Corruption at Student Level – Fourah Bay College Students’ Union Government covertly buy shares at bank without the knowledge of the Studentship

It is a known enucleation that ardent corruption has eaten into the progressive fabric of the African continent. Additionally, the phenomena is not only present in the legislative or executive arm of government, but it has crippled into mere Students’ Union bodies as well. The initial responsibilities of Students’ Union bodies is to translate the plight of students to the administrative wing of the institution. Furthermore, student-related bodies can also actively ponder on national issues. For instance, in the 60s and 70s, student bodies were radical in nature. In South Africa, they majorly inspired the struggle against apartheid. For Sierra Leone, the all-round pressurized motive of students specifically from Fourah Bay College, was more than enough to get the dictator Siaka Stevens on bending knees. The power of Student Unionism.

In an enlightened exposé from a student of Fourah Bay College, the oldest university in West Africa, leaked documents shows that the previous dispensation secretly bought shares from a bank without the knowledge of the studentship.

The first document illustrated below highlights evidence of bonus dividends paid into the account of the government. A bonus dividend is an amount of money given by a company to its shareholders in addition to the usual payments they receive from the profits the company makes.

A consideration of 2019 is included. One may not be certain as to when the dealings could have started. But it is a clear certainty that they happened during the tenure of the previous leadership.

The document highlighted above shows that ordinary shares were bought by the Students’ Union Government (SUG) in the sum of Le 9,112,500 (nine million, one hundred and twelve thousand, five hundred Leones), dated back October 2020.

These revelations are coming at a time when students have accepted the impossibility for their government to physically erect classrooms or provide buses for their usage. But a body meant to channel their difficulties are secretly investing in companies. Investments are an advantage. Nevertheless, for a body wholesomely poised for the general good, it must actively be a consenting tool to the mandates of students. Besides, why are dealings done secretly?

So far, not a single release has been made from a representative of the previous government or the former president.