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Sierra Leone News: President Julius Maada Bio Receives Honorary Doctorate Degree from the Regional Maritime University of Ghana

President Julius Maada Bio

The Regional Maritime University (RMU) of Ghana has conferred an honorary Doctorate Degree on His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio, at the University’s Thirteenth Congregation for the award of degrees and diplomas in Accra, Ghana on Saturday 15 June 2019.

Other dignitaries for this year’s conferment of the degree of Doctor of Letters, _Honoris Causa_, were His Excellency President John Agyekum Kufuor, former President of Ghana and Capt. Aaron Obeng Turkson, the immediate past Rector of RMU.

As the first international Maritime University in West and Central Africa and 61 years on since its inception as the Ghana Nautical College, the institution attained full University status on 1 October 1982 formally with Sierra Leone, Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana and Liberia as founding members.

The Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Governors, Honourable Dr. James F. Kollie, described President Bio as a leader who continued to distinguish himself as a champion for human capital development, adding that they had closely followed the President’s pro-poor policy in his country.

Dr. Kollie also told the gathering that he was the first President of Sierra Leone to have ever introduced free quality education of that scale for pre-primary, primary and secondary schools and for government-assisted schools in the small West African nation.

The University authority also commended President Bio for his laudable efforts in the fight against corruption and affirmed that the institution was proud to align itself with his priorities. He said that was why they had agreed to confer President Julius Maada Bio with the honour.

The President thanked authorities of the Regional Maritime University of Ghana for the honour and for their immense contributions, over the years, to train and capacitate professionals in the sub-region in maritime. As a strong proponent of human capital development, President Bio asked them to strongly consider having a constituent campus in Sierra Leone to further enhance and strengthen the country’s human capital base in maritime disciplines.

“We owe the Board, management and staff of RMU a sincere debt of gratitude. I can affirm my country’s continued support as an obligation to this great institution. Particularly, your institution’s continuing contribution to professional training and institutional capacity building of Sierra Leone’s maritime sector stands out,” he said.

The added that: “I believe that investing in the maritime sector will help us unlock economic growth by making African ports and therefore countries more globally competitive and more attractive to foreign investment.”

President Bio said a key aim of his visit to the great University was to suggest a framework for the future of his country’s relationship with the institution, adding that they could leverage and further deepen existing ties through the establishment of satellite campuses or affiliations of the university with universities and institutions in Sierra Leone.

 

 

 

 

Sierra Leone News: Society Elders Seeks For Reprisal On Husband & Wife

Unisa Kamara
Judith Fallah

In an apparent show of uncivilized way of behavior contrary to the twenty-first century of human existence where science and technology highly strive, yet traditional leaders of a village called Kpakar in Kenema, Eastern region of Sierra Leone are said to have continued their ugly search for reprisal on a lovely couple Unisa Kamara and wife Judith Fallah whom they accused of having spoken against their tradition.

In August 2013, when the couple went to the village to attend a funeral of the death of a young girl during initiation in the bush, a daughter of Madam Agnes Fallah and took the opportunity to engage the youth and some elders and spoke on a range of issues about the poor status of their community and one thing that came out clearly was the deadly harmful traditional practices which has led to many young people fleeing the village as well scare away potential investors in the areas despite the fact that it is endowed with natural minerals.

They therefore condemned the practice and admonished the enlightened youth and the few elders that were with them to rise against the practice and called for its total ban as they will always support them in their course.

On hearing about that, the elders in the village became aggrieved and therefore wasted no time to mount a total manhunt for these couple to pay the price for what they have done in going against the norms and practices of their inherited harmful practice which they have vowed not to depart from its deadly practice despite modern civilization calls.

Sadly though, in same year 2013 when they could not lay hands on the couple they rounded up the old woman Agnes Fallah, the mother of the wife Judith Fallah and severely maltreated her with beatings and inflicted several bodily harm on the old woman that led to her demise because of the seriousness of the beatings an act the police are still investigating since 2013 to date with no right way to tackle the barbaric act as most of senior officials are also members of this secret practice.

However close relatives of the couple are pleading that their children do not venture in the country and if they do they stand to lose their lives because they are still been hunted by these elders as they have already sent messages to their colleagues in other part in the country with their photos.

 

 

Sierra Leone News: ACC Boss Honoured in Egypt

Francis Ben Kelfala, Commissioner for Sierra Leone’s Anti Corruptions Commission (ACC),

The Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Francis Ben Kaifala, was part of participants present at the 1st African Anti-Corruption Forum in Sharm El Sheikh where he delivered a very incisive and comprehensive speech which touched on sensitive thematic aspects bordering on what should be done to combat graft in Africa. Below is Ben Kaifala’s speech that left a deafening applause in its wake.

He said, I bring you greetings from Sierra Leone; a country that that epitomizes the full brunt of decades of corruption; but  is now more determined than ever to fight corruption under the leadership of, His Excellency, President Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio, whose roadmap to victory against corruption, and economic development blueprint are predicated on the pillars of conscientious anti-corruption reform and campaign.

He added that Corruption, mostly defined as the abuse of public office for private gain, has long been a concern for many countries around the world; more so in Africa. By its very nature, corruption can undermine the efforts of Governments to bring prosperity to their countries and promote violent conflicts, poverty, and underdevelopment, in many countries, and for too many decades.

He went on to state that this, in very many situations, including Sierra Leone, led to the breakdown of law and order, thereby lowering the GDP of countries, with poor States particularly suffering. Dreher and Herzfeld (2005) estimate that an increase in corruption by about one point reduces GDP growth by 0.13 percentage points; and GDP per capita by US$425. Evidently, corruption damages the economy of States, its political system, processes and institutions.

He added that the socio-economic and political cost of corruption in Africa is tremendous. The Control Risk Group estimated in 2011 that developing countries lost close to US$1 trillion to fraud, corruption and shady business transactions

He maintained that according to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, corruption costs Africa over US$148 billion per annum – ‘equivalent to 50% of tax revenue and 25% of African GDP.’ In addition, illicit financial flows – especially via multinational corporations and mostly through corrupt practices – continue to deprive countries of much-needed financial resources.

He explained that Anti-Corruption measures are critical elements to the operation of the Rule of Law. The lack of same always breeds bad international governance ratings and undermines opportunities for economic cooperation with international financial institutions, development agencies, and donor States, no matter the scores for other indicators.

However, he said that sadly, the spread of corruption has been unrelenting.  According to the World Bank, corruption is pervasive across Africa and is having a disproportionate effect on the poor, with long-term consequences for development.

He went on to say that in the late ’90s, Western stakeholders became significantly more active in Africa’s fight against corruption. In 1996, former World Bank President, James Wolfensohn, and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Michel Camdessus announced that donor leverage would be used to eliminate corruption. This gave many anti-corruption campaigns a Western, rather than local, identity, which partly explains the failure of some commissions and anti-graft institutions.

Going forward, he said, this calls for a participatory evaluation of commissions/agencies, as well as an inclusive decision-making process. This is crucial if Africa is to grow and nurture its own ideas, processes and mechanisms to deal with the corruption.

He added that in many corruption perception surveys, Africa remains perceived as the most corrupt continent and correspondingly, the poorest and most underdeveloped.  Hence, addressing the problem of corruption in a strategic and comprehensive way is of paramount importance as a development priority for Africa.

He added that successful national anti-graft campaign amounts to remarkable transformation of countries like Singapore and Malaysia from little more than fishing villages in the 1960s to industrial metropolis and economic gateways to the Asia-Pacific sub-region today. We can say same for Botswana, The Seychelles, Rwanda, etc.

The fight against corruption is the proximate causal factors that will incentivize human agency, and enable ordinary Africans to reach their full economic and human potentials.

Sustain the resources of the continent to serve the goals of sustainable development.

Almost everywhere in Africa, corruption continues to be the biggest inhibitor of development and growth: In Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Guinea, and Liberia, corruption continues to negatively hamper efforts aimed at promoting democratic governance. In South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda, and Malawi, corruption continues to undermine socio-economic transformation; In Nigeria, Somalia, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Chad, Mali, and the DRC, corruption continues to undermine the peace and security of our people.

From Gabon in the West to Kenya in the East, corruption continues to degrade Africa; from Uganda in the East to Senegal in the West, corruption, and its effects, continues to promote conflicts and sow the seeds for disunity and national discord.

The seriousness and complexities of the problem are aptly captured in the Africa Progress Report; otherwise known as “the Mbeki Report”. This High-powered Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa revealed that Africa loses over US$50bn annually through illicit financial flows and tax evasion. This is far more than what Africa receives in either international aid, or foreign investment. I hope you noticed the distinct irony. The report also estimates Illicit Financial Flow from Africa between 1970 – 2008 at nearly $900 billion. That money is not simply disappearing into the wind like magic –  it is mostly going into the pockets of individuals and groups, thereby depriving parents of food for their families, medicines for children, classrooms, and portable water for communities, etc.

The late Kofi Anan (RIP); succinctly captured this when he said: “While personal fortunes are consolidated by a corrupt few, the vast majority of Africa’s present and future generations are being deprived of the benefits of common resources that might otherwise deliver incomes, livelihoods and better nutrition. If these problems are not addressed, we are sowing the seeds of a bitter harvest.” He added that as part of that ‘bitter harvest,’ Africa imports $34bn worth of food. We have hungry stomachs everywhere walking on fertile soils, even though we have potentials to feed ourselves within five years if agricultural productivity is improved. We need an estimated US$50bn annually to do our roads, railways, and other public investment projects. So, if the leakages are properly plugged, we would not need aid and/or loans from our competitors to effectively deliver service to the public.

The Africa Progress Report also estimated that Africa losses about US$17bn annually from illegal logging; while fishing fleets flouting international conventions are costing West Africa alone $1.3bn annually. These costs are driven by corruption in most parts.

In a report titled “Western Africa’s Missing Fish,” Britain’s Overseas Development Institute, reported that Africa loses billions of Dollars because corrupt African state operatives enter into shady deals with foreign countries.  The FAO even went further to reveal that the sale of fishing rights to foreign operatives netted Africa $US400m in 2014, but could in theory generate US$3.3bn if Africa exports its own catch instead.

He said that he believes, these revealing statistics are enough to help you all picture how we are complicit in undermining efforts aimed at attaining the Global Sustainable Development Goals; and Agenda 2063 – Africa’s 50-year developmental blueprint.

On a progressive note, however, as more and more African countries realize that their development will be stunted if they fail to root out corruption, a wind of change is blowing across Africa, and it is in the interest of well-meaning citizens to join in to help create a society where everyone has equal rights to public goods.

Many States have instituted accountability measures and created Anti-Corruption Agencies to ensure that resources trickle down to their people. Cape Verde, Mauritius, Rwanda, Botswana, etc. are among countries that occupy respectable positions in the Control of Corruption indexes. Similarly, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption has provided a continental backbone to the efforts of member states in our fight against corruption. Of course, many African States are also party to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption – A united front against corruption is getting more and more formidable.

Critical to providing authoritative responses to the questions from the objectives of this consultative conference, is the institution and propagation of proper and sustained state-of-the-art education on corruption; backed by an unflinching commitment by all to refuse, reject, and suppress corruption at all levels; and in all jurisdictions of the continent.

Such education should be well targeted for the future of the continent. Africa is home to over 1.2 billion people; over 60% of its population falls under the age of 35. It should therefore target primary, secondary schools, colleges, and universities. Anti-corruption policy-making should improve youth capacity to unveil and oppose corruption. Relevant youth organizations should contribute to framing and implementing anti-graft policies. The overall objective is to achieve quality education that is aimed at effectively addressing corruption. Relevant sectors of society should be targeted to fully commit to fundamental ethical principles for public and professional life.

The AU Advisory Board on Corruption should take the leadership in defining the broad educational policy framework and setting the blueprint. To this end, it is highly important to develop appropriate strategies to raise awareness and understanding of the undermining effects of corruption; and at the same time, build countries’ capacities to stand up against it.

The evidence is glaring! Africa loses too much to corruption; sustained and perpetuated by bad governance, lack of accountability, and transparency; a staple for Africa. Resources meant for the people of Africa, but stolen and pocketed by corrupt actors, would have gone a long way to reduce infant mortality, maternal mortality, infections like malaria, cholera, among others; and the provision of vaccines for deadly outbreaks like Ebola.

Despite the potentials in our human and natural resources, the poverty rate in Africa is alarming. The irony of Africa is best illustrated in the axion “poverty amongst the plenty”; the richest, yet the poorest continent.  Various studies have supported the position that if we seriously maximize our revenue mobilization; utilize our resources judiciously by negating corruption and corrupt practices of all kinds; it would be extreme for Africa to need foreign loans and donations.

We can build our own schools; equip our own hospitals, with the best brains, best equipment, and medicines available without waiting for China or begging the West. We can transform Africa into the paradise it truly ought to be. Now is the time to make that positive difference. I call on all of us to push for that difference. Let us make it happen. Where else can victory be harvested; if not from us? We have to make it happen. The positive difference Africa has been yearning for can be realized through us.

 

 

Sierra Leone News: HRCSL Chair to Serve as NHRI Executive Member

The Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) Patricia Narsu Ndanema has joined other National Human Rights Institutions from Liberia, Ghana, Senegal, Mali and Togo to serve as an Executive Member in the Network for National Human Rights Institutions, West Africa.

The nomination of HRCSL was done during a two-day consultative meeting of National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in West Africa in Accra on May 29th, 2019.

The meeting was for the 15 NHRIs to engage on topical social issues such as their roles in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the promotion and protection of the human rights of migrants.

The promotion of peace, security and human rights, generally of citizens of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with a gender perspective, and other topics were also discussed.

The regional consultation provided an opportunity for NHRIs to define strategies and specific actions to contribute to the implementation, monitoring and review of the GCM at the national level, in line with the gender-responsive and human rights-based approach.

 

 

 

 

Sierra Leone News: Bumbuna II Project Gets $4.9M Boost

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has committed US$4.9 million to finance the remaining project development activities at Joule Africa’s 143MW Bumbuna II hydropower project in Sierra Leone.

“Bumbuna II is considered a critical energy infrastructure project for Sierra Leone which will help to reduce the country’s dependence on fossils fuels and emergency power by providing affordable baseload power. It will double the national electricity generation capacity in the country and help towards the Government of Sierra Leone’s goal of ensuring that at least 30% of the population has access to electricity by 2030.

“We are impressed by the professional manner in which Joule Africa and its local company, Seli Hydropower, are project managing the numerous work streams involved in developing this hydropower project which will provide much needed, guaranteed, all year-round electricity to the citizens of Sierra Leone,” commented Mohale Rakgate, DBSA’s Group Executive for Project Preparation. “By providing development capital to the Bumbuna II project at this important time, as well as being a prospective senior lender to the project, we are helping to facilitate the bankability and ultimate success of this project. The development of the energy sector is critical to the socio-economic growth of Sierra Leone and is a key element for future planning in a country at the crossroads of major industrial investments.”

Bumbuna II will be located on the Upper Seli River in North East Sierra Leone. The project involves building an extension to the existing 50MW Bumbuna I facility as well as providing electricity to Sierra Leone, Bumbuna II will also feed into the Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea extension to the West African Power Pool transmission line.

 

 

 

Sierra Leone News: City of Hull Mayor Meets President Bio

As a way of cementing ties between the UK Metropolis and the Freetown Metropolis, Steven Wilson, has paid a courtesy call on His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio at his State Lodge residence, Hill Station in Freetown.

Mayor of the Freetown City Council, FCC, Yvonne Aki Sawyer, who presented the visiting team to President Bio, said that the Mayor from UK was in the country as part of celebration of forty years of twinning between the FCC and the City of Hull. She said the twinning relationship started back in 1979 by a female Mayor.

She noted that as a female Mayor herself, it was an honour to welcome the delegation from their twin city, adding that the FCC was pleased to be working on strengthening the relationship between the two cities.

Mayor Steven Wilson of Hull City said it was an honour to meet the President and thanked him for the time accorded his delegation. He said Freetown was very much in the thought of the people of Hull and that their twinning with Freetown was considered valuable than any other twinning.

He disclosed that upon his return he would pass on his experience in the country to Hull City. He said they were aware of the Transform Freetown Initiative and that it was a pleasure and an opportunity to get a first-hand experience which they would report to their City Council in the UK.

In his response, President Bio said he was happy to receive the visiting team in the country. He said Freetown had relationships with other cities across the world; however, he described the one with the City of Hull as unique.

“We are very pleased that you have been able to be here. After years of relationship, we want to see how we can strengthen and deepen the relationship for the benefit of our two cities,” he said.

 

 

Sierra Leone News: Indigenous Petroleum Companies Recount Challenges

An incisive investigative undertaking mounted recently, in light of the recent rumoured fuel shortage a lot was unearthed in relation to some of the challenges that most of the  country’s petroleum marketers especially the leading one, the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited have been and are still facing.

Starting with  NP -SL Limited it was learnt that the company recorded a massive loss from January to May 2019 to the tune of over 96bn Leones as a result of the huge difference between the actual price PLATTS and average purchase price of USD $ to the Leone when matched against that of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency Pricing Formula.

It was further understood that presently some of the teething challenges  NP is daunted or encumbered with range from variations in the actual price quoted on PLATTS and the PRA Pricing Formula, variation in the actual market price of USD and PRA pricing Formula, variation in the actual market price of USD and PRA pricing formula. Currently, the company is paying an average of Le9, 000/1USD as compared to Le8, 600/1USD to effect transactions. What this situation has put the company into is that it owes its suppliers over $42m which they are very much challenged to honour.

It could be recalled that in the past when the Petroleum industry in the country had been rocked by challenges and to avert public indignation that have the propensity into degenerating to crisis, Governments stepped up to subsidize the prices of petroleum products. Such a move ensured that pump prices are at affordable prices which the populace will settle with.

However, what now obtains is that Government has increased the pricing regimes to reflect the real market prices of petroleum products in our market place. As it is of now it is the oil marketing companies that are subsidizing virtually all sectors in the industry to the detriment to their very survival of these companies. “This situation must be seriously reversed,” an expert in Petroleum issues admonished.

What again shed light on this is the nature of the petroleum business in this country which is such that importation of the product is in US Dollars but on the flipside sold locally in Leones. Interestingly, NP continues its buy and sell processes all over again even at its own detriment.

Regrettably, the company is finding it extremely difficult to procure dollars in the market although they have been receiving tacit support from the Bank of Sierra Leone but even at that the amounts received are not adequate.

Though, indeed it is not the business of Government to provide foreign currency for businesses yet it could be prudent on the part of the Central Bank to develop a mechanism where foreign exchange is provided for oil marketing companies to enable them to pay for badly needed petroleum products in our market place considering its fluidity.

It is understood that NP strongly believes in the digital revolution which is why they welcomed the ASYCUDA software in their operations. Lamentably, however, its implementation is impacting negatively on their speed to market initiatives. Therefore it is recommended that the relevant authorities should build solid capacity amongst their team to ensure seamless flow of products that are free of interruption due to the implementation of the ASSYCUDA system.

Another thing that was unravelled during the conduct of investigations was that NP’s working capital and cash flow are affected by what the Ministry of Energy presently owes them.

The Ministry needs to liquidate that amount owed because its negative impact hinders the company’s ability to purchase much needed petroleum products and that cannot be over emphasized. It was understood that if this is done immediately it will put the company in better stead to continue its operations.

Besides, the company pays Toll Gate fees, ASSYCUDA processing fees, Environmental Protection Agency fees, storage fees and other fees imposed by the Petroleum Regulatory Agency…and all these are having a toll on the company’s spending power.

However, despite the fact that the company has been facing all these challenges it is determinedly weathering the storm.

Other companies also interviewed outlined similar militating challenges and called for workable solutions to overcome these challenges.

 

 

 

Sierra Leone News: Afreximbank Wins African Bank of the Year Award

Afreximbank Executive Vice President Amr Kamel (right) with Jules Ngankam, Group Deputy CEO & CFO, African Guarantee Fund, after receiving the Award plaque.

 

PRESS RELEASE

Afreximbank Wins African Bank of the Year Award

Media Contact: Manal Mounir (mmounir@afreximbank.com; Tel. +202-2456-4178)

Malabo, 12 June 2019:  – The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) yesterday in Malabo received the award for the African Bank of the Year at the African Banker Awards 2019 ceremony held on the sidelines of the Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank.

Amr Kamel, Afreximbank’s Executive Vice President for Business Development and Corporate Banking received the award on behalf of the Bank.

The award to Afreximbank was one of two big ones that went to development finance institutions as Admassu Tadesse, President of Trade Development Bank, was also named African Banker of the Year.

The organisers, in explaining the award to Afreximbank, said that, in the past 18 months, the Bank had launched a number of game-changing products. According to them, the African Bank of the Year award is presented to the bank in Africa that has demonstrated a high performance across various metrics and which has considerably changed the banking landscape by reaching out to new customers, offering new services and helping to drive growth through a stronger financial sector.

Other awards given out during the ceremony included: Central Bank Governor of the Year presented by to the awardee Tarek Amer of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) by Mr. Kamel; Lifetime Achievement to former First Rand Group CEO Sizwe Nxasana; African Banker Icon to Mitchell Elegbe, founder of Interswitch; Finance Minister of the Year to Romuald Wadagni of Benin; Investment Bank of the Year to Absa; and Retail Bank of the year to Ecobank.

CBE is one of the biggest beneficiaries of Afreximbank’s funded financing, especially, its Counter-Cyclical Trade Liquidity Facility under which it availed CBE financing during the recent economic reforms in Egypt.

The African Banker Awards, organized annually by IC Publications, celebrate excellence in banking and finance on the African continent.

The awards ceremony was preceded by a cocktail reception hosted by Afreximbank.

Accompanying Mr. Kamel to the ceremony from Afreximbank were Rene Awambeng, Global Head, Client Relations; Kudakwashe Matereke, Regional Chief Operating Officer, East Africa; Humphrey Nwugo, Regional Chief Operating Officer, Southern Africa; Mhamed Laraqui, Head of Equity Mobilization and Investor Relations; Andrew Alwiga, of the Treasury Services Department; Manal Mounir of the Communications and Events Department; and Farida Andrawis of the Client Relations Department.

Afreximbank Executive Vice President Amr Kamel (right) with Jules Ngankam, Group Deputy CEO & CFO, African Guarantee Fund, after receiving the Award plaque.
Afreximbank Executive Vice President Amr Kamel (Left) with Tarek Amer, Governor, Central Bank of Egypt, after handing him the award for Central Bank Governor of the Year.

About Afreximbank: The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is the foremost pan-African multilateral financial institution devoted to financing and promoting intra- and extra-African trade. The Bank was established in October 1993 by African governments, African private and institutional investors, and non-African investors. Its two basic constitutive documents are the Establishment Agreement, which gives it the status of an international organization, and the Charter, which governs its corporate structure and operations. Since 1994, it has approved more than $67 billion in credit facilities for African businesses, including $7.2 billion in 2018. Afreximbank had total assets of $13.4 billion as at 31 December 2018. It is rated BBB+ (GCR), Baa1 (Moody’s), and BBB- (Fitch). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo.

 

Sierra Leone News: Denis Sandy Passes Driving Test

Minister of Lands, Housing and the Environment, Dr. Dennis Sandy, on Wednesday 5th June 2019, missed 2 marks and grabbed 15, as he underwent a driving test for the Quinquennial renewal of his driver’s license.

The minister, arrived at the Headquarters of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) on Kissy Road in the east of Freetown, and took the practical, theoretical and eyesight tests in the presence of the Executive Director, Mr David Panda Noah.

The Transport Manager, DC Kaitibi, Public Relations Manager, Abdul Karim Dumbuya and a host of other staff of the all-important government’s institution were also present.
Lands Minister Sandy was able to answer 15 out the 17 questions, and it was also discovered that his eyesight is very good.

Dr. Sandy was not in high spirit, however, for missing 2 out of the 17 questions posed to him, but nonetheless, for scoring 15/17, the Executive Director and the entire management team of the SLRSA were pleased with the minister’s performance, and therefore, called on other senior state functionaries to emulate Dr. Sandy’s example.

Many Sierra Leoneans tag this latest development at the nation’s road safety authority as exemplary reform put forth by the current Executive Director which others before him had failed to institute. It is said that people with firm focus and astute sense of responsibility match their words with actions to make institutions thrive, and this is what Mr. David Panda-Noah is hammering home.

It could be remembered that when he took over as Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) on 20th July 2018 or thereabout, Mr David Panda-Noah professed a strong determination and commitment to serving Mama Salone in the best interest of his Sierra Leonean counterparts.

To him, the only way Sierra Leone can be mapped on the steady path to development is sanitising the transport sector so that the precious lives of Sierra Leoneans, all of whom are vulnerable road users could be protected.

Mindful of the level of lawlessness and impunity exhibited on the road in an unimaginable manner that is detestable in any decent society, Mr Panda-Noah said the laws of the land safeguarding the welfare of Sierra Leoneans must not be left on the shelves to dust and rot, but be executed and enforced to actualise a better Sierra Leone.

Less than a year today, Sierra Leoneans are seeing Noah’s exemplary leadership unfolding at the country’s Road Safety Authority, matching his words with actions.
Not only that, Sierra Leoneans who spoke to this Writer say Mr Noah is one in a million who would abandon his air-conditioned executive office and prop into the streets alongside his juniors to enforce road safety rules and regulations.
Directing the affairs of SLRSA within the strict ambits of the law in a country where favouritism because class distinction is eminent could be a daunting task which many executive directors had failed to brace up, and this is what David Panda-Noah is now dealing with squarely.

In previous years, government functionaries in high quarters such as ministers, CEOs, managers and others, even individuals that are affluent could dash into SLRSA for vehicular and driving licenses and get one without any protocol or proper screening as mandated by law. Today, a senior minister of government cannot acquire a driving license without being put to test under the directorship of a young man.

Panda-Noah deserves unflinching support from the New Direction Government to enable him do more and redeem vulnerable citizens from road crashes which are anathema to nation’s development, with latest statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggesting that 1.35 million people die on the roads each year.

The new statistics also indicate that road traffic injuries are now the leading cause of death among young people, and what Sierra Leone needs to see is real high-level political will to take on the problem.

Sierra Leone News: Academician Unveils FBC Ultra-Modern Garden

Deputy Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, who happens to be an Old Boy of the Albert Academy on Wednesday 12th June 2019, unveiled the Albert Academy Alumni Association Fourah Bay College Branch ultra-modern state of the art garden on the College campus.

Present at the ceremony were past and present pupils, including the current National President of the Alumni, Justice John King.

Speaking at the ceremony Dr. Ibrahim Stevens disclosed that he is proud to be an Academician and further revealed that they started the Albert Academy Alumni Association Fourah Bay College Branch in the 80s.

He encouraged students to be role models and serve as mentors.” You have great roles to play for the development of the school which is why it is significant to maintain good relationships with your fellow students,” he admonished.

‘’Focus on your work and let us continue to produce good people from the school. I think it is a generation thing. My generation has reached the middle level now and it will soon pass and you will be the next generation which is why you need to continue the strong  tradition of excellence the school has always maintained,’’ he  added.

He concluded by encouraging students to take their studies seriously and promised to always support the Association for its growth and sustainability.

Sahid Sesay Esq as Chairman of the occasion in his opening remarks disclosed that Albert Academy has gone a long way underscoring how it has implanted an enviable footprint in the annals of academia in the world and society as a whole.

He further disclosed that he is proud to be an academician disclosing that the first set of students who were admitted at the Law Department (Fourah Bay College) after its establishment were pupils of the Albert Academy.

He ended by encouraging students to focus on their studies saying regardless of his current status; he will never see himself taller than the Albert Academy and promised to always render his service to the Alumini.

Mohamed Wurie Bah, outgoing President of the Albert Academy Alumni Association, Fourah Bay College Branch in his statement said that he is grateful for all the support that had been given to him by the entire membership of the Alumni and said he believes that the current President of the Alumni will build upon the good foundation he has laid.

‘’I want to abundantly note that this garden is not my greatest achievements. You academicians who gave me all the timely support needed are my greatest achievement,’’ he said followed by rapturous and thundering applauses.

He said that the Ultra-Modern State of the Art Garden is worth over 70 million Leones.

He ended by declaring his intension to run for the Student Union Presidency, Fourah Bay College, and called on students of the institution to cast their votes for him. He further disclosed that there is an approved budget of 60 million Leones between students of Fourah Bay College and Orange Sierra Leone Limited to construct an ultra-modern state of the Art “Airport” (The Bus Stop) on Fourah Bay College campus.

Justice Abu King, President Albert Academy Alumni Sierra Leone noted that what the Albert Academy Alumni Association Fourah Bay College branch is doing is not any big surprise to him as they are known for innovation and excellence furthering that as they are coping from the national chapter they should pay back to their school.

He registered his commitment to support the Association noting that the garden should not be used to discuss cult issues but to discuss issues for the betterment of the Association.

He encouraged students to ensure that they maintain the garden and regularly attend national chapter meetings.

The event was climaxed by a band march and singing of the school song.

 

 

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The Calabash Newspaper, Sierra Leone’s top media platform since 2017, offers trusted Sierra Leone news and insights on politics, culture, health, and more. With global reach, it provides comprehensive coverage of Sierra Leone and African affairs, making it a reliable source for readers seeking in-depth reporting.

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