By Ibrahim Sesay 

Cricket Sierra Leone has taken a decisive step toward resolving long-standing disputes that have hindered the growth of the sport during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting held at T-Resort, Yonkai Road, York,  Western Rural District on Saturday, September 13, 2025. The dialogue brought together leading voices in the cricket community alongside representatives from the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Authority to address grievances that have stalled the Association’s progress, including accountability concerns, audit issues and allegations of unlawful removal of members.

Haroun Korjie, Director of Sports at the Ministry of Sports, described the divisions within Cricket Sierra Leone as damaging both to trust and to the spirit of the game. He reminded stakeholders that the Sierra Leone Cricket Association has long been one of the country’s most consistent and successful sporting entities, with national teams bringing home laurels and showcasing Sierra Leone’s ability to compete at international standards. “Cricket Sierra Leone has been one of the most consistent Associations. Time and time again, the national team has brought laurels, proving our ability to compete at the highest level and meet international standards,” Haroun Korjie said. He appealed to those present to set aside personal differences for the good of the game, stressing the importance of dialogue and collective commitment. Quoting an African proverb, he added: “If you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far, go together. For the game to move forward, we all must work together.”

The call for unity was reinforced by Kobi Walker, Vice Chairman of Cricket Sierra Leone, who emphasized the broader social role of sport in shaping the future of young people. “The future of our children hangs in the balance. We have a responsibility to secure their future and create the enabling environment for them to thrive,” Kobi Walker said. He warned that many young Sierra Leoneans are falling victim to drugs and that sport offers a pathway to keep them off the streets. “If we do not come together to secure the future of our children, the future of the game will be a challenging one,” he added.

David Nelson Williams, President of the Stakeholders Association – Sierra Leone Cricket Association, welcomed the initiative and praised the effort to foster reconciliation. He noted that the path forward required openness, fairness and mutual respect. “We need to approach this engagement with an open mind and respect to encourage our aggrieved brothers who had left to return,” David Nelson Williams said. He underscored that genuine dialogue and the willingness to listen to all parties would build accountability and allow cricket to thrive again in Sierra Leone.

Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, Director of the National Sports Authority, also called for peace and unity among cricket stakeholders. “I believe it’s time to have a conversation on how to solve the problem and settle grievances,” Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai said, pointing out that only through unity can the game attract support and progress. While acknowledging that disagreements are common in every sport, he praised cricket for its track record of success in bringing laurels home to Sierra Leone, urging stakeholders not to allow internal divisions to undermine that achievement. “Cricket has done more than any sport in bringing pride to this country. That is why peace must be embraced,” Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai stressed.

At the end of the deliberations, stakeholders reached several key resolutions aimed at restoring stability and strengthening the governance of Cricket Sierra Leone. These included reviewing and merging existing constitutions into a single unified document, setting up an Electoral Board, establishing an Appeals Board, creating a Disciplinary Committee and forming an Ethics and Complaints Committee.

The adoption of those resolutions was welcomed as a turning point for Cricket Sierra Leone, with many expressing optimism that the decisions taken will usher in a new era of cooperation and accountability. With renewed unity and a clear roadmap, stakeholders hope the sport can reclaim its momentum and continue serving as a source of national pride and an avenue for empowering Sierra Leone’s youth. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/cricket-sierra-leone-resolves-long-standing-disputes-through-stakeholders-dialogue/