-Rev. Francis Kollie says people must account for their stewardship
More calls continue to be made for the setting of a war and economic crimes court in Liberia, with the latest coming from the Executive of the Prison Fellowship of Liberia Rev. Francis Kollie.
He said it is necessary for the establishment of the war and economic crimes court in the country for people to give full account of their stewardship.
Rev. Kollie was speaking the Smart Media Group, publisher of “Smart News Liberia this week honored the Prison Fellowship Executiv as Humanitarian of the year 2018.
In his recent State of the Nation Address, President George Manneh Weah failed to make any mention of this subject, despite the traction the issue of justice for those who bear the greatest responsibilities for the carnage during Liberia’s 14 years of civil war which officially ended in 2003.
Rev. Kollie said it is important for all those that participated in the 14 years Liberia civil crisis to give account of their involvement in the war, so as to serve as deterrent fort any one that may want to engage in any war far.
According to UN estimate, the Liberia Civil conflict killed about 250,000 people, something that eventually led to the intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the United Nations.
The head of Operation of the Media group, Mr. Sam Coleman said their Smart Media Group was founded April 15, 2015, to publish positives contents and reach out to those (Liberians who are contributing or had contributed positively to the growth and development of Liberia.
He said based on that, his group monitors people and institutions of prominence in the country, with a special vetting committee set up headed by James K. Flomo. Who along with team carefully monitor the performances of every prominent individual, institution, or government official.
He however said their vetting committee, headed by chairman Flomo, did a survey and a careful analysis observing the activities of the Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Rev. Francis Kollie.
According to Coleman based on its analysis made it clear to SMG management that Rev. Kollie and his institution, Prison Fellowship deserves flowers based on the continued contributions he continues to do since the establishment Prison Fellowship.
He said Rev. Kollie seeks to provide help and healing for prisoners throughout the country adding that establishment of the so to end the culture of impunity in the country .
He said with the help of volunteers, education and restorative justice programs, mentoring, and legal assistance. Rev. Kollie efforts have left successful release of pre-trial detainees in the country through its mediation programmer run in partnership with East-West Management Institute.
Mr. Coleman also indicated that a survey, with only three hundred (300) lawyers for an estimated 3.5 million people, Rev. Kollie through Prison Fellowship Liberia‘s Legal Aid programme offers hope to those being held on pre-trial detention illegally.
He stressed that the committee reliably learned that from February to June 2009, Rev. Kollie through his maneuvering skill and programme volunteers facilitated the release of 117 pre-trial detainees.
He emphasized that Rev. Kollie has made possible for PF Liberia to monitor prison conditions in Bong, Lofa and Nimba Counties, which to ensure that prisons are conducive for inmates.
“Rev. Kollie through Prison Fellowship has transformed many inmates who are now serving as monitors at various prison facilities. These former inmates are now productive citizens and employed with the PFL because they understanding the prison terrain and can better monitor and contribute to the advocacy for the others in detention, the vetting committee’s survey revealed” said.
Rev. Francis S. Kollie, through efforts PFL has instituted reforms at the various prisons in the country, to reform the prisons.
According to the committee, it was revealed that the software is to capture every inmate that enters into the prison, how long they have been there, and that if the inmates have stayed over thirty days or more, that software will show highlights that this inmate needs to go to court.
“And based on these significant the vetting committee then recommended to the management of Smart Media Group that Rev. Kollie, Executive Director of Prison Fellowship Liberia deserves a certificate of appreciation as “Humanitarian of the year 2018,” he said.