.<\/p>\n

By Michael Fayia Kallon<\/i>, PhD Candidate, Public Safety\/Criminal Justice, Capella University\/USA<\/i><\/p>\n

Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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