By Our Correspondent
The proliferation of traditional healers in the country has aroused concern as
many of them have indulged in unethical and dangerous practices.
Some of them now form fake associations and extort money from other traditional
healers claiming to have the authority to issue licences while some indulge in
voodoo practices using traditional herbs and charms to destroy lives. The
practice of using charms and other voodoo practices became prevalent over the years and it placed many people under perpetual fear.
The emergence of the Sierra Leone Traditional Healers Union, an umbrella organization, to curb such menace was therefore a welcome idea. The President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma officially recognized the Union and its leader Alhaji Sulaiman Kabba (photo) and openly declared his support for the Union.
Many people say the forming of fake unions to parallel the Sierra Leone Traditional Healers Union was therefore an attempt to undermine President Ernest Bai Koroma’s Agenda For Prosperity, which is a human development programme.
Currently, the activities of traditional healers in the country are monitored
and regulated by the Sierra Leone Traditional Healers Union. Alhaji Sulaiman
Kabba says that there are plans to train youths in traditional healing so that
they would engage in meaningful employment. He however vows that the Union would continue to pursue and help prosecute those who combine traditional healing with voodoo practices to destroy lives. He adds:
“When President Koroma gained power, he delegated some of it it to his subordinates and one group that he delegated authority to was the Sierra
Leone Traditional Healers Union. We would not tolerate people to make use of
herbs in the harmful way without any checks. Anyone who goes beyond the power of healing by encouraging, soliciting , aiding and abetting the use of charms or
herbs to destroy lives, if caught would be severely dealt with by the law”. He
therefore warns that all traditional healers should acquire permits from the
Union in order to carry out their activities. He says his union is the traditional body
recognized by the government. He also warns that any meeting, gathering, or
event organized in relation to traditional healing purposes without the consent
and approval of the Union should be reported to the police.
He finally warns that fake organisations issuing or claiming to have the authority to issue licences should desist forthwith and urges the public to report such practices to the Union or the police for investigation.
“There is no parallel organisation to the Sierra Leone Traditional Healers Union”, he declares.
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