A one day workshop was organized by the Action Group for Peace and Development (AGPAD) on Friday 15th March 2019 at the Atlantic Hall National Stadium with the theme “Say No to Violence and Support the Commission of Inquiry”.
In his welcome statement, Issa Kolleh Dumbuya thanked colleges and others who are supporting the organization further maintaining that peace will be sustained through the diligent contributions of ex Services men. He noted that they fought selflessly leaving their comfort zones in order to ensure that the integrity of the State is ensured
He stated Government should encourage ex -service men because they have utilized their energies to defend the country.
Rtd. Bridger Sahr Komba Mondeh, one founding member of the organization who also served as Chairman of the event stated that the AGPAD is a national organization that encompasses certain security forces in the country including the RSLAF, RUF, Kamajors, Gbathies, that played vital roles during the 11 years civil conflict in Sierra Leone.
The workshop engagement was a clear manifestation that X- Combatants are denouncing all forms of violence extolling peace. The organization is 100% supporting the Government to continue with the Commissions of Inquiries is for the betterment of this country underscoring that it no witch hunt.
Mondeh promised to employ Ex- combatants at his private security farm.
Deputy Youth Affairs Minister in his statement said there will be no development if there is no peace furthering that the former child Ex-Combatants are now youths.He pointed out that the President himself is a retired Army Officer and the increase of the pension of Ex-servicemen clearly demonstrates that the government is committed to uplifting the status of ex-servicemen in the country.
He however pleaded to the Sierra Leone Police to be a little bit flexible with the Bike riders, as most of them are ex-servicemen.
Ambassador Joe Blell, Former Minister of Defence, encouraged the men not to politicize the organization, as that is common with most organizations, “ if any politician tells you to go out and fight for them, ask them to bring their children, because most of their children are abroad pursing their education, while they give you drugs”. He stated that there is nothing bad to set up Commissions of Inquiry.
Tamba Sam from the Ministry of Internal Affairs said that the Ministry felt humble to honor such an invitation; because the event falls under their purview, “but we are only there to design policy, we have the implementing institution.” He admonished them to use the skills accrued for the betterment of the nation.

Whilst providing fuel to enhance transportation across the country, the National Petroleum is also interested in maintaining the standard of vehicles on the road and ensure the safety of pedestrians, passengers, drivers and owners. In this vein, it has on offer, several lubricants of high quality for vehicles.
Engine oil for heavy duty vehicles and machines (diesel) are available, whilst engine oil for jeeps and other types of vehicles of both petrol and diesel are also available for sale in their different outlets. These lubricants are developed with the right formula to meet the needs of the engine specification. This is made possible by the professional work of its engineers, under the watchful eyes of it able Managing Director and team. With expert technicians, NP has been able to provide this service for its numerous customers.

In this age of technological advancement, NP has not been left behind. With expertise in technology, the company has improved on its service delivery to customers. It now has a Sim Card for fuel. With this sim card known as NP Smart Card, its customers can purchase any amount of fuel they want. Customers have a stipulated amount of fuel on the card in accordance with what they had paid for (a pre-paid system). Thus the customer has a choice to request for a lesser quantity of fuel as he so desires or take the whole total of what is on the sim card. Presently, apart from private customers patronising this system, International organisations, Banks and certain government institutions, including the Judiciary, have these sim cards. This system alleviates the long process of dealing with LPOs as done in the past. Drivers in such institutions can now easily access fuel from the fuel station with the production of the sim card, which is then run through a small device and service is rendered quickly without any itch.

As far as customer care is concern, NP-SL Ltd, has the most exemplary service to its customers. Smartly dressed, its pump attendants exude the quality service that the company is known for. Politely talking to its customers and directing them to the various pumping points, they deliver a service that is exceptional in that field. In its determination to serve the public, NP offers the exact litre quantity for its products, thereby attracting many customers, including commercial drivers to its stations. Mohamed Kamara, a taxi driver, maintained that he buys fuel from NP because their quality and quantity are good and cannot be compared to any in the petroleum industry.

Whilst the above are concern with transportation, the National Petroleum realises that there is a need to cater for the domestic needs of people with the introduction of the eco-friendly NP Gas. NP notes that cooking is part of human activity and it takes different forms. In this country, because of poverty, the vast majority of the citizenry rely on traditional and archaic means of cooking such as using fire-wood and charcoal. But the effect of the use of such practices have endangered the environment, prompting environmentalists to raise alarm about the hazards that deforestation and inhalation of fumes from coal can cause to human health. The introduction of NP Cooking Gas is geared towards providing a better alternative, which is environment friendly.
These NP Gas Cookers are readily available in the company’s different filling stations and are going for affordable prices. Most of those that were interviewed by this medium disclosed that the cookers are very user friendly and good to be used for various cooking purposes. “We derive optimum satisfaction in using our NP Gas Cooker as it is very fast and reliable,” Mariatu Kanu said with a big smile on her face, adding that accessing gas to replenish used stock is very easy at NP filling stations.

One Chief Executive Officer of a reputable insurance company intimated that he finds it convenient to buy provisions at a NP mini mart, adding that since accessing the other supermarkets in town has proven difficult due to lack of parking space, NP-SL provides the perfect alternative to them, especially as what is desired is also available at the mini-mart.
NP-SL Ltd has bagged certain accolades on various fronts.
The company is held in high regard for availing Sierra Leoneans job opportunities, which have somehow helped in drastically reducing the unemployment rate in the country. If this country were to have had similar businesses owned by purely indigenous shareholders, then the problem of unemployment would have long been a thing of the past.

The origin of NP is very fascinating and very inspirational.
It goes like this; that British Petroleum (BP) Company decided to sell its shares to the Government of Sierra Leone that was in existence at that time.
In 1996 the Government sold its 60% shares in BP to some of the company’s members of staff. 55 % was paid upfront from the end of service benefits of the workers from BP and the 5% offered to all the other workers. Thus a new company known as LEONEOIL started operations.
It was the World Bank that proffered advice for the privatization of the company. The 55% sale of Government shares to NP therefore came as a result of the World Bank’s admonition. 4 companies took part in the bid, but it was LEONOIL that won the international competitive bidding that was conducted by Arthur De Little (a United States based Management consultancy firm). LEONEOIL later on metamorphosed into NP, meeting all the set criteria.
It was understood that the members of staff were very serious and capable enough to properly manage the company to such an extent that, unlike others, it survived most of the challenges that it had encountered.
It was learnt that the 40% PMMC’s stake in the company, owned by the late Jamil Sahid Mohammed and Tony Yazbeck, was given as collateral for a loan from a Bank by one of the parties.
Jamil Sahid Mohammed, later sold to Cape Oil PMMC’s 40% shares to offset a fidelity loan, but LEONE OIL was not satisfied with that move and took the matter to court on the grounds that it was in violation of the M and A, which dictates that the other side has the first option to buy. The outcome of the matter was that the High Court gave judgement in favour of LEONE OIL.
Certain people have suggested that the Government and other stakeholders must give NP all the necessary support it deserves to make it further formidable and highly competitive.
But what for now is very certain is that NP-SL Limited has the safest cooking device (NP Gas).

In the aftermath of a three-day workshop held on the 5th – the 7th March 2019, journalists from community and national radio stations in Sierra Leone established a unique kind of national network against trafficking in persons (TiP) in the country. Through radio broadcasts, the network will contribute to educate Sierra Leoneans on the identification of fake job offers, and report suspected cases of trafficking to the national anti-trafficking task force. The Communication for Development Workshop was organized through the Africa Regional Migration Programme implemented in Sierra Leone with funding from the US Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.
The establishment of the network is the result of a three-day (5-7 March) workshop on Communication for Development (C4D) during which 27 Sierra Leonean radio journalists debated on the best practices to reporting and raising awareness on trafficking in persons in Sierra Leone.
According to the US Department of State 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report, Sierra Leone is both a source and destination country. Forced labour and sexual exploitation are the main purposes of human trafficking in and from the country.
Traffickers recruit boys and girls as young as nine years old from rural provinces to urban and mining centres for exploitation in sex trafficking and forced labour in domestic service, artisanal diamond and granite mining, petty trading, rock quarrying, street crime, and begging.
Some Sierra Leoneans, especially young women, are also coerced by sham recruitment and placement agencies, and then smuggled across international borders to be subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking primarily in Gulf countries.
During the debate, Mohamed Sajuma of Radio Mojcar said “This is a first step towards what we hope will be a long-term strategy to help Sierra Leoneans better understand the dangers of trafficking in persons.”
In her own contribution, Margaret Mansaray from Radio Bintumani, a community radio located in Kabala in Northern Sierra Leone, said that “This is the first time that such a network is established in Sierra Leone. I hope that it will be a place where we can learn from each other, and that it will foster good journalistic practices with regard to trafficking in persons in Sierra Leone,” said Margaret Mansaray from Radio Bintumani, a community radio located in Kabala in Northern Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone recent history of civil war, Ebola and the closing down of operations of major iron ore mining companies in the country exacerbated an already dismal situation characterised by high level of joblessness. This appalling situation fuelled the scourge of trafficking in persons for forced labour.
“More than half of the youth population is unemployed so when an exciting offer, especially to go abroad, is presented, most young people seize it, often without checking its authenticity,” explained Sanusi Savage, Head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) office in Sierra Leone.
“Young people’s desperation in the face of hardship often blinds them to the scams that permeate the recruitment sector,” Sanusi added.
Over seven weeks, the journalists will collaborate on the development and broadcasting of a seven-episode radio series to raise awareness on the risks and dangers of both domestic and transnational trafficking in Sierra Leone, as well as the methods for identifying and reporting suspected cases of trafficking.

On Friday 15th March 2019, at Casablanca in Morocco, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio was honoured by the organisers of the 6th International Africa Development Forum in Casablanca for his outstanding leadership in Africa in less than one year in office.

Handing over the award on behalf of the organisers – AL MADA, Africa Development Club and Attijariwafa Bank – President Bio was praised for championing human capital development in Africa, waging a war on corruption to promote transparency and accountability, instituting reforms and structures to promote private sector investment and advocating for intra-African trade and investment.

In recognition of his impressive performance, President Bio was also selected as the Chairman for this year’s 6th International Africa Development Forum, which brought together over 2000 investors across Africa to promote intra-Africa Trade and Investment. The President used the platform not only to rebrand Sierra Leone as the best investor destination, but also highlighted the new reforms, processes and institutions to promote investment.

President Bio also inaugurated the Investment Market Place, which provided a platform for countries including Sierra Leone to engage investors about the investment opportunities in their respective countries. Both the Hon. Jacob Jusu Saffa, Minister of Finance and Micheala Mackay, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of Corporate Affairs Commission, took part in the pitching programme on behalf of Sierra Leone.

In a separate engagement, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Sierra Leone and Attijariwafa Bank. The Government of Sierra Leone was represented by Hon. Peter Bayuku Conteh, Minister of Trade and Industry and Mr. Mohamed El Kettani, Chief Executive Officer, represented Attijariwafa Bank Group.

The award of President Bio by the organisers at the 6th International Africa Development Forum is an endorsement of his impressive leadership in the African continent by African investors. As one of the recently elected Presidents in Africa, President Bio has established his credibility in fiscal discipline, an anti-corruption crusader and a champion of human capital development. President Bio represents the hope and optimism of Africa.

The general public is reminded that the act of indiscriminately attaching stickers, posters, flyers, and other advertisement to walls, trees or any other structure along streets, roads, footpaths, and highways is an offence, according to Section 3(j) of the Freetown City Council Statutory Nuisance Bye-laws of 2010, which states:

“Without prejudice to the exercise by a Health Authority of any other powers vested in them by Public Health Act, 1960, the following matters shall, subject to these bye-laws, constitute statutory nuisance —
(j). Any display of banners or erection of billboards or other advertising hoardings without first obtaining appropriate permits from Council;”

Such advertisements can be an eyesore, nuisance, or distraction to road & footpath users, potentially causing road accidents and they undermine the Council’s city beautification efforts.

Following prior consultation with various stakeholders and affected groups in the city, notice is hereby given to the general public that effective 31st March 2019, Freetown City Council will carry out its mandate and ensure that any person or organisation caught contravening the above law will face enforcement action.

Any costs incurred by the Freetown City Council to remove such advertisements will also be charged to the person or organisations responsible for placing them.

The Freetown City Council is urging the general public to heed to this notice and support the Council’s efforts to Transform Freetown!

Festus B. Kallay
Chief Administrator
Freetown City Council

During the 6th International Africa Development Forum (FAID) held on Thursday 14th March 2019 at Casablanca in Morocco, President Julius Maada Bio commended the sound commitment and the sustained efforts made by King Mohammed VI for the development of the African continent.
Addressing the opening session of the 6th International Africa Development Forum (FIAD), on Thursday in Casablanca, President Maada Bio said Morocco is a “success story” in Africa, noting that the Kingdom shares its experience with African countries in various vital sectors to speed up their socio-economic development.
Morocco “must be proud of its long history, centuries-old tradition and take pride in its real commitment that inspires hope as well as its development agenda for the continent, which deserves to be followed”, said President Maada Bio, whose country is the guest of honor of the business and development event.
“The African continent, which has enormous potential with a population of about one billion people and diverse natural resources, offers investors huge business opportunities in infrastructures, agriculture, renewable energies, tourism…”, he added.
FIAD 2019 aims to promote African trade, investment and south-south cooperation. It seeks to bring together and connect economic operators from African countries to explore partnership projects underpinning Africa’s economic potential.
The International Africa Development Forum has become a flagship platform on the continent for political and economic debates for Africa’s development.
The sixth FIAD is held under the theme “when East meets West.” Organized by the Moroccan Pan-African investment fund Al Mada, of Attijariwafa bank Group. The two-day meeting is a platform for dialogue, investment promotion and intra-African trade development. It is gathering dozens of African countries as well as thousands of business people from the continent and from around the world.
The 5th edition saw the participation of 7,500 business people from 36 countries.

President Julius Maada Bio stressed Thursday importance of working towards attaining political stability, grasping and exploiting opportunities for the best of the African continent.

Speaking during the inauguration of the sixth International Africa Development Forum (FIAD) in Casablanca, he emphasized that Africa has enormous potentials, a high population and diverse natural resources.

He added that Africa offers huge opportunities for African investors in various sectors, underlining the need to fill the infrastructure gap. President Maada Bio praised the commitment of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI to the development in the African continent.

The forum is meant to bring together and connect 2,000 African figures from the world of business, finance and politics.

Mohamed El Kettani, Chairman and CEO of Attijariwafa Bank Group, said that the purpose of the forum is to gather all African actors in order to mull challenges facing Africa and possible means to transform them into opportunities.

Africa represents a “hope” to global growth since it maintains a reliable approach amid a fluctuating environment,” he added.

“African economic growth reached 3.5 percent in 2018 and is anticipated to rise to 4 percent in 2019, while inflation average dropped to 10.9 percent in 2018 from 12.6 percent in 2017, and is forecast to drop to 8.1 percent in 2020,” he noted.

“Africa has opportunities as much as it has challenges,” Kettani said.

Regional integration is a key topic in the forum and significant progress has been made on the institutional level in which 44 out of 54 African states are now involved in regional federations, he stated, while highlighting efforts to establish an African free trade zone.

Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Energy signed a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement with Winch Energy to construct 24 mini solar plants that will supply power to over 24000 residents in the country.
The company aims to make these operational by June 2019 and over 6,000 people are set to benefit from the direct connection to the mini-grids in the first phase of the project. Before the signing of the contract for its development in Sierra Leone, Winch Energy had already started installing 12 power plants in small towns and villages.
“We believe that electricity and related services are transforming communities, contributing to the development of local businesses and increasing wealth and prosperity. We are committed to making substantial investments in Sierra Leone and we plan to win more customers and communities in the coming months, with the help of our local team,” said Nicholas Wrigley, Chairman and CEO of Winch Energy.
Mini solar plant project
Mr Nicholas pointed out that electricity to the health centres will be prioritized to ensure they have the services they need to provide adequate health services to the local populations, especially in the event of any future health emergencies.
The Government of Sierra Leone is also combining this initiative with the Rural Renewable Energy Project (RREP), which aims to provide up to 5 MW in rural communities through small grid-connected solar power plants, with PPPs.
RREP is supported by the English government through grants, and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). This project (RREP) is expected to impact a total of 70 communities not yet served by the national power grid.
Upon completion the 24 small power plants will produce a total energy capacity of 1.2 MW. The project will benefit the target communities through additional business services, which will increase income within the locality and offer a better serviced trading centre to the surrounding local population. The project will also encourage productive uses of electricity and larger industrial loads such as milling and welding.

What is the situation in Sierra Leone?
On February 14th, 2019, President Julius Maada Bio declared sexual violence a national emergency, vowing that sex with minors would be punishable by Life Imprisonment. However, the situation is highly political as, according to the national constitution, the President would need at least two thirds of the votes of the parliament to declare an emergency, which he did not. The opposition party, which has the majority seats in parliament, protested against the decision.
In Sierra Leone, the judiciary system is not strong enough and most rape cases do not make it to prosecution, and when they do, the sentencing is much too lenient. For example, one man raped an 11-year-old, and subsequently was only given a sentence of two weeks. Moreover, almost half the women in the country are reported to face sexual or physical violence during their lifetime, and 90 percent of females aged 15 to 49 have been victims of genital mutilation, according to United Nations data.
What is CARE doing?
In Sierra Leone, CARE supports a youth-led network to end female genital mutilation, and is a partner with several organizations that combat gender-based violence. A big chunk of CARE’s work in the West African nation is focused on improving sexual and reproductive health for women by supporting the national health system through providing medical supplies and modern contraceptive methods, as well as providing training to health service providers, in order to promote quality services. CARE also works with communities to change harmful social norms that prevent women and girls from accessing their sexual and reproductive health rights. CARE places a special emphasis on strengthening women’s access to and awareness of their sexual and reproductive health rights and HIV and AIDS prevention within communities, increasing the availability of quality information and sexual and reproductive health services, taking into account the different gender needs and sensitivities, while in parallel, working with stakeholders and communities to strengthen mechanisms that will improve sexual and reproductive health services and facilities to adolescent girls and vulnerable women. CARE’s sexual and reproductive health program is present in about 30 per cent of the communities in Sierra Leone, prioritizing implementation in districts with a high HIV burden and high rates of teenage pregnancy.