Bagging a Prestigious Award… Chief Justice Becomes Ambassador

October 26, 2020

Newly crowned Ambassador of women and girls

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Chief Justice, His Lordship Desmond Babatunde Edwards was on Friday 23^rd October, 2020 crowned as He for She Ambassador for his unshakable fight to end rape and other related offences hindering the growth and development of children and youth.

Hon. Ambassador Justice Edwards was also given the National Girls Mentorship Award in recognition of his relentless and outstanding service to women and girls empowerment in the country.

The Finance Director of the Youth and Children’s Advocacy Panel, Yatta Jusu Jaka Ngobeh, said they were grateful for the commitment demonstrated by the Hon. Amb. Justice Edwards through the establishment of the Sexual Offences Model Court.

“In our considered opinion, those strides cannot go unnoticed without awarding you,” she said, adding that “we should have given you this award during the celebration of the International Day of the Girls Child, 11^th October, 2020 but it is still not late to award you in your office.”

On her part, Fatmata Jaria Bah, National Secretary General of Youth and Children’s Advocacy Panel, said their organization is not for profit making and is operating in Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Ghana and Gambia. She explained that the organization advocates for the rights, protection and development of young people and for promoting the basic human rights of women and girls in Africa.

According to her, they also represent children in both national and international policy forum that has to do with their welfare and development. She said in three years, they have empowered over 3000 young people across the country.

Receiving the award, Amb. Justice Edwards said he was elated but short of words because the award came as a surprise. He said he believes action speaks louder than words and therefore commended the organization for recognizing his good work.

He thanked His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio for his commitment and support to bring tangible reforms within the Judiciary through the advancement of the rule of law, promoting justice and guaranteeing human rights.

The Chief Justice assured that he will continue to give a new face and build public trust and confidence in the Judiciary.

To Address Current Impasse… Concerned Limkokwing Students Appeal to Pres. Bio

October 26, 2020

President Bio.jpg — His Excellency, Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio

By Amin Kef Sesay

In a Press Release dated 24th October, 2020 Concerned Government Sponsored Students of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology Sierra Leone Campus have drawn the attention of His Excellency, Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio and the Government of Sierra Leone to the long overdue, prolonged holiday and stagnated impasse between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Limkokwing University, which to some extent has caused the complete breakdown and a halt of classes for over 1000 students that are on Government scholarship pursuing professional Diploma and Degree courses for over One year and three months without attending classes.

It was further stated by the sponsored students of Limkokwing University that they are perturbed and seriously frustrated over the snail pace at which their problem is been handled by the Government that is supposed to ensure their right to education is solidly guaranteed and protected as enshrined in the 1991 constitution but is treating and abandoning them as if they are not sons and daughters of the nation.

They recalled the 23rd of August, 2019,when students pursuing degrees took their year 3 final examinations to proceed to the final year of their studies, also the second year students and the diploma students that have already completed their internships only
waiting now for their end of course certificates till date but are unable to actualize this milestone achievement.

The concerned students say what saddens them most is the fact that majority of their colleagues that they started together in other sister universities and colleges have long since graduated and some are now working while they are unable to complete not to talk of the incessant mockery and name calling by some of their colleagues, community and family members.

They lamented that sadly, due to such an endless impasse, halt in classes and mockery, a handful number of their compatriots have gave up the ghost , some have been psychologically frustrated and traumatized. As for the ladies, some have gave birth to babies whiles others are pregnant and for some of them have lost lucrative opportunities.

The aggrieved students pointed that for some of their colleagues from the provinces they are in the city languishing and succumbing to all such of odds, eschewing the embarrassment, shyness and provocation ahead if returning home without their diploma and degrees papers.

They complained that painfully for them, their Sierra Leonean counterparts in other universities and colleagues are on their studies while they are at home dying with frustration, stress and trauma seeing their colleagues are progressing while they are sharply retrogressing with no sign of hope ,roaming endlessly, knocking the doors of rightful authorities, written volume of letters to authorities concern, the media , civil society , Inter Religious Council , Ministries , House of Parliament and other relevant institutions and personalities, holding plethora of meetings just to get their matter solve. According to them it seems as if their appeals, cries, efforts engagements and correspondences are treated with levity.

These frustrated students say based on the aforesaid they are calling and appealing to His Excellency Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio to swiftly intervene and ameliorate their persistent problem for them to continue with their studies.

They draw the attention of His Excellency that in as much as they are craving in his indulgence, they also want to make it equivocally clear that they are Sierra Leoneans with huge prospects ready to give back to society upon completing their various courses.

“His Excellency, you being a lover of education and a passionate and compassionate leader that knows the worth of education more so you’ve over and over reiterating that without education you wouldn’t have been a President of this great nation,” they stated adding how they strongly agree with him and also agree with the Government’s national agenda to ensure every child in Sierra Leone has access to quality education irrespective of one background. On that note, they are pleading to him and his Government to please resolve problems so that they can graduate and serve this nation the various digitalized and professional Hi-tech skills that they have acquired from the globally recognized university.

They ended by calling on all Sierra Leoneans including their Moral Guarantor, International Community, Civil Society and the Media to join them in appealing to the Government of Sierra Leone to see reasons and pay their fees as they have endured a lot.

Pres. Bio Launches Poppy Remembrance Week

October 26, 2020

By Fatmata Jengbe

President Julius Maada Bio, on the 22^nd October 2020, launched the 2020 Poppy Remembrance Week in honour of all military servicemen and women who lost their lives in the line duty.

Co-Chairman Remembrance Day Planning Committee, Commissioner Rashid Thomas II, said remembering the Poppy Day was often done by Heads of State, particularly those of the Commonwealth of Nations.

He added that the commemoration of the day on 11 November every year was for the over 20 million officers who died during the World War. He noted that the ceremony is always preceded by a thanksgiving service.

Delivering a statement on behalf of the Sierra Leone Ex–Servicemen Association, Acting President Lieutenant Colonel Rtd. Dominic Sowa, said that they had always celebrated Poppy Day as an affiliate to the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League in observing a moment of reflection of their colleagues that lost their lives in the two World Wars and the eleven-year civil war in Sierra Leone.

“The significance of the National Remembrance Day is to demonstrate to the citizenry that those who lost their lives in the defense of their mother land are not only remembered but honoured in a very special way,” he said.

Before launching the 2020 Poppy Week Remembrance celebration, His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio said that all over the Commonwealth of Nations the Poppy Day was being celebrated to show respect to the fallen, the wounded and all those servicemen and women who had served in various conflicts since 1914.

“From Somme to Gallipoli; from the northern Sahara to Burma; and in various theatres from the Congo, Darfur Somalia, Liberia and back home in Sierra Leone, our men and women have served with gallantry and distinction. We honor their valor; we salute their great courage; and we will forever remember their sacrifices,” he said.

The President urged the Ex–Servicemen Association to continue to be peaceful and law abiding just as they served the country with passion and dignity. He urged them to continue to contribute meaningfully to the security and development of the country.

Spire USA Inc Reneges on Le 2.63 Billion Owed To St. John Paul II

October 26, 2020

Executive Director of the Order of St. John Paul II, Dr. Terry F. Rees

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Order of St. John Paul II (the Order), which is a world-wide canonical association of professional men and women that provides free technical expertise to Roman Catholic Dioceses has on Friday 23^rd October, 2020 accused the Spire USA, Inc. which is the Project Manager and Developer that was implementing the ABCD Export City Project (the Project), for reneging to pay Le 2.63 Billion it owes the Order.

This disclosure was made during a virtual Press Conference convened by the Executive Director of the Order of St. John Paul II, Dr. Terry F. Rees.

Dr. Terry F. Rees disclosed that Spire USA, Inc., as Project Manager and developer of the ABCD Export City Project (the Project), has reneged to refund the sum that Spire USA owes the Order of St. John Paul II (the Order), adding that the purpose of the Press Conference is not an attempt been made to right the wrong, but rather an effort to alert the innocent public about what Spire USA, Inc. is and their intimate relationship with the ABCD Export City Project, based on business experiences with them during the past 10 months.

He disclosed that the Order has members living on five continents members stating how they refer to each other as “Builders” since they are using their broad expertise in Building the City of God.

Dr. Terry F. Rees pointed out that the Order has been working in the dioceses in Sierra Leone since 2017 and their projects have included renovation of existing schools, building new schools, infrastructure and security support for orphanages and convents, developing drinkable water supplies, and upgrading sanitation systems. He furthered that in the future they will continue to implement such projects and will be developing retirement complexes for aged clergy and religious leaders.

“In 2019, the Order heard of plans to develop towns having co-located agricultural, industrial, and residential properties within four locations in Sierra Leone. You likely have seen the video of the launching ceremony for this Project that was widely distributed by the Press and on social media last year. These plans call for the development of industrial and residential water supplies and construction of sewage-collection infrastructure,” he also revealed.

Dr. Terry F. Rees maintaining that these sub-projects match the infrastructure objectives of the Order, they contacted Spire USA, Inc, the Project Manager and Developer to see if there was a way for the Order to participate and that after months of discussion and negotiations, the Order signed an agreement with Spire USA, Inc. to provide specific services for the development of the four towns which are: Moyamba Junction in Moyamba District, Mamamah in Port Loko District, , Tikonkor in Bo District and Tissor in the Kenema District.

“After months of inaction, lack of communication, and numerous broken promises concerning when the Order’s work would begin, the Order started to have concerns about the legitimacy of Spire USA, Inc. and the ABCD Export City Project. The Order began an investigation that uncovered the following: Spire USA, Inc., Project Manager and Developer for the ABCD Export City Project, forfeited its legal registration on January 11, 2020 and legally ceased to exist on that date and that they did not regain legal registration until June 15, 2020.

It was also unearthed that Spire USA, Inc. represented to its business partners, including the Order, that they had legal status during the period of forfeiture when, in fact, that they did not.

He highlighted that representing oneself as having legal status when one does not is a crime in the United States, where Spire USA, Inc. is domiciled.

Also learnt was that Spire USA, Inc. negotiated with and executed an agreement with the Order on March 22, 2020, during the period of forfeiture.

It was said that the abovementioned agreement had a clause that required the Order to deliver a cash performance guarantee (Le 1.86 Billion) to Spire USA, Inc. which the Order understood would be held in escrow until work detailed in Schedule A-1 of the agreement is completed.

Upon completion of the Schedule A-1 work, or upon cancellation of the agreement, Spire USA, Inc. was to immediately return the funds that should have been held in escrow.

The Order, at that time believing that Spire USA, Inc. was a legal business entity, provided Spire USA, Inc. the cash performance guarantee specified in the agreement. Because Spire USA, Inc. did not legally exist on the date the agreement was executed, according to him, the performance guarantee requirement amounts to an unjust enrichment, which is illegal in the United States.

However, instead of depositing the funds from the performance guarantee into an escrow account, Spire USA, Inc. apparently misappropriated the funds and used them to obtain instruments that were used to secure financing for the ABCD Export City Project. “Misappropriation of funds is a crime in the United States,” Dr. Terry F. Rees further stated.

After being confronted with these legal, financial and ethical, improprieties, Spire USA, Inc. agreed to cancel the agreement with the Order on August 25, 2020. The cancellation letter indicated that Spire USA, Inc. would forthwith return the performance guarantee.

Prior to the cancellation, the Order, believing the agreement was valid and acting in good faith, conducted preliminary work under the terms of the agreement. This work has been invoiced (Le 0.77 Billion) to Spire USA, Inc. for payment, as per the terms of the agreement.

In a letter dated September 20, 2020, Spire USA, Inc. told the Order, in essence, that they were having cash-flow problems, and that they do not have the liquidity to immediately return the money that they acknowledged they owe the Order. They also told the Order that they were not going to pay for work conducted between March 22, 2020 (agreement execution) and August 25, 2020 (agreement cancellation).

The Order is yet to receive its refundable performance guarantee that has become a challenge for Spire USA, Inc. to refund. Nor has the Order been paid for the work conducted prior to cancellation of the agreement, Dr. Terry F. Rees disclosed.

He further revealed that the separate issue of unethical and possible illegal conduct by Spire USA, Inc. was exhibited in a WhatsApp posting dated August 13, 2020.

Spire USA, Inc. stated, in reference to the Project, that, “nothing moves unless money is paid over and under the table …” This language, on its face, seems to be an admission that bribes have been paid, or that bribes are expected to be paid, to make things move on the Project, adding that making or accepting bribes is illegal in the United States, where Spire USA, Inc. is domiciled.

He pointed out that the Order cannot, even indirectly, be a party to such corrupt practice by its partners on any of its undertakings.

“The Order believes that our good name has been used to advance the legitimacy of the ABCD Export City Project and we know that our funds were used to secure financing for the Project without our permission. The Order wants to make clear that we neither condone nor participate in the dodgy ethical, financial and legal practices being used to conduct business by Spire USA, Inc. and the ABCD Export City Project,” he strongly stated.

New UN Resident Coordinator Meets With President Bio

October 26, 2020

By Theresa Kef Sesay

On the 22 October, 2020 the new United Nations Resident Coordinator to Sierra Leone, Babatunde Ahonsi, called on President Dr Julius Maada Bio to present his letter of appointment by the UN Secretary General.

”It is with utmost humility and great honour that I present my credentials as the United Nations Resident Coordinator appointed by His Excellency, the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, to serve in Sierra Leone. I am privileged that your Excellency speedily approved my designation and wish to express my sincere appreciation and profound gratitude.

“I am cognizant of the fruitful relations that exist between the Government of Sierra Leone and the UN system. Thus, I am eager to deepen UN partnerships with the Government and our other partners in development towards accelerating the country’s quest for the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and a middle-income country status,” he said.

Mr Ahonsi noted that 2020 had been a challenging year worldwide, especially for Sierra Leone, after having gone through Ebola between 2014 and 2016 to be affected again by the COVID-19 pandemic. He added that despite those health challenges and their adverse development impacts, the admirable resilience of the people of Sierra Leone had kept the country going.

”Your Excellency, this is a time for a change. We can defeat COVID-19 by being responsible citizens and heeding the call of our health experts. Sierra Leone needs all of us to overcome this outbreak. While we are still battling this virus, the UN system in Sierra Leone remains committed to supporting your Government not only with the health response but also with recovery,” he explained.

In his remarks, President Bio welcomed the new UN chief and congratulated him on his appointment, noting that he had taken office at a very difficult time the world over. He agreed with him that the novel Coronavirus was really ravaging the lives of people and the economies of the world.

“Sierra Leone and the United Nations system enjoy a very strong, multilateral and beneficial relationship. I think we are contributing to the UN success around the world. You are going to build on that very good relationship that my country has with the UN,” he said.

The President reiterated that the UN had supported Sierra Leone in achieving its sustainable development goals that would foster developments.

“The country had identified Peace and National Cohesion as a means that would provide the ecosystem for sustainable economic development. We are putting our own architecture together that pays specific attention, at all times, to instigators of violence and unrest. We believe that those fundamental grievances that are left unaddressed can lead to challenges and political upheaval. We want to make sure that they are addressed within a framework,” he noted.

With Very Huge Revenue Earning Potential… More Attention Needs To Be Placed On Protecting Fish Resources

October 26, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

Research done by The Calabash newspaper with regards Sierra Leone’s potential to escape from poverty to mass prosperity within a decade or two clearly showed that Government after Government since the war ended in 2002 have been barking up the wrong tree in terms of what economic resource to focus most on to exploit, in order to bring returns to the country and its long suffering people.

Based on a move that was undertaken by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), an assessment was made of the potential contribution of one of the country’s major natural resource sectors—fisheries—to future economic recovery.

It was confirmed that the fish resources of Sierra Leone have an estimated capitalized economic value of USD 735 million and could potentially make an increased contribution to GDP under suitable conditions, over and above the current estimated level of 10 per cent.

However, our results also show that the sector is unlikely to realize its full potential unless a number of specific areas are addressed (based on analysis valid up to January 2016).

These include an improvement in fisheries economic assessment, the upgrading of the fisheries governance and management framework, and the establishment of a fisheries development strategy and implementation plan to channel future investments and interventions in an appropriate sequence.

Particular attention should be paid to Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing which remain the greatest threats to marine ecosystems due to its potent ability to undermine national and regional efforts to manage fisheries sustainably as well as endeavor to conserve marine biodiversity.

IUU fishing takes advantage of corrupt administrations and exploits weak management regimes, in particular those of developing countries lacking the capacity and resources for effective monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS). IUU fishing is found in all types and dimensions of fisheries; it occurs both on the high seas and in areas within national jurisdiction, it concerns all aspects and stages of the capture and utilization of fish, and it may sometimes be associated with organized crime.

Fisheries resources available to bona fide fishers are removed by IUU fishing, which can lead to the collapse of local fisheries, with small-scale fisheries in developing countries proving particularly vulnerable.

Products derived from IUU fishing can find their way into overseas trade markets thus throttling local food supply. IUU fishing therefore threatens livelihoods, exacerbates poverty and augment food insecurity.

As such, in his statement last week at the commissioning of four speedboats to patrol our waters, President Bio said as a nation, Sierra Leone has to contend with large scale plunder of her marine resources through illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.

He noted that within the country’s 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone alone, such illegal, unregulated and unreported loots by foreign vessels were estimated to have cost the country over 26 million dollars in revenue loss, thousands of jobs, loss of livelihoods for coastal and other communities that could otherwise benefit from an agile fishing industry and great shortage of fish on the local market.

“There is a threat to food security, livelihoods, economic development, and sustainable fisheries management that our small nation can ill-afford.

“Add this to the millions of dollars lost to other such illegal activities as tax evasion; under-reporting of fish catch, and overfishing of our waters that degrade our marine environment and strip local fishing communities of their livelihoods, and the real cost of these illegal acts by illegal foreign vessels mounts,” he said.

Saidu Kanu Escapes Death After Accused of Being Gay

October 24, 2020

By Zainab Kallon

The fate of a 22 years old Saidu Kanu formerly of 2 Habron Street, Fourah Bay road in Freetown, whose father is an Islamic fanatic in the Fourah Bay community, continues to be a mystery as police and angry family relatives are still searching for his whereabouts.

In a press conference summoned by the Sierra Leone Police yesterday 18th October 2020 announcing a Ransom of Le50,000,000 offer for anyone who will help in the arrest of Saidu, it was revealed that he escaped from police custody after he was accused of being a Gay and involved in an act of gay.

Reports state that Saidu was never seen with a girl and many people became curious and concluded that he was homosexual, an act seen in Sierra Leone as taboo especially with his father being a Muslim.

Reports say on 14th October 2020, Saidu was caught red-handed by one Foday Sesay at Fourah Bay Road in Freetown on the abominable act with one Tamba Sesay (son of Foday Sesay who caught them).

According to Foday who spoke to this reporter after the incident, he has an electronics shop situated close to Saidu’s shop in Central Freetown.

He said on the evening of October 14, he left for a meeting and left his son Tamba to look after the shop.

He said upon his arrival, he noticed his shop was closed before the usual time.

However, Foday said he thought the lads closed the shop as a result of low customer turnout, little did he knew he was up to such a devilish act with the accused.

He said he was at the doorway of the shop when someone came and drop some money to him for Saidu’s uncle who also owned a shop next door to his, where Saidu was helping out.

He said he decided to pass by Saidu’s Uncle’s house at Fourah bay road to drop him the money before heading for his own house.

He said upon arriving at the place, he met loud music playing to an extent that no one heard him knocking on the door.

So he said he opened the door and when he entered, he met Saidu and Tamba having anal sex.

So he shouted and neighbors rushed in and they were both dragged to the police station.

Speaking to the police media chief, he confirmed to this writer that indeed Saidu was brought to the station half-dead in the evening of October 14 after being mercilessly beaten by thugs who claimed he has brought shame and disgrace to them.

He said the police detained Saidu and gave him a police medical form to report back.

How he was able to escape after leaving the police station for his medical was what the police media chief could not explain to this reporter.

However, he said there has been a serious manhunt for him and a ransom of Le50,000,000 (Fifty Million Leones) for anyone who can help his arrest.

According to Sierra Leone’s laws, Lesbianism and Gay acts are totally discouraged and disallowed.

The laws state that anyone caught in the practice must face a sentence of Life Imprisonment with Hard Labour.

First Lady Donates Medical & Food Items to Kissy Psychiatric Teaching Hospital

October 23, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

The First Lady of Sierra Leone, Madam Fatima Maada Bio, has made on the 17^th October 2020 donated medical supplies and assorted food items to the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital.

In his statement during the donation, Chief of Staff at the Office of the First Lady, Sheik Salim Fekah disclosed how the visit was part of the First Lady’s commitment to support the people of this country and ensure that people are aware that there is a good system in place. He said the First Lady wants to interact with people in order to see for herself the positive changes they are experiencing as well as the challenges they are going through.

Head of the Psychiatric Teaching Hospital, Dr. Abdul Jalloh said it is indeed an honour to receive the First Lady in their midst revealing how the hospital is the only one in the country and also the oldest in sub-Saharan Africa.

He said the First Lady’s visit is a great birthday gift for them as they are celebrating 200 years of mental health service in Sierra Leone.

Dr. Jalloh lamented how the hospital has been neglected for decades but expressed satisfaction that positive reforms instituted by the present SLPP led administration has brought in various transformations.

He disclosed how they have been working with the First Lady’s Hands Off Our Girls Campaign by providing care for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence victims for free, also providing free psychiatric care for children

According to Dr. Abdul, 80% of the patients admitted at the hospital are abandoned patients and they take full responsibility for them by providing care and 3 meals daily.

Her Excellency Fatima Maada Bio expressed happiness to be, in what she described as this all-important hospital that is so dear to the President in order to render her support.

She said she is very impressed with the transformation and improvement made so far, thanking the team for their dedication to work in a facility like that, saying their job is one of the most difficult tasks or assignment in the country.

The First Lady also informed that it is the first time she is donating to this facility in person promising that she will continue to do so. She said His Excellency the President is dedicated to see more improvement as she looks forward to working with the Management of the hospital as she is thinking about more ways to help in improving the facility.

First Lady Fatima Bio concluded by saying mental illness should be prioritized as individuals do not want to see anyone within their family to be mentally ill incapacitated. She said: “As a nation we have to take care for our citizens with mental illness”.

Millennium Challenge Corporation Chief Executive Raps With Pres. Bio

October 23, 2020

President Julius Maada Bio & Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Sean Cairncross

By Amin Kef Sesay

Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Sean Cairncross on the 16^th October 2020 arrived in Freetown on a two-day visit.

He met with President Julius Maada Bio at State House where they discussed the country’s progress in delivering the MCC funded $44.4 million threshold programme which is aimed at improving the financial viability of the water and electricity sectors in Sierra Leone.

The independent US Government agency works to reduce global poverty through economic growth. Created in 2004, MCC provides time-limited grants and assistance to poor countries like Sierra Leone that meet rigorous standards for good governance, from fighting corruption to respecting democratic rights.

Vice President, Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, who is supervising the activities of the MCC in the country, said since 2018 the threshold programme has been successfully implemented.

Dr Jalloh confirmed that the country has made good progress in meeting the criteria laid down in the MCC scorecard, adding that the Government has built a strong regulatory framework around the energy and water sectors.

“We have made immense gains in the implementation of the threshold program and the score card,” he said.

Mr Cairncross said that he appreciates the progress made so far in the implementation of the MCC programme.

“Your Government has done an impressive job on our scorecard. The work done on people trafficking and other areas are impressive. This is the commitment that we want to see at the MCC. I want to see progress made in our programmes to be sustainable and lasting. This is exciting news and upon my return, I will tell the Board of Directors and Congress in the United States about the progress that Sierra Leone has made,” he said.

In his response, President Bio thanked Mr Cairncross and his team for visiting Sierra Leone and spoke about the importance of the MCC threshold programme. He said that the MCC funded programme aligns well with his Government’s priorities, particularly the water and power sectors.

“We are fully committed to completing the threshold programmes because they have laid a solid foundation for our development aspirations. We will embrace them because I know they will further strengthen our partnership,” President Bio assured.

Mr Cairncross and his MCC team then went to Aberdeen where they officially launched the District Metering Area (DMA) Pipe Rehabilitation and Kiosks Demonstration project, which is being implemented in collaboration with the Guma Valley Water Company (GVWC).

The DMA activity is part of the $44.4 Million Sierra Leone Threshold Programme grant which is funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation of the United States of America.

The project aims to improve GVWC’s operations by reducing Non-Revenue Water (NRW) in the Aberdeen and Kingtom communities. This intervention is essential to laying the foundation for the financially viable provision of water services. If this pilot project is successful, it can be incrementally scaled up to cover the rest of greater Freetown.

Funds for the DMA project are estimated at $4.12 Million and it is expected to benefit over 38,000 people in the Aberdeen and Kingtom communities. The project is expected to achieve the following:

Installation of 3.1-kilometer pipeline
Installation of 1,246 customer meters to private homes
Removal of 15.6 kilometer spaghetti pipes
Safe disposal of 380 meters Asbestos pipes
Installation of 71 Manifolds
Construction of 11 water kiosks
Establishment of a digital control room for remote monitoring of the system
42 Project Affected Persons fully compensated

The MCC is supporting Guma Valley Water Company to build its capacity to deliver sustainable water services to the people within its coverage area. This demonstration activity will provide Guma an on-the-ground practicum to test and develop sustainable service improvement and delivery systems that can be institutionalized across its service area. The construction phase commenced on February 21, 2020 and will be completed in January 2021.

It is noted that the last APC political dispensation Government failed to convince the US Government funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to include Sierra Leone in its list of African countries to receive millions of dollars in grant-in-aid to help fund large-scale development projects.

Water Resources Minister Assures of Safe & Affordable Water by 2030

October 23, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

Philip K. Lansana, the Minister of Water Resources, has spoken on how the New Direction Government is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 6.1 which seeks to secure safe and affordable drinking water for all Sierra Leoneans by 2030, as stated in the SLPP manifesto and the Medium Term National Development Plan.

He made that disclosure while addressing an audience during the commissioning of the Guma Water Kiosk Project at Aberdeen on Friday 16th October, 2020. “Government and the Ministry of Water Resources are committed to achieving the SDG 6.1 through several ongoing water projects throughout the country and others that are in the pipeline,” he intimated and assured.

The Minister commended the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) for providing funds for the Threshold Program which has made possible the following interventions; development of regulatory framework for water services and the Urban WASH Sector Roadmap, providing logistical support to the newly established National Water Resources Management Agency (NWRMA) thereby contributing to its operationalization, institutional and capacity support to Guma, conditional assessments of the Guma Dam, Transmission, Reservoirs and pipe networks of the Guma systems that will determine the level of interventions required for the system.

The Minister also informed the gathering about various activities that are currently being implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources including the revision of the National WASH Policy and the development of its implementation strategy; planned support to the Ministry that will strengthened, WASH monitoring and evaluation and performance tracking of various water projects in the country and the District Metering Areas (DMA) and Kiosk Demonstration Pilot project.

Minister Lansana revealed that the DMA is a technique used to improve water supply systems by partitioning the water distribution system into smaller zones and it will help in reduction of non-revenue water which currently stands at over 40% across Freetown.

“Both the DMA and kiosks systems have been tried, tested and proven to have worked well elsewhere, we hope to learn from this pilot and replicate this technique in other areas across Freetown contingent on the availability of funds,” the Minister stated.

He said the water kiosks which will be managed through Public-Private partnerships will reduce water collection time and improve access for the underprivileged.

The Minister once more thanked the MCC and MCCU for providing and managing the funds for the Threshold Program respectively and Guma, (its consultants and contractors) for professional execution of the project works expressing hope that Sierra Leone will receive the MCC Compact after the Threshold Program.