The statistics for Sierra Leone is grim – 17, 000 to 23, 000 infected with 3, 000 deaths annually.
Tuberculosis – a disease that has been around for thousands of years – could be wiped out by 2045 if investment in the disease is increased to $10 billion a year.
A panel of experts has set out a vision for ending TB within the next 25 years if the world invests in a range of measures including research and development, targeted prevention and high quality diagnostics.
The Lancet Commission on TB, published ahead of World TB Day on March 24, said that the savings generated from averting a TB death are estimated to be three times the cost and could be much greater in many countries where the disease is most prevalent.
TB is the world’s leading infectious killer, responsible for 1.6 million deaths worldwide in 2017, with drug-resistant forms of the disease threatening control efforts in many parts of the world. Progress on fighting the disease has stalled in recent years.
The World Health Organization (WHO) first declared TB a public health crisis in 1993, and last year the first-ever UN High-Level Meeting on TB made ending the disease a global priority.
Countries committed to treating 40 million people and preventing 30 million new cases between 2018-2022.
However, many experts say the world is not on track to achieve this. Countries need to be held to account for the commitments they have already made, including at the UN high level meeting.
The clock is ticking on the commitment to find and treat 40 million people by 2022.
In its vision for wiping out the disease, the Commission urged countries to invest in high-quality rapid diagnostics; target those at high risk of contracting TB, such as those living with patients infected with the disease; and increase investment in research and development, particularly vaccines and diagnostics.
It says that the 10 countries with the highest burden of the disease need to implement specific measures to make a significant dent in rates of the disease.
India, for example, could avert eight millions deaths between now and 2045 if care and treatment of patients with TB is improved. In Moldova, where more than 25 per cent of all TB cases are drug resistant, improving access to drug susceptibility testing and second-line drugs would reduce mortality by 44 per cent.
But the Commission says that while TB-specific measures are important, improving access to essential health services would also go a long way towards wiping out the disease.
Investment is a crucial part of the picture, says the report.
Last year a landmark study of a vaccine developed by British pharmaceutical giant GSK and non profit the International Aids Vaccine Initiative showed promise as it reduced TB rates by about half. But the vaccine is still in the early stages of development.
Dr. Reid said the new vaccine and new drugs such as bedaquiline and delamanid meant there were significant grounds for optimism. But he added good tools already exist.
“Existing efforts fail to identify 35 per cent of the burden of TB but we have diagnostics and treatments that could be readily available if only countries committed to investing in services to diagnose and treat,” he said.
Dr Reid said that it was largely countries most affected by TB who should be making the investments, rather than international donors.
“Many of these high-burden countries such as India could substantially increase their investment in TB by prioritizing their health systems and increasing their tax revenue by taxing things like tobacco,” he said.
Curing TB Depends On You The Patient
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Gento is Still Above Reproach
Documentary evidence has proven beyond all reasonable doubts that Mohamed Gento Kamara, the Chief Executive Officer of Gento Group of Companies, is not indebted to Government to the tune of USD5 Million as it is being peddled by certain mischievous rumor mongers and saboteurs.
It should not come as any big surprise that in this country certain people become very jealous of individuals who are progressive and will go at extreme lengths to pull them down for no just reason (s) other than mere envy.
Reference could be made to individuals like Sam King who was running a successful stationery business entity, an importer and retailer of basic goods Med T, Paul Francis (Elder brother of the Chief Minister) who was on the verge of facilitating the establishment of a commercial bank in this country but prevented from doing so and a host of others were all undermined and destroyed.
This trend of sabotaging successful entrepreneurs has been seriously derailing development. What has been really established as an indisputable fact is that moves made by certain ill motivated individuals to pull down progressive individuals and entrepreneurs have been and is definitely bringing the country down and not directly the individuals targeted. The simple fact that these individuals are helping in the areas of providing jobs for many Sierra Leones, paying taxes to Government means that they are contributing positively towards economic development and poverty reduction,. What if they decide to fold up their businesses then it possible that it will result to many becoming jobless thereby accentuating massive hardship and poverty.
The astute Chief Executive Officer of the reputable road construction company he owns and manages, Mohamed Gento Kamara, has not been spared this loathsome venom as of late he has been the victim of a barrage of baseless castigations on social media accusing him of wrongfully withholding five million dollars believed to be public fund that was purportedly handed over to him for construction work.
This accusation could not be totally unconnected to the invitation of this successful entrepreneur by one of the Commissions of Inquiry to give evidence. His appearance was not in the capacity as a person of interest, but just a mere testifier to help the Commission know the facts, which he did without hesitation, even providing documentary evidence to the effect. His detractors have blown it out of proportion to such an extent that they have been maligning him by erroneously painting the picture that he squandered five million dollars said to have been handed over to him by the Road Maintenance Fund Administration (RMFA).
The crux of the matter is that there was a Memorandum of Understanding wherein, SLRA which is the parent body of RMFA agreed to fund road contractors on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone.
SLRA through RMFA was to pay Gento 30 percent advance for the Waterloo township roads project. The amount should have been Le12.8 billion. Gento received Le7.8 billion.
The balance account remained with RMFA which had the onus of reconciling its books with the Ministry of Finance. RMFA was insisting that the Ministry of Finance should hand over the balance to them, but they were refused on the grounds that it was Government money and they were not entitled to it. What Gento was paid as advance is clearly recorded at the Accountant General department and with his bank. He was to receive USD12.8 million. He received less than of USD5 million, the money paid not in dollars but in Leones.
What some are failing to realize is that strict adherence and proper use made of the Local Content Policy could be the engine for overall national development. Mohamed Gento Kamara is a very good example of an ambitious indigenous businessman who has been doing extremely well in terms of constructing and rehabilitating qualitative roads in different parts of the country. He has helped in the direction of job creation that has improved standards of living of many families as well as timely payment of taxes.
It will therefore be understandable that his successes may not go down well with certain people who will not spare any opportunity to defame and smear his good image, but there is a popular belief that he who God has blessed cannot be easily destroyed.
Gento is really unperturbed and cannot be shattered by detractors, who have been politically castigating him.
Orange Launches 4G Today
At a well-attended ceremony held at the headquarters of Orange Sierra Leone at Hill Station on the 26 March 2019 the Chief Executive Oficcer of the company Madam Aminata Kane, officially launched its latest mobile service ‘Di Rial 4G’. Present at the ceremony were the Marketing Director Laurent Kiba, Abibatu Baxter and Mabel Mason of the company, a cross section of members of staff and pressmen.
Speaking during the ceremony, the CEO recognized the fact that they are not the first mobile company with the 4G, but admonished users to try their product and observe the difference. She further disclosed that their engineers have been working around the clock to ensure that faster and better service is provided with the 4G and in this regard 60 sites across Freetown have been upgraded to facilitate quality service.
She also maintained that the company has heard the concerns of its numerous customers over the data tariff and has reduced it by 50%. So it is now the cheapest and with the 4G, customers will now enjoy the fastest and cheapest network in the country. In the next few months, the service will be rolled out across the country. Orange is poised to establish 50 new sites and give some 85% of Sierra Leoneans across the country the opportunity to have quality, fast and cheaper services.
She stressed that the launching of the 4G will complement the launch of Orange’s Digital Revolution which was launched in February 2019. This revolution ensures a truly high-speed broadband mobile internet and an unmatched life changing experience in digital communication. She commended the Government for their support and her staff for their relentless service to make this venture a reality. She wished consumers a wonderful time with the 4G service.
Marketing Director of Orange, Laurent Kiba, made a brief statement in which he reiterated the sentiments of the CEO, adding that Orange’s investment in the Digital Revolution is an indication of its commitment to provide its customers with the best service ever. The 4G, he said, is special to the company.
The vote of thanks was given by Abibatu Baxter and Sim Swapping of all attendees was done.
TONY ELUMELU FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 3,050 ENTREPRENEURS SELECTED FOR THE 5th CYCLE OF THE TEF ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME
• Tony Elumelu Foundation directly funds 1,000 entrepreneurs and an additional 2,050 beneficiaries supported by Foundation’s partners
• TEF Entrepreneurship Forum – Africa’s largest entrepreneurship convening – to be held on July 26-27
ABUJA, NIGERIA, March 22, 2019— The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading African philanthropy committed to empowering African entrepreneurs, Friday announced 3,050 African entrepreneurs, drawn from all 54 African countries, selected to join the 5th cycle of its $100million TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.
The announcement was made at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, following a presentation of the selection process by Accenture Development Partners.
This year, over 216,000 applications were received, an increase from last year’s 151,000. Nearly 90,000 were submitted by female entrepreneurs, an increase of 45%, illustrating the Foundation’s strategy to achieve greater gender balance. The selected Entrepreneurs will each receive non- refundable $5,000 of seed capital, access to mentors, and a 12-week business training programme, directly focused on the needs of African entrepreneurs. On July 26 – 27 2019, they will gather at the TEF Entrepreneurship Forum, the largest annual gathering of African entrepreneurs and the entrepreneurship ecosystem on the continent.
TEF Founder, Tony O. Elumelu, CON, who celebrated his birthday today, said: “Every year, we face an almost impossible task – to select 1,000 entrepreneurs, from the hundreds of thousands that apply. Our entrepreneurs are hungry to effect change. We know we are only scratching the surface, we see the depth of entrepreneurial talent, that all of us – government, business indeed African society, must harness to transform our economies and livelihoods. We must rally together to empower them and accelerate the change we want on the continent”.
In her speech, Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, the wife of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, commended the Programme’s impact on the continent, charging the selected entrepreneurs to contribute to the advancement of the African continent.
“Indeed, I am confident that these Tony Elumelu entrepreneurs will inspire deep confidence and be of immense value not just to Nigeria but to the entire continent,” she said.
Speaking on the announcement, the incoming CEO, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, said, “The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme has successfully empowered 7,520 entrepreneurs in its first five years of the 10- year programme.
Marking the fifth anniversary of the 10-year programme, this year’s selection includes 2,050 entrepreneurs, supported by the Foundation’s partners in addition to the Foundation’s annual commitment of 1,000, bringing the total number of entrepreneurs empowered by the Foundation to date to 7,520.
Last year, we launched TEFConnect – the digital networking platform for African entrepreneurs and open to all – to further democratise the access to opportunities for the thousands of entrepreneurs that cannot directly benefit from our Entrepreneurship Programme. This further demonstrates our commitment to empowering our entrepreneurs and our belief that entrepreneurship holds the key to unleashing the true potential of the African continent”, she said.
The Foundation’s growing list of partners includes the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Federal Republic of Benin (Seme City), the Anambra State Government, Indorama, the Government of Botswana and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
For a list of the selected 2019 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs and information on our applicants, please visit tefconnect.com.
Commencement of Construction on a Gold Refinery Very Soon
This country is blessed with minerals but ironically poor. Sierra Leone’s mineral deposits represent major opportunities for both potential investors and the country to derive significant benefits. The mining sector has been the backbone of the country’s economy since mining started in 1930. This is why the Government is pursuing policies and programs aimed at making Sierra Leone an even more attractive destination for mining investment. It is against this backdrop that Savina Diamonds Limited is poised to fill the existing gap in adding value to gold and diamond thereby making Sierra Leone an enviable spot for a gold refinery.
The company has committed itself to make a major investment on a gold refinery in Sierra Leone, which will be a landmark in promoting quality export of precious minerals like gold and diamonds. The company will in the next two weeks commence the construction of a Gold Refinery at Hastings after it has already obtained a license to do business in the country.
After seven years in exploring opportunities in the mining sector, especially dealing with gold and diamonds, Savina Diamonds is poised to sign an agreement with the government of Sierra Leone and ratified by Parliament to build a gold refinery in the country and operate a business centre that house all relevant players in the mining sectors as well as government representatives to see that the required procedures are followed before the required precious commodities are exported from the refinery hub at Hastings to the United Kingdom. Some of the institutions that will be housed are Mines Ministry/National Minerals Agency representatives, National Revenue Authority, Sierra Leone Police, a commercial bank etc. Currently, it has established its presence in Kabala in the Koiandugu District and Kono, and soon it will start operations in Kenema. “We want all the Miners and Investors to be under one roof to do their transactions,” says Foglio Giovanni, Chief Executive Officer of Savina Diamonds Ltd and added that they are going to have a 4, 000-meter squire refinery building with a depth of 26-meter squire underground.
Sierra Leone has 10 to 13 tons of gold going to the black market annually. The country records an export of 125kilos of gold in 2018, and Savina hopes to improve on gold export as it has an estimated minimum of 8 tons per anum.
Company authorities told the press that they will be spending over $6 million in constructing the gold refinery that will be fully equipped with state of the earth equipment and build the airport runway to accommodate direct flights from London to export the refined gold and diamonds.
Savina hopes to train and build the confidence of miners with the assurance that it going to change their products, rather it will ensure fair play in the business so that the government, the miners and relevant stakeholders in the business will benefit.
“We will also accept diamonds and build a safe business environment where there will be a bidding process to get the highest offer and certificates will be prepared for exporting diamonds to the United Kingdom,” the CEO revealed and added that the company will also be receiving gold from other ECOWAS Countries to be processed in Sierra Leone for export. The said commodity will be brought in at free of cost while taxes will be paid to the government for export. This will save the cost and time to travel to countries like the United Arab Emirate to do gold transactions from ECOWAS Countries.
Savina Diamonds Limited is connected with Petterson Diamonds UK Limited, a company that works in diamonds and especially gold related to its companies in various African states, in Tanzania with Petterson Diamonds TZ Limited. The Objective of the company is taking gold to banking institutions and facilitates the collection, especially in Sierra Leone with the opening of both a local refinery with a capacity of 60 kg every 6 hours and facilitating microcredit on gold, all this will be performed in Sierra Leone.
The Chief Executive Officer of Savina Diamonds, Foglio Giovanni is currently in Sierra Leone with his family to ensure the smooth running of their gold refinery investment.
“We chose Sierra Leone because we have confidence in doing business in the country,” he remarked. He praised the support of Government towards his interment plans and called for a stronger collaboration leading to the official start of the company’s operations in Sierra Leone.
SLRSA Deputy Executive Director Takes Road Safety To Mile 38 Police
As it continues its sensitization drive the Deputy Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), Ibrahim Sannoh, has engaged senior Police Management at the Mile 38 check point, on road safety and the need to enforce all road safety laws to reduce the spate of road accident.
This came in the wake of the high rate of death caused by road accidents and road traffic crashes, according to a recent data, which the SLRSA Deputy Executive Director says accounts for over five hundred deaths every year.
The Deputy Executive Director said his visit was deliberate and aimed at effectively and efficiently engaging the traffic police and other road users to support the SLRSA in achieving a national road safety.
Whilst addressing cross section of the Sierra Leone Police, Military personnel, Road safety corps and forestry guards, he said overloading, drink driving, over speeding, lack of triangular reflectors in case of breakdown , defected lights and use of jerry cans as fuel tanks for trailers are responsible for major accidents in the country.
“Under the New Direction, our responsibility is to safeguard our citizens,” he said, adding that “we were appointed by His Excellency Julius Maada Bio to fulfil our promise in having a better and a well secured road network and transport system.”
He said they cannot work in isolation that is why they are partnering with key stakeholders like the forces to enforce the law and ensure that users strictly abide by all laws legislated in the country.
According to him, the police and the road safety corps are always on the streets to ensure road safety, but road traffic crashes are still on the increase. This ugly trend, he said, must be reversed as “the life of every Sierra Leonean despite his or her social status is equally important.”
Despite the challenges confronted by the Authority, Mr. Sannoh said they have established thirteen offices across the country in order to achieve the Authority’s mandate. He assured that he will continue to engage the traffic police and sensitize the road users especially the commercial drivers.
The SLRSA boss registered his Authority’s commitment on incentives and other emoluments for border or check point staff to motivate them in the discharge of their duties.
The Deputy Inspector General of police in charge of Traffic Management and Road Safety, Sahr Senesie, said they have a duty to their citizens and the State. He admonished that they should not compromise their integrity which is key in upholding the fundamental principles in policing. He appealed that, “we should be our brothers’ keeper.”
The personnel expressed similar sentiments in showering praises on the SLRSA’s Deputy Executive Director and said that his leadership style is second to none since the establishment of the Authority.
AYV AND BBC SIGN PARTNERSHIP
AYV Press Release
In a new development, the Africa Young Voices (AYV) on March, 22nd 2019 announced a new partnership with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the world service programme in London. This is the first AYV partnership with a global broadcaster in Sierra Leone.
‘’I feel extremely delighted. This is an historic moment. This new partnership harnesses our global reach and broadcasting capabilities to bring our audiences good content. We are happy for this partnership. It’s a win-win for both AYV and BBC. We look forward to a fruitful partnership with the BBC to bring good programmes to AYV,” said Anthony Navo, Founder and CEO of AYV.
‘’We are really privileged for extending your relationship with us. We are very proud of what we are offering Africa at the moment. We have made historic investment in increasing the amount of TV and radio programmes. I hope this will help solidify the relationship between the United Kingdom and Sierra Leone’’, said Jamie Angus, Director of BBC World Service.
AYV will be working with the BBC to promote media development in Sierra Leone. AYV is tapping the most powerful BBC platform and massive BBC World service programmes and newsgathering to create more programmes for audiences in Sierra Leone in a more creative and cutting-edge formats. The BBC has already begun production of programmes that will be aired on AYV, a new series of innovative and amazing programmes. The AYV and BBC partnership will initially deliver seven key programmes:
1. Sport Today
2. Focus on Africa
3. World Hacks
4. The Compass
5. Crowd Science
6. Health Check
7. BBC minutes (Pidgin)
The BBC Senior Business Development Manager for Southern and Western Africa, Steven Martin described the programme as ‘’first in Sierra Leone’’. He said: ‘’It means a really rich mix of new programme that will be available to listeners on AYV. I hope listeners will be tuning in regularly for sport and news, and for some really exciting programmes that we have recently introduced from the BBC. And for the first time listeners to AYV will be able to hear BBC minutes, in Pidgin language’’.
The BBC World Service will provide AYV current news and content that complement its global programmes in Africa. This partnership offers AYV a world-class broadcasting platform for its audiences. The BBC will support the development of new programmes and training for AYV as part of the new partnership. This is the first stage in a long-term mutually beneficial partnership involving the BBC and AYV, with the aim of supporting media development projects reflecting the special relationship between Sierra Leone and United Kingdom.
ORANGE SL CEO Becomes Young Global Leader
CEO Aminata Kane joins other global leaders in the world as leaders changing the future of work whilst pushing boundaries in their fields and beyond. This year’s group of Young Global Leaders is a dynamic community of people under the age of 40 who represent the best of their generation.
Ten African women and men make up the list of 127 of the world’s most promising social activists, business leaders, public servants, artists and technologists. They are all under the age of 40 and have been invited to join the World Economic Forum’s community of Young Global Leaders (YGLs). Some of the past Young Global Leaders include former UK Prime Minister, David Cameron; co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (Google) Larry Page; Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg; co-founder and Executive Chairman of the Alibaba Group, and others.
The new class for 2019 as announced features CEO Aminata Kane.
Accepting the recognition, Aminata Kane expressed her delight to be part of this class of Young Leaders/World Economic Forum, and to use the platform to enhance her work at Orange Sierra Leone. She remains focus on developing her people and using digital revolution to boost growth.
Her invitation to join other change-makers in the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGL) came as no surprise to Orange. She is an individual committed to changing the narrative of the participation of women in a highly male dominated Telecommunications Sector, being the first female CEO of a mobile company in Sierra Leone.
Aminata’ s recognition in the digital revolution extends to the United Nations where she recently delivered a talk at the United Nations General Assembly in New York as part of the GSMA events. Her talk was focused on mobile development, big data, social and financial inclusions.
Recently, Institut Choiseul (Choiseul Institute) named her amongst the top 100 African Business Leaders of Tomorrow for her work and contribution to Africa, leveraging technology to accelerate development & growth.
Aminata Kane is Chief Executive Officer of Orange SL, driving the operations of the telecommunications giant with more than 2 Million subscribers.
Prior to this appointment, she was the Chief Marketing Officer for Orange Money in Senegal, a business that has grown exponentially and become profitable in the past two years.
She began her career as a Strategy Consultant with McKinsey & Company in France, designing strategies and operations for telecommunication and technology providers, banks, and consumer goods manufacturers in Europe and West Africa from 2009 to 2011.
Originally from Senegal, Mrs. Ndiaye holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Management from HEC Paris Grande Ecole, coupled with an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sloan School of Management, during which she was appointed President of the Africa Business Club.
Africell Offers Support to Diamond Stars FC
In continuation of its sponsorship of Sierra Leone’s 2019 Premier League, the country’s leading Telecommunications Company, Africell, on Friday 22nd March 2019, officially signed an MOU with the Diamond Stars Football Club to carry its brand on its jerseys. This event marks the 5th signing with clubs in the on-going 2019 Premier League.
Present at the ceremony were the Team Manager of the Diamond Stars FC, Adam Tommy, Vice Chairman, Mark Yambasu, Secretary General of the FC Sahr Ezra Kellie, Africell’s Nancy L. Joseph, Manager of AfriRadio, John Konte and members of the press.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the meeting, Abdul Karim of AfriRadio, said that Africell’s support to the development of young people in the country is unbelievable. It has been engaged in the promotion of young talents in the country and the meeting is a testimony of this commitment on the part of the company to continue to promote youths. He stressed that it is the first time in the history of telecommunication that a company has embarked on technical and financial support to clubs in the premier league, adding that this is due to the belief that the company has in the youths of the country. He also disclosed that Africell, in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Premier League Board, have ensured the revamping of the league, which is on-going in the country.
Speaking on behalf of Africell, the manager of AfriRadio, John Konte, told the audience that Africell is here to stay. The company, he maintained, is committed to promote and showcase the talents of youths in the country, adding that Africell has been sponsoring various youths in various spheres. Starting with Music, Africell has signed several artists as Brand Ambassadors and also artists in other sectors in the entertainment industry.
After the Ebola, he disclosed, the company noticed that the entertainment industry, especially music had dropped and cognizant of the fact that Sierra Leoneans love music, they came on board to revamp the music industry and today Sierra Leonean music is heard everywhere in the country and beyond. It is the avowed aim of the company to come close to anything that Sierra Leoneans love that has prompted their involvement in the on-going premier league. It goes without saying that the population love music and football; with the latter being almost like a religion. Sierra Leoneans, he maintained, follow football with their hearts and resources and in order to bring them closer, Africell has embraced what they love; football.
John Konte further stated that 4 Premier League football teams have been sponsored and MOUs signed, namely: East End Lion FC, Bo Rangers FC, Old Edwardians FC and Mighty Black Pool FC.
He recalled February during a similar signing ceremony pointing out that this is not the end as Africell will embrace more Premier League Clubs and this event is a testimony of this commitment. John Konte then announced the sponsorship of the Diamond Stars FC of Kono, which will entail an undisclosed amount of cash plus 2 sets of jerseys to the team. He recognised that the team wears its traditional yellow and black in its home encounters, Green and white on its away matches.
The jerseys whilst having the club’s colours will have the names and numbers of the players on it and the club’s logo plus an Africell logo. This will further bring the supporters and the people of Kono closer, especially as the company has a huge subscriber base in the district. This move is to keep Africell in the centre of what the people love. The company is not interested in what the club makes financially, only that it should fly its logo in every encounter to buttress the point that the company is at the centre of what the people love. John Konte further stated that this signing is not the end, more clubs will be sponsored, as it is the avowed aim of the company to promote football and empower the youths.
Adam Tommy, Team Manager of Diamond Stars FC and former player in the national Team (the finest right-back that the Leone Stars has ever produced), expressed appreciation to the company for this kind gesture, adding that Africell occupies the physical space and has done a lot to develop the game and bring people together. On their part they are ready to do all that it takes to promote the game and the company. He admonished Africell to engage other clubs in the Premier League. He also sent a message to other teams that when sponsored, they should endeavor to fly the company’s logo high and maintain the ideals of fair play and good sportsmanship. The jerseys, he went on, will be replicated with the company’s logo during the course of the league. He praised Africell for coming on board to help the government in the development of football in the country, as it not only provides entertainment for the public, but creates job opportunities for the players.
Vice Chairman of the team, Mark Yambasu and Secretary General Sahr Ezra Kellie, shared similar sentiments, adding that Africell made no mistake in choosing them, especially as the subscriber base in Kono is huge and with the logo on their jerseys, supporters of the club will feel part of the company.
The ceremony was climaxed by the signing of the MOU between the club and Africell officials. The vote of thanks was given by Nancy L Joseph of Africell.