By Amin Kef Sesay
The long-awaited launch of the National Achievement Awards 2019 hosted by All Works of Life (AWOL) successfully ended on Friday 22nd November, 2019 at the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel, Aberdeen in Freetown.
Present at the occasion, which took the form of a cocktail, were a galaxy of personalities including the Minister of Tourism, Chief Minister, President of AWOL among several other AWOL members and other invited guests.
Before officially launching the National Achievements Awards (NAA), Chief Minister Prof. David Francis recalled the famous words of former US President John F.Kennedy when he said: ‘do not ask what your government can do for you; rather ask what you can do for your government,’ and likened this scenario to that of AWOL, which he described as an organization which has as its aim and objective to celebrate ‘change-makers.’ He described ‘change-makers’ as those people who are doing their utmost in their little corners to put Sierra Leone first and set bright examples for others to emulate.
According to Prof. Francis, for eighteen years now AWOL has been at the forefront of transforming the lives of people in Sierra Leone while serving as an inspiration at home and even in the Diaspora devoid of political, regional and other sentiments. He added that AWOL has been a credible partner to successive governments including the current government. He used the opportunity to call on every Sierra Leonean not to underestimate their respective roles in giving support to governance and development issues, because it is only when each and every Sierra Leonean gives support to the government that the much-needed change everyone needs will come about and urged AWOL Executive and members to continue the work they have been doing since their establishment.
Prior to the launch the Minister of Tourism, Dr. Memunatu Pratt, in her statement reminded the audience that the methodology used in identifying the final nominees to be voted for would have to be explained in simpler terms so that the average Sierra Leonean would understand how nominees emerge winners of the awards in the various categories.
She added that the nomination process is academic and therefore it would have to be broken down so that the least person can understand at the end of the day why his/her nominee won or lost as the case may be and so there would be no accusations or counter-accusations about any nominee being cheated. She maintained that at the end of the day the most important issue is that voters are satisfied that their votes are reflective of their efforts against the odds.
She called on the organizers of the National Achievement Awards not to leave any stone unturned and ensure that they brace themselves to reactions which might not be complimentary, adding that in these days of cell phones and social media it is very easy for dissatisfied persons to use such technology to tarnish the names of people or institutions. She called on all Sierra Leoneans to participate in the process, as it is a rebrand move for the Ministry of Tourism and for the country as a whole.
On his part, President of AWOL, Ambassador Anthony Navo Jr. started out by giving a brief synopsis of the organization. He informed the audience that AWOL was formed 20 years ago to serve the country in a distinct fashion. He added that coming from a 11 years’ war, as young people, they decided to form a group with a distinct mission to recognize distinguished Sierra Leoneans as well as to complement and serve as an auxiliary to government and this they have been doing successfully since the founding of AWOL.
He said AWOL was privileged in May 2001 to have former President Tejan Kabbah (deceased) to officially launch the organization at the British Council. He went on to say that ever since, AWOL has comprehensively complemented the efforts of successive governments and is poised to continue the same with the current Bio-led administration.
He recalled that apart from recognizing distinguished Sierra Leoneans, AWOL has been involved in development programmes, citing the construction of a school at Gondama, Tonkolili District valued at $1.5M, supporting at least 40 students that have now graduated from various colleges and universities, renovating the X-Ray Department at the Connaught Hospital and providing X-ray equipment worth over one thousand US Dollars.
He stressed that AWOL is apolitical and is here to put Sierra Leone and the interest of Sierra Leoneans above all other considerations. He said AWOL members come from diverse backgrounds, but they all have a common goal and share the same belief.
He informed his audience that the business of AWOL is to launch the process, but when it comes to taking decisions as to who qualifies and who does not for the awards, that task is left with the National Achievement Awards Committee (NAAC) comprising of 50/50 President Dr. Taqi as Chairman, Asmaa James Vice Chair and other prominent members.
Other speakers at the well-attended ceremony included Ahmed Sahid Nasralla – AWOL’s Secretary General, Mahmoud Idriss and Asmaa James who gave the vote of thanks.
Below is the short-listed nominees:
AWOL NAAs 2019 CATEGORIES & NOMINEES
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EDUCATION
1. TERTIARY INSTITUTION OF THE YEAR 2019
– IPAM
– Njala
– UNIMAK
2. SECONDARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR 2019
– Dele-Peddle International School
– Sierra Leone Grammar School
– Providence International High School
3. PRIMARY SCHOOL OF THE YEAR 2019
– Gateway Preparatory Primary School
– International Primary School
– Modern Elementary School
4. YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR 2018- NPSE
– Menjor, Esther Sia (Leone Preparatory Prim. School)
5. YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR 2018 –BECE
– Hooke Johan Harmonette D. (Providence Int. Snr High, F/Town)
– Taqi Hafeez Othman (Sierra Leone Grammar Sch., F/Town)
– Jalloh Khadijatu (Annie Walsh Memorial Sch., F/Town)
6. YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR 2018 –WASSCE
– Saffia Kai (Hermann Gmeiner Int. Sch., F/Town)
– Turay Abdulai S. (Dele-Peddle Int. High, F/Town)
7. YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR 2019 –NPSE
– Russell Affuah (The International School Ltd., Prim)
8. YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR 2019 –BECE
– Manyeh Kaiwanday Nova (Sierra Leone Grammar Sch., F/Town)
– Koroma Umu B. (Modern High, F/Town)
9. YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR 2019 –WASSCE
– Gbakima Aiah (Sierra Leone Grammar Sch., F/Town)
SPORTS
10. SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR 2019
– Mohamed Buya Turay
– John Keister
– National Swimming Team
GOVERNANCE
11. MINISTRY OF THE YEAR 2019
– Ministry of Health and Sanitation
– Ministry of Tourism and Culture
– Ministry of Information and Communications
12. PARASTATAL OF THE YEAR 2019
– Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)
– National Revenue Authority (NRA)
– Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL)
13. PARLIAMENTARIAN OF THE YEAR 2019
– Hon. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella
– Hon. Abdul Kargbo
– Hon. Ibrahim ‘Tawa’ Conteh
MEDIA
14. PRINT MEDIA HOUSE OF THE YEAR 2019
– Awoko
– Sierra Eye Magazine
– Standard Times
15. RADIO MEDIA HOUSE OF THE YEAR 2019
– Radio Democracy 98.1 FM
– SLBC Radio
– Kiss 104 FM
16. TELEVISION MEDIA HOUSE OF THE YEAR 2018 2019
– AYV TV
– SLBC TV
– Star TV
17. MEDIA PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR 2019 (FEMALE)
– Stella Bangura (AYV TV)
– Zainab Joaque (Awoko Newspaper)
– Khadija Bangura (98.1)
18. MEDIA PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR 2019 (MALE)
– Amadu Lamrana Bah (AYV TV)
– Mohamed Asmieu Bah (SLBC TV)
– Kemo Cham (Politico Newspaper)
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
19. PERFORMING ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2019 (MUSIC)
– Rozay Sokota
– Arkman
-Drizllik
20. PERFORMING ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2019 (MOVIE)
– Desmond Finnie
– Henrietta Mbawah
– Phebean Swill
21. PERFORMING ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2019 (COMEDY)
– Desmond Beinya
– Kindo Armani
– Richie Obama
22. ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2019 (FINE ART)
– King Dus Art
– Alusine Conteh
– Cyril Oronto-Cole
FINANCE & BUSINESS
23. BANKING INSTITUTION OF THE YEAR 2019
– Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB)
– Ecobank SL
– Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB)
24. INDIGENOUS BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 2019
– Union Trust Bank (UTB)
– Gento Group
– NP-SL
MEDICINE
25. MEDICAL PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR 2019
– Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha
– Dr. Francis Lansana
– Dr. Aiah Lebbie
HUMANITARIAN
26. HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR 2019
– Sick Pikin Project
– Pikin Bizness
– Melqosh Mission
LAW
27. LEGAL PRACTITIONER OF THE YEAR 2019
– Musa Mewa Esq
– Ibrahim Fayia Sawaneh Esq
– Joan Bull Esq.
THE FORCES
28. MILITARY OFFICER OF THE YEAR 2019
– Brig Gen Victor Samba
– Lt Col Roland Robin Gbondo
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29. POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR 2019
– Mr Francis Musa Hazeley (Chief Supt of Police)
– Mrs Juliette Kumba Kondoh (Supt of Police)
– Mr Edward Tamba Keimbay (Asst Supt of Police)
30. FIRE FORCE OFFICER OF THE YEAR 2019
– Sahr I. Aruna (Sub Officer)
– Abu Bakarr Fofanah (Sub Officer)
– Adebayo Williams (Sub officer)
31. CORRECTIONAL OFFICER OF THE YEAR 2019
– Mohamed Santigie Turay (Director of Corrections)
– Rev Mrs. Josephine R.M. Findlay (Chief Supt of Corrections)
– Mr. Joseph Emmanuel Manley (Chief Supt of Corrections)
AGRICULTURE
32. FARMER OF THE YEAR 2019
– Kabia Farm
– Jam Jay Enterprise
– Madam Haja Sundu Marrah
CIVIL SOCIETY
33. CSO/CBO OF THE YEAR 2019
– Campaign for Good Governance
– CARL- SL
– CHIRDI- SL
HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
34. HOSPITALITY HOUSE OF THE YEAR 2019
– The Place- Tokeh
– Radisson Blu
– Lagoonda
FASHION
35. FASHION DESIGNER 2019
– Madam Wokie
– Hudsons
– J & F Fashion
PETTY TRADING
36. PETTY TRADER OF THE YEAR 2019
– Isatu (Plasas Seller, Aberdeen Market)
– Abdulai Jalloh (Butcher, Krootown Road)
– Sarian Karimu (Shenge Market, Bo)
NATIONAL SERVICE
37. PUBLIC SERVANT OF THE YEAR 2019
– Lara Taylor-Pearce (ASSL)
– Francis Ben Keifala (ACC)
– Micheala Mackay (CAC)
COMMUNICATIONS
38. TELE-COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY OF THE YEAR
– Orange SL
– Africell SL
– SIERRATEL
