Home Blog Page 1010

UNDP Boosts Tourism Ministry & Tourist Board with Tractor and Seaweed Barber

Unveiling of Wood Work at Aberdeen Beach & Handing Over of Tractor, Seaweed Barber

By Amin Kef- Ranger

On the 9th October, 2020, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, in collaboration with the National Tourism Board with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), officially unveiled and commissioned a newly constructed Wood Work Plaque at Aberdeen/Lumley Beach. During the occasion, also, a brand new tractor and seaweed barber were handed over by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the avowed objective that they will be used to effectively aid in the cleaning of the Aberdeen/Lumley beach.

The Deputy UNDP Resident Representative, Madam Rokya Ye-Dieng, expressed excitement to hand over the tractor and admonished those who will be using them to take good care of them. She further disclosed that in 2018, the UNDP and Government of Sierra Leone launched a $USD10M coastal development and climate change awareness project with funding from the Global Environment Fund (GEF).

Madam Rokya Ye-Dieng made mention of the various ongoing programmes implemented by NTB  which include climate change risk reduction, outreach programmes on climate change awareness, livelihood development for coastal people and among others.

Madam Fatmata Abe-Osagie, the General Manager of  the National Tourist Board (NTB), expressed gratitude to UNDP for the support so far given to her institution and further highlighted the gains that have been achieved by the NTB in delivering on President Bio’s  promise to develop the tourism sector.

Dr. Memunatu Pratt, the result oriented and pragmatic Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, in her keynote address, on behalf of the Government and the President showered praises on the Deputy UNDP Resident Representative, Madam Rokya Ye-Dieng and UNDP for their continued support to the touristic sectors.

She maintained that as seaweed is a serious problem in the country, they are very thankful to the UNDP for the confidence reposed in the Government in general and her Ministry in particular to support them with a Seaweed Barber machine to be used in cleaning the beach.

The Minister furthered that the Wood Work is a touristic site which is meant to protect the Mangroves and offer opportunities to see the beautification of Tourism in the environment.

She disclosed that since the country’s touristic environment is rebranding, her main concern is climate change and environmental disasters, but expressed optimism that with UNDP support they would be able to mitigate such.

She additionally heaped praises on His Excellent the President Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio for his tremendous support towards the tourism industry.

The Honourable Member of Parliament for Constituency 131, Hon. Mohamed Sheriff Rahman-Coker, commended the Tourism Minister for demonstrating good leadership qualities in moving  the Touristic sectors forward.

He further pledged his commitment, as the Member of Parliament, to support all interventions by both the Tourism Ministry and NTB in the promotion of tourism development in the country.

The occasion was chaired by the Chairman of the National Tourism Board, who has a wealth of experience, in the Tourism Industry.

 

Masada Refutes White Paper Allegation of Receiving Le 804,000,000 from RMFA

By Amin Kef Sesay

As a way of  stating its position with regards to an allegation made in the much talked about Government’s White Paper that was released on the 24th September, 2020 the Masada Waste Management Company SL Ltd has swiftly responded by refuting same in a Press Release it issued.

According the Release the company stated that part of the contents of the Government White Paper, to be precise in Chapter 4, pages 8 and 9, made mention that an amount of Le 804,000,000 was paid by Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA) to Masada as administrative cost. In its recommendation, it was categorically stated that Masada must refund the said amount of money into the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

However, Masada has stated that the allegation is without any valid and reasonable justification.

The company maintained that as a Limited Liability Company incorporated under the laws of Sierra Leone and being a reputable entity, it wishes to make clarifications to its numerous clients and the general public on the conclusion and recommendations made by the Commission and Government.

It continued that the statement against Masada in the Government White Paper is a misconception of the truth and therefore is informing all that the company continues to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and will seek legal counsel to address such an issue that has the potential to tarnish its hard earned reputation.

It furthered how it was gravely shocked and baffled to see its name being mentioned in the Government White Paper even though this was duly explained in the proceedings of the Commission of Enquiry underscoring that at no point in time did the company receive the sum of Le 804,000,000.

Masada stated that all copies of contacts, documents, bank statements of payment transfers done by the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA) to the company’s bank accounts and external audited report are available for the purpose of clarity.

The Release further explained that between October 2014 and December 2017 Masada provided silt and swept debris waste collection services, training and coordination of female sweepers of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs (MSWGCA) and Ministry of Youth Affairs(MOYA) for the Road Maintenance Fund Administration(RMFA).

It highlighted that as a waste management company the mode of operations varies from time to time based on the requirement of clients and terms agreed upon.

The company pointed out that the general mode of operation is to collect, transport and dispose waste to the approved dump sites of the Freetown City Council.

“This service is charged by the number of trips collected,” it continued and added that due to the fact  that excavated silt was being deposited on the side of the road by youth groups employed by Ministry of Youth Affairs (MOYA) which had led to members of the public taking advantage of the situation to illegally dumped domestic waste, Masada recommended the following for subsequent contracts to Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA): that 16 transit points be established within the city for the deployment of skip bins to accommodate excavated silt from drainages hence avoiding silt from being deposited on the road side.

Secondly, that 32 bin attendants be employed to man the 16 transit points in order to prevent illegal dumping of domestic waste into the skip bins meant for excavated silt. Each transit point was suggested to have two bin attendants to man the bin.

Masada tried to make it clear that the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RFMA) subscribed to these recommendations which were duly incorporated into the subsequent contract as administrative cost of drainage clearing amounting to Le 268,800,000 for 12 months.

The Company concluded that it  was  not  availed  the  opportunity  to  lay  bare  its  case  before  the  Commission.

NP’s Dedication to Petroleum Marketing is Unshakable

By Amin Kef Sesay

Among the result-oriented companies that have over the years championed the petroleum trade in this country  the National Petroleum –Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) stands tall  to such an extent that it has drew wide-spread commendation for having holding the fort for too long. This company was established years back by certain selfless Sierra Leoneans, thirty-five of them, who bought shares using their end of service benefits and infused fine initiatives into the business entity that transformed it to become a towering company within the business landscape of this country and even beyond.

One major thing which these investors considered very paramount in order to push the company forward is putting premium on optimizing customer care which they believe will put the company in a very good stead to widen its customer base. It was against such a backdrop that it was decided to import and install calibrated pumping machines at the company’s various Filling Stations which are very capable of churning out the right quantity of fuel and at the same time display the corresponding price.

The introduction of these machines was a big welcome to many as it instilled the feeling that they are getting the right quantity of petroleum products, petrol or diesel as well as lubricants, against what is being paid for. Hitherto, the old pumping machines were not so sophisticated and created leeway through which certain unscrupulous pump attendants clandestinely cheated customers by not pumping the requisite quantity of fuel requested for. However, with the latest calibrated machines such became a thing of the past as they make petroleum transactions at the company’s Filling Stations very transparent.

NP-SL made it a laid down policy to have a whole Customer Care Department that is charged with the responsibility to address the concerns of its customers and by extension members of the public. The inputs from members of the public are most times taken into consideration whenever meetings are convened, out of which resolutions are adopted that are tailored to give satisfaction in terms of responding to concerns and embracing certain recommendations.

The buoyant oil marketing company is the premier and sustainable indigenous business entity in this country as it is hundred percent owned by Sierra Leoneans. One thing that they laid emphasis on is making it a laid down policy to give preference to exclusively employ Sierra Leoneans instead of considering bringing foreigners on board except in instances where local expertise could not be sourced.

This stance on the part of the company is in sync with the country’s Local Content Policy which underpins making use of local human and material resources in the production and service delivery chain. By giving employment preference to Sierra Leoneans the company has been positively contributing towards poverty alleviation and availing individuals the opportunities to live improved standards of living. The policy is truly in tune with fulfilling one of the pillars of the national economic agenda.

With regards rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility, NP-SL has been doing so steadily and progressively. The company has been giving institutional support to certain institutions as it did in the recent past when it capacitated the National Fire Force, Kissy Branch, with a state of the art water facility that is designed to provide water throughout the year.

Besides, the company recently joined the fray in trying to combat the spread of the coronavirus in the country when it donated the sum of one Billion Leones to the Emergency Operation Centre as its own support in the fight against the spread of the virus. This gesture was highly appreciated and the company was commended for its timely response.

The company’s introduction of a Smart Card to purchase fuel has been widely applauded as a very good initiative. A particular customer, with money in his or her NP Smart Card could easily put in for the quantity of petrol or diesel that he or she wants and the supply is facilitated after which the amount of money expended is deducted from the card. It is a very convenient way of doing such transactions in a cashless manner. Its biggest advantage is that it creates room for a customer to budget for fuel purchase over time. NP Smart Card is now trending and many are presently using it saying they prefer it than using physical cash.

Some users of NP Gas that this medium talked with intimated how it is a very good device which has a high speed performance and very environmentally useful and friendly. Manufactured in different cylinder shapes it is portable and affordable. NP Gas could be secured at all the company’s major Filling Stations where the gas to refill it could be accessed.

The company has really exhibited that it is poised to expand its operations, a determination that has been manifested in opening branches in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. In all those countries those NP branches are doing extremely well in terms of service delivery and payment of taxes to the home Governments.

Indisputably, there is no way that we can talk of a very successful company, amidst challenges encumbered along the way ,without mentioning NP-SL because the company is greatly contributing to the socio-economic development of nations. Growth to diligently serve humanity forms part of its cardinal objectives.

With Just A Day to Go… 20 Housemates to Move into the House

Housemates Salone Season 2

By Amin Kef Sesay

With one day left for the successful twenty (20) applicants to enter  the House as Housemates, which is the 14th October, 2020 to be exact, members of the public continue to frantically vote for their favourite contestants, out of the Fifty-Two (52) applicants that went through the audition process, whom they believe should be in the House.

The voting process is simple: To vote for your favourite contestant just send his or her respective number via SMS to 5500 or dial *5500#. For Diaspora Voting supporters of the respective contestants can call +232 99 00 5500.

For now all the fifty two (52) top applicants or contestants that made it during the audition have unique numbers. It is their unique or respective numbers that should be sent via text message (SMS) to 5500 or by dialling *5500#.

Presently, these ambitious contestants are desperately trying to garner support from the public by lobbying, using various platforms such as AYV Television and the social media to woo members of the public to cast their votes for them. The ways and manner in which they are doing so is quite interesting.

Indisputably, one of the main reasons why these contestants are longing to take part in the Reality TV Show could be attributed to the dream of emerging as the ultimate winner to bag the Two Hundred and Fifty Million Leones (Le250M) star prize and undertake a round trip to Dubai as planned by the organizers of the event, Africell and AYV Media Empire.

Besides, each of the Housemates will earn One Hundred Thousand Leones (Le100, 000) for each day spent in the House and the accumulative sum handed over to him or her when evicted from the House as the show progresses.

However, the organizers are putting premium on youth empowerment and do consider the Reality TV Show as a conduit through which young people could be empowered.

Housemates Salone is all about Youth Empowerment. When the successful Housemates are in the House they will be assigned to perform certain tasks that will 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 Brand Ambassadors, movie artists, models etc.

Some people may be having reservations as to whether it is apt to stage the show when we have the coronavirus in our midst. To allay such a fear, the organizers have put all the necessary modalities in place to ensure that all the Housemates that will be entering the House are coronavirus free, that precautionary measures are observed and the House is kept safe.

Once the show commences on the 14th October 2020  it will be 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.

Replay of Housemates Salone Season 2 Audition is now aired on AYV Television Channel 33.

Housemates Salone Season 2, from all indications, will turn out to be a very interesting and tantalizing show as the episodes unfold until the event culminates into the Grand Finale. Don’t miss out. Make a date with Housemates Salone, the Quarantine Drama.

Punjab Managing Director Debunks False Claims

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Managing Director of Punjab Distilling Company, Madam Victoria Vanday Bernard, has on October 10, 2020 refuted claims made by Ibrahim Bai Koroma-the Executive Director of Citizens Rights Network Sierra Leone (CRN).

The Manager intimated journalists in a press briefing organized at the company’s headquarter in Kenema that the briefing was aimed at making clarifications on misconceptions/allegations made by the Executive Director of CRN -SL.

Victoria said, the Executive Director has misinformed journalists in Freetown during a presser that her company is “…breaching the labour laws and workers’ rights, amongst others, in Sierra Leone.”

The Manager stated that in a publication by the Whispers Newspaper on Monday, October 5, 2020, Ibrahim further alleged that “The Punjab company fails to pay its licenses and the certificate of analysis to the Standards Bureau. “And that the company is further denying workers’ rights to having appropriate PPEs.

She debunked all the allegations against the company referring to them as malicious.

Madam Victoria Bernard showed journalists most of the company’s documents including NASSIT payment of staff, licenses amongst others. She confessed to have received calls from both the Executive Director and publisher of the said newspaper, but that she was sick and hospitalized at the Kenema Government hospital. She furthered that the duo were asked to come to the office for verification, which they failed to do.

The Chief Executive Officer of the company Kuldeep Singh expressed his dissatisfaction over the article/publication after he receive several calls from the CFN executive concerning the letter he wrote demanding him to respond at a time when he was busy with other issues.

He also said he received the letter on the 27th September and the press briefing was held on the 29th September by Ibrahim Bai Koroma Executive Director CRN.

He further reiterated, during the press briefing that, clarifications and thorough investigation into matters of journalist or CSO should always be at the center of their operation not losing the facts of foreigners rights and and protection.  However, the company is and will be always committed in upholding the norms and values of the country through the national laws. Concluded he admonished all to drink responsibly and children below 18 are not allowed to buy either access the product right across the country.

The journalists, after the Press Conference, were taken on a conducted tour of the premises of the company to ascertain whether the environment was worker-friendly and tidy, which was proven to be conducive.

 

Techfrica Storms Sierra Leone

Techfrica Sierra Leone

By Amin Kef Sesay

During a Press Conference held at its Bai Bureh Road offices, at Mamboreh on Friday 9th October, the representative and Manager of Techfrica Sierra Leone, Abdul Aziz Koroma, told journalists that they are here to promote the Sierra Leonean entertainment industry in the country.

Welcoming guests to the program, Madam Kadijatu Cashor-Wellington, Senior Board Member, said that this is the very first press conference held by the company is Sierra Leone. Techfrica, she maintained, is a platform created for entertainers and artists in the country. She called on all to embrace Techfrica, and revealed that though other countries like Nigeria and Ghana are requesting for their presence, the CEO, Hassan Aziz Bakarr, decided to introduce the company in the country, his motherland.

He decided to create an app to help promote artists and ensure that they benefit from their work. She further disclosed he had also developed an app that will help to develop young minds of kids between the ages of 2 – 6 years. This app is in line with the President’s flagship project of Quality Education. At a young age, if the kids are given access to this ABCFrica app, they will be familiar with the foundations of the educational system and work in the early learning stages.

Giving an overview of the company, Manager Abdul Aziz Koroma said that the CEO, Hassan Afiz Bakarr is a Sierra Leonean living in the USA and went there at a very tender age. During his stay in the US, he fell in love with technology and after practicing technology, he decided to engage in the development of technology for the benefit of Africa. He then became the first African to own an on line radio in the US, known as Africa radio.

He started with a single engineer in 2007 at his home and was live on line. He then had a greater desire to start a media company known as Africa radio to give voice to African music. As demand rose in 2006, he created over 20 franchises across the world. In 2012, he created the first website where all can stream live and for the first time broadcast the SLBC live and the general elections.

Azix furthered that in his bid to give voice to African music, he created Techfrica and developed the platform for music known as audiofrica, which provided the opportunity for artists to up-load their music and make money from their work. The Videofrica was also developed to provide the platform for artists to get their music heard and get people to buy them and make money from their music. These apps, he went on, operate in the similar way as the youtube, where people can subscribe and download music. It is the digital revolution.

This platform, Aziz disclosed, will enhance the musical career of the artists, as it further exposes them to the outside world. CEO Bakarr is said to be passionate about promoting Sierra Leone’s entertainment and this app will further empower more artists and entertainers to get wider recognition and viewing and at the same time make money.

He described how interested artists could access their platform. He further encouraged journalists to spread the news that the time is now for the development of the entertainment industry. He also disclosed that some artists have already signed up and are benefiting from the platform. Techfrica has transportation services known as ridefrica and operates like that in the UK, known as ‘Ubber’. Customers can call the office and request for a vehicle to take them to whatever destination they chose and payments be made as is done in the UK and in some African countries.

In his observation, the Chairman of the ceremony, Abdul Rahman Kamara of Star Television, encouraged journalists to embrace their compatriots, stressing that this is Local Content Policy in operation. He called on artists to embrace Techfrica and see their businesses grow.

The show was climaxed with performances by three artists who have joined and are making money through Techfrica.

J.J. Saffa‘s Judicious Financial Initiatives Re-establishes Donor Confidence

JJ Saffa

By Amin Kef Sesay

Prior to the 2018 General Elections, Sierra Leone’s had an  economy that was in austerity, with domestic revenue to GDP ratio among the lowest in the sub region, plus the suspension of the economic programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that led to low donor confidence and support.

This was the state of the country’s economy that current Minister of Finance, Hon. Jacob Jusu Saffa, inherited upon taking up office in 2018. The development oriented economic guru wasted no time to develop a five year strategic plan with his team at the Ministry, mapping how to turn around the situation in the shortest possible time.

In less than six months in office, Hon. Jacob Jusu Saffa led Government interventions to engage the IMF and other development partners and was able to restore relationship with the IMF on an extended credit facility programme of $USD 171 million. This renewed relationship with the IMF boosted the confidence of other development partners and donors like the World Bank that recently disbursed an unprecedented whopping some of $USD 100 Million, as budget to Sierra Leone; including timely disbursement from the African development Bank, European Union, Islamic development Bank among others. All of this took place as a result of the prudent financial management of the economy, clearly observed by development partners, under the stewardship of the financial guru.

One major manifesto commitment of the New Direction is to increase domestic revenue from 12.3% to 20% by 2023. In order to achieve this and blocking of leakages, Minister Saffa supervised the development of a duty waiver policy to restrict abuse of the process. Also, the Ministry of Finance is supporting the National Revenue Authority (NRA) with policies to achieve this.

Another sticking point was the Government’s wage bill; it is no secret that a significant portion of Government resources that is spent on salaries of Government workers was very high and to address this situation, the current Government introduced verification exercises for all Government workers. During this process, all workers were required to come forward for verification and this included their NASSIT. After the exercise, over 2,000 workers failed to turn up for verification, which has been interpreted as an open display of payment to ‘Ghost Workers’.

Even as this writer pens down this assessment, they have not showed up and their names have been struck off the pay roll. The Government now keeps full record of all its workers, and this has resulted in regular uninterrupted salary payment on a monthly basis.

Along this line, Minister Saffa has got the Government to take over the payment of salaries to lecturers in the university and end all the delays in payment and the incessant strike actions by these lecturers, which often disturb the academic year of students, adversely affecting their pursuit of academic excellence. As this ends all concerns over lecturer salaries, it now lays the ground for the full implementation of the President’s dream to return the country’s lost academic glory and the provision of quality education and human capacity building that President Bio had promised and has embarked on with the introduction of the Free Quality Education in schools.

In a bid to ensure financial development, the introduction of a Directorate of Research in the Finance Ministry has seen the country’s development plans being research driven and this has informed Government policies. To give students a taste of governance and expose them to further practical knowledge, the Ministry has engaged students in the research process.

As the country experiences steady growth, donor confidence grew, with international partners like the World Bank, European Union, AfDB coming on board, funding many projects. Unfortunately, this growth was rudely interrupted by the advent of COVID-19, which ravaged the whole world, sending some economies creeping.

Whilst tackling the virus’ negative impact on the economy of the country, this economic dinosaur, again displayed the stuff he is made of when through his advice, the Government embarked on a novel program, the Quick Action Economic Response Programme (QAERP) that provides a social safety net to citizens; where vulnerable people were targeted and given cash to mitigate against the economic impact of the disease on their businesses and lives. This system was extended to businesses, including the Tourism Industry and hospitality.

Impressed about the Government’s pro-activeness, top international financial partners continue to pledge commitments to support   the Government’s strides, effectively reviving a relationship that had gone sour prior to the assumption of power by the New Direction Government. This has added more feathers to the cap of the Finance Minister, which was seen in his re-election as Chairman by WAMZ.

  1. J Saffa’s prudent economic management has seen the employment of officials with the requisite skills and knowledge in charge of strategic positions that have been delivering. His performance had not gone unnoticed, as according to a reliable source, his Ministry bagged the first position in the Chief Minister’s Performance Tracking Report.

With the country’s economy still struggling to recover from the twin shocks of global commodity prices and the Ebola, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic, a man like J.J Saffa with his vast knowledge on Sierra Leone’s development trajectory, the New Direction Manifesto and the medium term development plan, is more appropriate to lead President Bio’s New Direction Crusade of economic recovery and growth.

As World Mental Health Day to be Celebrated…   Dr. Jalloh Calls for More Investment in Mental Healthcare

Sierra Leone Specialist Psychiatrist Dr. Abdul Jalloh

By Abdul Malik Bangura

Dr. Abdul Jalloh, who is Sierra Leone’s Specialist Psychiatrist at the country’s only Psychiatric Hospital has on the 7th October 2020, during an exclusive interview, spoke about the importance of World Mental Health Day and further emphasized on the need for more investment in mental healthcare.

Mental Health Day is globally celebrated every year since 1992 on the 10 October. This year’s celebration has as its theme: “Mental Health for All: Greater Investment – Greater Access.”

Speaking on the relevance of the theme in line with happenings in Sierra Leone, Dr Jalloh first recalled that on Thursday 4 June 2020, His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio at\\during the commissioning of the renovated Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital Complex made a commitment that mental health intervention is within his Government’s overarching “human capital development priority.”

In the words of the President, “our country has been bludgeoned over the last three decades by traumatic event after traumatic event – from the bloody violence and chaos of the civil war, to catastrophic natural disasters like the mudslide and flooding, through the Ebola virus disease epidemic, and now the COVID-19 pandemic.” Hence, President Bio is quoted to have said “we recognize that as a nation, we must act now. We must invest heavily in mental healthcare.”

During the interview, Dr. Jalloh said previously there was complete neglect of investment on mental healthcare not only in Sierra Leone but also globally.

He said so far, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, has over the past two (2) years, with support from Partners In Health (PIH) made significant progress in face-lifting the Psychiatric Hospital in the country.

Dr. Jalloh said the Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital had undergone a lot of infrastructural transformation such as improving on its toilet facilities, renovated wards and equipping them with new beds and mattresses.

He further mentioned the current upgrading of lighting system, installation of fans for ventilation as well as plasma televisions in various wards.

The medical doctor confirmed that they now have a modernized lecture hall with a semi conference room and a library, a completed Laboratory, recreational centre (Occupational Therapy Unit) equipped with sewing machines, musical instruments, and various indoor games, basketball and hand tennis courts for members of staff and the patients.

However, whilst dilating on the need for more investment on mental healthcare in Sierra Leone, Dr. Abdul Jalloh said before now, investment in health care was minimal. He further stated that after the aforementioned visit of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, there had been a thirty-five (35%) increase in patients flow to the hospital.

Dr. Jalloh dilated on the effects of COVID 19 pandemic on mental healthcare in Sierra Leone. He said “in the event of an infectious disease outbreak, such as Coronavirus, people react differently to such stressful situations,” adding that “the channels of misinformation during an outbreak makes people feed on uncertainty, grow in doubt and then react in the form of individual or mass panic especially during adhering to instituted measures to limit and control the spread of the disease.”

Dr Jalloh furthered that social distancing, quarantine and isolation are measures used by the Government to break the chain of transmission maintaining how health issues relating to frontline workers must be in thorough consideration.

The specialist Psychiatrist spoke about the importance of World Mental Health Day. He said the general aim of the day since 1992 were to promote mental health advocacy and to educate the public on relevant mental healthcare issues.

He added that as the World Mental Health Day is celebrated globally on the 10 October; he is calling for more investments in mental health – a call which, he said, can no longer be ignored.

Dr. Jalloh concluded by stating that Sierra Leone would have had a very big celebration to mark the 200th year Anniversary of the Psychiatric Hospital in the country. He, however, lamented that due to the current COVID-19 pandemic such could not hold.

He said notwithstanding, he is calling on Sierra Leoneans to record a one (1) minute video of themselves or in a group in a physical exercise with a complementary message of calling for greater investment in Sierra Leone’s mental healthcare and post it to various social media platforms. This will serve as a way of commemorating the World Mental Health Day in the country.

Meanwhile, in her remarks before the celebration of World Mental Health Day, Dr Ingrid Daniels, President of WFMH says that, “now more than ever greater investment in mental health is needed to ensure that everyone, everywhere has access to mental health care. The under-investment in mental health has left large treatment gaps globally,” concluding that the “World Mental Health Day is simply not a one-day event and provides us with the opportunity and advantage to draw the attention of Government, donors, policy-makers and all stakeholders to ensure action for greater investment in mental health.

“Let us hold hands and unify our voices in moving the mental health investment agenda for increased focus and access to mental health and thereby making mental health a reality for all – everyone, everywhere,” she admonished.

Three-Day Training Pioneered by First Lady for Medical Doctors Ends Today

By Amin Kef Sesay

Madam Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, on the 7th October 2020 officially opened a three-day training program on clinical care for sexual assault survivors targeting medical doctors. The training programme is taking place at the Radisson Blu, Mammy Yoko Hotel in Freetown and will end today.

Giving an update on the background of the training, Dr. Olabisi Cole, stated that the commencement of the training marks a milestone in the fight against the sexual assault surge in the country as a team of experts will train 35 medical doctors to further empower them to deal with Sexual and Gender-Based Violence issues, particularly clinical care for sexual assault survivors.

She furthered that the objectives of the training exercise are geared towards sensitizing and educating doctors in order for them to be able to provide free quality forensic medical care to victims of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

She also added that the training is to give the participants an opportunity to improve on coordination and networking, provide vital service to survivors.

Madam Olabisi went on to state that, the training is also to motivate national stakeholders to participate in clinical management and care of intimate partners and SGBV survivors, while it is to also ensure that doctors are provided with the skills and knowledge to feel confident and comfortable in writing medical certificate and in producing evidence in court, thereby assist in the persecution process aimed at giving justice to survivors.

The President of the Sierra Leone Medical Women’s Association, Dr. Francess Wurie in her statement disclosed that the active involvement of women in any sphere of development is bound to be successful, stating that they want to be involved in issues affecting women and girls in society saying which is why the Association has a specific interest in discussing potential avenues in preventing SGBV and also providing care for survivors of SGBV in Sierra Leone.

She went on to extend  appreciation to the First Lady and her partners for such an intervention, while she appealed to the Ministry of Gender and Children Affairs and also the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to adequately provide all necessary supplies in all the one-stop centers across the districts.

Rainbow Initiative representative, Daniel, explained that, their institution is a national organization that is passionate to end SGBV in Sierra Leone. He stated that to actualize their vision as an organization, they have been working with many players including Government, donors and other partners to ensure that they effectively play their role in ending SGBV in the country.

Kettoh stated that, they are currently working with Government and other organizations to provide service delivery at the community base level, where the Rainbow Center is not operating.

He thanked the President and First Lady for their unwavering interests to protect women and girls and said it is as a result of such interests that is why they are now experiencing a rate high of reported cases right across the country, as survivors now have the courage to come out willingly to report SGBV issues.

The Head of Family Support Unit (FSU), Fatmata Kamara intimated that as a unit they were looking forward to this all-important training, as medical examination and treatment have been challenges the FSU had been facing over the years and now that the answer is at their doorstep, they will re-double their strides to eliminate the menace in society, stating that additional doctors to provide medical service means it is action time now.

She said the FSU has intensified its fight against SGBV with emphasis placed on SGBV against minors disclosing how they have set up a Secretariat at the FSU headquarters and appointed a female Police Officer to provide oversight during the investigation and act as a liaison between the FSU and the Law Officers Department.

The First lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Madam Fatima Maada Bio while delivering her remarks extended her heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Olabisi Cole for her commitment and consistency to the cause and stated, “it is actually not nice when you have men that believe in inequality”.

Her Excellency reminded all doctors present that the fight against sexual assault and rape is not a one-man business, but a collective responsibility, as after the Hands Off Our Girls Campaign, the rapid rise in rape cases has become alarming.

Madam Fatima furthered that if all come together and speak with one voice, much could be achieved stating that the systemic and institutional change in the fight of this magnitude will forever remain in the country. She said, “the people cannot be silenced, as it is their legal right to protect their children”.

Kingho Mining Now Poised to Employ Thousands of Sierra Leoneans

By Abdul Malik Bangura

Kingho Mining Company Limited has proven itself to be a very credible company to operate in mining activities at the Tonkolili Iron Ore site after the company advertised various job opportunities as were published by leading newspapers across the country to be filled by thousands of Sierra Leoneans.

The company has so far released three (3) set of vacancies geared to recruit suitable and qualified Sierra Leoneans into various positions. Interestingly, for the very first time in the country’s history, positions which were formerly reserved for foreign expatriates were advertised to be occupied by indigenes.

So far, the aforementioned vacancies have been published and broadcast across the country with the aim of getting Sierra Leoneans involved in the recruitment process irrespective of what region they come from, their tribe, gender or social origins.

The company has targeted over twenty (20) newspapers and seven (7) community radio stations across the country to reach out to Sierra Leoneans; a move which many say is one of the largest forms of job vacancy outreach ever for a new mining company in Sierra Leone.

Meanwhile, it could be recalled that at the peak of a global pandemic which has ravaged economies of all countries across the world, Sierra Leone is poised to have a clear boost in its mining sector as the Chinese owned Kingho Mining Company Limited jets into the country with the motive to revamp iron ore mining in the country’s northern district of Tonkolili.

Led by the General Manager of Kingho Investment Company Limited, Gilbert Zhao, who together with others flew  on-board a private chartered Chinese flight, the team leader said they are in the country to boost the mining sector and also Government’s revenue as well as tax collection. Therefore, he confirmed that Kingho Investment Company Limited is working on exporting its first (1st) shipment of iron ore from Sierra Leone latest by the 4th quarter (October-November-December) of 2020.

Speaking further, Gilbert Zhao thanked His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, the Government and People of Sierra Leone for the confidence bestowed on them. He assured that going forward his mining company is keen on utilizing the local potentials of Sierra Leoneans thus creating a workforce of between two thousand (2000) and five thousand (5000). He added that his company will do everything possible to comply with all laws relating to the local content policy in Sierra Leone. Hence, he said, some of the expatriates will be sub-contractors who will utilize local Sierra Leone engineers and workers who would be privileged for training opportunities in Beijing, China.

Mr. Zhao further confirmed that the confidence they have in the Government of Sierra Leone is what gives Kingho Investment Company Limited the morale to invest at the restart period, millions of United States Dollars into iron ore production in country.

He highlighted that job opportunities will be created for every Sierra Leonean irrespective of gender, ethnicity, social origin or religion. He further assured that they will help Sierra Leone achieve more on increased tax and revenue generation. He said for the first time Sierra Leoneans will benefit from Sierra Leone’s natural wealth.

In order to fulfil this promise of empowering Sierra Leoneans, Kingho Mining has launched robust job vacancy announcements in every nook and cranny of the country to get credible and suitable Sierra Leoneans on board in order to help towards nation building and living improved standards of living.

Meanwhile, the places where the Kingho Mining Company Limited will be focusing on Iron Ore production are Sambaia, Dansogoia, Simiria, Kafe and Tane chiefdoms all in the Tonkolili District of the Northern Province of Sierra Leone.

Also worthy to note is that Kingho Investment Company Limited is a subsidiary of China Kingho Energy Group with headquarter located in Beijing, China.

1...1,0091,0101,011...1,365Page 1,010 of 1,365