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Pres. Bio Commissions Four Inshore Patrol Craft for the Navy

By Amin Kef Sesay

On the 22nd October, 2020 , His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio commissioned four inshore patrol craft at the White Man’s Bay Navy Headquarters in Freetown.

Commander of the Maritime Wing, Captain Navy Philip Juana, told the ceremony that the role of the Navy is to protect the territorial waters and its ecosystem, adding that the task is difficult to perform because their military wing does not have the necessary platform to effectively function.

He explained that the boats came at the right time, noting that the gifted patrols craft would be used to protect the waters in the country.

Chief of Defense Staff, Lieutenant-General, Sullay Ibrahim Sesay, registered his profound appreciation to the Government and people of South Korea for the donation. He noted that the general peace and maintenance of the rule of law within the territorial waters of Sierra Leone had been undermined by piracy, sea robbery, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

“To that fact, I would like to stress that the gifted patrol craft will leverage the flexibility of our Maritime Wing to switch between the two principal roles in supporting all national efforts at achieving our defense and developmental aspirations,” he explained.

While handing over the inshore patrol craft, a representative of the South Korean Ambassador, Mr. Kim Sung Nyeon, commended the President for the strong leadership he had exhibited and his Government’s tremendous success in the fight against COVID-19.

“And now, Korea is proud to deliver four speedboats to Sierra Leone. It is our hope that today’s contribution will not only help Sierra Leone’s effort to build up its maritime capabilities, but it will also make our friendship grow stronger,” he noted.

In his statement, President Julius Maada Bio said as a nation, Sierra Leone had 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 loot by foreign vessels, were estimated to have cost the small West African nation 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.

He emphasised that the country would no longer afford the cost of such criminal activities as unregulated immigration, contraband smuggling, narcotics, human trafficking and labour rights, robbery at sea, and sea piracy.

“These collectively undermine the rule of law and the steady economic gains we are making as a nation.

“I must also note that our brave men and women of the Sierra Leone Navy and members of the maritime agency are first responders in search and rescue operations when boats are stranded or stricken at sea. We cannot afford to lose precious lives in more sea accidents.

“These Inshore Patrol Craft, gifted by the Government and People of the Republic of Korea, will help us greatly to start addressing some of these foregoing challenges.

I want to therefore thank the Government and People of The Republic of Korea through Your Excellency, Mr. Lee-in Tae,” he said.

The President assured that Sierra Leone would also commit to working within the Korea-Africa Framework of Cooperation, 2017-2021, in order to enhance cooperation on trade, manufacturing, industrial development, agriculture, telecommunications, human resource development, science and technology, infrastructural development, and the blue economy, among others.

“Sierra Leone truly appreciates the Republic of Korea’s commitment to cooperating towards the development goals outlined in Sierra Leone’s Medium Term National Development Plan.

“I also want to thank the leadership of the Ministry of Defence for their relentless efforts at augmenting the capacity and training of our armed forces. I thank you for your commitment to working towards achieving my Government’s goal of revitalizing the Joint Maritime Committee (JMC) and implementing effective and sustainable surveillance and security systems in Sierra Leone’s waters,”

He concluded by officially commissioning the four Inshore Patrol Craft (IPC 01, 02, 03, and 04) into service.

Six (6) Housemates Up for Possible Eviction this Week

By Amin Kef Sesay

Housemates Salone is gaining momentum and the episodes so far exhibited have got a lot to be enmeshed in watching one of the best Reality TV Shows that is brought to your screen courtesy of Africell and AYV Media Empire.

For now what is trending is that six (6) Housemates have been nominated for possible eviction this week. These are Rachael with tag number 38, Kama, 18, Makiatu 30. Lawrence 29, Augustine 10 and Soriba 46 have been nominated for eviction for week 1.

However, it is important to note that to keep them in the House, viewers must vote for them. In other words their survival to be in the House largely depends on the voting public. Make use of this opportunity now by sending SMS messages or vote via the number of any of the Housemates to 5500 or Dial *5500#. For International voting call: +23299005500.

What the 22 Housemates have started battling for is to bag the star prize of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Leones (Le250M) plus undertaking a round trip to Dubai. But apart from bagging the Star Prize, all other participants will be entitled to their daily allowances of Le100, 000 each whilst they still remain in the House and accumulatively given to them whenever they are evicted.

Interestingly, during a particular stage of the Show, based on the percentage of votes scored by a particular Housemate, such will determine whether he or she will be either evicted from the House or make it to the grand finale. As the show progresses, evictions will continue until the ultimate winner emerges.

The organizers of the Reality TV Show, AYV and Africell, have ensured that all the necessary preparations have been put in place to bring exciting episodes from this entertainment show.

As they are now in the House, the Housemates are expected to appear sexy and display some form of nudity which should not come as any big surprise as the show is tailored in that way.

Again, seeing them talking harshly is simply because they should be using strong language intermittently and acting funnily is acceptable because it is expected that they must be humorous.

The organizers of this much talked about show, the Africa Young Voices (AYV) and Africell, with support from certain corporate entities have bagged a long list of praise for putting together such a thrilling and breath-taking Realty TV Show with many saying it is indeed a show that is well organized and going on fine which according to those views it is interesting to watch on AYV Television Channel 34.

If again the show is becoming lively and catchy it is the role being played by the intriguing Invisible Chief with the commanding baritone voice giving intermittent instructions to the Housemates to carry out certain assignments or to ask them to articulate themselves well by responding to questions posed.
It is in this regard that the TV Reality Show is considered to be the conduit of youth empowerment

NP-SL Business Performance is Exceptional in the Petroleum Landscape

By Amin Kef Sesay

In this country, the most outstanding and widely recognized petroleum entity that is doing well within the business landscape of this country is indisputably the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd). The company has gained both internal and international recognition for its efficient service delivery to its many esteemed customers. It is therefore no big surprise for the well-established company to be bagging commendations, accolades and awards from reputable institutions in and out of the country.

One thing which has made NP-SL Ltd to stand tall among other entities hinges on putting premium on effective customer care delivery. The company is highly distinguished for being 1st for Customer Care, as it strives to give optimal satisfaction to its esteemed customers right across the country. In all its petroleum transactions the company does so transparently as it has modern calibrated machines at all its Filling Stations which are highly capable of pumping and displaying the exact quantity of fuel demanded for, be it petrol or diesel, as well as the price. This gives buyers the feeling that they are not cheated when purchasing fuel.

In the same direction, the company has good, up and running tanker vehicles which transport fuel from the fuel depot to the various Filling Stations everywhere in the country. Maintenance is always done on these vehicles to ensure that they are road worthy; something which the Management of the company takes very serious. The importance of regularly doing so is to really ensure that petroleum products are timely delivered to various parts of the country in order to prevent the occurrence of any form of shortage that may affect daily activities and lives.

A company that was established by thirty-five (35) Sierra Leoneans years back, it was made a laid down policy by the Shareholders and Management of the company that special preference must be given to indigenes who have the requisite qualifications in terms of job opportunities. Interestingly, this decision is in tandem with the country’s Local Content Policy which aims at making use of our local resources, both human and material, instead of depending on external resources. This has made it possible for indigenes, who were hitherto unemployed, to now be gainfully employed and be at vantage positions to take care of individual responsibilities. With all amount of justification it could be said that NP-SL is a very caring business entity.

The company has set the pace of expanding its operations in the West African sub-region by establishing branches in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and the Gambia where they are effectively marketing petroleum products. By doing so it is providing job opportunities for locals in those countries and by extension regularly paying taxes to the Governments of those countries which are used to fund different development projects.

This bold step undertaken by the company is a mark of a company a serious entity that is taking business to a higher pedestal.

NP-SL is very notable for making available NP Smart Card and introducing NP Gas. In this modern age when efforts are being made to operate cashless societies and going digital there is no other moment than this when transactions in petroleum products should not follow suit. With the NP Smart Card, a particular customer could purchase fuel via using the card, just stating the quantity required which is debited from the amount in the card.

The customer can credit it again in order to make future purchases. The biggest advantage is that a customer can properly schedule or budget for the amount of fuel he or she will need over time, meaning that he or she has saved the headache of having to raise cash for the sole purpose of fuelling his or her vehicle. Using the card makes it less time consuming to buy fuel and prevents the movement of physical cash which maybe a customer could use for another emerging need or the cash could be stolen. NP Smart Card is now trending and many are now going for it.

With NP Gas, the cooking needs of individuals are easily solved as it is quick in terms of performance as a cooker. Environmentalists have validated its safety in terms of less emission of dangerous gases and it is manufactured in different cylinder sizes, very portable and easily refilled by purchasing gas at the company’s Filling Stations or its authorized dealers.

With all amount of justification, NP-SL is a thriving company among the myriad challenges it is surmounting. The company is indeed a true development partner that is positively contributing to the socio-economic development of individuals, entities and the country as a whole.

Anti-FGM Activist, Rugiatu Turay, Bags Prestigious German Human Rights Prize

Rugiatu Turay

By Amin Kef Sesay

Rugiatu Turay is the proud recipient of the Theodor Haecker human rights prize for fighting female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone.

Going down memory lane, when Rugiatu Turay was 12, she was taken to an aunty together with her three sisters and a female cousin.

“We were told it was just a visit,” Turay, now 47, recalls. “But I was grabbed and blindfolded and taken to a room. Women sat on me and held me down.”

Turay’s clitoris was then cut off. She still remembers the pain.

“I bled excessively and I almost lost my life. For one week, I could not walk,” Turay divulged. “All I knew was just the pain and the bleeding.”

Like Turay, some 90% of women and girls in Sierra Leone undergo female genital mutilation, or FGM. It is a cultural practice that involves the partial or total removal of the female genital organs, such as the clitoris or labia.

As well as severe bleeding, FGM can cause a variety of health issues from infections and cysts to infertility and complications in childbirth. 

In Sierra Leone, the cutting is part of the initiation into secret women’s society, known as Bondo, that prepare girls for marriage and motherhood.

When she was cut as a girl, Turay didn’t have the knowledge to express what had happened to her. She just knew it was wrong, she said in an interview from Lunsar, a town some 120 kilometers (74 miles) from the capital, Freetown.

“I started talking to my friends, explaining to them what I went through,” she said. “Because we were all eager … to become members of the Bondo society. But when I experienced what I experienced, I thought it is high time to talk to others and not to be fooled.”

Turay started her anti-FGM campaign in a refugee camp

More than a decade later, Turay found herself in Kalia refugee camp in Guinea, where she had fled Sierra Leone’s civil war that raged from 1991 to 2002.

In the camp, she was shocked that amid the hardship and insanitary conditions of the camp, mothers were still organizing for their daughters to be cut.

“I saw Sierra Leonean women think they have to keep up with the initiation of their children when it was even difficult to get food,” she said.

That was the moment when Turay, who had trained and worked as a teacher before fleeing the fighting, started on her journey to campaign to stop female genital mutilation in Sierra Leone.

The nation is one of 28 African countries where female genital mutilation is practiced.

“I decided that we need to engage these people. They needed to know that we have run away from violence committed to us by people and we are now perpetuating that violence on us,” she said.

In 2000 while still in Kalia camp, Turay founded the Amazonian Initiative Movement (AIM), together with a group of like-minded women, to reduce the incidence of FGM among the refugees.

The name was taken from the “strong and fearless” Amazonian warrior women from Greek mythology, explains Turay, chosen because “looking at the issues I was determined to address and knowing Sierra Leone and the people where I came from, I knew it was going to be a rough battle.”

In 2003, when she returned home after the end of the civil war, Turay started up a branch of the grassroots organization in her hometown of Lunsar.

Turay believes it’s vital to engage with everyone involved

As part of their activities, Turay and other AIM activists visit villages to talk to those involved in FGM, from women and girls, to local chiefs and imams.

They also seek out the Soweis, the traditional cutters, who earn a living from the practice. They seek to convince them to stop cutting and look for alternative livelihoods for these women. AIM has held several public ceremonies involving hundreds of Soweis who have vowed to lay down their knives and razor blades.

It has also held a large alternative rites of passage lasting for 14 days to replace the traditional Bondo bush ceremony that girls usually pass through during initiation but without the cutting.

As well as running a safe house for girls fleeing from FGM and other violence such as forced marriage, AIM has built a school that includes a curriculum teaching about cutting.

Facing death threats and bans from her village Turay’s work hasn’t been easy. Initially, she couldn’t even rent a building for AIM as no one wanted to have anything to do with an anti-FGM organization.

Luckily, her father supported her efforts, turning over his own house to use as her office.

She and others involved in the organization, have also faced numerous death threats as well as being banned by the village chief – something Turay says has only hardened her resolve.

“When you threaten me and say you’ll kill me, I come back and I engage you,” she said.

“I ask, ‘Why do you really want to kill me? Tell me, what have I done? Have I killed anyone? No, I want to change your beliefs that are not progressive, that have killed so many people, that have kept others quiet but suffering in silence.

And so I use those threats and I talk to the leaders of the secret society and I engage them.”

For her unflinching activism, Turay has now won the Theoder Haecker human rights prize, awarded by the southern German city of Esslingen.

Because of coronavirus travel restrictions, Turay will attend the awards ceremony on October 24, 2020 virtually. Turay was nominated by the German women’s rights organization, Terres des Femmes, for the award.

Veronika Kirschner from Terres des Femme, who has known Turay for more than a decade, says the activist’s strength lies in her charisma, her respect for those she meets with and her ability to meet everyone at their own level.

“She’s not arrogant or condescending, rather she talks to people in a very, very kind way. I think that’s really important when talking about this topic because it’s a sensitive issue that people are a bit ashamed to talk about,” Kirschner told DW.

A group of girls in Sierra Leone perform a theatre piece to raise awareness about female genital mutilation as part of AIM’s campaigning

“But the way Turay just opens up the discussion and questions people about it is so healthy and so helpful. And I think it has really helped a lot of people to start thinking: Is this tradition really good? Does it harm our people more than it helps?'”

The prize comes with €10,000 ($11,900). Turay says she already knows what she will do with the money. A third will go towards vocational training for traditional cutters, a third will be used to pay school fees for vulnerable children, and a third will hopefully be put towards university fees for herself.

She would like to do further study in the United Kingdom, to learn more about management and leadership.

And as for campaigning against FGM in a country where the practice has hardly declined, Turay says she is “even more determined” to keep up her work. This is especially true when she meets women who hear about the dangers of FGM for the first time.

“When the woman say: ‘this is the first time we’ve heard about this and we have to make sure we work together to protect our children’, I am more motivated than I when I started.”

Rugiatu Turay works to persuade traditional practitioners to lay down the tools used to cut girls
Rugiatu Turay talking to a group in Sierra Leone
Theodor Haecker Prize for civil courage and political integrity

 

Koroma Ibrahim On The Run For Exposing Poro Society Bush To ECOMOG Troops

Koroma Ibrahim

By Mohamed Kamara 

Report reaching this medium states that one Koroma Ibrahim of 156 Blackball Road, in the eastern part of Freetown has been declared wanted by members of the secret poro society for what they described as exposing their society bush to the Gambian soldiers serving in ECOMOG on the 6th January 1999.

Soldiers from five contributing countries in West Africa  including Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea and Senegal served in ECOMOG at the time.

ECOMOG force was established by ECOWAS Heads of State  to help restore peace and stability in the West African nation that experienced ten years of brutal civil war.

The Gambian troops accused the society of undermining security in the area which they described as a security threat to their operations.

This negative development according to a senior military officer prompted them to go in search of the bush where these members are planning their diabolical movement against the foreign troops.

One Tribal Headman in the community, Pa Alimamy Turay accused Koroma Ibrahim of identifying the society bush to the Gambian soldiers against the wish of the community.

He said immediately the bush was identified they destroyed the bush together with the properties stored there which the society members were using to forestall the advancement of the Gambian soldiers to capture the area.

“His close relationship with the Gambian troops raised suspicion about his involvement on the issue,” Chief Turay said in an angry mood.

He said in retaliation of the destruction of their society bush, the society members held an emergency meeting at the residence of the Koroma family at Blackhall Road.

Since both parents have died during the rebel war, the society members decided to occupy the building to do their rituals in protest for the destruction of their society bush by ECOMOG soldiers.

He said the society members then went in search of Koroma Ibrahim to drastically deal with him for identifying their place to the ECOMOG soldiers.

The Chief said after realizing that the society members are searching for him, Koroma ran to an unknown destination and since then his whereabout remains unknown.

Other family members have expressed serious concern about his safety.

 

Local Manufacturers Appeal to Govt. to Re-Visit 2020 Finance Act

By Amin Kef Sesay

Sierra Leone, as a country, has done little over the years in terms of enhancing the manufacturing of products that are meant for domestic consumption and even exportation. Much was not done in the areas of setting up industries and equipping them properly for them to be really productive. Lamentably, up to this moment the country rely largely on the importation of basic commodities, including its staple food rice, which otherwise we could easily manufacture here with the resultant effect of spending billions of Leones, on purchase and shipment that would have been utilized on other development projects.

Against the aforementioned backdrop, it is welcoming that attention is now being shifted to local manufacturing as is evident in more and more Sierra Leoneans getting involved in the manufacturing of a wide variety of goods and provision of services which are in one way or the other contributing to satisfaction of human wants and overall national development.

Lamentably though, most of those who are involved in the manufacturing sector have been expressing dissatisfaction over certain clauses in the 2020 Finance Act saying they are inhibiting the growth of their businesses.

It must be highlighted at this juncture that on a yearly basis, the Finance Act lays in detail taxes that are applicable to taxpayers in the country. Government does so normally by repealing and/or amending existing laws and/or enacting new laws. Every Finance Act must get the President’s assent of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

From investigation undertaken, all Government financial policies are included in the Finance Act ‐ new policies as well as changes made to existing policies. All the provisions of the Finance Act associated with a particular Financial Year are important but of utmost significance are the rules for Income Tax Rates.

It could be recalled that on the 8th November 2019, the Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa delivered the Budget and a Statement of Economic and Financial Policy outlining the imposition and alteration of taxes to give effect to the financial proposals of the Government and to provide for other related matters for the financial year 2020.

The policies enshrined in the budget and others were enacted into law and constitute the 2020 Finance Act.

The Finance Act 2020 came into force on the 1st January, 2020.   The Act created new laws as well as amended and repealed certain provisions of the Customs Tariff Act- 1978, Excise Act -1982, Income Tax Act,-2006, Finance Act- 2006, the Customs Act -2011, the Goods and Services Tax Act- 2009, the Public Procurement Act- 2016, the Public Financial Management Act- 2016, Extractive Industries Act- 2018 and makes some general provisions on other laws .

The Act amended the Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act 1978 by imposing a duty at the rate of 5% on raw materials and semi‐finished and finished product, respectively and at 10% on packing product for packaging industries.

The Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act 1978 was amended in Part II by inserting for raw materials for any manufacture each under their substantive  Codes and the duty is 5%.

For semi-finished and finished products, including packing materials intended for use as inputs for manufacturing each, the duty is 5% and for packing products for packaging industries duty is 10%.

Local manufacturers see themselves to be disadvantaged by to the provisions of the 2020 Finance Act because of the onerous taxes which they are required to pay at border crossing points.

For the reason that they are paying, sometimes, more than one tax, it is therefore inevitable that those payments will have to be factored in the prices of the commodities they sell which consumers will have to pay for when purchasing these goods and services. It is therefore no surprise why today the prices of most basic items consumed by the bulk of Sierra Leoneans continue to rise astronomically.

The situation has been compounded by the outbreak of COVID-19 making things really tough for our local manufacturers.

It is understandable that the Government is in dire need of revenue to deliver on its promise to the citizenry of this country. However, such should not come at the expense of frustrating local manufacturers. Whatever way it is looked at one of the sure ways this country can develop is to increase productivity of goods that it produces internally, including manufacturing, which could be used for both domestic consumption and exportation through which foreign exchange could be earned.

Today, most countries are putting premium on enhancing their Local Content Policies instead of depending hook, line and sinker on others to produce what they consume. There is the need to protect our local manufacturers and industries to grow within the context of enhancing local content.

This is an appeal that our local manufacturers are currently putting across to the Government adding that efforts must also be made to redouble efforts in order to enhance affordability of safe drinking water, electricity supply, foreign exchange availability and other things that will increase their levels of production.

One sure way of doing this is to revisit the 2020 Finance Act, see were possible amendments could be made to create the leeway for favourable provisions to be available to local manufacturers to compete healthily and as such meaningfully continue to contribute to overall national development.

Indeed, Members of Parliament, the People’s Representatives, have a big role to play in this reformation cum amendment process.

10 Members of Staff Nabbed as… ACC Unearths Massive Corruption Unearthed at EDSA Billing Section

By Amin Kef Sesay

On the 19th  and  20th October 2020 the Anti-Corruption Commission’s Elite Scorpion Squad, acting on reliable and cogent information has arrested ten members of staff  of  EDSA who are believed to have facilitated the embezzlement of over 1Billion Leones of public revenue over a period of just 6 months. These are monies believed to have been paid by large companies and enterprises.

This corrupt scheme, it was learnt, was carried out by these staff who having sent bills to various companies and enterprises would then collect the checks themselves from these tax payers and work with bank staff to facilitate the diversion and deposit of these checks into personal accounts from where the money can be re-accessed and shared.

Not yet unclear is how the EDSA financial accounting structures failed to detect such an existing loophole considering the volume of money involved; but the ACC said it will also be further investigate the issue.

The Elite Scorpion squad of the ACC brought the 3 arrested members of staff to the ACC head office and they are currently assisting with investigations in what is believed to be a racket that has enriched lower and top Management staff of the EDSA at the expense of the institution.  It was learnt that more arrests will be made in the coming days,

In a  related matter a Press Release dated 19th October 2020 issued by the Ministry of Energy, that entity, acknowledged knowledge  of a Press Release from the Anti- Corruption Commission dated 19 October, 2020 with the caption: “ACC’s Scorpion Squad Hits EDSA Billing Section, Arresting 3 Staff”.

The Ministry furthered how it wants the general public to know that it is in full support of the ACC’s operation also stating that the said operation is one of the products of a Memorandum of Understanding that the Minister of Energy signed with the Anti-Corruption Commission some months ago.

It could be recalled that the Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, had sought the expertise and intervention of the ACC in helping his Ministry and EDSA deal with the rampant cases of electricity theft or abstraction, instances of open or secret subornation and procedural improprieties.

A few weeks after the MoU was signed, the ACC swung into action, raiding industries and business entities suspected or alleged to be involved in acts of illegal electricity abstraction.

The Ministry affirmed that it is making it abundantly clear that it will always cooperate with the ACC in addressing the issue of corruption in the energy sector.

It urged members of the public to bring to the attention of the Ministry cases of electricity theft or abstraction maintaining that the Ministry and EDSA is assuring all of their statutory commitment to providing affordable and reliable electricity for every Sierra Leonean.

NP-SL Meteoric Rise Stems from Incisive Business Management

By Amin Kef Sesay

If in contemporary Sierra Leone successful indigenous business entities are being mentioned then definitely the name, National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited, will be among the first category and at the top of the list. Indeed, it is no exaggeration or gainsaying to maintain such a stance especially when cognisance is seriously taken of how the company originated, the challenges it has weathered over the years and its meteoric rise within the business landscape of the country.

With their end of service benefits paid to them by the then British Petroleum Company, thirty-five (35) Sierra Leoneans, who were former employees of that company decided to pull their resources together and invest by setting up what is today the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd), the leading petroleum importing and marketing company in the whole country.

The selflessness, the passion to succeed and sheer commitment on the part of the shareholders of the company have all contributed in one way or the other to catapult the company to the enviable position it today occupies.

The name NP is synonymous with 1st For Customer Care as one major thing the company is well renowned for is paying unfettered attention and doing everything reasonable to give ultimate satisfaction to its numerous customers. Mindful of the fact that without giving their best they will definitely lose customers and wanting to attract new ones ,the shareholders of the company, its Board of Directors and Management teams over the years have all ensured that qualitative petroleum products are made available for vehicular use as well as office and domestic consumption. Satisfaction is not only provided through giving qualitative products but the timely availability of these products which many could easily access.

Optimal satisfaction is also derived when customers do have the confidence that they are getting value for money. In other words, when they have trust that they are dealing with a very transparent company such gives them the courage to stay glue to that company. With the installation of calibrated pumping machines at its Filling Stations which have the capacity to pump the exact quantity of fuel that customers request for and at the same time displaying the prices gives the feeling that they are really getting back what they pay for. This trust is more built by the encouraging manner the company’s pump-attendants deal with customers.

When it comes to the implementation of the country’s Local Content Policy, then we can rate NP-SL as one company that has been excellently rolling it out to the letter. From origin, the shareholders of the company made it a laid down policy to give preference, in terms of employment, to Sierra Leoneans except in situations when the expertise to carry out a task could not be sourced locally. This indigenous posture has made it possible for Sierra Leoneans to be gainfully employed by the company putting them at vantage positions to take care of personal and family responsibilities.

To make it easy to access fuel, petrol or diesel, at Filling Stations the use of NP Smart Card was introduced. With this Card, a particular customer could procure fuel without exchanging tangible cash as long as the card contains money. The customer determines how much he needs which is exactly what will be deducted and the balance will remain. This convenient way of transacting business guarantees security of not losing cash or for it not to be stolen. Besides, it removes the tendency on the part of drivers to cheat when purchasing fuel.

Still with the objective of giving their customers the best, the company came with NP Gas which is now a household name. This cooking device is said to be very environmental friendly as it is less hazardous to health, is portable, easy to refill with gas that could be secured from the company’s dealers and very quick in terms of performance. Many have attested that it is worth trying and having.

The mere fact that NP-SL is successful, as evident in the opening of branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia truly tells of a result-oriented company. These branches are vibrantly thriving offering qualitative and outstanding services to people in those countries.

As a matter of fact in all these countries that the company is operating it is timely paying taxes to the Governments thereby contributing to the revenue baskets of these nations. These taxes form part of the revenue which Governments in turn use to fund various development projects.

To crown it all, NP SL Ltd is truly contributing to the socio-economic developments of all the countries it is operating and by extension improving standards of living.

As Race for Mouth-Watering Prize Gains Momentum… 22 Housemates Thrill Viewers

By Amin Kef Sesay

The House is gradually getting hotter after twenty-two (22) Housemates entered it on the 18th October 2020 to stiffly compete in this year’s Housemates Salone Season 2, the Last Standing Couple with the theme Quarantine Drama brought to viewers by AYV Media Empire and Africell.

These young participants in the on-going Reality TV Show, which it has been attested is now been viewed and enjoyed by many in and out of the country, are busy interacting and performing various tasks, gossiping, playing games and courting friendships. As it was the case with Season 1 of the Reality TV Show, this year’s version is now gaining huge momentum and dominating discussions in many circles.

What the 22 Housemates have started battling for is to bag the star prize of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Leones (Le250M) plus undertaking a round trip to Dubai. But apart from bagging the Star Prize, all other participants will be entitled to their daily allowances of Le100, 000 each whilst they still remain in the House and accumulatively given to them whenever they are evicted.

Interestingly, during a particular stage of the Show, based on the percentage of votes scored by a particular Housemate, such will determine whether he or she will be either evicted from the House or make it to the grand finale. As the show progresses, evictions will continue until the ultimate winner emerges.

The organizers of the Reality TV Show, AYV and Africell, have ensured that all the necessary preparations have been put in place to bring exciting episodes from this entertainment show.

As they are now in the House, the Housemates are expected to appear sexy and display some form of nudity which should not come as any big surprise as the show is tailored in that way.

Again, seeing them talking harshly is simply because they should be using strong language intermittently and acting funnily is acceptable because it is expected that they must be humorous.

Manifesting and portraying  these traits well are what will really make this Reality TV Show very interesting to watch, provide comic relief for viewers and serve as a therapy to reduce stresses.

The main rationale behind putting together Housemates Salone Season 2 is to promote youth empowerment

The Housemates will be assigned various tasks to perform that could shape their characters, they will be availed the opportunity to learn new skills, improve on existing ones. They will also be emotionally tested, afforded the space to find panacea to certain human problems and do a host of other things.

Furthermore, the Housemates will benefit from widespread exposure as the Show will be watched near and far. Talents will be spotted and vistas of opportunities could be opened as some of the Housemates would be earmarked to become, advertizers, Brand Ambassadors, movie artists, models etc.

The Housemates stand to benefit from motivational lectures and added to that they will be availed the opportunity to socialize, learn how to play different games, how to speak fluently etc.

As a matter of fact the ultimate winner is expected to come up with a project, in the post-Housemates period, that will positively impact the lives of young people in the country.

With all these it will definitely transform the Housemates from what their characters were before they entered the House.

But financially empowering these Housemates is one of the most important channels of making them relevant in society. Each day spent in the House will earn a Housemate Le100, 000. The winner will bag Le250, 000,000 and he or she is expected to champion a key project that could positively impact the lives of young people in this country.

As the show is now in progress it is streamed live online at Africa Young Voices Media Empire Facebook page, AYV entertainment TV, Africell Sierra Leone Facebook page and on website at www.ayvnews.com.

Housemates Salone Season 2, from all indications, is set to be a wonderful show as the episodes unfold until the event culminates into the Grand Finale. It will further expose the country and put it in the limelight. Don’t miss out.  Always make a date with Housemates Salone and don’t be late.

As Staff Morale High…   Dr. Ekundayo Gilpin Continues to Revolutionize Rokel Commercial Bank 

Managing Director of the Rokel Commercial Bank, Dr. Ekundayo Gilpin

By Amin Kef Sesay

Interestingly, I read an article that was recently published by one of the local tabloids in this country with the caption “Promoting Cronies… Rokel Bank’s MD Frustrates Staff” This article was extensively discussed by media analysts who unanimously arrived at the conclusion that it was indeed a very bad piece of journalism further dumping it as a complete trash.

To substantiate their stance these professional media gurus asserted that the story was not well researched and as a matter of fact it smacks of a calculated ploy to drag to the mud the reputable name of one of Sierra Leone’s most celebrated bankers and administrators in the person of the Managing Director of the Rokel Commercial Bank, Dr. Ekundayo Gilpin and by extension portray the bank in a very negative light.

Indeed, it is a well-established fact that since his appointment as the Managing Director of Rokel Commercial Bank, that financial institution has been undergoing various positive transformations to the admiration of many.

It was attested and known by many that a once almost dysfunctional financial institution was quickly injected with a new lease of life by a renowned banker in the person of Dr. Ekundayo Gilpin whom it was learnt highly believes in team work. Under his dynamic and astute leadership, the Rokel Commercial Bank commendably, over the years, has been championing the clarion call by the Bank of Sierra Leone for financial inclusion.

Another feat which the bank has well accomplished, with rapidity, is the Bank’s expansion to reach remote settlements still with the objective of availing many Sierra Leoneans access to financial services.

It has been accepted that the launching of the Rokel Simkorpor product by Dr Gilpin’s RCBank was indeed a milestone in the bank’s strides to promote financial inclusion and was a response to President Bio’s clarion call to expand financial services and rural connectivity to unbanked and undeserved communities.

The Rokel Simkorpor plus product is a mobile application designed to take banking to the doorsteps of customers and it was designed after a survey that disclosed that low level of education, long queues at the bank, bureaucracy were largely responsible for the low number of people accessing financial services.

Its advantages are many as it can be used by customers to carry out banking transactions without going to the bank. Also known as mobile digital banking, it can be used for all banking services including making withdrawals, do deposits, pay for goods and services, check balances, do transfers from one Rokel Commercial bank account to another and from one Rokel Commercial bank account to another bank and buy EDSA.

As a matter of fact the name Rokel Commercial Bank is synonymous with Dr. Ekundayo Gilpin as he has been working assiduously to ensure that Rokel Commercial Bank is put on the highest pedestal within the banking landscape of this country.

Under his watch, we have seen the bank open a number of new branches and outlets in Kabala, Kailahun District, SLRSA, FBC, Wilberforce Barracks, and Wilkinson Road (for Lumley customers and the environs). Two of these branches were recently commissioned by the indefatigable Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa, and also present were other high profiled personalities in the banking sector and from other walks of life. Most of them commended the transformative drive that the bank is going through attributing those to the Managing Director’s leadership style.

It looks quite interesting to read that because the Managing Director is yearning for another job that is why he has transformed himself into a “petty tyrant” at Rokel Commercial Bank. But the question that begs for an urgent answer, probably by the author of the unfortunate piece, is that how can the Managing Director’s tyrannical moves help him in any way to secure a new job more than his rich curriculum vitae and transformative work at RCBank ?

The footprints of the bank is also noticeable in the development of smaller business in the country which is seen in the bank’s sensitization drives to trading communities with the objective of educating business people on the merits of banking with Rokel Commercial Bank.

It must be reiterated that for the writer to state that Dr. Ekundayo Gilpin is projecting himself more than the bank does not make any iota of sense. If he is on official assignments then, as Managing Director, he is representing the bank. But it will be far from the truth that the Managing Director is the only person that is representing the bank outside when in actual fact other officials of the bank are performing their responsibilities according to their job specifications. But what is really ridiculous was when it was stated that Dr. Ekundayo Gilpin is projecting himself because he is eyeing another job.

According to a thorough investigation mounted by this medium it was learnt that staff appraisal is still taking place and it is done in November every year. It is therefore erroneous to claim that the Managing Director deliberately put a hold on it to discourage hardworking members of staff and promote his cronies.

The example given of the promotion of a female staff recently, who had taken 3 years in the institution, whilst ignoring those who had worked for years and are au fait with the operations of the bank and qualified to be promoted indicates that Dr Gilpin May has an eye for talents.  Our research indicates that Dr Gilpin and team have promoted several older serving staff members since taking office in 2017. Besides, it would be agreed that promotions should be mainly by merit and not just tenure of service.

It a well-known fact that corporate institutions have departments and positions that are controlled by various individuals based on their job descriptions. The Rokel Commercial Bank is no exception. It has the Human Resources Department which primarily deals with matters relating to staffing. It plays an active role in recruitment processes, promotions, transfers, retirement and other related matters.

It could only be a figment of the writer’s imagination to maliciously accuse the bank’s Managing Director, Dr. Ekundayo Gilpin, of singlehandedly promoting his cronies according to his whims and caprices and side stepping the Head of Human Resources at the bank.

What again is very childish about the publication is when it was mentioned that Dr. Ekundayo Gilpin is a staunch APC supporter. One can sense where the writer is coming from.

He woefully failed in making the point that the Managing Director belongs to the opposition party by trying to create the impression that he is doing certain  things that are geared towards undermining the ruling SLPP Government.

This medium does not know which political party the Managing Director belongs to but what it is certain about is the inalienable right of every citizen to support any political party of his or her choice as he/she serves the motherland.

The million dollar question is: where is the correlation between Dr. Ekundayo Gilpin’s political leaning and his hardworking stance as Managing Director of the Rokel Commercial Bank?  In fact, he is seen by many as a National Asset, whose service any political dispensation will be proud to utilise.

From what have been seen and heard so far, within the corridors of the Rokel Commercial Bank, the morale of members of staff is really high. This was vividly seen when the bank celebrated its founding anniversary and in other engagements in which majority of its members of staff actively participated.

But what again baffled many is to question the Managing Director’s doctorate degree. For those who know Dr. Ekundayo Gilpin, they will attest that he is an academic dinosaur who has darkened the doors of various academic institutions in Africa, Europe and USA.

He is not only competent but truly deserves a doctorate degree as he consciously enrolled for the course and successfully completed it.  In fact, our research shows that he has several qualifications- degrees, diplomas, certificates and PhDs both academic and honoris causa. This reflects a mark of esteem for his contributions in economics, public finance management, business administration and public policy.

As it had been re-echoed, the repeal of Part 5 of the Public Order Act which used to criminalize libel does not in any way give media practitioners the license to write frivolous things about well-meaning people in society out of malice or inducement. It is but highly necessary to get the facts right instead of saying things that are far from the truth.

Though not a saint, however, Dr. Ekundayo Gilpin, it was learnt is not only a workaholic but a man that is full of good initiatives, who is determined to take Rokel Commercial Bank from one level to another and as he has said it times without number that nothing will deter him from translating his dreams into tangible initiatives that will positively impact overall national development.

This man is an exemplary son of the Soil.  Let’s celebrate our heroes and not try to destroy our mentors.

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