President Bio Bids Farewell to Hajj Pilgrims in Sierra Leone

August 4, 2019

By Alim Jalloh – 3^rd August 2019

President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has bid farewell to about 900 Sierra Leoneans who will be observing this year’s pilgrimage in the Holy City Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Saturday 3rd August 2019 in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Addressing pilgrims at the Siaka Stevens Stadium, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio congratulated the pilgrims in advance on this year’s pilgrimage and stated that he was delighted to bid them farewell on behalf of the government and people of Sierra Leone.

He encouraged them to be good ambassadors of Sierra Leone in the Holy City of Mecca and be prepared for the challenges ahead of them. He also admonished them to follow the instructions of the authorities accompanying them so they can perform their pilgrimage successfully. His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio reminded the pilgrims that before now, there was always chaos and scandal in the preparation for the Islamic pilgrimage but since taking over last year sanity has returned to the organisation of the pilgrimage.

His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio requested the pilgrims to pray for the country and for them to pray with him at State House on their return from pilgrimage so they can share the blessings of the pilgrimage with him.

900 Sierra Leoneans who will be observing this year’s pilgrimage in the Holy City Mecca

President Dr. Julius Maada Bio concluded his farewell message by thanking the Hon. Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh for his leadership on the hajj preparation, the Hon Minister and Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs and members of the Hajj Committee for a successful preparation of this year’s Hajj.

The first batch of the pilgrims will depart Lungi International Airport on Sunday 4th August and the second batch of the pilgrims will depart on Monday 5th August. The pilgrims will be expected to arrive at the Jeddah International Airport from where they will be transported to the Holy City of Mecca. The pilgrims will be expected to return to Sierra Leone first week September after performing the pilgrimage.

2018 MISS HERITAGE TO REPRESENT SIERRA LEONE IN GHANA

August 1, 2019

By Foday Moriba Conteh – August 1st 2019

Sierra Leone’s Miss Heritage for 2018 Fanta Kuyateh is poised to fly the country’s flag at the World Heritage Beauty Pageant slated for 11 to 20 August, 2019 in Accra, Ghana.

Speaking to this medium, Mrs. Kuyateh explained that her determination is not only to emerge victorious in the competition but see the flag of Sierra Leone fly high.

The 2018 Miss Sierra Leone Heritage is appealing for support from Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad to see her emerge winner of the pageant.

In her contribution, one of Miss Kuyateh’s manager Sarah V. Koroma disclosed that 50 countries including Sierra Leone will be locking horns for the prestigious award of the 2019 World Heritage Pageant for which she expressed optimism that her contender would emerge victorious and also urged Sierra Leoneans to support their own morally and financially.

As $100 Hits Le1 Million Mark… Citizens Call for Resignation of Bank Governor & Finance Minister in Sierra Leone

August 1, 2019

By Alim Jalloh – August 1^st 2019

As Sierra Leoneans continue to suffer the hike of essential commodities due to the depreciation of the Leone against the US Dollar, which is causing more hardship and suffering for the people of this country; many citizens have raised serious concerns calling on President Bio to sack the Minister of Finance Jacob Jusu Saffa and Kelfala Kallon the Bank Governor for the poor performance in handling the economy of Sierra Leone.

JJ Saffa as one of the mouthpieces of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) in opposition then was known for his advocacy on ‘bread and butter issues which is of utmost priority of the layman. He used to lambast the past regime for the simple fact that they cannot control the inflation rate and promise the people of this country that when the SLPP took over governance they will stabilize the US Dollar to Le300, 000 or at least Le400,000 per $100 as against the Le700,000 during the former regime.

But it one year six months since President Bio took power, the man who used to talk about bread and butter issues for the people of this country is now taking his lunch at the Crown Bakery and other top restaurants around town forgetting all what they had promised the people of this country.

He now enjoys flying all over the world and lives in luxury with taxpayers’ money and has no time to respond to interviews as to what is happening with the economy.

Some government contractors accuse him of taking bribes before authorizing payment.

Most of his promises have now put the president under serious pressure because the public is expecting much from the New Direction.

Kelfala Kallon – an Economics professor formerly living in the US has been appointed Central Bank Governor and he has clearly stated that the cause of the depreciation of the local currency, is a result of fiscal indiscipline and corruption by the former regime.

He made lots of promises that he will use his expertise and knowledge to turn things around. And now that the US Dollar is slowly hitting the one million Leones mark, he and the Finance Minister are refusing to speak on the issue.

For this reason Sierra Leoneans are now calling on President Bio to sack these two individuals as they are not competent to handle such important portfolios within the New Direction Government.

The Role of Student Unions/Bodies in Sierra Leone

August 1, 2019

By Mohamed Fadlu Bah – August 1st 2019

All over the world the purpose of student union is to represent the student body of a particular university and make their voices heard within and outside the university.

The union addresses wide range of issues that benefit students, and because of that most governments and university authorities in Africa tend to either ban the student union body or not allow their elections to take place.

In the case of Fourah Bay College for over decades elections have been cancelled because students stone each other during campaigns. The violence is most times caused by the camp that senses the defeat of their candidate.

It is important to note that the usual thing is that just throwing stones makes for the elections to be cancelled, and because of that, students take the opportunity to throw stones when there is a campaign so the elections could be cancelled

It is not worth for the ministry to ban the elections of students just because few students who do not want the elections to hold. They are expected to beef up security so as to help the elections to hold.

For most people the issue is that they have witnessed in this country much political violence by stoning, stabbing, killings, burning of vehicles and houses etc. during and after the national elections and even at bye-elections but there has never been a cancellation of those violent elections

Is it that students bodies of Fourah Bay College are no more formidable to peacefully tell the authorities concerned that it is their right to be governed by a student body that will work towards their concerns, or is it that the student has compromise their right because of their political affiliation or there political attachments has washed away their true spirit of selflessness

At this juncture it is important to note that the violence perpetrated at national politics by far outweighs that of student politics in every form.

How can the central government not able to give security to six or twelve thousand students in an election but can do so when it comes to national politics that involves the entire countries population.

Is it that both past and present government and university administrations have special interest as not to allow these elections to take place, as asserted by some students to this medium?

Foday Kamara a student of the political science department of Fourah Bay College said to what they have observed both government and the university do not want these elections to take place because they don’t want a formidable student union body which will hold them accountable on many issues ranging from tuition fees, accommodation, welfare and many other things that are not accounted for.

Sierra Leone Ebola Movie Gets Emmy Nomination

August 1, 2019

By Ibrahim Sorious Samura – August 1^st 2019
A Sierra Leone Ebola documentary film ‘Survivors’ has earned an Emmy Awards nomination for ‘Outstanding Social Issue Documentary’ 2019.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced the nominees for the 40th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards on the 25th July 2019 in New York, United States of America. There are 40 categories and a Sierra Leonean work ‘Survivors’ was placed in the ‘Outstanding Social Issue Documentary’. ‘Survivors’ will battle for the trophy with other nominees – ‘Crime + Punishment’, ‘Quest’, ‘Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story’, and ‘The Price of Free’.

This year’s awards ceremony will be attended by more than 1,000 television and news media industry executives, news and documentary producers and journalists, on Tuesday 24^th September, 2019, at the Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York. The award honors programming distributed during the calendar year of 2018.

The Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards is the world’s most coveted award for television, documentary and film, organised by NATAS, with its equivalent to the Oscars and Grammy in other fields.

‘Survivors’ is a documentary film by WeOwnTV, Directed and Produced mainly by two young Sierra Leonean film-makers, Arthur Pratt and Lansana Barmmy Boy Mansaray. The film tells a story of the Ebola virus and explores how the virus damaged the West African nation, and explains the relationship and attitudes of the fighters (health workers and international partners) and the communities. Since 2018, the film has been premiered at different film festivals and universities across the world, including the United States, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Ghana, China, the UK, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, and more.

The Founding member and Current Production Manager of WeOwnTV, Barmmy Boy tweeted about the nomination on Twitter:

“Thrilled to announce we just received an Emmy Nomination for SURVIVORS (Best Social Issue Documentary) Congrats to the whole team!!!”

Other team members (producers, directors, dops, cameramen, editors, etc) of ‘Survivors’ include Banker White, Anna Pitch, M J Sessy Kamara, Sara Dosa, and more.

Speaking to this media, he said they are highly expectant of grabbing this award.

Sierra Leoneans are looking forward to another Emmy award since a renowned Sierra Leonean investigate journalist – Sorious Samura won the Emmy, Peabody, Bafta and other awards for Outstanding Investigate Journalism, Best Documentary, etc for his ‘Cry Freetown’ war documentary film in 2001.

Calls for Govt. and Private Sector Investment in Entertainment & Creative Industries in Sierra Leone

August 1, 2019

By Ibrahim Sorious Samura – August 1^st 2019
As calls for the intervention of government and the private sector to invest in the entertainment and creative industries gain momentum, Ambassador Bash sends a very strong and clear message to the public for immediate actions. Ambassador Mohamed Basiru Sanusi is a strong advocate who has been very vocal about the development of the creative industries, by calling on the attention of government and the private sector.

Bash is a popular and one of the biggest TV and Radio Presenters in the country, who is currently employed at the Media One Centre (Star Radio and TV). He is also a youth activist and President of Circle-K. Ambassador Bash is a humble personality with a genuine heart to see growth in all aspects of life. He has immensely and effortlessly supported or promoted entertainment sector in his capacity.

He has made it as part of his daily routine to educate members of the creative industries about policies that call for the development of the industries at every event he attends. His latest call came as a result of a message the Central Bank of Nigeria put out on its website (www.cbn.ng), which reads:

“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in collaboration with the Banker’s committee, has introduced the Creative Industry Financing Initiative (CIFI) to improve access to long-term low-cost financing for entrepreneurs and investors in the Nigerian creative and information technology (IT) sub-sector, as part of efforts to boost job creation in Nigeria, particularly among the youth.

Entrepreneurs in fashion, music, movie production and information technology can now get long-term low-interest loans up to N500m (interest rate of 9% over a 3-10 year period), guaranteed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), for their business. Designed to support entrepreneurs in the creative industry and stimulate economic growth,” CBN.

There have been calls for the availability of start-up capitals or loans for entrepreneurs in the creative industries in Sierra Leone.

“This is because Nigeria has realised that the bulk of their population are young people who are engaged in the creative arts,” said Bash.

In an audio message broadcast to the public, Ambassador Bash reminded Sierra Leoneans especially entertainers about policies that talk about government’s promotion or development of entertainment, arts and culture. He mentioned instruments like: ‘Act No. 6 of 1991, Sierra Leone Constitution, Chapter II – Fundamental Principles of State Policy, which reads

– Enhancement of national culture –

Section 12. The Government shall—

(a) promote Sierra Leonean culture such as music, art, dance, science, philosophy, education and traditional medicine which is compatible with national development;

(b) recognize traditional Sierra Leonean institutions compatible with national development;

(c) protect and enhance the cultures of Sierra Leone; and

(d) facilitate the provision of funds for the development of culture in Sierra Leone.

Further:
Article 22 of the African Youth Charter (which Sierra Leone signed in 2006) talks about the promotion of Leisure, Sporting, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, and mandates State parties signatory to the Charter to ensure the development of these sectors.

According Bash, “This is a sector, if supported, can reduce the high rate of unemployment in Sierra Leone which is at 60%.”

He also draws the attention of the public to the 2018 Manifesto of the current New Direction administration in Page 45 to support the sector. Bash continues to crave the indulgence of all Sierra Leoneans especially the government and the private sector to support the creative industries – movie, arts, fashion, music, dance, culture, science, comedy, etc.

Bash highlighted some of the challenges the industry is facing, which include lack of structures, disunity among entertainers, politics and lack of business mentality.

“If the Nigerians and other Africans are doing it, Sierra Leone is not an exception, we can do it,” Bash added.

However, Bash recommended for members of the creative industries to prepare a policy that will promote the sector.

He also advocated for Sierra Leone to have an entertainment television channel on major international television channels so we can sell our crafts internationally and compete with our counterparts. He went on to advocate for more endorsement deals/contracts between corporate institutions and our stars. Affordable and fast internet is also a challenge for most entertainers. Saying that our artists cannot master their craft or do business online without fast and affordable internet.

He maintains that the creative arts can help rebrand and change our battered country’s image of war and Ebola internationally. “Other countries have used entertainment to rebrand their images internationally,” he said.

“We want to see actions, we to see standard policies, we want to see structures, we want to see capacity building and training; we want to see funding.”

This is a very strong and timely message from Mohamed Basiru Sanusi, which every well-meaning Sierra Leoneans must take with seriousness and the utmost urgency it deserve in order to develop this once defunct sector. All Sierra Leoneans, the government and the private sector must adhere to this call. Basiru has championed the course, let’s join him. It is a national call. Let us invest in the entertainment industry to boost employment and the economy.

Marketing Code on Baby Food Formulas Needed in Sierra Leone – DFN Director

August 1, 2019

By Ibrahim Sorie Koroma – August 1^st 2019

The Director at the Directorate of Food and Nutrition in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Aminata Shamit Koroma has said that they are in dare need of the Marketing/Advertising Code on Baby Food Formulas in the country, as the marketing/advertising of baby food formulas contradict the their promotional message of exclusive breastfeeding of young children until 6 months after birth.

She made the plea at a press briefing held at the MoHS conference hall Youyi Building on Wednesday 30^th July on the celebration of World Breast Feeding Week (1^st – 7^th August).

Director Shamit reiterated that they were not against babyhood formulas, as supplementary is recommended and acceptable for babies after 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding. She continued that there is need for an advertising/marketing code to regulate the putting of promotional materials on breastfeeding which she noted would otherwise misinform the public, adding that even the packaging of these baby milk formulas are attractively done with chubby babies on them as if babies who feed on baby food formulas would grow just like the children on the advertised package. This she noted is an attempt to play on the minds of suckling mothers/caregivers to induce demand.

Shamit also said that there are certain adverts that are unrealistic and facetious as they intend to link the nutritional value of breast milk to that of the processed milk from animals produced as baby food formulas, which she noted is untrue and unscientifically proven. “There is no milk produced from animals or through chemical process that can be equated to the natural, fresh and enriching breast milk fit enough to nourish and ensure health growth in the child,” noted Shamit

She said breastfeeding has been part of us for as long as she can remember, but the is exclusive breastfeeding, which she not emphasizes that a child should only be give breast milk until 6 moths from bath, not eve water. “There are enormous health benefits when a child is exclusively breastfed,” she stressed

She concluded by saying that breastfeeding is done with no financial cost, better health for the child and mother and less burden from government with plenty health benefits both at the short term and the long term.

She thanked health partners and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to developing the draft Policy on the Advertising/Marketing of baby food formula in the country, but however called for the speedy finalization and operationalization of the Marketing/Advertising Code on baby food formulas.

WAEC Centre Established in Guinea for Sierra Leoneans

August 1, 2019

Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Alpha Timbo, and the Sierra Leone Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea, Ambassador Alimamy Bangura

By Desmond Jones – August 1^st 2019

The Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Alpha Timbo, and the Sierra Leone Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea, Ambassador Alimamy Bangura, are scheduled to meet with authorities of Sierra Leonean schools in Guinea, at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Conakry, on Thursday 1 August 2019.

Speaking to this medium, the National Coordinator for the Free Education Secretariat in the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Mr. Amara Sowa, said the meeting will be a platform where the minister and other stakeholders in the establishment of the West Africa Examinations Council Centre in Guinea for Sierra Leonean pupils, will have a retrospective look into the conduct of the first National Primary School Examination and Basic Education Certificate Examination in the Guinean capital- Conakry.

He said in this meeting, challenges facing the process of making this milestone will be discussed, with a view to identifying possible solutions.

He assured that the solutions identified will prevent these challenges from showing up in examinations that will be conducted in the centres in subsequent.

The Free Education Coordinator said beyond alleviating the constraints pupils used to face in writing public examinations conducted by WAEC in Sierra Leone, the Ministry desires to harmonize the quality standards of all Sierra Leonean schools in the neighbouring country.

This, Mr. Sowa said, is in line with the vision of the Sierra Leonean Ambassador to Guinea, Alimamy Bangura; in order to resonate with the dream of His Excellency the President, Julius Maada Bio for Human Resource Capital Development to citizens living in Guinea.

According to Ambassador Bangura, when he was appointed, the establishment of an Examination Centre for Sierra Leoneans was one of his key priority areas.

Speaking further, the Ambassador stressed that he knows the exploitation Sierra Leoneans in Guinea are going through in the hands of school authorities, to get their children to travel all the way to Sierra Leone to sit to public examinations such as the National Primary School Examination, the Basic Education Certificate Examination and the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination, and as a result, he said he is proud that he has been able to relieve his people from that stress.

He thanked the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education for the collaboration which has led to the achievement of the milestone.

He said the manner in which his embassy officials and those of the Ministry took seriously the collaboration speaks volume of how valuable the New Direction administration takes the delivery of quality education.

A critical player in the Ministry’s team for the establishment of the Examination Centre in Guinea is the Chief Education Officer of the Ministry Alhaji Dr. Mohamed Kamara. Speaking to this medium, Dr. Kamara said the establishment of a WAEC centre in Guinea is a big plus for Sierra Leone in the sub-region.

He said Sierra Leone is currently trying to do what other countries of the WAEC family are doing. He said Nigeria has been able to conduct examination for Benin and Guinea Bissau, while Ghana is conducting examination for Ivory Coast and Togo.

Saudi Ambassador Presents Letters of Credence to Sierra Leone Foreign Affairs Minister

August 1, 2019

His Excellency Dr. Hussain Nasser Aldakalallah and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs. Nabeela Tunis

By Alim Jalloh – August 1^st 2019

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ambassador designate to the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Dr. Hussain Nasser Aldakalallah on Wednesday, 31st July, 2019 presented copies of his Letters of Credence to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Nabeela Tunis, at her Tower Hill office in Freetown.

Speaking at the ceremony, which was held in the minister’s conference room, His Excellency Dr. Hussain Nasser Aldakelallah expressed his enthusiasm to be assigned as Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the Republic of Sierra Leone with residence in Guinea.

Dr. Dakelallah went on to reaffirm his government commitment to strengthening and deepening the bilateral ties with the government of Sierra Leone adding that, as an Ambassador, he is committed to working with the Government of Sierra Leone to explore new areas of cooperation sustaining the friendship bond between the two nations.

In her response, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs. Nabeela Tunis said, Sierra Leone and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are riding the pinnacle of admirable bilateral ties.

The minister said Sierra Leone has benefited tremendously from Saudi in the areas of education, agriculture, infrastructural development, health, Hajj scholarships among other sectors.

She added that, her government is very thankful for Saudi’s assistance during the deadly Ebola scourge.

She said the two countries have been enjoying strong bilateral and economic ties since 1970 and that those ties have been emergent from strengthen to strengthen.

Nabeela Tunis and His Excellency, Dr. Hussain Nasser Aldakelallah discussed a range of diplomatic topics and issues of common concern between Sierra Leone and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

President Bio’s Scorecard Out in Sierra Leone

August 1, 2019

President Julius Maada Bio taking the oath of office on April 4, 2018 in Freetown

By Kemo Cham – August 1^st 2019

On April 4, 2019 Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio celebrated his first year in office at an orphanage on the outskirts of the capital Freetown promising the children a bright future.

“Every child is important. We are here to show you all that we love and value you,” he said, while renewing his pre-election promises.

A year earlier, President Bio was sworn into office hours after he was declared winner of the tightly contested presidential elections that brought his Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) to power. He defeated his closest rival from the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) party in the second round of the polls.

President Bio had campaigned on the platform of uprooting corruption, which he believed had denied millions of Sierra Leoneans prosperity under his predecessor’s decade in power. His critics, including the opposition, say he has done well in improving governance.

Cost of living

However, the cost of living has skyrocketed following the unmitigated collapse of the Leone, the country’s local currency against the US Dollar.

“We note citizens’ concerns over the depreciation of the Leones, rising cost of basic goods and their implications on the quality of life of Sierra Leoneans. We call on government to take remedial steps to reverse this situation,’ said the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) in a call to action.

The Leone was trading at Le9, 250 to the dollar, down from Le8,405 in August last year. It has lost 8.2 per cent of its value this year alone, according to Trading Economics.

Last year Sierra Leone was the 14th country in the world with the highest inflation rate, 16.87 per cent, a trend that has continued with the cost of goods rising at 17.46 per cent as of March 2019.

The introduction of the Free Quality Education which has benefitted 1.5 million children by far remains one of his major achievements as do service delivery in health and social protection in a bid to reduce poverty.

On corruption there has been an unprecedented increase in prosecution of public officials and recovery of ill-gotten wealth.

The Anti-Corruption Commission put the amount at Le 12 billion (nearly $1.5million) at the end of December which marked President Bio’s first nine months in office.

“Through austerity, the SLPP-led Government has put the economy on the road to recovery from double digit inflation, low domestic revenue mobilisation, high domestic borrowing, unsustainable external debt and unpaid bills to contractors.

Similar complaints followed the appointment of new member to the National Electoral Commission in May and the Anti-Corruption Commission.

He has also used Executive orders which are vested by the constitution to counter an unprecedented rise in sexual violence in the country and to curtail exploitative investors who are ripping off the country.

“Sierra Leoneans can hardly quarrel with the problems these Executive Orders try to solve,” says CGG,” warning: “What is worrisome is that Executive Orders do not build consensus, they diminish the power of the legislature, and are open to abuse.”

The campaign group also said opposition strongholds were being disadvantage in distribution of state resources.