Japan Boosts School Feeding With $2.3 Million

September 21, 2020

Housainou Taal, WFP Representative and Country Director in Sierra Leone

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) recently welcomed a contribution of JPN 250 million(US$ 2.3 million) from the Government of Japan to support primary school children in Kambia and Pujehun districts of Sierra Leone.

The contribution is part of Japan’s commitment to support the Government of Sierra Leone and WFP advance the school feeding component of the free quality education programme initiated by H.E. President Julius Maada Bio.

“Education is the bedrock of Sierra Leone’s future prosperity and we are happy to team up with Japan to support the Government to cement this through school feeding,” said Housainou Taal, WFP Representative and Country Director in Sierra Leone. “We are grateful to the people of Japan for their long-standing contributions to education for the last decade.”

WFP will provide daily hot meals to more than 42,000 school children attending grades 1-6 in 139 Government-assisted primary schools in Kambia and Pujehun districts. This would support efforts to increase enrolment and improve attendance.

This contribution from Japan will, in part, allow for the purchase of rice from local farmers that will pave the way for Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF). This means that the food for the school meals is sourced from smallholder farmers within the community, thus providing a sustainable market for small holder farmers and improving the local economy.

“This is what partnerships are about – strengthening systems to promote sustainable development. Through school feeding, we are committed to building human capital to improve the lives of Sierra Leoneans in the long term,” said Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education. “We are grateful for the resources from Japan which is a means to drive the agenda of the Government,” he added.

Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education

Part of this contribution will also go towards strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education at the national and district levels for future hand over of school feeding implementation and management.

The Japanese Ambassador to the Republic of Sierra Leone, H.E. Mr. HIMENO Tsutomu, expressed his joy on behalf of the people and Government of Japan to support this programme, saying that ,“the promotion of agriculture and food security initiatives is one of the priority areas of Japan to support human security for the people of Sierra Leone” and “this contribution is an important reflection of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries”.

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

2020 NPSE Results And The FQE…

September 21, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

For the slightly over 150, 000 candidates that attempted this year’s NPSE, they and their parents and guardians would have received the news about the results with mixed fillings.

For the pupils that sat from the 792 schools that received 100 percent passes, the feeling of satisfaction and election would be very high, that time and money was not wasted on a fruitless endeavor.

However, for those pupils in about 300 and something schools that got 0 percent passes, their failure brings to the fore certain questions about the Government’s free quality education ambition for all our children in primary, junior and senior secondary schools.

One thing very noticeable about the results is that all the top ten results came from private schools. What is happening with teaching and learning in the Government owned and Government assisted schools?

What comes to mind with the regards the above question is that, importantly, the purpose of education is not just imparting information.

As such, this means that Quality Education means bringing education to a higher level that produces well learned, educated individuals at each learning level.

In which regard, one is very certain that all those children that failed to pass NPSE cannot read, write and reason well, or at all.

Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Dr David Moinina Sengeh in announcing the results said the Ministry will hang heads with the administrators of those schools that had mass failure to find out the cause(s) and look for solutions.

Generally speaking, the teacher is the most important factor in the quality of education. Is he/she a trained teacher? Does he/she use teaching methods that permit the pupils to participate actively? Is he or she committed and dedicated to teaching as a profession? These go a long way in determining what learning outcomes he/she will have with the children under their care.

Critically also, has the teacher access to the teaching materials needed to satisfy the requirements of the curriculum? And is the teacher present in the classroom when he/she is supposed to be?

Observations are that teachers who cannot survive on their wages will become less motivated and have frequent absences. If it takes them two to three hours to get to school, they will have less time for preparation.

Both the curriculum and the teaching materials must be relevant to the learner, with emphasis placed by the teacher on literacy and numeracy skills on which mostly the NPSE is based.

On the part of the administration, in striving towards attaining good positive learning outcomes, we want to ask: Is the school well run? Does it adhere to national guidelines? Is the school day well organized? Is the administration of the school transparent so that everyone can see how funding and other resources are deployed?

Funding and organization are two important requisites for running any system, which is mainly the responsibility of the Central Government and Councils under the devolved system. A school that is not granted adequate funding and has no clear guidelines will not be able to ensure quality. However, to make one’s school productive and proud, it is the responsibility of each individual school to administer its own resources prudently and to organize its affairs in the best way possible to attain the maximum output with whatever little resources are available.

Justice Under Lockdown in Sierra Leone – CHRDI Highlights

September 21, 2020

Abdul Fatorma, Executive Director Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI)

By Amin Kef Sesay

Note: Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) has made critical observations about shortcoming of Sierra Leone’s Justice delivery system; especially under the COVID-19 emergency. Below are excerpts of the main observations and recommendations for remedy made by the human rights organization.

Based on its findings that was released in September 2020, the Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) announced that their policy paper on “JUSTICE UNDER LOCKDOWN“ has been published in the CHRDI Human Rights and Policy Brief.

Constitutional supremacy, and the vindication of rights, is only possible where there is access to justice and where the constitution guarantees its citizens rights; be it fundamental or statutory.

It is a fundamental part of our democracy. It has to be visible but in a case like Sierra Leone, where you only have 63 judges and magistrates serving a population of over 7 million people, there is a lot to be desired, especially in periods of national or global emergencies that may hinge on the Human Rights of citizens.

Although the WHO declared COVID-19 as a public health emergency on January 30, 2020, the courts in Sierra Leone continued to function through to the last week of March.

Sierra Leoneans were unable to use their jurisdictional guarantees for over two weeks for all criminal matters and civil matters over a month amid a state of emergency.

Many accused persons were locked up in police cells across the country, languishing in detention facilities unjustly, while suspects were being held unlawfully at the CID without being charged to court, a clear violation of section 17 of the 1991 constitution.

The unlawful detention of these citizens is violating their human dignity and destroying their lives. To detain citizens without charge and with no regard for due process is in clear violation of the laws of Sierra Leonean and international Human Rights Law.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that no one may be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention, or imprisonment. All defendants have the right to a fair trial.

The anti-Coronavirus pandemic measures have not only affected many spheres and functions of the State and society, but they have also affected justice systems as the normal operation was interrupted, suspended, or adjusted to fit the new circumstances.

In Sierra Leone today people are held without due process and prisoners are convicted in unfair trials and even though citizens have a constitutional right to written charges within 24 hours of detention, this is rarely observed. State capacity to protect citizens from abuse by private and non-state actors is limited by serious logistical and financial constraints.

While such measures may have been necessary to effectively tackle the pandemic, the limited operation of the courts, as well as limitations on access to legal advice, have implications for access to justice and the right to a fair trial.

They also raise questions of the capacity of the judicial system to provide redress for possible violations of human rights related to the pandemic and the consequent emergency measures.

Indeed, there is a need for rapid and decisive action by the government to ensure that the most vulnerable people and economic agents have the necessary legal support and access to channels to address their legal problems, thus highlighting the importance of a broad and coordinated policy response that includes the provision of basic legal services.

The current attitude and behavior of the Judiciary in Sierra Leone are not consistent with either Sierra Leonean or international law. There is no system for genuine evaluation and validation of judges and no clarity on why some judges were removed and why others were not. There is a real risk that bad governance could establish a new culture in the judiciary where judges view the executive as their superiors.

Most urgently, an effective system must be put in place to protect the position of the judges and the integrity of the Judicial Council from outside interference.

The government of Sierra Leone should allocate adequate resources, facilities, and equipment to the courts to enable them to function under the best practices standards and to enable magistrates and judges to work efficiently.

Social Media: A New Vista of Exploration

September 21, 2020

By Robert B. Mackingtosh

Social Media’s negative impact on political process isn’t just a matter of their content – which includes intentional misinformation and hate speeches directed forward certain groups. They have turned into a mechanism for political indoctrination, suggesting through sheer repetition that a certain cabal is threatening to take over the “World”.

Political leaders often view social media as a threat because it can provide the public with greater access to information. It also has the potential to mobilize and challenge leadership. Some other school of thoughts demonstrates how social media contributed to reinforcing existing power structures and dominant narratives.

Social media’s ability to break news in real time has transformed the way we absorb information.

Meanwhile, Politicians has used these forums to sway public opinion in their favor and so, Politicians from both sides of the aisle now represents the busiest accounting across social media forum.

Social media has now digitalized political corruption and the world of diplomacy has become less private and susceptive to public perception. Propaganda has been there since the wake of political ideologies; it has showed up in books, pamphlets and this traditional social media, the Newspaper.

The most popular social media affecting politics in Sierra Leone is WhatsApp, hosting countless political interest groups, seeking truth, shrouded in hate. It is a digital psychological phenomenon that keeps your focus flowing from one group to another, one chat to another and one application to another repetitively in search of gratification and fulfillment in their political desires. WhatsApp has become the internet’s new home for hate. The political marathon has been too fast for the grip of the local televisions and Print-news. We cannot therefore Fathom the mind controlling capabilities of today’s social media.

The counterpart Facebook, twitter, YouTube & IG are used for political messaging, bringing interest waves and flow along into our political process that does not normally includes ordinary citizens, even if the message they carry are truthful and unconspiratorial. That makes these media the treat to coherent political discourse from the age of print. This phenomenon has already refashioned political discourse and permanently changed the institutions and people that depend on reasoned debate.

If the cost of making a post is tied to the extent of sensitivity of the post then we need not a media-savvy giant for filter controls. Today, at least 60% of Sierra Leoneans get their news from social media since political news moves quickly than any other news.

The interplay amongst freedom of speech, right to access information, basic human rights and the adverse effect of social media has been effortlessly tackled in the vein to control minds.

Journalists and activists have found themselves on the receiving end of well-organized and highly political campaigns of online harassment. Around the world, the prevalence of social media is having a transformative and often ill-understood impact on democracy itself.

Finally, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp are having a radical impact on political discourse. On the one hand, these platforms have the capacity to vastly increase political participation, particularly for marginalized groups. On the other, they can be used to silence dissent, spread disinformation and even stoke communal tension. Social media can be a place where grassroots campaigns can be elevated, and where marginalized people—religious minorities, women—can participate in public /political debate.

Even as more people are given a voice in the political debate on both sides of the aisle, the level of coordinated harassment and disinformation carries the obvious risk of reducing freedom of expression.

Trade & Foreign Affairs Ministries Host Accelerated Growth & Investment Summit

September 21, 2020

By Mary Kabay

The Ministry of Trade and Industry in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations hosted an “Accelerated Growth & Investment Summit” in Freetown. This programme was geared towards registering their commitment to continue make Sierra Leone an attractive haven for serious investment ventures.

The two-day summit which was linked up through Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Russia, H. E. Mohamed Yongawo, brought together key representatives of a consortium of major international investors including those from Ivovy Capital, and Allied Identity.

It was discovered byt his medium that these groups and their participating partners, have together mounted an investment portfolio worth $3.7 billion to be pumped as Foreign Direct Investment into the Sierra Leone economy.

The areas identified for investment include Energy, e-Health (a healthcare ‘Silicon Village’ location to be determined), e-education (an international internet ‘Silicon Valley’ to be located in the Bonthe district), Infrastructural development, Tourism, etc.

The two-day summit which took place in Freetown ended on the 17/09/20 with firm commitments to commence work on identified projects in the shortest possible time.

This investment venture, when fully unfolded, is expected to create thousands of jobs for Sierra Leoneans and open up more opportunities for institutions and companies in varied sectors.

UNDP & SLAJ Converge on Media Role Towards Promoting Sustainable Tourism

September 21, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs (MTCA), with its sub vented agency the National Tourist Board (NTB) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), stakeholders of Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) were engaged in a one-day workshop on the theme: “The Role of Media in Promoting Sustainable Ecotourism in Sierra Leone”

The session took place on Thursday 17th September 2020 at the Family Kingdom Conference hall. Deputy Minister of MTCA, William I.K. Robinson, doubling as Chairman of the event expressed delight for such an unprecedented engagement with journalists whom, he said, are pivotal in promoting the Government’s development agenda.

Stating the purpose of the workshop Robinson recognized the astute role of the media which, he maintained, has that power to change the narrative of the nation especially in sustainable ecotourism promotion.

The NTB General Manager, Madam Fatmata Koroma in her statement expressed optimism that the engagement will provide the enabling environment for all players in the sector including the media to have their views towards pushing the said vision forward.

She further highlighted the enormous strides the said Ministry has made to promote the development of Tourism at both domestic and international fronts.

AS far as it is known the CoViD-19 outbreak impedes the progress of the sector, yet this is an opportunity to bring residents together for a robust bounce back hence the need for bringing the media on board as partners in tourism development, said.

Minister of Tourism, Dr. Memunatu Pratt She spoke gloriously about the Tourism sector and the strides made so far to improve it.

Speaking on behalf of the UNDP Country Director, Mrs. Bintu Moseray highlighted their interventions in the promotion of Tourism ranging from the construction jetties, installation of solar cool rooms along the coastal areas and the new sea weed machine to help in the area of cleaning the beach.

She continued that “Climate change mitigation is among the key factors in promoting sustainable ecotourism, managing our environment maintaining that reducing poverty is very important in the sector.” She concluded that: “socio-economic benefit in the Tourism sector should always go along with good news published by the media,” while she encouraged the private sector to invest in green environment.

Asmieu Bah, Sec. Gen SLAJ, emphasized the media’s role further expressing some of the constraints they encounter to access news. The training, according to him, will serve as an opportunity for them to promote sustainable ecotourism through responsible media especially via social media platforms.

Singling out regulation as the main challenge faced on social media, he assured the Hon. Minister of SLAJ’s readiness to work with MTCA at all times in pushing Sierra Leone’s agenda.

Chairman National Tourists Board, Alieu Kokobay, stated: “Today is a milestone for the development of Tourism in SL as this is a step in the right direction. He encouraged the media to tell the story of the untapped touristic potentials in the country, encouraging them to provide columns on their papers exclusively for Tourism marketing. He concluded that “Sustainable ecotourism required responsible media practices”.

Mr. Mamoud Rafil Kamara representing the Independent Media Commission (IMC) Chairman, statement observed that he has been following the rapid development strides of the Ministry as he expressed gratitude towards the Minister and team for the good job, he dilated on the role of the media in bringing development to every nation. He, however, noted how negative journalism destroys any nation and its devastating effect on Tourism. He said the media is a catalyst in transforming this nation.

The Deputy Chair, Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Tourism, Hon. Emmanuel Saidu Conteh said Tourism always attracts peace and stability. He revealed they as lawmakers have a responsibility of making laws even overnight and representing the people.

The Special Presidential Adviser on Culture and Heritage, Mr. Raymond D Souza George, said the reality of the media is different from its expectations, noting that “The tongue of the media is the pen and its responsibility cannot be over emphasized.” The media is very important instrumental in the development of any nation, he confirmed.

The Minister of information and communications, Hon. Abdul Rahman Rado Swaray in his statement, said the country needs the in-all sector of development and not only the Tourism sector. He encouraged the Ministry to be taking journalists to touristic sites to write good things about these places. Minister. Swarray commended the Minister and her team for the good job over the past year’s by bringing travel writers, the 300 Danish, the 700 Budapest-Bamako SL participants among others. He called on Sierra Leoneans to put the country first. He concluded by calling on the media to give their support to the Ministry in promoting the Tourism sector.

In her keynote address, the Hon. Minister of the said Ministry Dr. Memunatu B. Pratt, stated that she was honoured and delighted being with the media, describing the moment a ground-breaking day when expressing her long time longing to engage the media on Tourism promotion in the one time Athens of West Africa.

She highlights the gestures UNDP has done for the tourism economic diversification drive in the country when she was reassuring the media of the long term proceeds gained after working with MTCA in the marketing and rebranding process.

He commended His Excellency the President Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio for the strong government support and for identifying Tourism as a catalytic growth sector for economic diversification. She encouraged the journalist to do more in addressing the negative things about Sierra Leone.

She finally expressed thanks and appreciation to the president of SLAJ and his executive, staff of the Ministry and NTB for making the programme a success.

The programme was climaxed with presentation on different topics ranging from tourism, climate change, Marketing, the role of civil society in Tourism among many.

Government to Electrify Seven Districts

September 21, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Ministry of Finance, in a Press Release dated 17th September, 2020 the institution poignantly that the public would recall that in the 2020 Supplementary Budget presented to Parliament in July 2020, Government allocated the sum of Le172 billion for the electrification of seven district towns (Kabala, Kambia, Kailahun, Moyamba, Pujehun, Bonthe and Mattru Jong).

It continued by saying in August 2020, Government, represented by the Ministers of Energy and Finance, and the contractors signed the contracts for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of transmission and distribution networks in four towns (Kabala, Kambia, Kailahun and Moyamba) totaling Le128, 263, 110, 110.

The Ministry, it was stated is informing that Government has made 30% advance payment amounting to Le 38, 478, 933, 087 for the four district towns.

It furthered that the Government is also pleased to inform the Public that the Ministry of Energy is well advanced in the procurement processes for the remaining towns of Pujehun, Bonthe and Mattru Jong.

Concluding, he said, once these processes are completed, ending up that Government will immediately effect the advanced payment.

NP-SL: 1st For Custormer Care

September 21, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

Steadfastness in optimal service delivery has made the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL-Ltd) one of the most outstanding and vibrant companies that is steadily operating, in thick and thin, in this country. Such largely emanates from the dogged determination on the part of 35 former employees of the then British Petroleum company, which decided to fold up its operations and sold shares, which these workers bought out of their end of service benefits and used as seed capital to commence the running of the now renowned NP-SL –Ltd.

Setting up the company was just one accomplished feat, but taking it from that level to where it is today, speaks volumes of the selflessness on the part of the shareholders, who were all Sierra Leoneans, to see their ‘baby’ grow and succeed up to an appreciable stage that they were yearning for. It is this selflessness on the part of the shareholders which eclipsed personal aggrandizement, misappropriation of funds and insincerity to such an extent that the resultant effect culminated into an overall success story.

At this material point in time the company has bagged a whole lot of recognition for its outstanding performances in the line of marketing qualitative petroleum products. It stands to be contested that NP-SL Ltd is the number one oil marketing company in this country, which is equal to none, as it continues to break new frontiers in its expansionist drive.

When the name NP is called, what immediately comes to mind is First for Customer Care and this is not a mere masquerading in borrowed robes, but rather a true accomplishment of what the company fervently believes in and is striving towards actualizing. To the shareholders and Management of the company, providing utmost satisfaction in its service delivery to its esteemed as well as numerous customers is just as important as importing petroleum products into the country. Keen consideration is given to marketing high grade products that customers utilize for the effective performances of vehicles and other gadgets.

Besides, the company ensured that its pumping machines used in Filling Stations are modern and standardized in order to give customers their monies’ worth. These machines are very transparent, as it displays the number of litre pumped and the corresponding prices. Besides, customers concerns and suggestions are taken into consideration when policies are mapped out and Management decisions are arrived at, which makes it possible for various shades of opinions and inputs to be factored into how the company tailors its operations.

With the avowed aim of making their customers feel at home, NP-SL-Ltd has made the procurement of petroleum products very simple by introducing the use of NP Smart Card. NP Smart Card has unique embedded security features which cannot be easily faked by unscrupulous persons and the Card could be topped up to contain a considerable amount of money which a particular customer could use for purchasing purposes, with amounts deducted depending on the quantum of the products so far demanded. Indeed, it is a latest technological device and is becoming very trending.

For effective cooking purposes the company also has on offer for sale NP Gas, a device found in different cylinder shapes, that could be accessed at all the company’s Filling Stations as well as authorized dealers at affordable prices. Environmentally and medically certified as user friendly, NP Gas is presently going like hot cakes and there are energized workers in all the stations that readily offer tips or guidance as to how to optimally make use of this wonderful gadget. As a matter of fact a particular user can easily gain access to gas for refilling purpose.

A marked feature of the company has to do with its one hundred percent ‘Sierra Leoneanship’, having shareholders, Management and general staff who are all indigenes. Such a premium placed on making use of local talents and raw materials are parts of the core bedrock of the much talked about Local Content Policy.

Employing knowledgeable Sierra Leoneans to execute certain tasks has been a cardinal principle that has permeated the company’s existence throughout the periods it has been in active existence and such has been paying meaningful dividends. It also means offering various training opportunities to broaden the knowledge horizons of its members of staff for sound contributions to the company’s viability and buoyance.

Bent on maintaining that stance, the company has been helping in poverty reduction because by offering job opportunities, either directly or otherwise, it is putting monies in the pockets of individuals to take care of responsibilities. Monies are spent internally as opposed to a situation where the company should have concentrated on importing foreign expatriates to do tasks that indigenes could do better.

NP-SL Ltd has, over the years, in its drive to roll out the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility complementing Government’s efforts to enhance improved standards of living. It has offered institutional capacity supports to vibrant entities as was recently done to the National Fire Force by facilitating the construction of a state-of-the-art water facility at the Force’s Kissy Branch, from which water could be sourced to respond to any fire emergency within that part of the country and even beyond to the entire Greater Freetown. This is just a microcosm of the kind gestures that the company has dished out, all with the objective to make lives better.

To have branches in different parts of the country and going further to have presence within the West African sub-region tells of how the company is determined to grow. We now have NP in Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast and The Gambia and the vibrant functioning of all those branches is a true testimony of how successful its shareholders and Management want to see customers enjoying qualitative petroleum products. The company is providing job opportunities in those countries and at the same time paying taxes, which form components of generated revenues that are used by the respective Governments to undertake the implementation of various development programmes and projects.

NP-SL is moving on the right trajectory and deserves all the necessary support it requires to move from one height to another. The company is poised to continue creating meaningful impacts and consciously moving towards the direction of always setting the pace for others to follow.

Sierra Leone’s leading oil marketing company, the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL-Ltd) has been very steadfast in its service delivery of high standard petroleum products, which it imports since this country is not an oil producing nation. All we need to do at this point in time is to give the company all the necessary support needed to make it become much more stronger than it is at the moment.

Top 50 Housemates to be Announced Soon

September 21, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

This week the names of the top fifty applicants for Housemates Salone will soon be announced out of thousands that went through an audition which took place at the AYV Media Empire on Wesley Street in Freetown. The announcement will be made soon.

After the announcement, a voting process will subsequently take place in order to get the successful twenty (20) applicants that will finally enter D-House on the 14^th October 2020. Voting will last for two weeks.

AYV and Africell will soon announce the exact details of when the voting process for the best 20 will commence.

It is no news again that once the show begins in October, 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 aired on AYV Television Channel 33.

The AYV and Africell Sierra Leone Housemates Salone 2 has indeed become the talk of the town eliciting a lot of conversation based on the success of the last show. The forthcoming show is planned to be even bigger and better.

Housemates Salone has in store for the lucky winner 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 if he or she will be evicted from the House. Evictions will continue until the ultimate winner emerges.

Housemates Salone is all about Youth Empowerment. When the successful Housemates are in the House they will be assigned to perform certain tasks that will shape their characters, they will be availed the opportunity to learn new skills, improve on existing ones. They will also be emotionally tested, afforded the space to find panacea to certain human problems and do 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 would be opened as some of the Housemates would be earmarked to become Brand Ambassadors, movie artists, models etc.

Relatedly and surprisingly, the owner of a popular business entity that deals in electronics and electrical items contacted this medium via a phone call showering profound thanks and appreciation, for what he said has been our immense contribution in boosting his sales on a daily basis.

At first it was confusing, which prompted further probing for him to elucidate. In his response, he frankly and sincerely stated that he is really happy with the way his Television Sets are being bought by members of the public. “They are going like hot cakes for now,” he expressed satisfaction.

However, it was when the owner mentioned that the professional way in which we are promoting Housemates Salone Season 2 on certain platforms, which he believes, have really galvanized people to secure television sets in order to position themselves well to watch the upcoming Housemates Salone Season 2 with the theme, “Quarantine Drama” that it dawned that he was making a salient point.

That was just an aside, but what it clearly manifests is that many people are now gearing up as they eagerly await the real commencement of the Reality TV Show, Housemates Salone, in order to watch fun packed episodes that will ignite lots of laughter and discussions in various circles. Indisputably, the upcoming Reality TV Show continues to gain huge momentum.

From what this medium has so far gathered it seems as if a very entertaining Reality TV Show is in the offing that will change the lives of the Housemates and take the entertainment industry to the next level. Don’t wait to be told. Make a date with Housemates Salone Season 2, the Last Standing Couple with the theme, “Quarantine Drama”. The setting of the stage is underway…don’t miss out❗

For now continue to secure your TV sets in order to position yourselves in your comfort zones to watch the much sought out and long expected upcoming “Quarantine Drama”.

Guma Dam Passes Assessment Test

September 21, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

On Wednesday 16^th September, 2020 The Millennium Challenge Coordinating Unit (MCCU) presented its final report on Conditions Assessment of Guma Dam, its Transmission and Reservoirs System and Assessment of Treatment Processes at the Shangri La Conference Room, Lumley Beach Road in Freetown.

The report on the Condition Assessment was jointly prepared by the two Consultants: COBA and CONCEPT.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Millennium Challenge Coordinating Unit (MCCU), Ndeye Koroma said that the assessment came as a result of request made by Guma relating to their needs to improve their operations and have access to provide resources to be able to do a condition assessment of the water treatment, transmission and the reservoirs.

She added that the idea was for an expert to come in and do the assessment on its different assets, and also do a presentation in order to improve it facilities. “We did geotechnical assessment and the expectation is to identify what type of major work needs to be done and their significance to the dam, but the assessment finds out that no major work is needed, but they just need to ensure that there is regular maintenance of dam,” she said.

“Any utility needs to be planned and in order to plan you need to understand your hydraulic model of how the water moves round, the point of collection and the treatment system etc. So, this assessment highlights how the system operates and what could be challenging in the system that will undermine the quality of water supplied to citizens. There is no major challenge, but we know that maintenance needs to be continued,” she said.

The Managing Director of GVWC, Maada Kpenge said that the facilities are the most important water supply assets they have in the country. He added that the activity will highlight the critical nature of the facilities, and recalled that in 2012-2013, they made an attempt to insure the dam, but the insurance company told them to present an assessment so that they could assess the risk.

“We are today looking at the result of that study. The findings of the study validate a lot of things. When you look at the dam, the location of the dam makes the raw water to be almost pure,” he said, and added, “Meaning, we don’t have to do a lot of purification”. He stated that this is made possible by the environment, adding that the destruction of the environment will affect the purity of the raw water and that is why they are concerned about the deforestation around the water catchment areas.

The MD explained that Guma is losing a lot of the water it produces through leakages and bursts, “but that since last year, we have done a lot of work to take care of that, though there is more to be done” Mr. Kpenge went on to say that DFID will also help to make the infrastructure more secured and that other projects like the Freetown WASH and Aquatic Environment Revamping project will bring water supply to isolated communities.

The Guma Chief further explained that his organization is also pushing other strategic projects; “recently the Government has provided funds for us to do a feasibility studies for a supplementary reservoir at Number 2, that is why you are hearing about all the land tussle because we need the place so that we can build another reservoir”.

In his keynote address, the Minister of Water Resources, Ing. P. K Lansana said, “About 50 % of treated water from the Guma water supply system is unaccounted for mainly due to the poor condition of the water supply infrastructure. Consequently, consumers do not receive adequate and reliable supply of water. Guma valley Water Company is forced to ration to be able to supply water to most areas.”

He said that the assessment of the condition of the major water facilities gives GVWC information to plan the rehabilitation, repairs and replacement of the various components of the GUMA water supply system is long overdue.

He hopes that the assessment of the condition will help GUMA to develop or update its assets and execute a comprehensive management plan to maintain the physical and hydraulic integrity of the infrastructure. “In addition, the condition assessment report should be used as a planning tool for improving the delivery of water supply to consumers in the greater Freetown Area.”

He expressed happiness about the honesty of the Consultants, who included the limitations of their study. He urged Guma to take note of those limitations and plan for addressing them, noting that it is good to know that Guma Dam does not require any major repairs but only minor interventions and that apart from limited pipe replacements the raw water pipeline does not require any urgent repair work.

He said that the other bulk water supply infrastructure that require immediate attention is catered for in ongoing projects, adding, “However, needing immediate refurbishment are the ten (10) reservoirs at various locations.”

He thanked MCC for supporting the Country by providing funds to assess the key components of the Guma Valley Water Supply System. He assured the head of MCC that the Guma Valley Water Company will use the condition assessment report as a working document.