By Kelfala Kargbo

Freetown, 8th December 2025 – The Parliamentary Committee on Employment, Labour and Social Security has summoned the Chief Executive Officer of Angel Group Limited, John Paul Conteh, to answer allegations of non-payment of salaries, benefits, and compensation for work-related injury to former employee Ibrahim Kanu.

The summons followed a letter of complaint Kanu addressed to the Clerk of Parliament on November 17, 2025, requesting intervention to secure payment of outstanding salaries, compensation for permanent disability, and other benefits due under labour laws.

Kanu, who worked as a technician on 24-hour standby, recounted to the committee how in January 2022 he received a call at 1 a.m. from Conteh instructing him to travel from Makeni to Masiambi, Port Loko, to repair a malfunctioning generator. On his return, he was involved in an accident that led to the loss of his left leg.

He alleged that Angel Group covered only two months of his medical bills before abandoning him. His contract was never formally terminated, but salary payments stopped in December 2024. Kanu told the committee he had been paid NLe1,500, and that the company still owed him NLe18,000 in arrears.

“It tortured me both physically and psychologically. Imagine I worked so hard for him, and when I sustained a life-threatening injury, he did not bother to check up on me or show any form of care,” Kanu said.

His younger brother, Osman S. Kanu, described him as the family’s breadwinner.

“Hadn’t we been around him, he would have been even more stressed. Just imagine someone who was a breadwinner, and the very company he worked for failed to show any care or concern,” Osman said.

After repeated attempts to resolve the matter with Conteh failed, Kanu and his family sought help from the Legal Aid Board. Lawyers were assigned to pursue his case.

Bankole C. E. Morgan Esq, one of Kanu’s lawyers, told Truth Media:

“My institution, the Legal Aid Board of Sierra Leone, is interested in ensuring that in this case, the complainant gets justice.”

The committee also raised concerns about whether Angel Group had been making statutory contributions to the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT). Kanu said no contributions had been made for him since December 2024.

When asked by Hon. Abdul Karim Kamara if he had been paying NASSIT for Kanu and other employees, Conteh was unable to provide receipts and requested time to confirm. He insisted that since the company’s establishment in 2009, contributions had been made, but failed to produce evidence.

Under the NASSIT Act No. 5 of 2001, employers are required to contribute 10 percent of workers’ earnings, while employees contribute 5 percent. Defaulters face fines under Section 6 of the

Conteh admitted that Angel Group owed Kanu between NLe70,000 and NLe80,000, but committee members questioned the calculation and demanded clarity.

Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Joseph Bash Kamara, admonished Conteh:

“Beyond all reasonable doubt, you have reneged the responsibility in salvaging the calamity of this young man. From a human ground, you could have done more for someone who had served you for a long time.”

The committee ordered the Ministry of Labour and Employment to investigate and submit a report within two days, with Conteh instructed to comply fully with its findings.

Kanu expressed gratitude for Parliament’s intervention.

“I believe in the leadership of Parliament in handling the issue in my favour,” he said.