Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Staff members of Sierra Leone’s Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) have staged a protest at the Commission’s office, calling for the resignation of TEC Chairman Prof. A.M. Alghali over allegations of financial misconduct, specifically ‘double-dipping,’ which they claim amounts to over Le 2 billion.
The protest follows a series of allegations against the Chairman, including abuse of office, maladministration, and corruption.
The protest erupted after a recent investigation by the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) into claims of misconduct within the TEC, particularly focusing on accusations involving Prof. Alghali.
Staff members, including Josephus Sawyer, the Commission’s Admin Manager, allege that Prof. Alghali has been receiving both his TEC salary and an additional salary from Njala University, where he served as Vice-Chancellor before his appointment at TEC. This, they argue, constitutes “double-dipping,” a form of corruption that violates public service regulations.
“We have clear evidence in the TEC Employee Net Payment (ENP) document showing that Prof. Alghali has been receiving both his TEC allowance and salary from Njala University under the Government of Sierra Leone payroll since 2019,” said Sawyer. “The total amount he has received from both payrolls since 2019 exceeds 2 billion Leones.”
Alghali, however, has denied these allegations, explaining that he is entitled to a pension as a former vice-chancellor and that any payments made to him are in accordance with his rights. “I was employed at the University of Sierra Leone in 2008, and as per the TEC Act, I am entitled to a pension after retirement,” Alghali told Truth Media. “So, where is this ‘double-dipping’ coming from?”
Despite Alghali’s denial, TEC staff maintained that the evidence is clear and point to multiple instances where he allegedly received payments for leave allowances, even though he had long since retired from Njala University.
They argue that this constitutes an ongoing pattern of financial misconduct. “Receiving leave allowances multiple times after retirement is not an oversight, it’s clear corruption,” Sawyer added.
The staff’s protest also highlights issues beyond financial misconduct. Many have raised concerns about the Chairman’s leadership style, citing chronic intimidation, abuse of office, and the usurpation of the powers of the TEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Saidu Kanu. Kanu stated that Prof. Alghali often takes control of management meetings and decisions, rendering his position as Executive Secretary ineffective.
“Prof. Alghali conducts all management meetings, he is the Vote Controller, he does everything,” Kanu explained. “I have been reduced to merely writing letters under his directive. This is a clear violation of the TEC Act of 2025, which states that the activities of the Commission should not be controlled by any individual, institution, or authority.”
The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education issued a response, stating that their investigation found no evidence to support most of the allegations made against Prof. Alghali, except for “historic systemic governance and fiduciary weaknesses” within TEC. The Ministry has recommended a review of TEC’s management and functional processes to strengthen institutional procedures.
However, the Ministry’s findings have been met with skepticism from TEC staff. They argue that the Ministry’s investigation was flawed and failed to adequately address their concerns. “The Ministry’s investigation into the corruption allegations against the Chairman was poorly handled. The evidence we provided should not be dismissed,” Sawyer asserted.
Staff members also raised concerns about the lack of resources at TEC, citing inadequate equipment and supplies, particularly for female staff members. “At our management meetings, Prof. Alghali would berate us, saying we are useless and don’t know anything,” said Nadia Parkinson, the Manager for Accreditation of Program, New Institutions, and Legislation. “He has used foul language against us and created a hostile work environment.”
The Chairman, for his part, has defended his actions and leadership style, insisting that he is not guilty of any misconduct. “The staff feel they own the Commission, but that’s not the case,” Alghali said. “I am not entitled to staff conditions because I am not a staff member of TEC. My role is to oversee the running of the Commission.”
The allegations against Prof. Alghali have not only strained relationships within the TEC but have also raised broader questions about governance and accountability in Sierra Leone’s education sector. With Parliament having postponed a scheduled meeting to address the issue, staff members have vowed to continue their protest and push for further investigations.
“We want to restore integrity and professionalism to the Commission,” said Emmanuel Thinka-Kamara, Manager of Academic Audit and Institutional Affairs at TEC. “We cannot continue to work under these corrupt practices. We are calling on Parliament to act on this matter urgently.”
As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the government, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and Parliament will respond to the mounting allegations against Prof. Alghali and the broader concerns raised by TEC staff.
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