Mrs. Fanta Bai Secka, Director of Social Welfare, on Monday testified in court in an ongoing case between a Briton, Muhamed Collyer, and his adopted son, Richard Chirwa, a Malawian.

Adducing the facts before Magistrate A. Mbacke of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court, Mrs. Secka stated that in 2001 a family case revolving around the welfare of a child called Richard Chirwa Collyer and his surrogate father, Muhammed Robert Collyer, a British citizen and proprietor of Malawi Bar and Restaurant, was referred to her office by a social worker.

Mrs. Secka related that in the report, the issues were that the rights and basic needs of the child, Richard Chirwa, were not being taken care of. She added that as the Director of Social Welfare, she intervened by holding several meetings in her office with Mr. Muhammed Collyer and his legal representative.
She said that her efforts to resolve the issue took this form between 2001 and 2003, all geared to ensuring that Richard is provided with his basic needs of shelter, education, food and clothing but that it was difficult to get Muhammed Collyer committed.

Mrs. Secka referred to the brilliant and exceptional results of the boy in the Grade 9 exams, adding that because of his plight the Social Welfare Department undertook to pay for his education and other basic needs by sending him to Armitage Senior Secondary School to complete Grade 12.

Mrs. Secka explained that invoking the powers vested in her under the Adoption Act, she took custody of Richard as it is her responsibility to give protection to any child in The Gambia who is in need of protection for his or her welfare.

Mrs. Secka further said that in her efforts to give Mr. Richard Collyer comfort, she arranged with SOS for Richard to be staying there during holidays since Mr. Collyer had withdrawn his support as the adopted father.

Still testifying, Mrs. Secka further adduced that it was also discovered that Mr. Muhammed Collyer had also brought another child named Isaac who, with the help of the late Mr. Joe Tembo of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights, was repatriated to Malawi but that the case of Richard had proved more difficult as he was closely attached to his adopted father.

She said that through the late Joe Tembo, she obtained some documents, which she used to contact the Malawian Social Service via the International Social Service in Geneva, Switzerland, adding that this was done to trace the original family of Richard in order for him to join his biological parents.

At the end of her testimony, she said that she finally forwarded the case to the Department of State for interior suggesting that Richard’s immigration status be assessed and regularized, and that the case be forwarded to the IGP for Mr. Collyer to refund Gambia government money spent on Richard’s education and welfare.