Seven senior police officers in the Sierra Leone Police have been demoted from Inspector to Sergeant and from Sergeant to Constable, according to a memo released recently and signed by the Human Resource Manager in the SLP, Aiah Edward Samadia, Assistant Inspector General (AIG).
The said memo referenced Q5/24 of 27/12/2018 (Promotion to Inspector) of which two police officers; 11060 Majorie I. N. Bangura and 8365 Osman Kamara were reduced from Inspector to Sergeant and five others have been reduced from Sergeant to Constable. Reasons for the above demotion from the Sierra Leone Police were not clearly stated in the memo from the SLP Human Resource Department.
However, usually reliable sources indicate that in the Sierra Leone Police, some of the demoted police officers presented certificates they acquired from colleges not affiliated to the University of Sierra Leone, which goes against the criteria for promotion in the SLP. Another alleged reason for the demotion of the said senior police officers was that they submitted credentials for promotion too early than the date they acquired such credentials, which according to the police source goes against the criteria for promotion in the SLP and some of the disgraced police officers presented fake certificates for promotion.
The police officers that have been reduced from Sergeant to Constable according to the memo are: 17656 Prince Karim Lahai from Eastern Police Division, 16396 Mohamed Bass Kabia from Kissy Division, 16775 Mohamed Minkailu Sesay from Family Support Unit (FSU) Head Quarters, 17788 Amara Kargbo from Central Division and 11399 Rugiatu Kargbo from Jui Health Center.

The High Court of Sierra Leone holden at Makeni and presided over by Hon. Justice Unisa Kamara, on Wednesday 8th May, 2019, convicted two Head Teachers, Edward Momodu Salifu Mansaray of the Roman Catholic Primary School in Kabala; and Andrew Saio Mansaray of the Wesleyan Church Sierra Leone Primary School, also in Kabala, Koinadugu District, on two counts of Soliciting and Accepting Advantage, contrary to Section 28 (2); and Abuse of Office, contrary to Section 42 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 12 of 2008 respectively. Both men pleaded guilty and they were both convicted and fined thirty million Leones (Le 30,000,000/00) on each count; or to a term of three years imprisonment to run concurrently.

The third accused person, Mohamed Sulaiman QuraishiI, Head Teacher of the KDEC Primary School, Bankolia, Kabala, pleaded not guilty on both counts. He has been granted bail in the sum of one hundred and fifty million Leones (Le150, 000,000/00). The matter was adjourned to the 29th May, 2019.

The Anti-Corruption Commission indicted all three Head Teachers for soliciting and accepting advantage, in the form of monetary payments, from parents and pupils, as a condition to receive the National Primary School Examination Results. The Commission was represented by Lawyer Timothy P. M. Sowa.

In this holy month of Ramadan the First Lady of Sierra Leone and wife of President Julius Maada Bio – Mrs. Fatima Bio, has offered best wishes and prayers for the people of Sierra Leone.
She prayed for peace and harmony in Sierra Leone, and for God’s guidance and direction so that the New Direction will succeed; and that the President can continue to govern the country in a peaceful and democratic way.
Fatima called on God to remove all those who do not wish well for Sierra Leone. She asked God to continue to bless and protect Sierra Leone.
In a related development, the First Lady handed over 50kg of rice, oil, sugar, milk, tea and transportation fare to one hundred and fifty (150) family heads. The ceremony took place at the residence of the First Lady in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Muslim Missionaries Union (SLMMU)/ Ummah Welfare Trust-UK (UWT) and Julius Maada Bio (JMB) Women’s Wing.
In her statement, the First Lady, Mrs. Fatima Bio expressed her joy and happiness for presenting the gift on behalf of SLMMU.
Mrs. Bio pleaded with the beneficiaries to take their fast very serious so that they can receive lessings from God. The First Lady further called on Muslims to remember the country and the President in their prayers. “I am asking you to pray for the President of this country so that he can rule the people the right way…Please pray for President Brigadier (Rtd) Julius Maada Bio to succeed with all the good the plans he has for the country”, she noted.
Mrs. Bio stressed that Ramadan is the best time to give out gifts particularly to Muslims. She concluded by asking God to answer the prayers of all those that are fasting during this Holy Month.
According to the Project Coordinator of the Sierra Leone Muslim Missionaries Union (SLMMU)/ Ummah Welfare Trust-UK (UWT), Sheikh Fomba Abubakar Swarray, the amount of money spent on buying the said food items was thirty one million, eight hundred thousand Leones (Le31, 800,000).
It will be recalled that sometime in recent past, Fatima Bio was recognized as World Peace Ambassador for her hard work and commitment to nation-building,.
The award was presented at a press briefing held at the Office of the First Lady, by Dr. GD Singh, Founder and Chairman of Asian African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Presenting the prestigious award to the First Lady, Dr. Singh noted that this is first award from the World Peace Ambassador to Sierra Leone since it was established in year 2000.
He said the remarkable approach and relentless vision by Mrs. Fatima Bio did not only make Sierra Leone proud but Africa as a whole.
Dr. Singh congratulated Her Excellency Mrs. Fatima Bio for being a role model to other women and encouraged her to continue the good work in promoting peace in Sierra Leone.
Receiving the award from Dr. Singh, Mrs. Fatima Bio thanked World Peace Ambassador for recognising and considering her vision for Sierra Leone.
She assured not to disappoint the World Peace Organization but committed to do more in promoting humanity.
Mrs. Bio encouraged the World Peace Organization to recognise other Sierra Leonean women in the coming years.

To commemorate its 20th anniversary and the 58th Independence Anniversary of Sierra Leone, the West Africa Network for PeaceBuilding (WANEP-Sierra Leone) on Tuesday 7th May 2019 organized a symposium at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Aberdeen in Freetown at which event the United Nations Development Program Country Director in Sierra Leone, Dr. Samuel Doe in his keynote address asserted that the UN was formed to prevent war and promote peace, address the needs of the poor, sustain the equal rights of all human beings highlighting some of the causes of wars as abuse of power, authoritarianism, that Sierra Leone has suffered for too long and that dialogue is not a sign of weakness.
Among the recommendations at the end of the symposium, WANEP called for the strengthening of early warning and conflict prevention, that Sierra Leone should intensify its relations with neighbouring countries, that environmental security should be strengthened, that there is need to conduct research on the causes of the civil war, that more resources should be allocated to peace education and as well factored in the school curriculum and acclaimed Government’s plans to setup a National Peace Infrastructure.
The event was intended to serve as a day of reflection into the past and to examine the current state of peace and stability in Sierra Leone. According to WANEP, celebrating 20 years of active engagement in conflict prevention and peacebuilding is a milestone worthy of reflection underscoring that it is imperative to use the same space to communicate its institutional strength and challenges to potential partners, Government and the people of Sierra Leone
In her PowerPoint presentation, Dr. Isata Mahoi, WANEP’s National Network Coordinator said that she is greatly honoured to welcome all to the symposium enlightening that 20 years of peacebuilding has not been easy, that the panellists at the symposium would among others discuss the theme, especially what is missing to move Sierra Leone forward, that we all know the current political dynamics in the country underscoring that the forum is for all to discuss the way forward.
She continued that WANEP was founded in 1988 during the height of the civil wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia respectively to bring peace to Africa and revealed that the organization is now operating in 15 West African countries working on early warning and conflict prevention, women in peace building, peace education, recommending policy briefs for state actors, that WANEP has identified youth gangs, violent extremism, democratic governance in Sierra Leone and affirmed that civil society should work with Government for an advanced State.
According to Dr. Isata Mahoi, issues arose after the 2018 general elections between the two main political parties citing the recent walkout of parliament by APC Members of the Parliament, demonstrations, the bye-election in Kambia District, crime and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against women, economic realities, the shrinking space for political parties to operate, wrongful sackings of perceived supporters of the main opposition APC, rampant corruption and commended Government for establishing the Commissions of Inquiry but observed that they must operate according to the rule of law.
She continued that other governance issues are organized crime and extremism citing the armed robbery of a bank in Daru in the Kailahun District in which one person was killed, human and drug trafficking, that over 3,120 cases of GBV have been reported and called on Government to look into these issues.
The WANEP National Network Coordinator further applauded Government for launching the Hands Off Our Girls Campaign and the State of Emergency declared on rape, pointed out that there was no flooding last year, acclaimed Government for developing the National Development Plan some of which were from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals but observed that Sierra Leone lacks peace infrastructure and suggested that CSOs should be on-board the proposed Bintumani 3 conference.
She said Environmental Protection Agency laws should be reinforced and that her organization is part of the Early Warning structure to be setup by the African Union to be in the Office of the Vice President.
Michaela Mackay, Head of the Corporate Affairs Commission, who chaired the symposium, revealed that she is disappointed with APC MPs who recently walked out of parliament underscoring that it is not because other countries did the same means it is right and asked the rhetoric question, “where is our women, especially those in political parties” and urged WANEP to use its available resources to promote peace in the country.
The Head of UN Women in Sierra Leone, Dr. Mary Okumu congratulated WANEP for creating the platform for peace building in West Africa reiterated that peace is a value that all are yearning for stressing that we must urgently prevent conflict in Sierra Leone citing the early warning signs like the political undertones.
The panellists for the symposium were Valnora Edwin, Country Manager, Sierra Leone War Trust for Children who dilated on the topic-Civil Society Contribution Towards Peace and Sustainable Development; 58 Years of Independence: What Lies Ahead and What Remains to be Achieved, Dr. Abu Bakarr Kargbo, Executive Chairman, National Commission for Democracy-the Future of Peacebuilding in Democratic Societies, Leon Jenkins-Johnston, the Ombudsman-Paving A Road Map for Effective State-Led Approach to Conflict Prevention, National Cohesion and Nation Building; 58 Years of Independence: What Lies Ahead and What Remains to be Achieved and Martin Michael, a legal practitioner and Managing Director of Mercury International-the Private Sector Contributions Towards Peace and Sustainable Development; 58 Years of Independence: What Lies Ahead and What Remains to be Achieved.
Highlights of the symposium were the presentation of certificates to renowned human rights organizations and individuals and a skit performance.

The Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) is currently supporting a water and sanitation project in Constituency 115 through the Honourable Member of Parliament, Hon. Alpha Bah.

The cost is Le 79,543,000 million to construct VIP Toilet and Hand Pump water well for two different schools within the constituency.

50 million Leones has already been disbursed to the MP and the remainder will be disbursed after the implementation reaches a satisfactory state.

This project is located at the old post-Ebola water and sanitation HAF project for schools which was previously handled by the former MPs of the then constituencies 97 and 98, Hon. Knox Sankoh and Hon. Karifala Conteh respectively but not properly implemented. It was allegedly mismanaged and the project was left in unfinished state. The remaining cash was therefore withheld by the SLBL owing to poor management and unaccountability on the side of the former MPs.

The remaining cash is what has now been disbursed to Hon. Alpha Bah who is tasked with completing the project
Brewery is Sierra Leone’s foremost producer of beverage and has been making considerable inroads in terms of satisfying its esteemed customers across the country. The company has been widely acclaimed for steadily rolling-out its corporate social responsibility especially within the Wellington Industrial Estate where it is located.

It could be recalled that the SLBL has been playing a key role in maintaining sanitation in its locality since its establishment.
The Sierra Leone Brewery as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Wellington, where its factory is located has done much to develop communities including Peacock Farm. Such development interventions have been of great assistance to especially women and children.
Providing safe water and encouraging women’s participation in agriculture and other economic activities have been the main thrust of the SLBL over the years. The SLBL is ensuring through small water enterprises that businesses provide safe, reliable, affordable water to communities in need; agencies that create economic opportunities for women to create benefits to their communities and be able to contribute to the health and well-being of families.
Commendably, the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited recently embarked upon an expansion and upgrading of its facilities up to the tune of Le 278 billion and it has been rated as one of the most expensive. It was another large investment of the company to the economy and manufacturing sector of Sierra Leone, which is a major step in the improvement of their facilities in their journey of reaching state-of-the-art status.
In the same vein, the SLBL quite recently collaborated with the Freetown City Council to support sanitation projects in Ward 406 worth over 400 million Leones through Heineken Africa Foundation (HAF) and also provided a Toyota Dyna van to collect and dispose waste.
The Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) is indeed making steady progress in its production chain. The company has been rated as one of the most progressive business entities that have been positively contributing to overall national development impacting meaningfully on the lives of many people.
In order to ensure that the company continues to meet the needs of its numerous esteemed customers in and out of the country it is heavily investing in both capital and human resources with the view to make use of latest machinery and best brains that will collectively add value to its production drive.
The SLBL can now boast of having increased fermentation tanks; an upgraded waste water treatment plant, mash filter equipment and cooling plants thus putting it on a better stead to produce qualitative and safe beverages which many have confessed are of high standards.
It should be mentioned that in addition to the many great things the SLBL is doing for the people of this country and in accordance with government policy, the SLBL is ensuring that in the provinces there are farmers who grow sorghum and the company is in close relationship with them going to the extent of continuously empowering them through trainings and inputs.
These sorghum farmers, who are over 25,000 in number, are steadily supplying the Brewery with the ingredients the company needs and by so doing they are becoming financially independent.
The Sierra Leone Brewery Limited is tax compliant and is contributing towards local revenue mobilization that is helping government to have the financial muscle to fund different development programs across the country.
Of course it is an established fact that the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited is contributing greatly towards overall national development that is impacting positively with regards improving standards of living; no wonder it is in the good books of every successive government.

After Defense Counsels closed their case in the Court Martial trial on Tuesday May 7, 2019, the Presiding Judge Advocate Alhaji Momoh-Jah Stevens disclosed that the trial has ended.
“The trial has ended. What comes after the closure of the case is not a trial but a process,” Judge Advocate Stevens told both the defense and prosecution counsels. “The case has been closed. If you have written addresses, you will submit them.”
Justice Stevens stated that the court will not sit next week so that both the defense and prosecution counsels will have enough time to prepare for their address. He added, “After the address, I will do a summing up the following week.”
He cautioned the legal representatives to make use of the time given to them because he will not give them an additional day for their address. “Please don’t ask me for another date for the address,” he warned. He said that this is a very serious matter because just single missing ammunition will be a big issue in the army, “let alone talk about thousands of missing ammunitions”.
The trial came to an end after 19 appearances.
The trial was presided by the Judge Advocate, Alhaji Momoh-Jah Stevens and the Court Martial Board: Lieutenant Colonel Kerifa Kamara, President of Court Martial Board; Lieut. Col. A. B. Keita; Major Victor Momoh; Major Brima Ngavuwa Sama; and Major Sallieu Kallon.
The court martial was constituted in Freetown to hear a case of three soldiers of the former Joint Presidential Guard Forces (JPGF): Captain Patrick E. Kamara, 1st accused; Samuel Conteh, Warrant Officer Class 1, 2nd accused; and Abu Bakarr Jalloh, Warrant Officer Class 2, 3rd accused. They are accused of wilfully damaging service property – 1,600 rounds of 14.5 mm anti-aircraft ammunition and 178 rounds of 12.7mm anti-aircraft ammunition, all to the value of $10,401.40, Le88, 401,900 property of Government of Sierra Leone; conspired to steal ammunition; and involved in a conduct which is prejudicial to the group order and military discipline.
In proving its case, the prosecution initially called 20 witnesses. It is the principle of law that it is the prosecution that will prove the case beyond all reasonable doubt. Prior to the closing of the case after 11 court martial hearings, the prosecutors led 20 witnesses and tendered about 15 exhibits to prove its case against the accused persons. The witnesses comprise senior officers from both military and Police including two civilians. The evidential burden lies on the prosecution to prove its case beyond all reasonable doubt.
In defending the case, defense counsel for the first accused, Lawyer Ady Macaulay called Captain P. E. Kamara to take the witness stand and two additional witnesses on behalf of the first accused.
The defense counsel for the second accused, Lawyer D. Taylor did not call his client to the witness stand but rather rely on the voluntarily caution statement his client made at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Also, the defense counsel for the third accused, Amadu Koroma did not call an additional witness, but his client took the witness stand.
In total, the prosecution led 20 witnesses, and the defense counsels led four witnesses. The prosecution tendered about 15 exhibits, while the defense counsel for the first accused, Lawyer Macaulay also tendered some exhibits, but the counsel for the second and third accused did not tender exhibits.
Giving the reason why his client [3 accused] did not take the witness stand, Lawyer D. Taylor said, “I have been carefully examining the case against the second accused. I am of the view that the prosecution has failed to make a case against the second accused on all the count charges.”
He added that none of the evidences tendered in the court martial whether direct, indirect or oblige have established any of the Actus reus or mens rear that is required to prove the charges as prescribed upon which the trial is predicated.
“Even the circumstantial evidence proffered by the prosecution is legless,” he claimed. “During the course of the prosecution case, a number of other possibilities were raised. Possibilities in which in some instances during the course of the investigation, the investigators turned blind eyes to.”
He said that “some of the count charges naturally have to fall because they are based on the same sequences [duplicate]. One of the most palpable demean of the prosecution is to lean on the conspiracy charge. No evidence of conspiracy has been established.”
He claimed that the evidences clearly show that at the time the second accused was removed, there was an undisputable disharmony between the second accused and the first accused. “The second accused narrated the circumstances upon which he was removed and the investigators did not verify it,” he claimed. “Nothing in the custody of the second accused where missing. As the investigation did not establish or enquire into the stock he took. In fact, the investigators were indifferent to knowing and on the basis of this, the nature of the investigation cannot permit them.”
“We have no case to answer on all the counts the second accused is standing trial,” he claimed.
The Judge Advocate Stevens said that what Lawyer Taylor has said will be determined by the court.
The defense counsel for the third accused, A. Koroma told the court that the third accused was not given the opportunity to explain certain things during the cause of his investigation. “So, this is the only reason why my client is taking the witness stand so that he will explain it.”
The Judge admonished the third accused that this is the only opportunity he has as defense witness. He told him to really explain what he knows about the case, cautioning him to be patient when giving his evidence .
In his evidence in chief, the four defense witness, Abu Bakarr Jalloh told the court that he joined the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces on August 12, 1991. He testified that he was posted at JPGF as a security on March 10, 2008. He said that on June 9, 2011, the first accused called him and took him to his boss, now Lieutenant Colonel S. T. Sesay [Officer Commanding]. “Lieutenant Colonel Sesay asked me if I have any logistics certificate and I answered in the affirmative,” he said. “So, he [OC] told me to take over the RSLAF operational store as Camp Quarter Master Sergeant (CQMS) at the Presidential Lounge,” he said. “I took over the store but there was no formal handing over. I went to the first accused and he advised me to go to the store and take inventory of all the items in the presence of the Warrant Officer Class One, Abu Bakarr Suma.”
Defense counsel showed exhibit AC 1-3 [Inventory of the items] to him. He said that exhibit AC 1-2 is the inventory of items he met in the store.
He said that the inventory was only taken for operational purposes. “That is, personnel will take it and also bring it after the operational duties,” he said. “Apart from what I met in the store, I received ammunitions.”
He said that after the last day of firing exercise at Benguema in 2012, the Chief Instructor at JPGF, Staff Sergeant Dakowa [now late] by then Sergeant, came with 225 of 7.62× 23mm ball at the operational store. I receive 3000 of 7.62×54mm ball in 2012 from the first accused. The day before receiving this 3000 round, “I received four heavy machine guns from the first accused and he told me that he received it from the Joint Logistics Unit, Supply Services Squadron for operational purposes.”
He testified that in 2013, there was a firing exercise at Benguema and at the end of the exercise, Staff Sergeant Dakowa returned 200 rounds of 7.62×54mm ball after the exercise. He added that in 2014, he received 16 rounds of 9×18mm pestle from the first accused when he [first accused] was travelling to Canada to pursue a course, adding that he also receive 1172 rounds of 14.5mm AA in 2014 from Staff Sergeant Sesay [now deceased]. He testified that Sergeant Sesay got the ammunition from the mounted three barrel truck. “He [Sergeant Sesay] told me that he has taken the vehicle to the garage.”
“In the same 2014, I received 3519 rounds of 7.62×39mm ball from the former Vice President Lodge [Sam Sumana] among the guards was one Warrant Officer Class one Thomas Kargbo. He said that this was in relation to centralized all arms and ammunitions because one Semi Machine Gun was missing at the VP Lodge,” he said.
“Thereafter, the guards at former VP Lounge were collecting arms and ammunitions at JPGF when on duty and returning it after duty. This practice continues even during the tenure of VP Foe and so on. I recorded all of these in a form called AFG 10:33 and kept it in boxes but I don’t have the form again,” he said.
He explained that after the announcement of 2018 election results, the former President, Ernest Bai Koroma left the Lodge and went to live in his private house at Goderich. “I noticed that Brigadier A. Y. Kargbo came with Military Police and other personnel from Forces Intelligent Security Unity (FISU) to backload the presidential arms and ammunition store,” he said.
He testified that the former guards also returned their arms and ammunition, but they did not take it again, adding that within two or three days, the Lodge became empty. He said he explained this situation to the first accused. “I also told him that we should try to backload the arms and ammunitions in the operational store because it was only himself with two store men [Corporal Samuel King and Warrant Officer class two George Williams] and about two or three other general duty police officers who were at the Lodge.”
He said that after explaining the situation to the first accused, he [Captain Kamara] told him that he was negotiating for a vehicle to backload the arms and ammunitions, adding that after two to three days, the first accused came with a vehicle[one of the escort vehicles] for the back-loading. “But the vehicle was small. So, we were only able to take the arms and ammunitions for back-loading, leaving out the boxes containing documents, and old uniforms. “All the arms and ammunitions I was having in the presidential arms and ammunition store were back-loaded at 3 Brigade at Wilberforce,” he testified.
“Whilst offloading the arms and ammunition, the first accused told him that he has received a call for the vehicle because it is going to be used by the current guards to attend a meeting between the former president and the current President Bio,” he said. “So, we were not able to return for the boxes and other items we left at the Presidential Lodge.”
The matter was adjourned to Tuesday May 21, 2019, for both the defense and prosecution counsels to submit their addresses.

“For too long, adolescent girls have been invisible and ignored. Making sure that girls count is a critical way to guarantee that their rights and needs are recognized. When they’re educated, healthy, safe, and counted, they can transform their communities and the world we live in”, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh made the statement at the Shiaka Steven Stadium on 9th May, 2019 during a Day’s Conference organized by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education. Vice President Jalloh told the Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) Career Volunteers that the Vision of the Government of Sierra Leone is to provide more opportunities for girls to take up STEM subjects in schools; he added that girls do not have saying in decisions that affect their lives. He maintained that girls deserve to participate in their communities, advocate for their rights, and be role models to others.
Vice President Jalloh educated the participants about the alignment of Government priorities of providing Free Quality Education that is inclusive, and inspires the children of Sierra Leone to adopt Science, Technology and Innovation as the way forward for human capital development. He described the STEM Conference as an excellent first step initiative to provide the sensitization that Sierra Leone needs for STEM careers, though opportunities for girls are negatively affected by poverty, he emphasized. Dr. Jalloh maintained that empowering every child will increase their competitiveness to global market.
The Honourable Vice President explained that Government key priority is to promote STEM subjects in schools, reinforce STEM teaching and facilities in the next five years. He told the pupils that his presence at the Conference to deliver keynote address was to encourage them to be studious as anyone of them could become Vice President in the future.

The Honourable Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has launched three mineral sector policies at the Bintumani Conference Hall in Freetown on Thursday 9th May, 2019. Vice President Jalloh informed the gathering of the overwhelming importance the New Direction Government of President Julius Maada Bio attached to the mining sector by improving the governance and management of the mineral sector in Sierra Leone. Dr. Jalloh clearly stated that Sierra Leone is yet to benefit from the mineral endowments; he attributed bad governance and chaotic management of the mineral sector as the factors responsible for the country not benefitting from its minerals over the decade. He said that the country now have the opportunity to move forward, and create the condition for value added chain. Vice President Jalloh elaborated that deriving such gains require viable management including the overall governance, beginning with the establishment of appropriate legal framework and policies.
Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh believes that the three mineral policies will set the stage for moving the country forward, and set out clear frame work through which to manage the sector. He said that the policies will provide Government the chance to ensure its derive economic transformation, growth and development of Sierra Leone. The policies, he said will provide opportunities for environmental safeguards, and improve rural livelihood. The Vice President furthered that the three policies will provide a comprehensive pathway to a promising prospect of an improve governance of the mineral sector. Dr. Jalloh buttressed that the three policies are demonstration of Government of Sierra Leone compliance with the Africa Union Vision on mineral.
Vice President Jalloh revealed four critical issues affecting mining communities to the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources. They include the need to address the effect of State disengagement and it impact on mining companies. Vice President Jalloh explained that the present condition of mining communities is as a result of State collapsed in the past, he stated that it is the traditional responsibility of Government to provide social services for it citizens like road whilst mining companies pay royalties. The Honourable Vice President also raised the issue of institutionalization of Corporate Social Responsibility by mining companies. He suggested to the Mines Minister for the establishment of a Unit that will oversee Corporate Social Responsibility issues and draft a document that will explain in simple terms its meaning. The three mining policies were the Artisanal Mining Policy, the Geo-Data Management Policy and the Sierra Leone Minerals Policy. The programme was organized by the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Resources.