The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, Heiko Maas, has paid a courtesy call on His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio at State House in Freetown.

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr Alie Kabba, who chaired the meeting, said his German counterpart was on his first visit to Sierra Leone. He further stated that they had had lengthy discussions and covered several issues that reflected the core priorities of the New Direction Government, adding that he had also spoken on the need to focus for on foreign direct investment. He used the occasion to highlight some key social issues and, in particular, referenced government’s stance on rape and sexual assaults, noting that that was being done to raise international awareness and support on the issue.

The German Foreign Minister said he was excited about visiting the country for the first time and disclosed that he was very interested in the development process in the country. He also sated that as a member of the United Nations Security Council, Germany was very interested in how conflicts could be prevented and solved, saying that Sierra Leone was a wonderful example which they were ready to learn from.

He further told the meeting that they wanted to put the topic of conflict prevention again on the agenda for the United Nations Security Council meeting in April when they would have the Presidency of the Council, adding that they were interested in examples of how different situations could be overcome and how civil wars, like the 1991-2001 rebel war in Sierra Leone, could be prevented.

He also assured that they were ready to put issues of sexual violence on the agenda while acknowledging remarkable stances the Sierra Leone government had already taken to raise public awareness, help victims through free treatment in hospitals and prepare the judiciary to take actions against perpetrators. He noted that the UN must focus on those issues because the increasing rate of sexual violence, including the use of rape as a weapon of war.

On his part, President Bio said that Sierra Leone was enjoying a very good relationship with Germany, adding that he was now focusing on strengthening that relationship and widening the level of cooperation between the two countries. He said his Government was working on a comprehensive Development Plan as a means of moving a lot of people out of poverty.

“We have placed premium on human capital development as a way to lay a solid foundation for development in this country. We have laid emphasis on diversifying our economy, not just being dependent on diamonds and gold but also on agriculture, tourism and other areas as multiple revenue bases.

“We have handled the economy reasonably well and we have been able to identify and generate more revenue than it has been done in the past. With that we have been able to support some of the basic activities of government. We want to stop dependency on aid so we are engaged in activities that are geared towards trade and investments. We are working on providing the right climate here that can be inviting for foreign investors to come in,” he said.

He said sexual violence had been around since the civil war but that it had worsened to the extent that he had to declare it a National Emergency, noting that he was very particular about the protection of girls but also excited at the prospect of discussing the issue at the Security Council.

President Bio, who doubles as Chairman of the Committee of Ten African Union Heads of State charged with leading a common position to secure two seats in the Security Council, said Africa had 1.2 billion people who were not represented in the Council, adding that 70% of the decisions being taken at the Council affected Africa and, therefore, the continent deserved to be represented on it.

Activists in Sierra Leone and the Gambia have criticized recent comments by Sierra Leone’s first lady on female genital mutilation (FGM).
First Lady Fatima Bio in a television interview on Sunday in Banjul, the Gambia said that there are other more important issues to discuss on women rights, in response to a question on the cultural practice rooted in Africa.
“I am a circumcised woman. I have had three successful deliveries without complications,” she said, adding that she had not faced any complication due to FGM.
“The campaigners need to show me convincing statistics of women and girls who have been affected by the practice especially in The Gambia and Sierra Leone.
“I think there should be focus to reduce rape and promote girl child education not FGM,” she told Gambians.
FGM is widespread in Sierra Leone especially among women outside of the capital, Freetown.
Sierra Leone’s regional neighbours such as Senegal, Nigeria and the Gambia have banned the practice, which according to the World Health Organization (WHO), cause extreme pain, excessive bleeding or haemorrhage, and may spread infections including HIV.
Many activists took to social media to condemn what they called insensitive remarks by Bio.
“I have so many issues with her statement. You are a First Lady and can’t just sit and say things like this and expect no consequence. It’s such a shame that smart women like her put politics before girls. I am very disappointed,” Jaha Dukureh, a Gambian anti-FGM campaigner, wrote on her Facebook page.
Kadie Sannoh Harris, a Sierra Leonean anti-FGM campaigner, also condemned her remarks.
“I can’t begin to voice how disappointed I am by reading this. As an educated and well exposed individual who claim to stand with women, how can women’s suffering be justified by embracing female genital mutilation?
“I personally have lots of evidence to show how female genital mutilation has affected me. To physically take a knife to a woman’s body that creates lifetime complications both physically and mentally cannot be justified in anyway,” she wrote on Facebook.

Pastor Francis A.M Mambu, the General Overseer of Faith Healing Bible Church-worldwide has expressed disappointment over the low turnout of Sierra Leoneans at this year’s national thanksgiving ceremony held at the National Stadium, Friday, February 22nd 2019, compared to last year’s.
The Servant of God noted that on February 2018 – a month before the controversial general and presidential elections, when the nation almost sensed some amount of chaos, many Sierra Leoneans went to the Siaka Steven Stadium to seek the intervention of God through repentance. “This year in February, only few returned to thank Him for the peaceful outcome of the elections, “referencing the one leper who returned to thank the Lord Jesus Christ out of the ten He healed: Luke 17: 11-19.
Many among the few who returned to thank the Lord for answering their prayers were girls, young men and women. Asked why the dominance of women, Georgiana M.T. Harding of 12 Wilkinson Road, Freetown, responded that “women had closely been with Jesus Christ when He was alive; unto His crucifixion, burial, and were the first to discover His resurrection from the dead. This is why we have always been in dominance appearing to love Him than men”.
In spite of the low turnout, cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament and the leader of the main opposition All People’s Congress Party-Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara were in attendance. The Mayor of the Freetown Municipality-Yvonne Aki Sawyer was absent, but represented by a Ward Councilor who made a statement on her behalf.
A very interesting poem about Sierra Leone was read in absentia by the Minister of Works, Housing and Infrastructure-Raymond De Souzza George, who was represented by his wife. According to Pastor Mambu, “this year’s thanksgiving ceremony has been the first to host a considerable number of politicians, indicating God’s readiness for a turnaround of the nation”.
The thanksgiving ceremony marked the end of the twenty one days of national prayer and fasting, where Men and Women of God from various denominations offered strategic prayers of thanksgiving for the three arms of government: the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature; the peaceful outcome of the March 2018 general and presidential elections and the nationwide stability; Ministries, Departments and Agencies including the economy: investors, mineral resources, banks and related financial institutions; the Local Government Ministry and functionaries: Provincial Secretaries, District Officers, Chief Administrators, Mayors, District Council Chairpersons and Councilors; the Judiciary: Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the Chief Justice, Judges, Magistrates, Lawyers, Magistrates and Local Court functionaries; the Foreign Affairs Ministry: International Community and Diplomatic Corps, Embassies and Sierra Leoneans living in the diaspora; the Health Ministry: Nurses and Doctors; the Human Resource development; individual homes and families including the youth, aged, and married couples; the Law Enforcement Agencies: Police, Army, Fire Force, Auxiliary Security Agencies, Chiefdom Police, Correctional Service Officials; Patriotism: the nation in entirety, and the Body of Christ-SL, to name but a few. The all-night thanksgiving ceremony was segmented into four phases, coupled with twenty one prophetic trumpet blasts signifying victory over the powers of darkness that are believed to have seated on the nation’s destiny.

The National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), in partnership with one of its project consultant, MYRADA- an International Livelihood Development Service Provider based in India has concluded a 17-day nationwide training workshop for NaCSA field staff.
The team, who were in the country from the 22nd January 2019 to the 9th February 2019 were tasked with the responsibility to jointly review, with NaCSA, the performances and statuses of old and new Self-help Affinity Groups (SAGs) (118 +205); to assess the various Federations and enhance their capacities to support suitable SAGs to morph into Microenterprise Groups (MEGs); and to train NaCSA field staff on the preparation of business plans, concept notes and common entrepreneurship skills and concept, specifically for the SAGs using Business Model Canvas methodology .

Declaring the session opened in Bo, the NaCSA’s Deputy Commissioner Dr. Sao Kpato Hannah Isata Max-Kyne revealed that, the Sierra Leone Community Driven Development Project phase II (GIETRENK) resonates with the Government of His Excellency the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s New Direction in the area of women empowerment and access to small and medium capital to enhance micro enterprise development. She also noted that other components of this project clearly support the government’s flagship program, which is the attainment of free quality primary and secondary education; and is also in tune with other priority areas, including health, water, hygiene and sanitation, and renewable energy .
She further stated that the estimated cost of the SLCDD 11 is US$51.93 million, with the Government of Sierra Leone contributing US$5.25 million as counterpart funding.
NaCSA Micro Finance Officer, Martha Macfoy gave the overview and purpose of the workshop, emphasizing that the continuation of capacity building for NaCSA staff by MYRADA is key to the implementation of the project, which she noted will in turn benefit the targeted beneficiaries in the various communities.

Speaking on behalf of the Bo District Council, Councilor Abu Bakarr C. Foray of Ward 291, Jaiama Chiefdom, expressed his council’s appreciations to NaCSA for transforming the lives of the people in various communities in the District. He further confirmed that NaCSA is a household name in Bo District and highlighted some of NaCSA’s interventions in the district, including road construction, agricultural cultivation, cash transfer etc.
The training was held in five districts (Bo, Moyamba, Kenema, Port Loko & Tonkolili) and was facilitated by four Indian MYRADA Consultants. Training modules delivered include- development of business plans, prioritizing business activities, customer segment and value proposition, identification of customer channels and developing strategies to build customer relation, which is key aspect of this project.

The training exercise was replicated in each growth pole district headquarter town and was combined with field visits to communities, including Masingbi in the Tonkolili District, Gbinti in Port Loko District, Sembehun Nancy Tucker in Moyamba and Panguma in Kenema District.

Climaxing these activities was a debriefing session held at the Commission’s Headquarter in Freetown, where detailed presentation on the outcome of the exercise; activities undertaken, observations from the mission and their recommendations were presented by MYRADA to senior officials of the institution.

Sierra Leone is looking forward to an end of Fifa’s suspension ahead of a year-packed with football competitions .Abdula Rahman Swaray, Acting General Secretary of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), said on Friday that how soon the country’s suspension is lifted now depends on the actions of the Government and the outcome of a court case involving two former SLFA officials: the suspended President Isha Johansen and her General Secretary Chris Kamara.
The suspension of the two prompted Fifa’s decision to suspend Sierra Leone in October 2018. That came following a protracted disagreement among football stakeholders. Mrs Johansen was elected SLFA President back in 2013 as the first female to hold the position.
But much of her tenue was spent fighting with a faction within the football community who accused her of corruption and maladministration. At some point she had a tough time with the former administration of President Ernest Bai Koroma, which had help seen her elected into office.
Due to the problem, serious football could not be played in Sierra Leone for the next four years.
Last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) unsealed an indictment of 10 count charges of corruption and abuse of office against Johansen and Kamara. The ACC went further to evict the two from office, in line with the country’s anti-corruption laws.
Fifa, which had constantly supported Johansen throughout her tenue, suspended the country in line with its policy of non-political interference in football. A high powered government delegation, among them the Vice President, the Chief Minister and the Minister of Justice, held talks with Fifa officials in Zurich, Switzerland, as part of efforts to reverse the suspension. Although that meeting ended in a disappointment for many Sierra Leoneans, officials said it was a success.

The delegation and Fifa signed a MoU which detailed actions to be taken before the country will be reinstated. According to Mr Sawaray, a very important thing that came out clearly in that MoU is the highly contentious issue of Johansen’s unconditional reinstatement was removed from the table.
He said Fifa said that if the matter in court was concluded it might consider lifting the suspension ahead of its Congress slated for this May in Paris, France. “The delay,” he said, “is not Fifa again,” said Mr Swaray.
“Our faith is in the court and the government,” he added in a radio interview. Swaray said the suspension has had an adverse effect on football in the country, leaving the FA particularly financially handicapped. According to the SLFA official, despite the ban, there has been a lot of encouraging signs between the FA and Fifa. He said the world football governing body has been engaging the FA in a lot of competitions in terms of communication.

The Parliament of Sierra Leone has on Friday 22nd February 2019 debated and approved with some dissenting voices, a presidential proclamation on the commission of rape against women, girls and babies throughout the Republic of Sierra Leone.
The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu ruled in finality that “the ayes have it”, adding that “rape is an extraordinary situation which warrants an extraordinary measure like a presidential proclamation aimed at curbing this dreadful menace in our society”.
In line with provision of the relevant Section in Act No. 6 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, that deals with the opinion of the President in declaring a state of emergency in the country whether in part or a whole, the following presidential proclamation was approved in Parliament:
“Now, therefore, I Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Supreme Head of State, Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Sierra Leone, having regard to the prevalence of crimes of sexual violence committed against women, girls and babies, throughout Sierra Leone, do hereby, by this proclamation declare that a State of Public Emergency exists regarding rape and sexual violence in the whole of the Republic of Sierra Leone with effect from the 7th day of February, 2019”.

Seconding the motion, the Deputy Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew S. Nyuma decried the high rate of reported incidences of rape and called on the House to support the approval of the presidential proclamation in light of the oath they had taken to defend and protect the people of Sierra Leone.

Hon. Daniel B. Koroma said that “I preferred an amendment to the Sexual Offences Act of 2012 regarding rape to a presidential proclamation on rape with the maximum punishment of life imprisonment”.

The Rt. Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas informed the House about an incidence of anal penetration done to a five year old girl by a 43 year old man that has left the girl now “paralyzed”.

Hon. Veronica K. Sesay, President of the Parliamentary Female Caucus described rape as “madness” and even called for rapists to be “sentenced to life imprisonment with castration and hard labour”, whilst calling for a bi-partisan support in light of the Resolution adopted by the House on women, peace and security.

Leader of the National Grand Coalition, Hon. Alhaji Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella said that “I preferred the stiffest of punishment for rapists including life imprisonment, but through an amendment to the Sexual Offences Act of 2012, to a presidential proclamation”, whilst recalling and alluding to Dr. Abdulai O. Conteh’s Essay on the 1991 Constitution on how the APC used state of emergency to crackdown on their political opponents.

Paramount Chief Member of Parliament from Pujehun, Hon. Matilda Y. Minah also supported the presidential proclamation on rape and other forms of sexual violence against women, girls and babies in the country.

Acting Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Ibrahim Ben Kargbo also said that “the APC prefers an amendment to the Sexual Offences Act of 2012 to accommodate a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, to a presidential proclamation”.

The Leader of Government Business, Hon. Sidie M. Tunis praised President Bio for declaring a state of public emergency on rape against women, girls and babies in Sierra Leone.

Other MPs spoke to the motion.

The onetime influential Inter Religious Council (IRC) of Sierra Leone has called on the Government to work with it as a recognized body which played a major role in the restoration and maintenance of peace in the country after its brutal civil war. Reverend Osman Jesse Fornah, Secretary General of IRC, was quoted saying in line with the expectation of the UN system, there should be a tripartite relationship in the governance system of the country, involving the government, the UN system and the IRC.
“This is the relationship we have enjoyed right from the days of President Ahmad Tejan Kabba of blessed memory. We enjoyed the same relationship with the past government of President Ernest Bai Koroma, which has been very much good and we are still enjoying it,” he said.
“Today, we have a new Government that we are calling on to please work with the Inter Religious Council because this Council is recognized and we are more than willing to support programs and policies of the Government of the day,” he added.
The IRC came to prominence at the height of Sierra Leone’s eleven-year civil war, when religious leaders encouraged the warring factions and participated in negotiations that eventually brought
about peace. Mr Fornah’s appeal comes as international partners seek to enlist religious leaders in efforts to tackle rising political tension stemming from last year’s general election.
Officials say the tension have been exacerbated by the ongoing Commissions of Enquiry which is investigating alleged corruption by former government officials. Through funding from UNESCO and UN Women, the Council is implementing a project called ‘Promoting Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion through Religious Leaders in Post-election Sierra Leone. It entails training of religious leaders who will serve as Peace Ambassadors in communities.
According to Rev. Fornah, the role played by the Council in ending that war encouraged the UN system to see the value of religious leaders in the promotion of peace around the world. And in Sierra Leone, he noted, the Council was given the nomenclature of Moral Guarantors of the peace in the country.
Fornah noted that the IRC is not just a national organization, but also an international one given its membership in the international umbrella organization known as Religion for Peace, headquartered in New York, US. Sierra Leone, he said, is the 34th chapter of that organization whose membership exists in over 100 countries around the world. Following the March 2018 elections and the emerging issues that threatened the country’s peace, the new government set up a committee that included the IRC, which went round the country to mediate in affected communities.
Mr. Fornah said they expected the Council to continue to play such roles in the current dispensation, noting that as religious leaders they should not just be called to pray at the starting and end of meetings. “We have to go beyond that point. Since we are called the moral guarantors of the peace of this country, our main interest in Sierra Leone is to ensure that we maintain the peace that we worked for so hardly,” he said.

The Chairman of the Sierra Leone Premier League Board, Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai has been widely praised not only by Sierra Leoneans but even outsiders for his demonstration and actualization of resuscitating national Football competitions in the country, a game that went into coma because of infighting and disagreements among major stakeholders charged with the responsibility to ensure that there was order and decorum. Because of his vision and fine initiatives the Premier League is now vibrantly ongoing and from what has been learnt so far football fans are really enjoying it.
It can be no gainsay to mention that due to the seriousness of Saffa Abdulai the current SLPP led Government headed by President Julius Maada Bio was and is willing to give the Board the necessary financial and moral boost so that it will be a smooth drive or ride.
Commendably, amidst a rising threat of violence in the ongoing Premier League, football authorities in Sierra Leone have vowed to maintain a strict zero-tolerance to violence during matches.It follows the announcement of the imposition of a series of punitive measures against two football clubs found wanting for violent behaviour and several referees and match officials for taking bias decisions.
The 2019 Sierra Leone Premier League is the first organized league in the country in four years, after a protracted dispute within the leadership of the Sierra Leone Football Association prevented the organization of competitions.
Following Fifa’s suspension of the country last year, the government decided to spend the interim period to fix its house in order. The organization of the Premier League is considered as the beginning step of this move.
The first few games witnessed an impressive performance both from the clubs and the fans. But several matches have ended amidst violence, the latest being in Freetown when supporters of Ports Authority, one of the league, reportedly molested a referee for allegedly making a wrong decision during a match at the National Stadium in Freetown.
Subsequently, the Sierra Leone Premier League Board (SLPB) released a statement announcing the imposition of fines on two teams: Kamboi Eagles of Kenema and Diamond Stars of Kono Le5million (US$400) and Le10 million (US$800) respectively. According to the Board, Kamboi Eagles were penalized for failing to provide security during their home match against Diamond Stars FC.
The latter were found wanting for demonstrating “unsportsmanlike and violent” behavior during their own home match against the Freetown-based FC Kallon. The fans of both teams reportedly invaded the pitch of play.
In a separate move, the Referees Committee slammed between three and one week suspension on about three referees for offenses ranging from failing to issue out the right card as punishment to players, to connivance with other march officials to give undue advantage to a rival team in a game.
SLPLB Chairman, Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, defended these actions, saying they were necessary to protect the games and ensure their integrity. “We know that the performance of the referees will determine the integrity of the game and we want to insist that they perform to a professional level that cannot affect the integrity of the game at all,” he said, referring to the decision of the Referees Committee.
Saffa Abdulai said the Board is currently investigating the reported violence in the last match involving Port Authority FC and Blackpool. According to reports, there have been many more acts of violence since the league started in January. SLPLB officials therefore say any future unsportsmanlike behaviour is likely to attract even bigger fine, with additional option of suspension or forfeiture of games.

The Medical Officer at the Directorate of Non Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Abu Bakarr T. Koroma has disclosed according to a research that 75% of salt is found in what we consume as processed food, adding that only 25% is found naturally in foods or added during cooking or at the table, which he noted puts us at risk to preventable cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, heart attack, dementia etc.
Dr. Koroma made the disclosure at a 2 day material/message development workshop held last week at the Directorate of Health Security and Emergencies/Emergency Operation Centre on Wilkinson Road. The purpose of the message development workshop was to develop key messages and IEC materials for awareness raising and sensitization campaign in Western Area Urban on the harmful effects of high salt intake and the health benefits of low salt consumption.
While presenting on Message Development, Chief Health Education Officer and Programme Manager, Health Education Division, Lansana A. Conteh stated that they were going to embark on awareness raising/sensitization campaign in Western Area with specific focus on the effects of high salt intake, and the benefits of low salt consumption. Mr. Conteh added that as a pilot, they were going to start off by engaging 200 food handlers in Western Area and he continued that they were also going to do media engagements like interactive radio and TV discussion programmes, broadcast Jingles and develop and disseminate key messages Public Information, Communication and Education, thereby changing attitudes on high salt consumption.
While pointing out the harmful effects of high salt intake, Dr. Koroma noted that high intake of salt leads to high blood pressure, hypertension, Heart failure, Heart Attack, dementia and Stroke.He reiterated thatsome evidence has shown that too much salt in our diet can damage the heart, aorta, Kidneys, bones without increasing the blood pressure, which makes it scary, thus kills slowly.
He continued that people with health conditions like High blood pressure, diabetes and people in their 50s and anyone who fails to imbibe to the recommended dietary standards, by consuming low salt, low sugar etc. is at great risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Nutritionist, Mutivah Kappia at the Directorate of Food and Nutrition, in her presentation hastily cautioned that in as much as they were promoting low salt intake, they were also giving out the health benefits of salt in the human body stating that salt regulates blood pressure and blood volume, helps transmit impulses for nerve functions and muscle contraction, regulates the acid-base balance of blood and body fluids, sodium/salt maintains the water balance within cells.
She continued and noted that theWorld Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults consume less than 5 g (just under a teaspoon of salt per day and that salt for adults be adjusted downward for children aged two to 15 years based on their energy requirements relative to those of adults.
She cautioned that the recommendation for children does not address the period of exclusive breastfeeding (0–6 months) or the period of complementary feeding with continued breastfeeding (6–24 months).
“All salt that is consumed should be iodized or “fortified” with iodine, which is essential for healthy brain development in the fetus and young child and optimizing people’s mental function in general,” advised Mutivah. She further recommended the removal of salt shakers and soy sauce from tables in restaurants; Introducing product or shelf labels making it clear that certain products are high in sodium; providing targeted dietary advice to people visiting health facilities; advocating for people to limit their intake of products high in salt and advocating that they reduce the amount of salt used for cooking; and educating children and providing a supportive environment for children so that they start early with adopting low salt diets.
She further advised against the excess use of Maggie in our cooking, stating that most of these branded Maggie have in them high percentage of salt which makes it worst and continued that salt is normally added in our rice and the source as well. This ,she noted, is a course to concern, as the 5 gram recommended intake of salt would have surpassed/risen as high percent of salt is already on the Maggie with added salt in the sauce and the rice, which she noted is an old aged practice and that high salt intake kills people slowly without even knowing.
She advised food handlers to reduce the amount of salt and Maggie they use in their cooking as high salt and Maggie in food is not a health dietary practice/behavior and recommends that they either use Maggie alone or salt in their cooking and use spices, pepper, ginger etc. when they flavor fish, meat etc. as it will limit them from using salt, Maggie or any other salt product for flavoring/preserving food.