Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The former Bank Governor of Sierra Leone, Kelfala Kallon, has announced his intention to sue the government in the United States if his pension is not paid into his US Dollar account.
Kallon expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to deposit his pension into a leones account, arguing that it significantly undervalues his entitlement.
In a statement, Kallon emphasized that his pension should reflect the basic salary specified in his contract, which is denominated in US Dollars. “The law says you give me 40% of the basic salary,” he stated, highlighting that the current payment method is inadequate and disrespectful. He further asserted, “You paid for me to come here, and you are paying for me to go back. Why insisting to pay my pension here?”
Kallon pointed to the Bank of Sierra Leone as the responsible party for this issue, claiming that the governor of the bank should address the situation. “The person who is responsible for this is the Bank,” he stated, indicating that he holds the institution accountable for the pension payment discrepancies.
Should the matter remain unresolved, Kallon is prepared to take legal action in the United States, stating, “We are in a democracy. In a democracy, we resolve issues in the court.” He plans to sue the Bank of Sierra Leone, insisting that the court should determine the legitimacy of his claims. “I will if they don’t deal with this, I’m going to sue them in the US,” he affirmed.
Kallon believes that President Dr. Julius Maada Bio is aware of his potential legal actions, as he claimed to have met with Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh and the Secretary to the President regarding the issue. When asked about his relationship with the President, Kallon remarked, “I think the question is for the President to answer.”
The former governor also linked his refusal to accept leones currency to broader concerns about West Africa’s reputation regarding money laundering and drug trafficking. “The Western World is looking at West Africa as a hub for money laundering and drug trafficking,” he noted, suggesting that this context raises questions about the legitimacy of his pension payments.
He argued that retirees should have the right to choose where their retirement funds are deposited, stating, “When people retire, they choose where their retirement payments should go.”
For More News And Analysis About Sierra-Leone Follow Africa-Press
