Sierra Leone: Gov't to Probe Child Adoption Saga

Ibrahim Tarawallie

8 June 2010

Freetown — A decision has been reached by cabinet for government to sanction the setting up of a commission of inquiry into the alleged adoption of a number of children in the provinces by an American-based agency, Main Adoption Placement Services or MAPS in 1997.

Minister of social welfare, gender and children's affairs, Dr. Soccoh Kabia told Concord Times on the phone that the decision was reached after a thorough deliberation on the issue by cabinet.

"Cabinet has endorsed for a commission of inquiry to be set up by government to look into the child adoption saga. The decision was taken during last Wednesday's cabinet meeting. It will not take long for it to be set up," the minister revealed.

He added that once the commission has been set up, it would invite for questioning those that were involved throughout the adoption process and look at whether or not the adoption itself was done legally and with the full knowledge of the parents.

Help A Needy Child International (HANCI), a local child welfare organisation that facilitated the adoption of the children, had earlier claimed that the adoption was done legally and that parents of the children were fully informed throughout the process.

However, during a meeting with the minister of social welfare, gender and children's affairs last month, the aggrieved parents demanded the immediate return of their children. They claimed that they were 'hoodwinked' by HANCI into believing that there children would be well taken care of and educated up to university level.

Minister Kabia said the spokesperson for the aggrieved parents has been duly informed on the decision of cabinet on the said matter.

"The commission will be an independent body because government is seriously concerned about the said issue," the minister noted.