Sierra Leone News: Petroleum Directorate Lauds NP-SL for Efficiency

May 21, 2019

The regulatory institution of the different petroleum companies in the country, Petroleum Directorate, has lauded NP for its efficient service delivery wherever it is operating.

It has emerged that among petroleum dealers in Sierra Leone, only the National Petroleum Company is being highly commended and respected for its reliability in terms of prompt service delivery.

It is indeed a remarkable feat that NP continues to maintain in order to ensure that there is sufficient high grade petrol, diesel, kerosene and other petroleum products available in the country to avoid shortage.

It is a fact that the National Petroleum (NP) Sierra Leone Limited is held in very high esteem for its progressive and steady provision of petroleum products to its numerous consumers across the country and even in the sub-region.

Indeed, this contention has been proven perfectly correct by this medium after conducting a thorough survey gauging the views of Sierra Leoneans from different walks of life. What came out clearly throughout the period of the survey was that NP is rated as one of the most successful 100% owned indigenous company that has stood the test of time.

“It is of course rare for one to see in this country a purely and result-oriented indigenously-owned company like NP with all its members of staff being Sierra Leoneans which is truly a testimony of commitment and resilience,” posited a seasoned economist who further said that ‘when we talk of optimizing the Local Content Policy, which is a sine qua non to overall national development, then the company should be given a pat on the back.

The selflessness commitment of the shareholders have made it possible for the company to empower many Sierra Leoneans and at the same time put it at a vantage position to continue to open more filling stations across the country.

The company deals with individuals and various sectors of society, always ensuring that its various petroleum products are available and are sold at affordable prices.

This keen symbiotic relationship with its customers has been paying huge dividends, always resulting in a win-win situation, making NP very endearing to all and sundry.

It is a fact that fuel is regarded as a political commodity and based on its availability and non-availability it has the potential of making a government popular or unpopular.

For too long this country has been contending with unemployment; one of the issues which the government should be addressing by creating avenues for young people to be gainfully employed. However, it is not only the prerogative of government to do this as the private sector too could play a vital role in that direction.

NP – Sierra Leone, operating in different parts of the country, has been very instrumental in availing Sierra Leoneans with jobs in various categories and from what was gathered, conditions of service are very satisfactory. Justifiably one can state that NP-SL has been greatly contributing to poverty reduction, putting food on tables which beneficiaries hitherto found tough to achieve.

NP-SL is not only thinking within the confines of maximizing profit but also is also thinking out of the box when performing its demand and supply chain, taking into consideration the harmful health consequences to humans and depletion of the environment by using coal and wood for cooking purposes. This is why NP Sierra Leone thought it fit to provide Sierra Leoneans with a safer and cleaner means of cooking devoid of inhaling carbon-dioxide which is the NP Gas Cooker. These are affordable and readily available in all NP outlets and from their agents.

To keep abreast with latest technological trends the company has availed its customers the opportunity to use Smart Cards for purchasing purpose meaning that buyers could top-up their cards to the tune of any amount which they can use intermittently to procure petroleum products. This has made it convenient for easy transactions to transpire and many are comfortable with that.

When we talk of an indigenous company that has put smiles on the faces of Sierra Leoneans and is making the people of this country very proud, the National Petroleum Company stands taller than the rest! For a company to move beyond the shores of this country and establish branches in Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast and The Gambia which are vibrantly operating is no mean feat. Indeed, NP has added another feather to its cap and is being copiously praised for such an accomplishment.

The company’s result-oriented managerial team will definitely and sustainably continue to put NP at the top.

NP-SL Ltd is doing exceptionally well in all the countries it is functioning and indeed there are prospects for further expansion.

It can therefore be justifiably asserted that the National Petroleum Limited is the country’s reliable fuel provider as it always ensures that its stockpile is always at an appreciable level.

It against this background is the reason why NP is believed to be one of the strongest backbones of Sierra Leone’s economy.

For any Government to match up with what is encapsulated in its manifesto in the direction of deepening national development through funding various projects then it must have sources of generating domestic revenue. NP is one conduit through which government past and present had and is deriving revenue as it falls within the category of being one of the largest taxpayers to the National Revenue Authority.

It goes without saying that the National Petroleum Limited-Sierra Leone continues to give confidence to its numerous customers and it is doing so excellently.

Sierra Leone News: Gento Kamara Testifies at COI…

May 21, 2019

The three Commissions of Inquiry have recommenced public hearings at the former Special Court premises.

Commission 1, chaired by Nigerian-born Justice Biobele Georgewill, heard evidences from senior officials of the National Minerals Agency – Messrs Julius Daniel Mattai, Peter Bangura, Samuel Koroma and Joseph Tarawallie.

Of special interest was the payment of gratuity and ex-gratia to contract workers of the NMA.
Justice Bankole Thompson recalled that they had heard from three witnesses before the recess. The Commission examined and cross-examined witnesses for the road contracts for the RMFA/SLRA. Key to the Commission was the abrogation of contract awarded to BEGEC- TP for the construction of four roads – Macauley Street, Mountain Cut, Kissy Road and Fourah Bay Road. This contract was terminated at mobilization stage without any tangible reason given.

The Commission of Inquiry was told that BEE GEC, a local Sierra Leone company actually won the bid for 4.4 kilometers road for fourteen billion (Le14B) but the SLRA cancelled the contract and gave it to China Railway for over seventeen billion Leones (Le17B). The Waterloo – 12.1 kilometer contract awarded to Gento at 16.9 million US dollars but later rescinded an addendum made to 20 kilometer totalling 42.7 million US dollars was awarded to Gento because the Hill Cut Road should continue to Regent. But the Chinese promised that they would make this road for free from Limkokwing University to Regent.

Finally, the Government gave the Chinese the contract to build the road from Limkokwing to Regent; but because a breach of contract between Government and Gento, the Government added 20 more kilometres to the Gento contract.

The NMA DG told the Commission that he was appointed to the position on February, 2019 after he left the Commission in 2013 as Geo-Data Information Manager.

Mr. Mattia disclosed that he was Secretary to the NMA Board and was also responsible for the overall administration and supervision of the National Minerals Agency, amongst many other functions.

He further revealed to the Commission that there was in existence a Minerals Advisory Board, which, had among other functions, to advice the Minister of Mines on issues related to exploration; recognizance and mining license allocation. The NMA DG also dilated on the composition and structure of the NMA.

He cited that governance challenges with regards the structure and operations of the NMA since its establishment in 2013 are still being undertaken with a view to make it more viable. Peter Bangura, Director of Mines at the Ministry of Mines, was also recalled by the Commission to testify after having testified as CW 3 before the Easter break.

In another development, Ahmed Gento Kamara was cross-examined before Justice William Annan Atugbah on matters relating to the King Jimmy project.

Defense Counsel, lawyer Mohamed Kanu grilled the witness on his knowledge of other contractors during the bidding process. The witness vehemently objected to having knowledge on this, on the grounds that he does not have evidence to prove this, even though he had initially accepted in his statement to the Commission that he was told that other contractors have bid for the project.

The State counsel noted that while making their case, the King Jimmy project was not exposed to other bidders.

The Commission of Enquiry is investigating and enquiring into what happened with the management of government resources between November, 2007 and April, 2018.

Presidents, Vice Presidents, Government Ministers and other Government officials are appearing before the three Commissions represented by renowned lawyers.

Hearings continue on Wednesday 22^nd May 2019.

Sierra Leone News: Krios Meet Pres. Bio Over Land Disputes

May 19, 2019

His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has engaged members of the Krio Descendants Association (KDA) at State House, as part of his continuous engagements with different stakeholders across the country.

Special Adviser to the President and Ambassador at Large, Dr. Kona C. Koroma, who gave the welcome address, recalled that in his first meeting with the Krio Descendant Association after his inauguration, President Bio promised he would be having periodic engagements with stakeholders on issues of interest to the Association and the governance of the State.

She said over the past few days, there had been debates on land issues which had reached the President and as a caring father he thought it was in the right direction to call the Association for a family dialogue to discuss the issues.

In his opening statement, Deputy President of the Association, Ambassador Haja Alare Cole said they were thankful to President Bio for according them time to meet despite his busy schedules. She added that the meeting demonstrated a true manifestation of a leader who cares for his people. She said as an Association, they were pleased with the gains made so far by the New Direction Government citing the free quality education and the clearing of Lumley which she said had eased the traffic burden in that part of the city.

In his own contribution, another Krio shareholder, Samuel Valcarcel also expressed gratitude to President Bio for making time to meet with them. He said as an Association, they were faced with recent challenges which they had been looking forward to discussing with the President. He mentioned that President Bio had shown leadership qualities as father of the nation by creating the platform for them to explain few of the challenges facing them, while expressing belief that those issues would be settled amicably.

‘’Last week, we had a general meeting as an Association where we spoke about many of the things affecting us especially the one dealing with land. In the past weeks, we have all been discussing land issue because the Lands Ministry issued a statement challenging the legitimacy of our land documents and that has left us worried. Another worrying issue for us is the Land Tenure System which barred Krios from acquiring lands outside Freetown. So we are happy to be here because we believe such an engagement will help resolve these issues,’’ he said.

Leader of the Unity Party, Femi Claudius Cole, who also attended the meeting, said she was impressed with President Bio’s timely intervention adding that the meeting was welcoming especially at a time the country was preparing for the Bintumani 3, where she was excited to be participating. She said matters of land issues were developing mixed feelings among people especially in Freetown adding it was a great move by the Government to start chatting the way forward for a sustainable solution.

In his response, President Bio said he decided to call the meeting because he knew some members were not happy about certain things happening in relation to land issues in the Western Area. He said he had decided to engage the Association because dialogue was the best means of getting a sustainable way of resolving the issue.

‘’Our country is one of Rule of Law and that must be accepted by all of us. I have decided to call you all here to let you know that I take your concerns very seriously and that Government will look into them. We will be developing a framework to put to an end to all the land related issues across the country. We want this meeting to be the start of a dialogue process because that is the only way of arriving at the best solutions as we need a united society that will allow development to thrive,’’ he said.

Concluding his response, President Bio instructed Vice President Dr. Juldeh Jalloh to preside over all the concerns by the members of the Association relating to disputes over land ownership between members of the Association and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Environment for amicable and speedy resolution.

Sierra Leone News: Journalists to Benefit from MRCG Coaching

May 19, 2019

It has been established that specialised reporting is a practice that has waned over the years in Sierra Leone’s journalistic landscape. In a bid to reverse this trend the Media Reform Coordinating Group-Sierra Leone (MRCG-SL) on May 16 2019 commenced its 2019 activities with a meeting on ‘Needs Assessment on Mentoring and Coaching for reporters in Sierra Leone’ to enhance professional reportage on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Mentoring and Coaching programme is an ongoing media reform agenda in Sierra Leone pioneered by the Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU) under the MRCG platform with support from UNDP.

The Chairman of MRCG, Dr. Francis Sowa, pointed out that the 2019 Mentoring and Coaching Programme is specifically based on the 17 SDGs. He indicated that the programme is meant to educate the public on the SDGs and the role of journalists to help popularise the goals.

Amadu Lamarana Bah, the President of the Sierra Leone Reporters Union (SLRU), in his statement, stressed on the relevance and benefits of such a programme to journalists: “The Mentoring and Coaching programme is geared towards capacitating journalists on how they go about writing professional stories.” The initiative will help to improve the capacity in the country.

Participants identified various themes that the mentees could choose from in doing their reportage. It is hoped that through this Mentoring and Coaching programme, the culture of specialised reporting on thematic areas relating to the SDGs would be achieved.

Sierra Leone News: Civil Rights Coalition, MBSSE Embark on FQE Textbooks’ Handling Sensitization

May 19, 2019

National Coordinator for Civil Rights Coalition, Alphonso Manley

Free quality education (FQE) for primary and secondary pupils in Sierra Leone is one of the major promises made by Julius Maada Bio during the 2017 campaign.

After winning the March 2018 Presidential election, President Bio wasted no time to implement this promise which is one of the reasons why both the international community and national entities consider his Government to be taking education seriously.

One of the packages in the FQE is the distribution of free core subject textbooks to pupils but apparently there is mixed feeling and fear from parents and pupils based on rumors circulating that if any of these core textbooks is lost or damaged, the parent/guardian will be asked pay Le200,000 or face police action.

It is against this backdrop that the Civil Rights Coalition (CRC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education decided to organize wide range community engagements on the handling of the FQE books. The sensitization will target pupils, parent, traders, religious and traditional leaders, the media, Boards of Governors of Schools and the general public for them to be aware of what is in the package in the first phase of the FQE.

In an interview with Alphonso Manley, National Coordinator, Civil Rights Coalition, he said among other things that his coalition has noticed that because the Book Handling guide is not understood by parents and pupils, it has been misinterpreted and this misinterpretation has a negative effect on the FQE. He added that parents in some districts have signed and collected the textbooks but keep them at home and not allowing their pupils and wards access to the books because they do not understand what the handling guide says; which is: If the textbook is damaged or goes missing, parents will be asked to replace it with a locally printed (photocopied) replica.

He went on to say that the Education Ministry and the Civil Rights Coalition have on several occasions in certain districts, visited parents to encourage them to allow their children access to the textbooks for effective learning.

He stated that this planned community outreach will improve the FQE beneficiaries’ knowledge on how to handle the textbook while improving the learning process of the children, because they would now feel confident to use the textbooks to study at home, improve community study, while parents can also assist their children to study and build their confidence.

He further stated that the sensitization campaign will target major markets in all the 16 districts where most people go to buy goods as it has been discovered that most traders do not normally listen to radio, watch television or read newspapers. He added that all pupils in attendance will have the opportunity to ask questions about handling of FQE books, adding also in attendance would be pastors, imams, traders and parents among others.

The key objective, according to Mr. Manley, is to ensure that learners have easy access to the textbooks; engage communities to enhance their knowledge on the handling of the textbooks and ensure that through advocacy and sensitization the life span of the FQE textbooks will be long so that the children will benefit immensely.

According to him, they shall embark on public awareness through the use of loudspeakers, jingles in the local languages for better public understanding about how to use and take care of the FQE textbooks for effective use and longevity.

Alphonso Manley maintained that they are getting support for this project from Mutt Macdonald. “The FQE is a blessing to this nation and so we all need to embrace it for the development of our nation,” he concluded.

Sierra Leone News: Brewery Rated High for Rolling out its Local Content Policy & Corporate Social Responsibility

May 19, 2019

The leading brewer of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in the country, Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) continues to capture the affection of its numerous customers right across the country for what many have so far described as the company’s production of high qualitative drinks saying they really enjoy consuming those drinks.

One remarkable accomplishment that the company is widely extolled for is its excellent implementation of the country’s Local Content Policy. Despite the fact that country is affiliated with the Heineken Foundation in the Netherlands and has external shareholders it has ensured over the years to have Sierra Leoneans in its employ as long as they possess the requisite qualifications and skills instead of largely importing foreign expatriates. Even where foreign expatriates are employed it is the company’s policy to have Sierra Leoneans who should understudy them and after a period of time the nationals should take over their positions.

To further deepen its rolling out of the Local Content Policy SLBL is making use of sorghum, which are locally cultivated, in the brewing of some of its beverages. This has encouraged certain farmers to grow sorghum where it is very ideal to do so and at present the number of sorghum farmers has increased exponentially standing close to 30,000 in various districts. SLBL has been steadily supporting these farmers in diverse ways to increase their yields in order to match up with their demand. What this has led to is a symbiotic relationship between SLBL and the sorghum farmers. These farmers have a steady source of income helping to financially take care of various domestic responsibilities.

Distributors of SLBL’s variety of beverages are Sierra Leoneans with an exceptional case of only few foreign business people. The distributors retail the beverages, Star Beer, Guinness, Mutzig, Salone Beer, Multina etc in crates to bartenders, club owners, restaurants and others from which customers purchase. Depending on the prowess and rapid purchases from distributors recommendation could be made to the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited to assist with certain equipment like bar, beach tables, chairs, openers and many have benefitted from such offers.

With regards the company’s Social Corporate Responsibility, SLBL has done a lot and is determined to continue doing so. The company gives priority to residents within the Wellington Industrial Estate where it is situated when it comes to offering of jobs as long as individuals within that locality are qualified. This has helped in poverty reduction through meaningful engagement of young people who were hitherto jobless.

SLBL, in collaboration with Heineken Foundation, has been rolling Water and Sanitation Projects in different communities closer to where it is located. It has constructed solar powered water wells that are benefitting residents in those places who were finding it extremely difficult to access pure and clean water supply. The recent ones that were commissioned are those in Kamara Town and another nearby community.

Added to that, the company has assisted in the construction of health facilities from which locals are receiving medical treatments easing constraints formerly faced.

By all estimation the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited is acclaimed for timely churning out the Local Content Policy and its Corporate Social Responsibility doing so doggedly and remarkably.

Sierra Leone News: NP Respected for Prompt Delivery of Quality Petroleum Products

May 19, 2019

It has emerged that among petroleum dealers in Sierra Leone, only the National Petroleum Company is being highly commended and respected for its reliability in terms of prompt service delivery.

It is indeed a remarkable feat that NP continues to maintain in order to ensure that there is sufficient high grade petrol, diesel, kerosene and other petroleum products available in the country to avoid shortage.

It is a fact that the National Petroleum (NP) Sierra Leone Limited is held in very high esteem for its progressive and steady provision of petroleum products to its numerous consumers across the country and even in the sub-region.

Indeed, this contention has been proven perfectly correct by this medium after conducting a thorough survey gauging the views of Sierra Leoneans from different walks of life. What came out clearly throughout the period of the survey was that NP is rated as one of the most successful 100% owned indigenous company that has stood the test of time.

“It is of course rare for one to see in this country a purely and result-oriented indigenously-owned company like NP with all its members of staff being Sierra Leoneans which is truly a testimony of commitment and resilience,” posited a seasoned economist who further said that ‘when we talk of optimizing the Local Content Policy, which is a sine qua non to overall national development, then the company should be given a pat on the back.

The selflessness and commitment of the shareholders have made it possible for the company to empower many Sierra Leoneans and at the same time put it at a vantage position to continue to open more filling stations across the country.

The company deals with individuals and various sectors of society, always ensuring that its various petroleum products are available and are sold at affordable prices. This keen symbiotic relationship with its customers has been paying huge dividends, always resulting in a win-win situation, making NP very endearing to all and sundry.