Sierra Leone is on a diplomatic offensive to rebrand its image as a “perfect destination for investment” with such things as the investment forum it organized in Accra, ADV has learnt here.
A statement from Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner in Ghana, Frances Anderson said Over 200 companies and business think tanks from Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States were attracted to the forum on Wednesday.
Ms Anderson said the event was “in furtherance of President Julius Maada Bio’s broad vision of rebranding the country as a perfect destination for investment.”
Dr Toni Aubynn, President of African Institute of Extractive Industries, Ghana who served as guest of honor, described the event as “timely” and expressed hope that Sierra Leone would develop its economy through trade and investment as well as through strong partnership with other African countries and the private sector.
Ghana was apparently chosen to host the event because of the country’s strong experience in the extractive industry which Sierra Leone relies on heavily for foreign investment.
The Director General of Sierra Leone’s National Minerals Agency, Julius Mattai made a presentation entitled: ‘What investors can take advantage of in the Minerals Sector in Sierra Leone’.
He listed the mineral resources available in Sierra Leone for exploration including diamonds, gold, iron-ore, bauxite, rutile and coltan and noted that the ongoing airborne geophysical survey of the country is expected to determine the true picture of the country’s mineral deposits.
“Sierra Leone wants to attract reputable investors with transparent processes and procedures that will contribute more to the country in the long-term, and has taken steps to provide a conducive environment which will be easy to do business,” Mr Mattai said.
Speaking further, he hinted on the major reforms ongoing in the sector “geared towards making the experience of investors less stressful and rewarding”.
In her statement, Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner, Frances Anderson, expressed delight for the massive turnout. She thanked the Ghanaian government for providing the platform.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Alie Kabba, said Sierra Leone and Ghana have a common and shared vision in the areas of economic development and cooperation amongst African countries.
He added that the long standing relationship between the two countries will be strengthened as the country, under the leadership of President Bio, was determined to change its narrative from one of civil war to one of peace and potentials for investment opportunities.
Also in attendance were key government officials of Ghana and Sierra Leone and the Archbishop of Accra and the former First Lady of Ghana, Mrs Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, as well as the country’s Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ghana.

Questions about who polices the Police have been answered with the raid of the Congo Cross and Lumley Police stations by the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission last week. Acting on intelligence of a police racket in operation at the two stations, the commission launched a surprise raid and arrested 8 police officers on allegations of extorting money from Motor Drivers across the country and the payment for Land reports on requests sent to the station from the Lands Ministry for members of the public.

According to sources the drivers are requiring on a daily/weekly basis to pay a logging fee of up to Le50,000.00, and payment for land reports requests sent to the police by the Ministry of Lands for members of the public. Similar raids and arrests were made at Shell in the East of Freetown, where a collection racket similarly existed.

Reports received by the ACC further establish that the police have, for over a decade, been illegally demanding that vehicle drivers pay the amount of Le50,000.00 weekly or similar amount daily, as logging fee (booking). This in effect renders those drivers who comply with this demand, immune from being held liable for any offenses, thereby giving them a carte blanche for crime. The ACC Intelligence team has been surveillancing police stations for weeks and they confirmed that the traffic Section at various police stations and posts were in deed engaging in this illegal activity. It is alleged that the said activity has been happening to the knowledge and sanctioned of the top hierarchy of the police, who also had their share in the corrupt cartel. The ACC will also probe into this allegation.

The raids and arrests were carried out by the ACC with the support of the CDIID (the Ethics wing of the police) and all exhibits are with the ACC. It is believed this is the beginning of a nationwide clamp down on police illegality and corruption by the ACC. The 8 police officers have all been detained, including a pregnant officer.

Lance Corporal 18181476 Abdullah Jalloh of the Republic Of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, who is alleged to have shot his superior, Sergeant 18166763 Issa Kamara, at the Nitty Shipping Harbour, Vimetco at the Sierra Rutile axis, is presently at the Bo West Station helping the police in their investigations into the killing.
According to eye witness accounts, the incident happened at between 21.00 – 22.00 hours GMT on March 24th, 2019 at the Sierra Rutile axis. They intimated that the incident took place hours after an argument ensued between the suspect and the deceased over food.

According to police sources, the suspect in his voluntary cautioned statement, said he mistakenly touched the safety and trigger on his rifle, which unavoidably led to the death of his colleague.

The deceased, Sergeant 18166763 Issa Kamara had his head, chest and stomach perforated 26 times by the suspect.

Regional Police Media Officer, Inspector Foday M. Fofanah said on the advice of the State Counsel, they will charge the suspect on the count of murder contrary to law.

The rifle with a 30 rounds magazine is now in the custody of the Police investigators.

27 rounds were fired. 26 empty bullet shells were found by the police. The whereabouts of the last bullet shell is yet unknown.

As the count down towards the close of the reality TV show begins, the House is becoming tenser and lots of gossiping going on. Often tempers flare up between the housemates as they fight tooth and nail to outsmart each other. Whilst trying to do so, they become agitated and confrontational, often requiring the intervention of the chief (the mystery voice).

This apparent dash for time, further makes the show more and more captivating, with the contestants attempting to act funnily, talk tough and appear sexy in a bid to woo more votes from the public. Exuding strong language, behaving humorously and displaying nudity are all part of the show. To release stress, the Housemates can be seen dancing to Sierra Leonean tunes, singing, cracking jokes and arguing. As it gets hotter, they are all appealing to their fans to vote for them. Even hotter is the activities away from the show. Supporters of various contestants are busy campaigning for votes in favor of their favorite housemates. This is done in the social media and in entertainment centres across the country. Conversations now are dominated by the Reality TV show. Members of the public are counting the days to the ultimate climax.

The live Reality Show, which is aired on AYV entertainment’s Channel 34 is indeed a novelty in this country for which the organizers, AYV Media Empire and Africell, have been widely hailed, as both continue to boost the entertainment industry.
What is uppermost in the minds of each of the Housemates is to ultimately emerge as the winner that will bag the Le100,000,000 that has been set aside as the star prize.

According to the organizers of the show, what is at the center of organizing the Reality TV Show is youth empowerment, providing a platform to showcase young people’s talents and at the same time give them the opportunity to acquire new skills like learning how to cook, socialize, how to play certain games, build confidence, how to comport themselves publicly and to speak fluently. They have been benefitting from interactions with officials of certain corporate entities, like Rokel Commercial Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank, Life By Design, who have been explaining to them how their institutions operate. They are also given motivational lectures.
It is yet not known whether the way the Housemates are catered for falls under empowerment because they are offered good food and drinks nurturing them well. It is factual that the Housemates are really enjoying sumptuous food,
AYV, under its charismatic Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Anthony Navo, has been at the very forefront of empowering young people and making them very productive and relevant in society. He has been doing so passionately and he is held in high esteem for championing that cause.
A good aspect of the Reality TV Show is that it has exposed all the participants and as viewers continue to follow it, there is the likelihood that in the future some of them will become Brand Ambassadors, artists or role models. As the Reality TV Show is climaxing, it is undoubtable that it will continue to be very enticing and lively.

Whilst the government of Sierra Leone is yet to make up its mind as to whether to grant licenses to interested individuals to grow and export marijuana for medical purposes, the sister republic of Liberia is poised to grant permission for the building of a Medical Marijuana Factory in the country. This will not only provide jobs for the huge number of unemployed youths in the country, but the country stands to benefit economically from this venture. Sierra Leone’s government should take a cue from its neighbor and bring to an end the erratic rise of the dollar, the huge unemployment rate and increase its revenue generation from the export of this herb.
As the campaign to legalize the cultivation of medicinal marijuana in Sierra Leone intensifies, the Government can learn a very useful lesson from neighboring Liberia whose government is considering granting permission for a medical marijuana factory to be built.
A story from the Liberian Observer states that reports reaching their medium from Liberia’s consular office in New York, revealed that some United States based pharmaceutical companies have expressed interest in establishing a pharmaceutical plant in Liberia to produce medicines from the marijuana plant.
Sources further say a business delegation from the US is expected in the country shortly to begin discussions with relevant officials, including officials of the National Investment Commission, the Ministry of Health and those of the National Pharmacy Board, as well as with officials of the Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority.
Thinking of the relief the non-toxic medical marijuana brings to patients suffering from the debilitating effects of certain ailments and the revenue that will be generated; there is the need for the SLPP’s New Direction Government under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio to pro-actively ensure that the legalization materializes.
Medical marijuana refers to the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant, or its basic extracts, for the treatment of several diseases and other related symptoms.
Scientific studies show that chemical cannabinoids could help treat a range of diseases and symptoms, which has attracted several biopharmaceutical companies, globally, over the past two decades. The market is expected to witness significant growth, owing to legalization in several countries and high demand for both medical and recreational purposes.
Doctors also prescribe medical marijuana to treat muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis, nausea, poor appetite, and weight loss, caused by chronic illness, such as HIV, nerve pain, and Crohn’s disease. Thus, with the increasing applications, there is a huge opportunity for marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Speaking under condition of anonymity, a local health official noted that there is a general perception that the large percentages of mentally challenged individuals parading the streets of Monrovia, including “Zogos” are drug addicts. He said while this may be true, it is however questionable whether such addiction is actually from marijuana use or the use of hard drugs such as, heroin, codeine, tramadol and cocaine, especially crack cocaine commonly called “dugee.”
The health official further noted that first time users of marijuana often experience what he referred to as ‘panic anxiety reactions’, which makes an individual to act as if he/she is crazy. The official cited the report from Talbott and Teague (1969) of an American registered male nurse in Vietnam, with no previous history of mental illness, after smoking his first marijuana cigarette, became aware of a choking burning sensation in his throat.
He thereafter went to a civilian bar where he began feeling apprehensive, suspicious and fearful that the North Vietnamese meant to harm him. Feeling terrified, he returned to his quarters. But when examined, he was anxious and disoriented to time, but not to person and place and his anxiety about being harmed by nationals was rising and falling like the waves of the ocean. He said, according to Talbott and Teague, the nurse was treated with sedation and released after 36 hours without any symptoms at all.
Experiences of such kind, the official noted, is common among first time users and could be the reason why marijuana is perceived as a dangerous drug. A long serving former Police Officer (name withheld) also observed that hard drug use is currently on the increase among the youths.
He observed that in the past, hard drugs were not commonly available unlike now, where easy availability of hard drugs and drug addiction is contributing to increased criminal behavior. He averred that there is a need, given his experience, to establish treatment centers for addicts and tougher laws on hard drugs and harsh punishment for those who trade in hard drugs.
As regards the reported increase of marijuana use among youths, the former Police official noted that dealers of hard drugs always tend to take advantage of smuggling networks established by marijuana traffickers, as most marijuana consumed in Liberia is imported either from Sierra Leone or elsewhere in West Africa, including Ghana and Nigeria.
Meanwhile, a noted economist said based on his observations, Liberia is losing millions of dollars each year to an underground network of marijuana smugglers and middlemen which, he said, is not good for the country.
It is against this backdrop that pharmaceutical companies are expressing interest in securing new markets and sources of supply. Liberia, according to observers with plentiful sunshine and adequate rainfall is ideal for the cultivation and processing of the marijuana plant into medical products, the economist concluded.
Meanwhile, the Sierra Leone government has been dragging its feet in terms of ensuring that licenses are granted to individuals willing to grow and export marijuana for medicinal purposes. We should also consider the huge economic benefits such a move will give to the country, especially taking into consideration the current state of the country’s economy. Liberia’s President George Weah has decided to take advantage of the huge economic benefit of the herb and the possible address of his country’s unemployment rate, can Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio follow suit?

As the campaign to legalize medicinal marijuana in Sierra Leone intensifies the need for Government to actualize that becomes very significant especially when cognizance is taken of the benefits such will bring. In terms of helping to mitigate the debilitating effects of certain ailments that patients of some diseases are suffering from and the revenue that will be generated for Government then there is the need for the SLPP’s New Direction Government under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio to pro-actively ensure that the legalization materializes.
Medical marijuana refers to the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant, or its basic extracts, for the treatment of several diseases and other related symptoms. Scientific studies show that chemical cannabinoids could help treat a range of diseases and symptoms, which has attracted several biopharmaceutical companies, globally, over the past two decades. The market is expected to witness significant growth, owing to legalization in several countries and high demand for both medical and recreational purposes.
Doctors also prescribe medical marijuana to treat muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis, nausea, poor appetite, and weight loss, caused by chronic illness, such as HIV, nerve pain, and Crohn’s disease. Thus, with the increasing applications, there is a huge opportunity for marijuana for medicinal purposes.
A story from the Liberian Observer states that reports reaching their medium from Liberia’s consular office in New York revealed that some United States based pharmaceutical companies have expressed interest in establishing a pharmaceutical plant in Liberia to produce medicines from the marijuana plant.
Sources further say a business delegation from the US is expected in the country shortly to begin discussions with relevant officials including officials of the National Investment Commission, the Ministry of Health and those of the National Pharmacy Board as well as with officials of the Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority.
Speaking under condition of anonymity, a local health official noted that there is a general perception that the large percentages of mentally challenged individuals parading the streets of Monrovia, including “Zogos” are drug addicts. He said while this may be true, it is however questionable whether such addiction is actually from marijuana use or the use of hard drugs such as, heroin, codeine, tramadol and cocaine, especially crack cocaine commonly called “dugee.”
The health official further noted that first time users of marijuana often experience what he referred to as panic anxiety reactions, which make an individual to act as if he/she is crazy. The official cited the report from Talbott and Teague (1969) of an American registered male nurse in Vietnam with no previous history of mental illness after smoking his first marijuana cigarette, became aware of a choking burning sensation in his throat.
He thereafter went to a civilian bar began feeling apprehensive, suspicious and fearful that the North Vietnamese meant to harm him. Feeling terrified, he returned to his quarters. But when examined, he was anxious and disoriented to time, but not to person and place and his anxiety about being harmed by nationals was rising and falling like the waves of the ocean. He said, according to Talbott and Teague, the nurse was treated with sedation and released after 36 hours without any symptoms at all.
Experiences of such kind the official noted, is common among first time users and could be reasons why marijuana is perceived as a dangerous drug. A long serving former Police Officer (name withheld) also observed that hard drug use is currently on the increase among the youth.
He observed that in the past, hard drugs were not commonly available unlike now, where easy availability of hard drugs and drug addiction is contributing to increased criminal behavior. He averred that there is a need, given his experience, to establish treatment centers for addicts and tougher laws on hard drugs and harsh punishment for those who trade in hard drugs.
As regards the reported increase of marijuana use among youths, the former Police official noted that dealers of hard drugs always tend to take advantage of smuggling networks established by marijuana traffickers as most marijuana consumed in Liberia is imported either from Sierra Leone or elsewhere in West Africa, including Ghana and Nigeria.
Meanwhile, a noted economist said based on his observations, Liberia is losing millions of dollars each year to an underground network of marijuana smugglers and middlemen which, he said, is not good for the country.
It is against this backdrop that pharmaceutical companies are expressing interest in securing new markets and sources of supply. Liberia, according to observers with plentiful sunshine and adequate rainfall is ideal for the cultivation and processing of the marijuana plant into medical products, the economist concluded.
Meanwhile, the Sierra Leone government has been dragging their feet in terms of ensuring that licenses are granted to individuals willing to grow and export marijuana for medicinal purposes. We should also consider the huge economic benefits such a move poses to the country especially taking into consideration the current state of the country’s economy. Liberia’s President George Weah has decided to take advantage of the huge economic benefit of the herb, can Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio follow suit?

About a year ago, Sierra Leoneans decided to vote for the Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio, making him the fifth democratically elected President of the small mineral-rich nation, Sierra Leone. Dubbed as the actualization of a dream too long deferred, their conjecture was based on the belief that he will serve his country patriotically well by erasing the scars of decadence bruised by the Koroma Administration.

His victory as President of Sierra Leone came as a result of his effective and efficient management policy revelations pinpointed in his manifesto. A year down the line, President Bio has thus shown remarkable signs of re-branding the blemished image of Sierra Leone.

The All People’s Congress (APC), during their stint, provided a zany leadership that—as their Agenda for Prosperity implied—was inclined to enrich themselves leaving average Sierra Leoneans in paucity. Amidst their lofty promises, those ministers and heads of parastatals who were ancillaries to the Koroma Administration precluded the certainty that the Agenda for Prosperity was never serious to shape the development will of the country, for it was purposefully patterned to benefit the financially intoxicated APC officials.

Without recourse to debate, an assemblage of the population knows that during their tenure Sierra Leone became a “rich quick magnetic” pool—one synonymous to Bermuda Triangle—whose gravitational pull attracted taxpayers money to a group of a political glutton. Funds meant for national development eventually disappeared and precipitated into the insatiable pockets of those political kingpins. As they fastened themselves to monies, like ants to sweets, donor funds were haemorrhaged and outflown into God knows where.

Many had expected nothing in his first year because the process of acclimatising to governance could be somewhat difficult especially when he took leadership from the coarse hands of the APC; more so leading a country whose economy had hit a rock-bottom level, the worst since Independence.

Although much hue and cry has been on oiling the “nuts and bolts” of bread and butter,* however, President Bio has made great stridence in putting the land that he loves to the right development footing.

A rave review on a range of development activities he has undertaken so far gives him a scoring point of 60%, with respect to a boost in priority areas like education, health, energy, agriculture, tourism and sports. Though the challenges seem unwilling to give up their grip, it is viewed that if he is consistent in his delivery, he will be labelled the harbinger of great Sierra Leone that we have always envisioned.*

EDUCATION (BIO’s FLAGSHIP AGENDA)
Without vitiating the reality of his plans to improve the education sector, we will all agree that human capital development has been his key drive. He believes mineral resources can be exhausted with time, but the enlightened human resource will stand the test of time. Using the Singapore Model, he realized there was an urgent need to liberate this nation from 65% illiteracy rate by launching the Free Quality Education Scheme.

The Free Quality Education Project provides for an access to quality education from the elementary level to senior secondary level with a surfeit of learning materials plus school feeding opportunities. His irreversible decision to reclaim the *”Athens of West Africa”* glory has urged his government to invest 21% of budgetary allocation to education *(the first and highest budgetary allocation to education in the annals of Sierra Leone*).

The New Direction Government has also embarked on improving standards by reviewing schools curricular with civic education intended to be reintroduced. There have been also plans to improve schools infrastructure across the country. In addition, tertiary education has also benefited from this resurgence with free tuition for girls studying sciences, free university application forms, climaxed with the turning of the sod for the construction of a state-of-the-art Eastern University in Kono District.

ECONOMY
Stabilizing the economy has been the stiffest challenge during his first year. Howbeit, his government has implemented all the recommendations of IMF and World Bank and has also met their requirement by instituting fiscal management policies in the form of Treasury Single Account (TSA) which was rebuffed by former President Koroma.

In addition, the government through the effort of National Revenue Agency (NRA) has increased revenue generation to over Le30 billion a day, helping the government to pay salaries and wages without resorting to international begging, bank overdraft and domestic borrowing.

CORRUPTION
What is more intriguing is the fact that President Bio has made the cost of corruption so high to the extent that offenders of his administration are not spared. In the past twelve months, the anti-graft body has been focused on recovering stolen monies from past and present officials. There has been a huge gain in the recovery of the country’s stolen money by officials of the Koroma led APC.

The three Commissions of Inquiry provide additional gain in the fight against corruption. These financial recovery processes have shoved Sierra Leone to the limelight, thereby re-branding the nation from a corrupt-stricken society to one so desperate to eradicate graft. Today, President Bio stands as an ensample to other Heads of State as a purveyor in the fight against corruption, with a 71% scorecard unmasked by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

ELECTRICITY
Amongst the developments the past administration undertook, electricity and road construction formed the bedrock, and as a result of those undertakings, Sierra Leone lost hugely.

The past administration bragged about uninterrupted electricity with Bumbuna Hydro up and running. After spending over $500 million, the much bragged about uninterrupted electricity vanished the moment they left office. One would ask what was really the bragging about.

The current Minister of Energy renegotiated a better deal with the Karpowership brought by the Koroma Administration without kickback in the agreement made. As it stands, the government is set to save $10 million each year from the deal.

Other Turkish powers have just been contracted for the supply of electricity to the east end of Freetown. Temporal electricity strategies have been sound, as they substitute Bumbuna until Phase two is completed. Don’t tell me it is a waste of resources, as our hospitals, factories enterprises, homes need electricity. What sense will it make to pay electricity bills without having electricity?

SPORTS
Sport has been a huge challenge over the past five years. For football, all hope was lost for both players and sport loving fans as the Sierra Leone Premier League went into oblivion. After rekindling the spirit of the game with *three billion Leones* (the highest the government has ever provided to the Premier League Board) as a start-up fund, many youths have had their talents resuscitated; businesses are now booming, footballers are now yielding dividend from their labour and football loving fans have had their joy back.

HEALTH
The “Thank You” Tour gave the president the opportunity to identify regions that are without proper health care facilities, and it was also an opportunity to distribute state ambulances to different regions of the country. The ambulances will help reduce maternal mortality rate with swift facilitation of women in labour; it will also save those who are in other emergency situations.

Furthermore, this administration has increased salaries of health workers irrespective of the 15% increment across the board. An addition of three thousand health workers will be recruited with pin codes.

There are host of other things a single article cannot exhaust: from securing fund to construct a state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre, improving health, attaining food sufficiency, promoting tourism, boosting investor relations, linking MIT with Njala for innovative purposes, increasing pensioners monthly benefits, constructing major roads to providing free tertiary education for students whose parents have taught for a decade.

These huge strides made by the president have received great admiration and support from Sierra Leoneans both home and abroad, and have also brought renewed hope that Sierra Leone will rise again.

Congratulations President Bio!