CHRDI Chief Flags University Fraternities as Breeding Ground for Corruption

The Chief Executive of the Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI), Abdul M. Fatoma, has alleged that certain university fraternities in Sierra Leone have contributed to nurturing corruption, claiming that informal networks formed on campus later evolve into connections influencing government and public offices.

Speaking during a media interview program, Fatoma expressed concern that personal relationships between some civil society activists and government officials can weaken activism and compromise accountability.

He noted that his independence in advocacy is partly due to not having attended university in Sierra Leone, which he said has helped him remain detached from the country’s political establishment.

According to Fatoma, fraternities such as the Auradicals and Liberals have contributed to fostering long-term relationships that later affect access and decision-making within public life. “Those fraternities have babysat corruption in this country big time,” he said.

He warned that such networks, built during university years, often continue to operate beyond campus, reinforcing practices that undermine integrity and weaken oversight systems a pattern he believes could have lasting effects on governance and accountability in Sierra Leone.