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UBA Sierra Leone Appoints New MD/CEO

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Sierra Leone, New MD/CEO Mr. Usman Isiaka

By Sallieu Sesay

One of the leading Financial Service Institutions in Sierra Leone United Bank for Africa (UBA), has appointed Mr. Usman Isiaka as its new MD/CEO taking over from Mr. Chinedu Obeta that has served the bank for a period of 10 years with sterling performance record.

Usman Isiaka is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a consummate banker with over two decades banking experience at senior management level cutting across Internal Control, Audit, Compliance, Risk Management, Operations, Marketing and Business Development functions.

He joined UBA Group in year 2000 and has since served in various roles starting with Internal Control and Audit functions as Group Head, Internal Control; Director, Audit & Control UBA Africa and Deputy Group Chief Inspector at different points in time – a responsibility that provided him field work experience across 21 out of the 23 presence countries of UBA Group before he moved into sales and marketing function in January 2014.

Since the switch, Usman has served as the Deputy Managing Director of UBA Ghana between January 2014 and May 2016; Regional Bank Head in Lagos (Nigeria) overseeing marketing and business development functions in a total of 56 branches between June 2016 and February 2018 and thereafter as MD/CEO of UBA Tanzania from March 2018 before his posting to UBA Sierra Leone as Country CEO.

Usman Isiaka is coming with a wealth of experience to continue to position UBA as a leading and dominant financial institution in Sierra Leone in line with the Group’s aspiration.

UBA Sierra Leone is a member of UBA Group, a pan African financial institution with presence in 20 Africa countries and 3 global financial service centres; namely New York, London and Paris providing services to over 18 million customers across over 1000 branches and touch points.

NP-Sierra Leone Lauded for Immense Contributions to Nation Building

By Amin Kef Sesay                                                                   

One of the most successful business entities that is seriously functioning in this country, the National Petroleum (NP) Sierra Leone Limited, has been lauded for its contributions towards national development.

Being a very successful petroleum entity, NP had and still continues to contribute tremendously towards overall national development. It has branches in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and the Gambia.

This 100% indigenously-owned company has so far offered various jobs to residents in the afore-mentioned countries, thereby reducing poverty to a considerable level. This is also directly linked to it being one of the largest taxpayers to the National Revenue Authority (NRA), financially empowering the Government to roll out various development projects.

One of the most outstanding features that NP has is its competent managerial team, which from time to time comes up with good initiatives, always ensuring that they are effusively, effectively implemented to create value for money. Since it was established by 35 Sierra Leoneans who bought shares from the government years back, the company has grown from leaps and bounds; weathering storms that would have run it down. But the resolve of its shareholders and Management to succeed has been the centrepiece that has propelled NP to a higher level, equal to none in the sub-region.

If you ask those who really know NP, the feedbacks you will get will definitely rally around its commitment to customer care, which it strongly believes must be prioritized to give satisfaction.

The selflessness and commitment of the shareholders have made it possible for the company to empower many Sierra Leoneans and at the same time put it at a vantage position to continue to open more filling stations across the country. That again is another lane that the company is pursuing with fruitful dividends realized.

NP has doggedly maintained a good business relationship with its numerous customers’ right within the sub-region and most have confessed that they are realizing optimum satisfaction in dealing with NP. The company deals with individuals and various sectors of society, always ensuring that its various petroleum products are available and are sold at affordable prices. This keen symbiotic relationship with its customers has been paying dividends, always resulting in a win-win scenario, making NP very endearing to all and sundry.

The regulatory institution of the different petroleum companies in the country, Petroleum Directorate, has lauded NP for its efficient service delivery wherever it is operating.
The company is also known for offering Sierra Leoneans NP Gas cookers of various sizes, which are affordable, safe and very friendly to use. NP Gas could be purchased at all their filling stations across the country.

When we talk of the serious implementation of the Local Content Policy, NP stands out tall, as it is truly an indigenous company having most of its employees as indigenes in the countries it is operating. This is one of the pillars that have made the company to become a success story.

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

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

Guma Sierra Leone Secures $40M Funding for Project Implementation & Ends 2-Day Retreat

By Foday Moriba Conteh

On Saturday 19th September, the Islamic Development Bank has on Saturday 19th September 2020, approved a whopping sum of 40 million dollars for the implementation of the Freetown WASH & Aquatic Environment Revamping Project.

It was disclosed that the total cost of the project is estimated approximately at 189.2 million dollars and is designed to be jointly funded by the African Development Bank (ADB), Organization for Petroleum Exporting Fund for International Development (OFID), Kuwait Fund, Saudi Fund, Green Climate Fund (GCF), Adaption Fund (AF), and ECOWAS Fund for Investment and Development (EBID), in addition to parallel co-financing from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency.

The Government of Sierra Leone is expected to provide in-kind contribution estimated at about 35 billion Leones in addition to the mandatory obligation of implementing the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), estimated to be in the in the region of 5 billion Leones.

The project will be implemented by Guma Valley Water Company and includes the following components:

Infrastructure: Rehabilitation and expansion of water production capacity and distributing network, construction of fecal sludge management facilities and Service connections for the urban poor.

In terms of  Institutional Development, the component will include functional analysis and re-organisation of Guma Valley Water Company, as well as the design of utility performance improvement tools. Technical assistance and equipment will also be provided to enable Guma Valley water Company to improve its services.

For Project Management that  component will provide for the incremental utility operational costs arising from project implementation will be provided for under the project.

The objectives of the project are to: Provide sustainable access to safe drinking water and improve sanitation to the residents of Freetown and the Western Area and strengthen the Government’s capacity to facilitate urban water sector reform and improve performance across the Western Area.

On completion of the project, some key direct benefits will be: the increase in safe water supply by 15% and improved sanitation coverage by 7% in Freetown and Western Area – covering 99% of the population and improved capacity of Guma Valley Water Company.

The indirect benefits will include, but not necessarily limited to:

reduction in the prevalence rates of waterborne diseases, especially cholera, dysentery and diarrhea; a significant reduction in health costs and time for collecting water which translate into substantial savings for the urban poor; the easing of the burden of fetching water which is one of the most arduous tasks for women and young girls; the development of income-generating activities for women given the free time accruing from the reduced burden of fetching water;an increase in the enrolment ratio, especially for girls, and in the female literacy rate; the reduction in social conflicts related to water use;

the promotion of local governance and decentralization;the efficient management and maintenance of water supply and sanitation facilities; human capacity building and the creation of jobs in water management through the involvement of private operators in the construction, management, repair and maintenance of water supply facilities.

It could be recalled that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the Ministry of Finance between the Government of Sierra Leone and the Islamic Development Bank on 20th February, 2020 for a loan of $50 million of which $10 million will go to SLRA and the rest to Guma.

In another development, on Sunday 20th September, 2020, the Guma Valley Water Company concluded a two-day retreat at the Mamba Point Hotel, Aberdeen in Freetown.

The Deputy Managing Director, Guma Valley Water Company, Francis Lahai, said the retreat was aimed at reviewing Designs and Documents under the Freetown Water Supply Master Plan and Priority Investment Studies submitted by engineering consultants; Messrs. IMC Worldwide, Hydroconseil, COBA/CONCEPT and SMEC in a serene environment for staff to better concentrate on the task at hand.

Mr. Lahai stated the Designs and Documents being reviewed will form the blueprints for various project works that will be undertaken by Guma in the short and medium term like the Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping project aimed at improving water supply access in the Western Area.

Guma staff at the retreat meeting were divided into 5 groups and tasked with reviewing Designs and Documents relating to transmission pipelines; raw water sources and water treatment; service reservoirs and booster stations; public standpipes and metering; and procurement processes.

 

Celebrating World Tourism Day… Sierra Leone Tourism Minister Calls for Improved Local Infrastructure

Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the National Tourist Board in collaboration with the Monuments and Relics Commission

By Amin Kef Sesay

On Wednesday 23rd September, 2020, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the National Tourist Board in collaboration with the Monuments and Relics Commission, with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), celebrated World Tourism Day at the Haikal Community Centre Hall in the Southern City of Bo.

This came after the Ministry and its partners successfully concluded a one day symposium celebration of  World Tourism Day in Kenema for the entire Eastern region.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Rural Development” as the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs in collaboration with other agencies continues a one week sensitization tour which will climax in Freetown at the prestigious Family Kingdom Resort in Aberdeen in Freetown.

Speaking at the Southern Regional city of Bo district, the dynamic Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt expressed delight over the interactions that have been going on among stakeholders and community residents geared towards taking tourism to a higher level in this country.

Tourism celebration, she said, started well over forty years ago revealing how it was only last year that Sierra Leone started to celebrate the World event.

Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and the National Tourist Board in collaboration with the Monuments and Relics Commission

Dr. Pratt furthered that last year’s celebration was unique and every year the United Nations with all touristic sectors celebrate World Tourism Day on September 27th.

The indefatigable Tourism Minister lauded President Julius Maada Bio for the support and encouragement he has been giving to ensure that the tourism sector becomes visible, viable and contribute meaningfully to the development of the nation.

Dilating on the theme “Rural Development”, she said the biggest problem they have in the sector is developing domestic infrastructures to support tourism which, according to her, has been the missing link.

Madam Pratt appealed to the Government to enhance rural development, improve touristic settings so that we would successfully attract tourists in the country.

She lamented that the tourism, agriculture sectors as well as others have not been harnessed properly for a long time to help boost domestic revenue generation for the State.

Memunatu Pratt spoke about the significance of creating an enabling environment for the tourism sector to thrive including construction of bridges, jetties, preserving heritages, accessible islands and the involvement of local people in the tourist attraction sites countrywide for greater revenue generation.

She mentioned her Ministry’s partnership and working relationship with other line Ministries in order to create the enabling environment further pointing out that without access to those facilities the tourism sector cannot thrive.

The Minister dilated on the “Enhance Integrated Framework Project” that is been implemented by the National Tourist Board and supported by the World Bank saying it will tremendously change a lot of things and make Sierra Leone a tourist destination.

Earlier, the Chairman of Board of Directors, National Tourist Board, Aliru Kokobe noted that Tourism should not be considered as only limited to urban areas but also includes rural settings. He added that Tourism is an industry which can create a lot of job opportunities for young folks.

The Chairman appealed to residents in the rural areas to protect wild animals as they can draw a lot of attraction for tourists.

Speaker upon speaker showered praises on the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs for raising the bar in the tourism industry.

Questions, comments, suggestions, clarifications and answers from stakeholders in the Southern Region climaxed the symposium.

 

 

 

Sierra Leone to Benefit from US $3.7 Billion Investment by Allied Identity   

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The ‘Allied Identity’ has said that their partners have agreed to invest three billion, seven hundred thousand dollar ($ 3,000 700, 000) in Sierra Leone. This was disclosed during a two-day International Investment Summit hosted in Freetown by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation recently.

When making his statement, H.E Mohamed Yongawa, the Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation said, for a Company to commit over three billion to the Sierra Leone economy is a good news for the President, Vice President and him as an Ambassador promoting the country’s interest globally; noting that he was heartened by the fact that the investors were impressed with the investment opportunities.

He applauded the Ministry of Trade and Industry and its line Departments and Agencies for a resilient strive in promoting trade and business opportunities in the country. He said the President’s vision to leave a legacy that everyone would be proud of requires the support of all to make it become a reality.

According to the Ambassador, he was delightful over his coming into the country with two potential investors who have manifestly fallen in love with Sierra Leone. He encouraged the Ministry of Trade and Industry and its line Departments and Agencies to do the needful that will land this money.

Delivering the keynote address earlier on behalf of the Vice President, Dr. Juldeh Jalloh, the Minister of State in the Vice President’s Office, Madam Francess Alghali, encouraged all parties including the investors to grab the opportunities available in all sectors looking at mining, trade, agriculture among others while thanking the organizers for such an initiative.

She said that Government continues to make frantic efforts in attracting investors through many means not least putting premium on investments opportunities.

Government, she said, is taking several initiatives to ensure that the country’s investments climate remains friendly to ensure that Sierra Leone meets international benchmarks.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy, expressed delight that such a conference was hosted where the country’s opportunities were shared with other people with the main aim of achieving the President’s dream of transforming the country to an attractive investment destination.

He said that such a huge sum of money will be invested in different sectors that will create many jobs, add value to the country’s produce and boost the economy.

Therefore, he noted, that they as Government entities need to do the necessities that will make the system work. Dr. Sandy encouraged the investors to feel free and consider Sierra Leone as the ideal home for doing businesses in Africa.

In a power point presentation, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA), furnished the investors with the competitive investment advantage of Sierra Leone: safety, politically stable, strategic location in terms of proximity to big markets, fight against corruption, available human resources, the government’s moves to strengthen an enabling business environment etc. His presentation explained untapped investment opportunities in the priority sectors of the economy thus, education, health, agriculture, tourism, energy, marine resources, mining, fisheries, transportation.

He encouraged investors to choose Sierra Leone for business as the Government of H.E President Brigadier (RTD) Maada Bio, poised to change the socio-economic narrative of the Country for which it is working toward a private sector led economy that will create job for the people and have a sustainable positive impact on their livelihood.

Other Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) made detailed presentations on sectoral investment opportunities and on their activities. On this note, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Rev. Abraham Sesay Jones, asked SLIEPA to take leadership in creating a platform that will bring together all the investment opportunities presented by these MDAs.

Speaking during the ceremony, the investors from Allied Identity, Mr. Bruce Ross and Mr. Mike Snyder said that they were impressed by the investment opportunities in the country. They therefore disclosed that the Inova Finance Group of Allied Identity has committed to invest three billion, seven hundred thousand dollar ($ 3,000 700, 000) in Sierra Leone in their quest to help the Government and the Nationals with development.

Mr. Snyder said that Sierra Leone has changed the investment climate in the last three years; saying that long time ago, investors including the United State Government could not make investment in Sierra Leone on a long-term basis, because of its instability. He continued saying that though it is yet in public, investors have been advised to extent their investment in Sierra Leone, because the country is now making the right moves in the international community in terms of upholding the rule of law, agreements, regulations, policies etc.

He concluded by saying that the best model they have discovered for investing in Africa is the Public-Private- Partnership (PPP), where they put their money upfront, get the contract, invest and start realizing their profit over the years.

Virtual Reporting on US Elections 2020 –Week One

President Donald Trump and Joseph R. Biden Jr.

By Amin Kef Sesay – Sierra Leone

The U.S. Department of State Foreign Press Centers’ “Elections 2020: Virtual Reporting Tour of the United States and the American Electoral Process,” implemented in cooperation with Meridian International Center, an eight-week long virtual program designed to enable journalists from around the world to cover the 2020 U.S. elections remotely, has commenced and is ongoing.

On the 21st September, 2020 when the Day 1 session took place, it was hosted by Dr. Mark J. Rozell, an expert on the U.S. Federal Government system, the Presidency, Politics and Elections.

He solidly laid the groundwork for future tour briefings with an overview of the U.S. Federal Republic’s electoral system and aspects that impact on the American elections.

He dilated on the US electoral system with special emphasis on federalism and election in the United States.

According to him the US does not elect the entire national Government in just one year.

He disclosed how every two years the US elects the House of Representatives and 1/3 of the Senate and once every four years the President is elected.

Dr. Mark J. Rozell pointed out that for this year’s (2020) election the President, members the House of Representatives and 1/3 of members of the Senate will be elected.

“In a federal system as the one we have in the US, there are various elections for State Governors, State legislative bodies, Counties, Cities, Townships and other local offices,” he disclosed.

He stated that during the 18th century, the founders of the United States devised a decentralized system of Government to prevent one group from having extensive political power and to weaken the federal level authority and give more powers to the State and Local Governments.

Dr. Mark J. Rozell maintained that the President wins an election and claims a mandate to govern. He also underscored that two years later the nation elects  another new set of members of Congress and the majority is gained by the opposition party to constrain the President’s authority for the next two years.

According to him State and local elections are held during various times but pointed out that residents in States elect their Governors and other top state officers the year after the presidential election is held but in Virginia they are held every year.

Dr. Rozell is the author of, “Federalism: A Very Short Introduction” (Oxford University Press, 2019) and eight other books on U.S. Government and Politics, including the Presidency, Religion and Politics, Media and Politics, and The Impact of Interest Groups in Elections.

He has lectured extensively in the United States and abroad in Austria, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Italy, Poland, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and Vietnam.

He regularly briefs on “Federalism” for participants of cultural exchange programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

Day Two of the Virtual Briefing was based “Welcome & Orientation Session” and it was held on the 22nd September 2020.

It availed the opportunity for us, the participating journalists, to virtually meet members of the Meridian team and some of the Foreign Press Center staff.

In addition instructions were given as to how we can access the virtual tour content, did a demo of the Canvas platform, offered a Zoom tutorial, and gave a chance to ask any questions.

Day 3’s Session, which took place on the 23rd September, 2020 was hosted by Dr. Bradley Jones, a Research Associate at Pew Research Center, where he primarily works on U.S. public opinion about politics.

In his briefing, he provided an overview of demographic statistics and trends of the U.S. Electorate—factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, generational divides, and regional differences—that may shape U.S. presidential and congressional election outcomes in 2020.

Pew Research Center is a leading, nonpartisan “fact tank” informing the public about the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis, and other empirical social science research.

Pew’s website contains a wealth of information and statistics related to U.S. political trends and public opinion. It is a great resource for journalists who wish to understand more about various aspects of U.S. society.

The U.S. Department of State Foreign Press Centers’ “Elections 2020: Virtual Reporting Tour of the United States and the American Electoral Process,” implemented in cooperation with Meridian International Center, is an eight-week long virtual program designed to enable journalists from around the world to cover the 2020 U.S. elections remotely. The Virtual Reporting Tour includes on-the-record press briefings with political scientists, elections experts, analysts, pundits, and exclusive access to interviews, video, and still photography from key battleground states. The views expressed by briefers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of State or the U.S. government. The participation of briefers in this program does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation of their views.

The Virtual Reporting Tour includes on-the-record press briefings with political scientists, elections experts, analysts, pundits, and exclusive access to interviews, video, and still photography from key battleground states.

The U.S. Presidential Election Reporting Seminar is a 12-day professional study and reporting tour is designed for working print, broadcast and online journalists.

This special seminar enables participating journalists to report before, during and after the U.S. presidential election from key States in the American electoral system.

 

 

Top 52 Housemates Sierra Leone to Be Announced on Sunday

By Amin Kef Sesay

Those who applied for Housemates Salone Season 2 and went through auditioning  at the AYV Media Empire on Wesley Street, are now presumably counting their stars and praying fervently that when it soon comes to the announcement of the names of fifty two, out of all those who went through the process, they will be among the lot.

At last the date for the announcement has been finalized by the organizers.

We wanted to continue to keep the expectant applicants in suspense but after reflection and consideration of their anxiety plus the many calls we, as a news medium have been receiving we finally decided to let the cat out of the bag.

The good news is that the announcement of the names of the top fifty applicants will finally be made or done on Sunday 27th September,2020 at 9:00 PM. So stay tuned.

The next stage in the build up to the actual staging of the Reality TV Show will be a voting process in order to get the best twenty (20), who will finally enter the House on the 14th October 2020. Organizers of the Show, Africell-SL and Africa Young Voices (AYV), will divulge the details of how the voting will be done.

At that point in time the competition will commence properly.

What is indeed certain at the moment is the fact that the entire process will be very transparent and as far as this medium knows no form of manipulation or behind the scenes is going to take place to determine the final outcome. All the judges will be carefully selected and they will definitely be credible personalities who are vast in the entertainment sector in the country. As a matter of fact they will not be known by the contestants when putting together their assessments.

One marked feature of Housemates Salone hinges on the fact that it is strictly members of the public who will be the ultimate judges as they will be voting for the Housemates of their choices based on informed judgements made that will be influenced by the performances of the Housemates during the duration of the programme.

Once the show commences on the 14th October 2020  it will be streamed live online at Africa Young Voices Media Empire Facebook page, AYV entertainment TV, Africell Sierra Leone Facebook page and on website at www.ayvnews.com. Replay of Housemates Salone Season 2 Audition is now aired on AYV Television Channel 33.

What the competitors will be battling for during the competition is the whopping sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Leones (Le250M) plus undertaking a round trip to Dubai.

Apart from bagging the Star Prize of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Leones (Le250M), all other participants will be entitled to their daily allowances of Le100, 000 each whilst they still remain in the House and accumulatively given to them whenever they are evicted.

Interestingly, during a particular stage of the Show, based on the percentage of votes scored by a particular Housemate, such will determine whether he or she will be evicted from the House. Evictions will continue until the ultimate winner emerges.

Besides providing entertainment for viewers, the organizers of this Reality TV Show are keen on promoting Youth Empowerment.

When the Housemates are in the House they will be taken through certain mental and physical exercises that will shape their characters, they will learn  new skills, improve on existing ones, will be emotionally tested, afforded the opportunity to solve human problems and a host of other things.

Furthermore, the Housemates will benefit from widespread exposure as the Show will be watched near and far. Talents will be spotted and vistas of opportunities could be opened as some of the Housemates would be earmarked to become Brand Ambassadors, movie artists, models etc.

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

Commendably, AYV and Africell-SL have once again fused entertainment and youth empowerment to not only give exposure to the participants and its accompanying benefits but to provide a lively show that will keep viewers glued to their TV sets, especially during this period of social distancing, when many Sierra Leoneans and viewers across the world are forced to stay at home if they do not have any important things to do away from home.

From what have been seen and heard so far viewers are indeed assured of a very entertaining Reality TV Show that will definitely continue to linger in the minds of many for quite a long period of time. Make a date with Housemates Salone Season 2, the Last Standing Couple with the theme, “Quarantine Housemates”.

 

“Testing, Treating &Tracking Strengthens Malaria Response in Sierra Leone…” -Nurse Anitta Avers

By Theresa Kef Sesay

In a Release dated 23rd September, 2020 it was stated that the whole nation is at risk of malaria that is spread by mosquitoes and is the leading cause of death and illness.

“We need to reduce the malaria burden so that our people can have good health. So that when children go to school, they are able to perform better. So that when women get pregnant, they can deliver safely,” says Anitta, a registered nurse and case management team lead for the Sierra Leone National Malaria Control Program (NMCP). “That has been my goal: that I need to save mankind. So, I do whatever in my own capacity to help people.”

Anitta co-led an initiative to partner with private pharmacies on their response to patients with malaria.

This public-private partnership in Sierra Leone was a collaboration between USAID’s Human Resources for Health in 2030 (HRH2030) program; the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the Pharmacy Consultancy of Sierra Leone; and the Sierra Leone National Malaria Control Program. HRH2030’s Capacity Building for Malaria activity works with PMI to strengthen the institutional and managerial capacities of National Malaria Control Programs in 10 countries.

In Sierra Leone, private pharmacies are the first line of defense against malaria but were historically not in line with the NMCP’s strategy. Interested in convenience and efficiency, patients would go to private pharmacies over free Government clinics. Yet pharmacists would often give the sick person antimalarial pills as a precautionary measure without actually testing them for malaria. Unfortunately, this presumptive use of medication is not only wasteful and inefficient, but can also have negative side effects on patients, including ulcers and kidney damage.

Aware of these patterns, and rather than encouraging people to choose public clinics over private pharmacies, the NMCP partnered with pharmacies to strengthen their malaria case management capabilities. Anitta and her colleague Brenda Stafford, a trained pharmacist and Procurement and Supply Management officer, led the initiative, going pharmacy-to-pharmacy to train staff on the NMCP’s “Three T” approach: Test, Treat, and Track.

To address the first T, private pharmacies were given free malaria rapid diagnostic tests.

According to 2016 data, only half of children under-five with fever received appropriate malaria testing.

For the second T, the pharmacists were trained on malaria prevention, treating patients with uncomplicated malaria and referring patients with severe malaria to health facilities.

As for the last T, tracking malaria test results is key in forecasting the spread of disease. Anitta and Brenda provided pharmacies with two forms that track results: a registry form to track patient information and a summary form which aggregates that into monthly data reports – allowing the NMCP to identify disease patterns and forecast supply to better plan for use of malaria test results and drugs.

Because of NMCP staff like Anitta and Brenda, 160 pharmacy staff in six cities are now trained on the Three T approach and a total of 90 pharmacies have begun using free malaria test kits and implementing the Three T approach.

“This partnership allows for more cooperation and collaboration between healthcare providers and other stakeholders and overall more success in combating the disease,” Anitta said.

 

Long Awaited COI White Paper… Sierra Leone Government Endorses Recommendations of COI

By Amin Kef Sesay

With the Attorney General stating that the three Commissions of Inquiry set up by this Government to investigate officials of the past Government for alleged malfeasances were legally constituted, the President yesterday officially at State House launched the White Paper on the findings and recommendations of the COI.

Without deviating one iota from the recommendations made by the COI, the President asserted that the Government White Paper fully endorses all the recommendations made by the COI and instructed the office of the Attorney General and the ACC to do follow ups.

Whilst as we went to Press no official statement had been made by the APC Secretariat on the whiter paper, it is certain that the party will not take the President’s verdict lying down.

Spokesperson of the APC, Sidie Yayah Tunis, even before the Government white paper was published had stated that the Commissions were founded on illegal basis because its rules of evidence were not satisfactorily established.

Ady Macaulay, who represented, former President Ernest Bai Koroma and several other persons of interest at the COI has stated that the COI was illegally constituted and its findings and recommendations are null and void. He said the persons of interest will take their cases to the Appeals Court.

It can be recalled that immediately after the COI was established in January, 2019 the APC in a statement, expressed dismay that the Government decided to go ahead with the inauguration without considering its concerns.

Among others, the opposition party argued that the Instruments establishing the Commissions were inconsistent with the provisions of the relevant Constitutional provisions which provide for the establishment of the rules regulating the practice and procedure of all Commissions of Inquiry.

It has also objected to a provision in the constitutional instruments that created the Commissions which gives the Commissioners powers to modify, adapt and except themselves from abiding by the practice and procedure in force in the High Court if they feel.

Another concern was the failure of the Government to establish ‘Rules of Evidence’ in civil or criminal proceedings.

“The APC Party is concerned that this provision gives the Commission the status of a High Court which can recommend penalties that are enforceable by law. The Rules of Evidence applicable in the High Court should therefore apply,” a statement signed by the APC National Secretary General, Osman Foday Yansaneh, said.

“Therefore, the APC Party wishes to reiterate its position on the Commissions of Inquiry, that its membership is ready and prepared to fully support and cooperate with the Commissions if the aforementioned concerns are addressed,” it added.

Secretary General of the party, Ambassador Osman Foday Yansaneh, reiterated that the instruments establishing the Commissions of Inquiry (COI) were not consistent with the provisions of Section 150 of the 1991 Constitution, adding that despite their party and other bodies including the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA) had raised issues regarding the instruments, Government has refused to pay heed.

“Those instruments establishing the COI are not consistent with the provisions of Section 150 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone which states “Subject to the provisions of this chapter, the Rules of Court Committee shall, by constitutional instrument make rules regulating the practice and procedure of all Commissions of Inquiry. The APC Party is of the view that this Committee was not constituted prior to the enactment of the Constitutional Instruments referred to,” he argued.

He, however, noted that they were not against the COI as long as they follow the law and that that they were prepared to obey the rule of law and not the rule of man.

 

Kamarainba’s Lawyers Cross-Examine Detective Sergeant Sesay

Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray

By Foday Moriba Conteh

On the 21st September 2020 Defence Lawyers representing Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray in the ongoing sexual penetration allegation continued their cross-examinations of Detective Sergeant 13168 Ibrahim Khalid Sesay, who it was learnt was part of the team that investigated the allegation against their client.

At the High Court presided over by Justice Samuel O. Taylor Lawyer Amadu Koroma put it to the witness that before the matter was reported to the Police, the alleged victim never told anyone that the 1st accused person had sexually abused her.

In his response, the witness said the victim complained to her relatives including her father and aunty, which culminated in the matter being reported to the Police.

Lawyer Koroma also put it to the witness that when the 1st accused was invited to the Police Station his cell phones were taken away from him to which the witness answered in the affirmative, adding that the phones were taken as he was about to be detained.

The witness continued that on the 21st of July, the 1st accused reported to the Police and said in his statement that he bought two phones at the request of the 2nd accused, who received the phones directly.

Lawyer Koroma added that the charges against his client were been ‘‘framed up’’ in order to keep him silent as a political figure, and that the Police used the alleged victim as a point of contact to tarnish his client’s good image.

In his reply the witness said he was not aware of any framed up charges and that the 1st accused voluntarily handed himself over to the Police during which he also denied having any sexual intercourse with the alleged victim when the allegations were put to him.

Under cross-examination by lawyer J. M. Jengo on behalf of the 2nd accused, the witness said when duty calls for him as a Police Officer to testify in court in respect of any matter, he will read through such files but had not done so in respect of the ongoing trial, stressing that he had conferences with the Prosecutor.

He continued that he was only in court to testify about what he did during the course of the investigation.

Also led in evidence by State Prosecutor, Umu Sumaray, Detective Police Inspector, Joseph Saio Kamara, attached to the Sexual Assault Syndicate of the Family Support Unit, CID Headquarters, recognized the accused persons and said he knew the victim.

He recalled that on the 23rd July 2020, he was on duty together with Detective Inspector Lansana Tawarally and others when he received instruction from the Head of the FSU, Detective Superintendent Fatmata Daboh Kamara, through Detective Inspector Lansana Tawarally to arrest the 2nd accused and her husband for the alleged offence of conspiracy to commit a felony in respect of sexual penetration of a child.

He said they left the station to effect the arrest of the 2nd accused at Wilkinson Road, followed by an interview for the alleged offence of conspiracy to commit a felony in respect of sexual penetration of a child. He added that the 2nd accused was cautioned and questioned and consequently detained.

The matter was adjourned to the 28th September, 2020.

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