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Sierra Leone News: LAB Goes Upcountry for High Court Criminal Sessions

Executive Director of the Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles

Legal Aid Board lawyers are heading to Port Loko, Moyamba and Sefadu for the Special Criminal Sessions of the High Court which will start on Monday, 10 June 2019. Three hundred and thirty-three (333) accused persons will be appearing before the sessions.

159 accused persons, 15 of who are charged with capital offences, will be brought before the court in Port Loko. 155 accused persons, 10 of who are charged with capital offences will appear before the court in Moyamba and 79 will appear before the court in Sefadu. The Registrars of the various courts said that all the accused persons have been served indictments and depositions of the lower court.

This information was provided in response to a question on this subject matter at a meeting with the Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards, the Legal Aid Board and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution on Thursday, 6 June 2019 to discuss the upcoming Criminal Sessions with a view to ensuring that the Judiciary, Legal Aid Board and Office of the Director of Public Prosecution are all on the same page. The meeting was held in the Chamber of the Chief Justice.

The Executive Director of the Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles informed the Chief Justice and other stakeholders that the Board has assigned 6 lawyers to the Sessions. Counsel Ibrahim Thorlie from Waterloo in the Western Area Rural District and Kabba Sei Coomber from Bo will be going to Moyamba while Counsel Ibrahim Samba of Makeni will be going to Koidu to join his colleague Ibrahim Mansray. Counsel Randy Bangura from Waterloo in the Western Area Rural District will be going to Port Loko to join Counsel Mohamed Korie.

Ms. Carlton-Hanciles said judging from experience, it is highly likely that all the accused persons will be represented by Board. She seized the opportunity to talk about the burning issue of adjournments for backlog cases and appealed to the Office of Public Prosecution not to delay matters – through repeated adjournments – for which they do not have the evidence.

She also drew attention to the plight of accused persons whose cases may not be heard in the sessions through no fault of theirs. She noted that there had been instances in the past in which inmates transferred from Correctional Centers upcountry to the Pademba Road Correctional Center have not had their matters heard in the Criminal Sessions.  This is due to the fact that they had not been brought to the location where the sessions are held or had been brought at the end of the Session. Another reason could be, they had not been served indictments.

According the Chief Justice, Justice Ivan Sesay of the Appeal Court will be supervising Justice Ganda who will be presiding over the Session in Moyamba, Justice Alusine Sesay of the Supreme Court will be supervising Justice S.O. Taylor who will be presiding over the Session in Port Loko and Justice Alan Hallowell of the Supreme Court will be supervising Justice A.K. Musa who will be presiding over the Session in the Sefadu.

In a similar development, LAB lawyers represented 127 accused persons in the just- concluded Criminal Session of the High Court (Call Over) on 20 to 24 May 2019.  This accounts for a little over 61% of the 208 matters heard in the session.

The team comprised seven lawyers: the Legal Aid Manager, Ms. Cecilia Tucker, Nicky Spencer-Coker, Mamakoh Betty Kallon, Randy Bangura, Ibrahim Thorlie, Sonia Bobanie Browne and Morrison Karimu.

Twenty-five of the accused persons represented were charged with Sexual Penetration, eighteen with Conspiracy and Robbery, eleven with Robbery and nine housebreaking and Larceny.

The session was presided over by Justice Alusine Sesay of the Supreme Court and Justice Manuella Harding of the High Court respectively.

The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles said the fact that the Board represented most of the accused persons does not come as surprise. ‘We represented over 250 accused persons in the September 2018 Criminal Sessions of the High Court in Freetown,’ she recalled. ‘We basically handle most of the cases in the criminal calendar in the country.’

The Presiding Judges were the Hon. Justice Mr. Alusine Sesay, JSC and the Hon. Justice Manuella Harding, respectively.

The Legal Aid Board lawyers provided legal representation to over 250 accused persons in the ongoing September 2018 Criminal Sessions of the High Court in Freetown.  The sessions started on September 18 and the Board’s Legal Team comprising eight lawyers are providing legal representation to indigent clients charged with offences ranging from murder to sexual penetration, Sacrilege, Wounding with Intent, Malicious Damage, Larceny, Store Breaking and Attempted Suicide.

SUMMARY

CASE NUMBER
ARSON 1
POSSESION OF HOUSEBREAKING IMPLEMENT 1
BUGLARY & LARCENY 3
CAUSING DEATH BY DANGEROUS DRIVING 1
CAUSING GBH 2
CONSPIRACY & ROBBERY 18
FRAUDULENT CONVERSION 6
HOUSEBREAKING & LARCENY 9
LARCENY 7
MURDER 4
RAPE 2
ROBBERY 11
MEETING A CHILD FOR SEXUAL PURPOSE 1
SEXUAL PENETRATION 25
WOUNDING WITH INTENT 6
 SENTENCED  

 

A total number of 208 criminal cases were called over, and the Legal Aid Board handled One Hundred (100) files at the session.

A total number of seven Legal Aid Board Lawyers represented indigent Accused Person at the call-over from the 20TH– 24TH May 2019. The Legal Aid Board Lawyers who represented Accused Persons during the call-over were the Legal Aid Manager, Cecilia Tucker, Sonia Bobanie Browne, O.C Spencer-Coker, Mamakoh Betty Kallon, Randy S. Bangura Esq. Ibrahim Thorlie Esq., Morrison Karimu Esq. The Presiding Judges were the Hon. Justice Mr. Alusine Sesay, JSC. and, the Hon. Justice Manuella Harding (J), respectively.

Sierra Leone News: President Bio Thrills Investors in UK

President Julius Maada Bio

President Julius Maada Bio has said Sierra Leone is one of the best places for foreign direct investment that has conducive atmosphere for investors to make good their capital and get returns.

He made this statement while delivering his statement at the UK-Sierra Leone Trade and Investment Conference on Thursday 6 June, 2019 in London.

He called on foreign investors and Sierra Leone citizens in the Diaspora to start investing in the country.

The UK-Sierra Leone Trade and Investment Conference is jointly supported by the UK Government and Sierra Leone Government and attracted more than 300 investors and focused on how the Government of Sierra Leone can convince foreign investors to start investing in the country.

Since he assumed office, President Bio has made several trips abroad looking for foreign investors to come to the country. But with the number of investors in the UK-Sierra Leone Trade Investment Conference, it is hoped that President Bio’s investment policy will bring dividends for the country.

Speaking to journalists shortly after his speech, President Bio noted that his government will be creating an atmosphere that will promote investment and that they have a collective responsibility to provide pleasant experience and a supportive environment for investors to repatriate their returns.

He added that it is important to search for investors in the UK especially as the two countries share bilateral relationships.
He maintained that for everything thing that we have done in Sierra Leone, we need to let the world know and we need to attract foreign investors who may not have had the chance of going to Sierra Leone to do so now.

According to President Bio, the country has challenges but is dealing with them to create an enabling and better atmosphere for businesses to thrive, adding that he wants to give potential investors convincing and correct information for them to invest in Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone, President Bio said is a safe democratic country after several elections and peaceful transfer of power.

He further disclosed that Sierra Leone has 5.4 million hectares of arable land for investors interested in agriculture, in addition to invaluable fish stocks, beautiful landscape and beaches for investors interested in tourism and eco-tourism.
He informed his audience that Sierra Leone is the best choice for people that want to invest.

“We are out here to sell the country and for people to be aware that the war is over there is no more Ebola and mudslide. Above all, Sierra Leone is ready and wide open for business,” President Bio informed his audience.

He went on to state that fighting corruption is one way to give confidence to potential investors as corruption prevents genuine investors from investing in the country. President Bio added that corruption has been choking investment and investors in the country; the reason why he is waging a serious and deliberate war against it.

Sierra Leone News: SLFA Prexy Johansen Meets Colleague Heads of State & Leaders of Football

As 24 nations prepare to participate in the 8th edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019, leaders from the world of football, politics and society converged for a two day convention in Paris which ended recently.

This year’s FIFA hosted event is unprecedented in its magnitude where discussion about the development of the women’s game, social benefits of football for women and girls, and female empowerment were the focus.

FIFA President newly re-elected Gianni Infantino and General Secretary Fatma Samoura were the hosts.

SLFA President Isha Johansen a global icon and change maker was among the pool of international influencers in the world of football and gender empowerment through sports and politics.

In her media interviews she expressed how overwhelmed she was with the goodwill and congratulations extended to her on her court victory. Her proudest moment was meeting the first female President of Ethiopia, Her Excellency Sahle-Work Zewde.

“When she said to me I know who you are, congratulations, my heart skipped a beat. Such an amazing woman,” Madam Johansen said.

Madam Johansen also engaged with another dynamic female political leader, the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, QC, MP who also doubles as the Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment.

Madam Johansen said to this medium that she is focused and committed now more than ever to re-build Sierra Leone’s fractured football industry.

“I am more determined now than ever to see Sierra Leone and in particular Sierra Leone Football attain its peak and fly the pride of our nation. No single individual or groups will distract this national vision,’ she maintained.

 

Sierra Leone News: In Africa… Sierra Leone 1st to Initiate Electronic Disease Surveillance

Sierra Leone has become the first country in the WHO Africa region to fully transform its national disease surveillance system from paper-based to web-based electronic platform.

As of recently, electronic reporting of disease surveillance data is active in all public health facilities. The process, which was first piloted in just one district in 2016, was successfully rolled out to all the 14 districts and every government health facility countrywide.

A rapid assessment of the country’s disease surveillance system in 2015 revealed several major gaps, including a lack of adequate reporting tools, difficulties with transmitting data, and limited access to laboratory information on priority diseases. The gaps were attributed to the existing burdensome surveillance system. These challenges often resulted in late detection, response to and control of public health events. Once aware of the full scale of the situation, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation decided that immediate action was needed. Supported by WHO and other partners including the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), e-Health Africa, FOCUS 1000 and GIZ, the process to migrate reporting from the daunting traditional style paper-based system to a web-based electronic platform (e-IDSR) was started. The goal was to revitalize the national public health surveillance system and to speed up response to public health events through real-time information flow.

“Transitioning disease surveillance data reporting from the traditional old style paper-based format to a computerized format using an advanced technology is ground-breaking for Sierra Leone and we are very proud of being a pivotal part of this great transformation and achievement – from its conception to planning and full implementation,” says Mr Evans Liyosi, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Sierra Leone.

“This is a huge success story of partnership. Partners worked together to support the country to achieve this goal. Other countries in the region have a lot to learn from our collaboration and our experience”.

The electronic reporting allows health facility staff to use hand-held tablets developed for the purposes of reporting health data.

Prior to the introduction of this innovation, compliance with reporting surveillance data was much lower. Reporting of weekly surveillance data from the 1 300 public health facilities countrywide was done through mobile phone text messages, phone calls, hand delivery or email. The process was arduous with inaccuracies, with delays and health costs.

The human cost of the out-dated system clearly impinged on the ability of the health sector to effectively monitor and respond to health issues and events in a timely fashion as was seen in the advent of the 2014 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in the West African sub-region.

“Real-time generation and transmission of data is a crucial function in public health surveillance,” says Dr. Charles Njuguna, lead epidemiologist at WHO Sierra Leone Country Office. “It ensures early detection and timely reporting as well as making sure that the quality and usefulness of the information from primary healthcare is available for strategic and appropriate decision making at the top level to address public health threats.”

Integrated with the country’s District Health Information System (DHIS2), the electronic system has set the pace for improvement in the timeliness of reporting, reporting rates, data quality and efficiency, and ease of data management at the national level with a real-time feedback system to the lower level.

Aminata Abdulai is a nurse at the Robarrie Child Health Post in Yoni Chiefdom in Tonkolil District, where health workers have recently been trained and have started using the new technology for routine health information processing. She described the system as “revolutionary and motivating” as it eases case investigation and also allows self-performance monitoring and feedback. “This is just what we needed. The system has made our task swift and easy in the midst of serving patients,” she says.

With the vibrant and revitalized disease surveillance system that tracks the occurrence of 28 priority diseases, conditions and events, routine weekly public health reporting from health facilities has now increased from 89% in 2016 to 99% May 2019 from health facilities countrywide.

 

Sierra Leone News: President Bio Romances with UK Prime Minister

President Julius Maada Bio and Idris Elba OBE

The Queen 93rd birthday
United Kingdom Prime Minister, Theresa and President Julius Maada Bio

In a remarkable feat of accomplishment, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio attended the Queen’s Official Birthday Parade which was marked by Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade, St James Park on Saturday 8th June 2019.

His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio was guest of the United Kingdom Prime Minister, Theresa May and husband, Mr Philip May at this year’s official birthday commemoration of the Queen. Both the Prime Minister and President Bio sat side by side as they watched the ceremony at the Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall.

The Queen was joined by members of her family including the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The Duke of Edinburgh, who celebrates his 98th birthday on Monday 10th June, has retired from public duties and did not attend.

The Queen has earlier celebrated her 93rd birthday in April but the trooping the colour ceremony originated from the traditional preparations for battle and has commemorated the birthday of the sovereign for more than 250 years.

Earlier, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio was hosted by the UK Prime Minister, Theresa May at No. 10 Downing Street as part of the commemoration of the Queen’s Birthday ceremony and both the Prime Minister and President Bio also discussed about the just-concluded UK-Sierra Leone Trade and Investment Conference.

His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio was accompanied to Downing Street and the Trooping the Colour Parade by the outgoing Sierra Leone High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, H.E Tamba Lamina. H.E Tamba Lamina has been highly commended by Sierra Leoneans and investors for his outstanding leadership in organising the Trade and Investment Conference.

The invitation of His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio by UK Prime Minister, Theresa May to the Queen’s Birthday Parade and his visit to No.10 Downing Street will continue to demonstrate the UK Government’s confidence in the impressive Leadership of President Bio and his Government.

In another development, which when it materializes will give this country a big facelift, the English actor, producer, director and musician, Idris Elba OBE, told President Bio of his plans to transform Sherbro Island into a world-class city as part of his drive to give back to Sierra Leone. Meeting with President Bio on the margins of the UK-Sierra Leone Trade and Investment conference, Idris Elba told President Bio that he wanted to make Sherbro Island a great touristic destination.

“I want to come to Sierra Leone for the first time under your fantastic leadership,” Idris Elba OBE stated. He also stated that he will like to see people travelling to Sherbro Island for culture, tourism and entertainment. He added that “The Sherbro Island will be a city for everyone”. Also explaining about the project, members of his delegation said that the transformation of Sherbro Island will make it a West African regional economic hub focusing on tourist destination, entertainment, convention centre, innovative affordable housing, aquaculture etc.

Some of the benefits of the project highlighted by his delegation included creating a powerful economic growth engine, deepening human capital through education and training, diversifying income sources for government and citizens, transforming the country’s international image and improving infrastructure and transportation links. Through the project, Idris Elba OBE also assured President Bio that he will use his international reputation to contribute in rebranding Sierra Leone with a new message. He also spoke about his long-term aspiration to invest in education and training to create a workforce in Sierra Leone for the film industry.

Responding to Idris Elba OBE and team, President Bio thanked Idris Elba OBE for the thought of investing in Sierra Leone. He told them that such project has always been his aspiration for the Island to transform it into a great tourist destination. He said because of the level of neglect of the Island over the years, he has made it a duty to always spend the Christmas at the Island. “Every time I went on holiday, I would tell the people that help to transform the Island was on the way so today I am happy that the help is here,” President Bio said.

President Bio also expressed his delight for the project and assured that as a Government the project will receive his fullest support. He said that the project will give hope to many Sierra Leoneans, adding that “I want to make every Sierra Leonean be proud to return back to Sierra Leone”.  As an action oriented President, immediately during the meeting, President Bio instructed that preparatory work and all necessary documentations should commence. He also advised the team to visit the Sherbro Island and engage with the community about the project.

According to the biography of Idris Elba OBE, his father is a Sierra Leonean and mother a Ghanaian.

 

 

Sierra Leone News: First Lady invites Anti- FGM Campaigner

First Lady Fatima Maada Bio

The First Lady of Sierra Leone, who caused a furore this year when she said she did not think female genital mutilation was harmful, has said she will meet campaigners after being ambushed while addressing a major women’s rights conference.

Delegates were stunned when Sarian Kamara, a British anti-FGM activist, approached First Lady Fatima Bio with two models of vaginas – one with no external genitalia.

“I want to present myself as evidence to you of what FGM can do to a woman,” she said holding up the models. “This is what my vagina should look like, and this is what it looks like now.”

Kamara, who was born in Sierra Leone, said she had suffered a lifetime of pain and complications since being cut when she was 11.

Nearly 90% of girls and women in the Sierra Leone have undergone FGM.

The ritual, which involves the partial or total removal of the genitalia, can cause a host of health problems.

In December, a 10-year-old girl in Sierra Leone bled to death after being cut, sparking renewed calls for a ban.

Fatima Bio angered activists this year when she said in a televised interview that, as a circumcised woman, she would not speak out against FGM – a campaign she did not believe in – and said she needed to see evidence of the harm it caused.

She also attracted criticism over a program she leads called “Hands off our Girls” which focuses on ending abuses like rape and child marriage, but does not mention FGM.

However, Fatima Bio appeared to have softened her stance when she was confronted on Wednesday at the Women Deliver conference in Vancouver where she was speaking on a panel about girls’ education.

She told the packed hall that although she had not experienced any problems from being cut, she was open to learning more about the practice.

She told delegates there was a law against performing FGM on girls under 18 in Sierra Leone.

However, anti-FGM group 28 Too Many said there was no national law and she may have been referring to local agreements that have no legal standing.

Kamara told journalists on Thursday that the First Lady had afterwards invited her to meet when she goes to Sierra Leone, where she runs workshops on ending FGM.

“She said, ‘Call me. I want you to teach me’,” said Kamara founder of an initiative called Keep the Drums, Lose the Knife, which campaigns for alternative coming of age ceremonies.

“The First Lady runs the biggest girl’s movement in the country so it would be fantastic to get her on board. Her voice would be very powerful.”

Several of Africa’s First Ladies have played a major role in galvanizing international efforts to end the practice.

On Tuesday, Burkina Faso’s First Lady Sika Kabore, who regularly speaks out on FGM, told activists she would talk to her Sierra Leone counterpart.

 

Sierra Leone News: ACC Vs Isha Johansen & Co. Again!

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

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Sierra Leone on 6th June, 2019, filed a ten (10) grounds Notice of Appeal in the Court of Appeals of Sierra Leone, against the judgment of the High Court of Sierra Leone in the matter of entitled: The State Vs. Isha Johansen and Christopher Abdul Kamara.

The Appeal focuses purely on the interpretation of certain provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 12 of 2008 and related evidential issues. Having perused the judgment of the High Court delivered by His Lordship, Justice Reginald Fynn Jr., JA, the Anti-Corruption Commission has identified issues emanating therefrom that crucially require review by the Court of Appeals, particularly in relation to the ingredients of the offence of Misappropriation and the nature of evidence required to prove and establish it.

Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA) President, Isha Johansen

It must be noted however that; while the Commission welcomes the finalization of the trial against Mrs. Isha Johansen and Mr. Christopher Abdul Kamara, and remains cognizant of the public interest for football to be played in the country; and while it confirms that having concluded trial it will not interfere with the continuance in office of the officials of the Sierra Leone Football Association pending the conclusion of the Appeal, the Commission in its mandate will protect the proper development of the jurisprudence relating to corruption offences and its effectiveness in the national fight against corruption.

The Commission reassured the public of its commitment to controlling corruption at all times and appreciates their patience and support in carrying out its lawful mandate.

 

 

 

Sierra Leone News: Joseph Lamboi Takes Correctional Service to New Level

Sierra Leone Correctional Service, Director General, Joseph Lamboi

The Management of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service under the dynamic leadership of Joseph Lamboi as Director General of the institution on Friday 7th June 2019,took a cross-section of journalists on a conducted tour of its facilities and informed the Press about the achievements  made so far since the new Management took over.

Among these are the newly-constructed conference hall, computer lab, Child Friendly Center, Library, Officers Mess, Agricultural Project including Livestock Farming, Adult Education, Technical Training Workshop for inmates, Games and Sports, Reintegration Talk Shop – where the inmates go and buy food stuffs, cold water, drinks and other items which reduce the risk in trafficking drugs and contraband into the Correctional Centers, as some relatives of inmates send money instead of food. Other programs meant to catch up with the global trend were also showcased.

In his statement Director General Lamboi said the engagement with the media is to strike a partnership and uphold the ethics of accountability, transparency and to change the public perception about their operations and show case their recent achievements, challenges, and where they want to go as an institution, to maintain confidence building especially so when they operate behind the scenes.

“We are currently managing a little over 4,400 inmates nationwide, and Pademba Road Correctional Center which was built for just 300 inmates is hosting over 50% of that number. The Bo Correctional Center is the same and most of the Correctional centers suffer the same overcrowding which poses a security threat to the nation such as (prison breaks) but  the institution is working with government and other donor partners to improve on infrastructures  and work on relocation of the center to Songo village, Koya Chiefdom, for the Freetown Pademba Road Correctional Center where the institution has secured 80 hectares of Land for the project. The institution is also in need of logistics and some of the vehicles being used are almost clocking 2 decade and so we spend a lot of money on repairs. Government has promised to buy us some vehicles but we are yet to see them,” the DG maintained adding that due to the shortage of vehicles such affect their work.

According to him, in places like Moyamba, even to take the inmates to court is difficult and there are times when their officers have to take motor bikes for inmates or walk to make sure the inmates attend court which is also a risk.

In his presentation Denis Harman ,Deputy Director SLCS, said they currently manage about 4,418 inmates with 22 Correctional Centers nationwide, with a little over two thousand personal and 137 officers.

“The introduction of Prison Pilot Court project has helped us to fast-track court proceedings of inmates who have been in remand without trial for long, a Human Rights Audit where we have improved from the past,” he revealed.

In the area of capacity building he said  most of their senior officers have gone through series of training at the Colorado Correctional Center, USA, Kenya Correctional Center and Canada as well and other parts of the world. He disclosed that there was a just-concluded training that was facilitated by Experts from Canada which the Director of Liberia Correctional Center and others around Africa were in attendance which put Sierra Leone at the advantage to become a center of excellence.

“We have secured funding that will enable the 22 centers to have electricity supply through solar power and internet and CCTV cameras which will also be available in all centers as at the moment only Pademba Road Correctional Center has the technical training project and Art Work which are now benefiting 242 inmates with a million Leones and above for each of them at the Rokel Commercial Bank out of the profits made from sales of different products,” he went on.

He anchored that if Sierra Leone is ranked the most peaceful country in West Africa, it tells  that the Correctional service is doing well because they keep potential criminals that may disturb the peace of our nation behind bars.

Elizabeth Gbagla, SLCS Female Commanding Officer, said the Child Friendly Center was established for children below age 2 years whose mothers have been convicted and sent to the Correctional Center.

“We make sure the children  are well taken care of, they no longer eat the same food with inmates as it used to happen before, we teach them, they have toys to play with and even watch cartoon movies and allow  the suckling  mothers to come out to suckle their children,” she added.

 

Sierra Leone News: NP-SL: Living Testimony of Indigenous Success

When we honestly talk of a very vibrant petroleum company that is operating in this country, churning qualitative service delivery it is not possible not to mention the name of the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited.

Obviously, this is so because the company is growing doggedly from strength to strength ensuring that it is vibrant, alive and kicking. Surprisingly, for many it is no mean accomplishment more so when cognisance is taken of the fact that it is a one hundred percent indigenously-owned company that has stood the test of time, weathering various stormy challenges within a competitive business landscape.

One thing for which NP has been widely hailed is for its no-nonsense stance on raising high the bar of maximizing customer care. As a matter of fact, customer care forms a cardinal core of the company and it is sustainably maintaining it because as far as NP Management is concerned it matters greatly to them. That is why the company operates an open door policy, encouraging serious customers to dialogue and negotiate business terms with them so that at the end of the day they will reach an agreeable position on a win-win platform. Through this caring and prudent managerial competence, the company continues to grow by leaps and bounds as evident in its routine opening of new filling stations across the country with one in the Koinadugu District recently.

Furthermore, NP Management encourages private and public entities to enter into business arrangements that are practically viable. This entrepreneurial move continues to re-position the company to become more formidable and successful.

Little wonder why NP-SL has been able to open branches in four West African countries, namely Guinea, Liberia, The Gambia and Ivory Coast where the company is exceptionally and competitively doing well just as it is doing here. It ensures that in all those places, local indigenes are employed creating the feel of ownership of NP by the citizenry in those countries. This shrewd business strategy epitomizes how the company is deepening the Local Content Policy which places premium on ensuring that indigenous personnel talents and skills are utilized. What this simply means is that instead of allowing so-called foreign expatriates to take monies out of the country, such monies can definitely remain within the country thereby positively impacting on the economies of the host countries. It also helps in reducing poverty among the populace as citizens are offered the opportunity to be gainfully employed and capacitated.

To make the purchase of their petroleum products easily and timely possible the company in recent past introduced the use of NP Smart Cards which could be used to buy various products as long as they contain the requisite amounts of money to effect such purchases.

“Since it was introduced, I find it convenient to use it just like using my bank ATM card because it is not always that I have cash on me,” Karim Koroma, a lawyer frankly intimated this medium, adding that it has never failed him.

Sia Matturi has this to say, “I have been using NP Gas for a considerable period of time now and I find it suitable for cooking as it is quick and dependable. I am no longer exposed to the hazards of using charcoal or wood and I will advise my fellow women to try NP Gas and you will never regret doing so.”

NP Gas can be bought in different size cylinders and could be accessed in all NP filling stations across the country as well as at their agents all going for affordable prices.

Sierra Leone’s economy needs revamping and our development trajectory must be put on the right course in order to improve standards of living. In order to achieve that, there must be a private-public partnership to make available the much-needed resources to implement various development projects. Government must have the financial wherewithal to be at a vantage position to roll out development projects and one possible way is through revenue mobilization involving taxation. NP-SL is one business entity that is paying huge taxes to the National Revenue Authority; being classed among the Largest Tax Payer bracket and from what was learnt it is doing so in a timely manner.

If there is one outstanding and successful entity that Sierra Leoneans must indeed be proud of, for quality service delivery and sustainable growth, then definitely the lot will fall on the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited. For sure it truly deserves a pat on the back.

 

 

 

Sierra Leone News: Ecobank hosted by London Stock Exchange after successful $500 million Eurobond issuance

Ecobank Chairman Emmanuel Ikazoboh (2nd from left) opens the London Stock Exchange with Group CEO Ade Ayeyemi (3rd from left).  
PRESS RELEASE  

                       For Immediate Release

 

London, 7 June 2019 – Following its successful $500 million Eurobond issuance, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (‘ETI’), the Lomé-based parent company of the Ecobank Group, was hosted by the London Stock Exchange to a market opening ceremony to celebrate the successful listing of the Eurobond on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) main market.

The bond was oversubscribed with strong demand from international investors in the United Kingdom, United States, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa. It follows on from Ecobank’s 2017 convertible bond issuance on the International Securities Market.

The five-year senior unsecured notes, which mature in April 2024, were launched with a coupon interest rate of 9.50 percent per annum payable semi-annually in arrears.

Ade Ayeyemi, Group CEO of Ecobank said: “The successful issuance of our inaugural Eurobond on the main London market demonstrates international investors’ approval and confidence in Ecobank’s long-term strategy and prospects as a strong and sustainable pan-African financial services institution. It also demonstrates the ability of African corporates to access international capital markets.”

Ayo Adepoju, Acting Group CFO of Ecobank commented: “Ecobank places great emphasis on constantly reviewing our capital allocation strategies to ensure that we have the right strategic positioning, competitive advantages, products and resources to increase efficiency and profitability. Our access to international capital markets are part of the mix and enable us to boost our liquidity profile, refinance maturing facilities and strengthen our foundations to ensure long-term sustainable growth and profitability for all our stakeholders.”

ETI will use the net proceeds of the placement for general corporate purposes including the refinancing of maturing debt facilities.

Members of the ETI board and management attended the London Stock Exchange on 7 June to celebrate the successful issuance of the bond.

 

– ENDS –

 

You can download more photos of the ceremony here: 

https://we.tl/t-K4Iz3NR8oP

 

Media Contact: 

Mireille Bokpe-Anoumou

Group Communications Email: mbokpe@ecobank.com

Tel: +228 22 21 03 03

About Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (‘ETI’ or ‘The Group’) 

Incorporated in Lomé, Togo in 1988, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (‘ETI’) is the parent company of the leading independent pan-African banking group, Ecobank. It currently has a presence in 36 African countries, namely: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Democratic Republic), Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Group employs 16,386 people in 40 different countries in over 888 branches and offices. Ecobank is a full-service bank providing wholesale, retail, investment and transaction banking services and products to governments, financial institutions, multinationals, international organisations, medium, small and micro businesses and individuals. Additional information on Ecobank can be found at www.ecobank.com.

 

 

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