Sierra Leone News: President Bio Celebrates with Rwandans on Liberation Day

July 5, 2019

His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio is one of seven presidents across the world have been invited by Rwandan President His Excellency Paul Kagame to grace this year’s commemoration of the country’s Liberation Day, called Kwibohora25 on Thursday 4 July 2019.

Rwandan President, His Excellency Paul Kagame

Others included President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, President Hage Geingob and First Lady Monica Geingos of Namibia; President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of Central African Republic; President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed of Somalia, President Mokgweetsi Masisi and First Lady Neo Masisi of Botswana; and President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe.

President Dr Julius Maada Bio and President Emmerson Mnangagwa

More than 25,000 people watched the 4 July twenty-fifth anniversary parade at the Amahoro National Stadium, in Kigali, featuring the defense forces and national police personnel, wearing colourful uniforms and marching to revolutionary songs played by the army band. Liberation day marks the day when the Rwanda Patriotic Front stopped the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and effectively liberated the country. Over a million people lost their lives in the genocide.

“For three long months in 1994, our country’s survival was in doubt. A segment of the population was being hunted. More than a million people were murdered,” President Kagame said at the event.

It could be recalled that Rwanda was one of three countries invited by the government of Sierra Leone to share experiences at a two-day national dialogue forum on democratic consolidation for peace and national cohesion in May this year. The conference in Freetown, which also discussed the creation of a National Peace Commission, heard experiences from the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission of Rwanda, the Peace Council of Ghana and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission of Kenya.

Also, in March this year a delegation of visiting members of the Sierra Leonean parliament, who were in Kigali on a working visit, said they were keen on critically looking at best practices in one of the fastest growing African nations with a view to adopting them back home. Such practices include empowering women in decision-making processes growing its economy.

The country is not just creating a business-friendly environment but also diversifying the economy from being almost entirely dependent on agriculture to now being developing services and a growing manufacturing sector.

Sierra Leone News: Gulf Water is now 5 Years Old

July 4, 2019

One of the leading water bottling companies in the country, Gulf Mineral Water and Beverage Company situated at 5 Smart Farm, Off Wilkinson Road in Freetown, celebrated its 5th Anniversary on Wednesday 26th June 2019.

The company has continued to supply quality products to hotels, supermarkets, entertainment complexes, among other market outlets, due to the fact that the products are purified and produced under the highest safety and hygienic standards.

Gulf Mineral Water and Beverage Company, Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Shour, thanked and appreciated its valuable customers, staff and all those that made the company reach such a marvelous height and gave a brief background of the company in which he stated that it was established in 2014 to create employment for the youth as the company is growing and marketing more products further assuring the workers that they are always ready to work with them with hope, prayers and confidence, adding, “Gulf Mineral Water and Beverage Company is here to stay and constituent products of high quality and international standards.”

Mohamed Shour further stated that their investment is capital intensive and assured of supporting workers.

Gulf Mineral Water, Commercial Manager, Claudius Stark-Davies, also commended valuable customers, dealers, staff and management of the company for their patient efforts and commitment to reach their current state saying it is an outcome of working relentlessly to maintain high quality standards.

He also assured customers of the availability of their products nationwide and that Gulf Water is refreshing and satisfactory maintaining how the company will continue to expand its products to reach the last village in the country and open more dealer outlets.

He also disclosed that the company is flexible to its customers as it scouts for more potential business people to come on board and do business with Gulf Mineral Water Company that has standardized machinery.

Claudius Stark-Davies encouraged others to give Gulf water a try and embolden those want to do business with them to visit the company’s headquarters on 5 Smart Farm, Off Wilkinson Road in Freetown as there are surprising packages of 500ML, 1.5 litter and 18.9 litters (dispenser) bottles for home and office use with affordable prizes.

According to Gulf Mineral Water Commercial Manager, customers in hostels, supermarkets, entertainment complexes among other top business places do business with the company informing that they were certified by the Standards Bureau and the Consumer Protection Agency due to the quality of its water and other products.

He also reiterated the company’s continuous adherence to quality, affordable and available products throughout the year noting, “if you want to do business with us visit the factory at 5 Smart Farm, Off Wilkinson Road or contact +232 77333444/+232 78575757. Gulf Mineral Water is the most refreshing that satisfies your thirst. It is produced at global standard with modern machinery.”

Presentation of gifts to deserving staff and the cutting of the 5th anniversary cake climaxed the ceremony.

Sierra Leone News: Audit Service Sierra Leone Dilates on Audit Process

July 4, 2019

As part of its public education and information drive, the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) is informing the public about the Audit Process undertaken by auditors from ASSL prior to issuing a final audit report to Parliament.
The Office states that Section 119(2) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone give mandate to the Auditor-General to audit the Public Accounts of Sierra Leone and all public offices including the courts, the accounts of the central and local government administrations, of the Universities and public institutions of like nature, any statutory corporation, company or other body or organisation established by an Act of Parliament or statutory instrument, or otherwise set up partly or wholly out of Public Funds.

The audit is carried out in an independent manner without third party interference as prescribed by the International Standards of audits for Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAIs) and as best practice dictates. This to ensure that apart from achieving an objective view of the use of funds by MDAs, citizens are well informed, and MDAs are in the position to operate better when recommendations proffered in the audit reports are fully implemented.

There are four phases involved in the audit process. These are: Planning Phase; Fieldwork Phase; Reporting Phase and the Follow-up Phase

PLANNING PHASE: A successful audit exercise starts with adequate planning in the office. This is done within the ASSL; outlining institutions to be audited in accordance with the strategic plan of ASSL. During this period, a notification (initial communication) for the audit is sent to the client to be audited.
Setting up of an Audit Team follows immediately and the performance of pre-engagement activities (including assessment of team members’ independence/code of ethics and competence as well as the allocation of timeframe and resources for the audit).
A date for an entrance meeting is then scheduled; and at the agreed date, an entrance meeting is held with the auditee (institution to be audited). During this period, the discussion would include the Audit Approach, Term(s) of Reference as well as presentation of checklist, identification of Audit Focal Person and arrangement of office space for the Audit Team.
FIELDWORK: During this phase, the Audit Team moves to the auditee’s premises. During the fieldwork, the auditors receive documents from auditee; perform designed audit procedures (including analysis and examination of documents provided by the auditee and third party); raise audit queries and hold discussions with auditee for clarification of issues.
REPORTING PHASE: This phase starts with the exit conference (closing meeting) with auditee (discussion includes recap of key audit findings, etc.) during which the auditors give opportunity to the auditee to respond to the audit queries. Issues not clarified are put into a draft report (management letter) sent to the auditees for response within 15 days as stipulated in section 93(3) of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016.
Upon receipt of responses from the auditee, the auditors would verify the responses for two things: firstly, to verify whether the recommendations made in the draft report are implemented and secondly, to check what extent have they been implemented.This is an important stage as prescribed in the ISSAIs and is a common practice in public sector external auditing.
After the verification exercise, issues not clarified would go into the final audit report submitted to the client and at the same time form part of the Auditor-General’s Annual Report submitted to Parliament.
FOLLOW UP: This is the phase that comes after the report would have been submitted to Parliament. When conducting a current audit exercise of an institution that was audited previously, audit laws prescribe that there is a follow-up on the previous recommendations made. The outcomes of that follow-up are always factored into the current report to show whether they have been fully implemented, partly implemented or not implemented at all. The auditors determine that by the evidence made available .It is important to bear in mind that the end result of our audit work is to add value to the work of the institutions we audit. That is to help institutions perform better.

Sierra Leone News: 150 Recruits Benefit from SLRSA Training

July 4, 2019

The Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority – SLRSA has on Monday 1st July 2019 commenced training session for its 4th batch of Recruit into the Safety and Enforcement wing of the Authority since the establishment of that Unit by an Act of Parliament in 2003.

Giving an overview of the training curriculum, Chief Superintendent of Police CSP Litto Lamin Commandant and Vice Principal of The Sierra Leone Peacekeeping and Law Enforcement Academy – SILEA said the training will focus on 10 thematic areas which are: Role, Responsibilities and duties of a Road Safety Corp; the Legal Framework of Road Traffic Laws and Regulations of Sierra Leone, Examine Global Road Safety Trends looking at the 5 thematic Pillars in United Nation Decade of Action on Road Safety, Issues relating to investigative role of a Road Safety Corp, Evidence Recording and Report Writing more so in the court of law, Professional Conduct of Road Safety Corps vis-a-vis relationship with other security forces, Contemporary Issues that center on Human Rights and the Rule of Law among others.

CSP Lamin said the 150 recruits at the end of the 8 weeks training would be assessed and graded based on their performances on the exams and drills and all grades would be handed over the SLRSA Management.

He expressed sincere gratitude to the Board and Management of the SLRSA on behalf of the Sierra Leone Police and SILEA Administration for considering the SLP to do the training. He assured that they will deliver to the best of their abilities.

Mr. Sheikh Bawoh Chairman Board of Directors Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority said the training is part of governments’ agenda for Human Development Capacity and by extension youth employment.

Mr. Bawoh said the new administration at SLRSA is working relentlessly in strengthening the already existing mutual working relationship between the SLRSA and the SLP.

He urged the recruit/trainees to abide by laid down rules set by the SILEA Admin and its instructors.

“You must always be the torch bearers of the SLRSA and make the institution great again”. he said.

Mr. Ibrahim Sannoh Deputy Executive Director SLRSA on behalf of his boss Mr. David Panda-Noah expressed sincere gratitude to the Sierra Leone Police for accepting the offer to train the 4th Batch of recruits into the Safety and Enforcement wing of the Authority after almost a decade.

Mr. Sannoh equated the work of Road Safety Corps to that of a medical doctor that involves protection of life.

Integrity, self-respect and dedication to service, Mr. Sannoh said are the basic tenets of a professional law enforcer. He admonished the 150 recruits to imbibe the culture of integrity and professionalism during and after the training process.

Mr. Joseph Osman Dauda and Assistant Inspector General of Police AIG Sahr Richard Marka Director Human Resource and Training, and Director Human Resource and Admin for SLP and SLRSA respectively made meaningful contribution.

About 150 Sierra Leoneans who successfully went through the Recruitment process are currently at the Sierra Leone Peacekeeping and Law Enforcement Academy formerly the Sierra Leone Police Training School and the training is expected to last for 8 weeks.

Sierra Leone News: UK Strategic Communications Specialists Hob-Nobs With Press Secretary

July 4, 2019

Yusuf Keketoma Sandi, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman, hosted members of the Strategic Communications, International Projects from the United Kingdom Prime Minister’s Office and Cabinet Office. The Strategic Communications Specialists are on a research/scoping visit to Sierra Leone to better understand the challenges in relation to government communications in Sierra Leone with a wide focus across Ministries, Departments, Agencies and the Office of the President.

The head of the delegation from the United Kingdom, Emily Poyser, who is also the Head of Strategic Communications, International Projects explained that UK Government Communication Service International (GCSI) was established in response to demand from partner governments to replicate effective and efficient government communications. She also stated that GCSI collaborates with partner governments around the world to help them build capacity and improve communications with their citizens.

“We are here to assess the current communications capability of the Government of Sierra Leone and make a report of the key findings with recommendations in the short and long term,” Emily Poyser noted.

Welcoming the delegation, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman, Yusuf Keketoma Sandi expressed appreciation to the visiting team for choosing Sierra Leone at a time when the new President believes that engaging citizens on government activities and programmes is an enabler to participatory democracy. He informed the delegation that the new Government inherited a weak government information infrastructure but that both the Office of the President and Ministry of Information and Communications have overhauled the infrastructure for efficiency and effectiveness.

“We have huge challenges to recruit more information/communications officers in MDAs, there is a problem of mobility for existing communications specialists/officers, poor salaries, not enough training, lack of resources and equipment. There are huge challenges with both capability and capacity,” Keketoma said.

In the Office of the President, the Press Secretary also said that as part of creating a stronger relationship with the independent media they will also appreciate support in funding independent journalists to accompany the President on overseas trips while also to increase visibility of President’s activities overseas they will need support with the capacity for live broadcast of his official overseas engagement.

On Wednesday, the delegation will visit the Ministry of Information and Communications, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Environmental Protection Agency and Office of the First Lady.

Sierra Leone News: Social Welfare Minister meets Saudi- Minister of Hajj and Umrah

July 4, 2019

The Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Mohammed Saleh bin Taher Benten recently received the Minister of Social Welfare and Head of Hajj Affairs of the Republic of Sierra Leone Baindu Dansama, while on a visit to Saudi Arabia.

During the meeting, the Sierra Leonean Minister commended the efforts being exerted by the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH Crown Prince in serving and caring of the pilgrims, Umrah performers and visitors of the holy sites in the Kingdom.

Sierra Leone News: NCP ENGAGES PUBLIC ENTERPRISES

July 4, 2019

The newly appointed Chairman of the National Commission for Privatisation (NCP), Retired Colonel Alhaji Fanday Turay and the new Executive Secretary, Josephine Ansumana have hit the ground running with a series of engagements with Public Enterprises under the Commission’s purview.

The new NCP leadership visited heads of parastatals to listen to presentations on their operations and strategic plans that would be translated into key performance benchmarks for effective service delivery.

In the Parastatals visited, the NCP Chairman and his team outlined their vision on enterprise reform and explained how the Commission’s strategic framework has been realigned with government’s approach to economic development and consequently adaptive to the framework established under the New Direction.

The Chairman encouraged all the heads of Parastatals visited to remain focused in delivering their specific mandates and asked for increased collaboration with his Commission which was established by law to reform, restructure and privatise Public Enterprises slated under the First Schedule of the NCP ACT N012 of 2002.

“It is time we change the narrative in order to maximize our growth potentials. The NCP is evermore committed to attract viable private capital investment into our Public Enterprises without compromising the interest of the State…,” he said.

At the end of his visits, the NCP Chairman discovered that certain parastatals have done relatively well and can now make profit to be able to pay dividend. He noted that he would require financial resources from government to overhaul and streamline their operations if they should revert to profitability, adding that they would have to be privatised in order to among other things remove contingent liability on government.

The Parastatals visited include the Sierra Leone State Lottery, Guma Valley Water Company, Sierra Leone Ports Authority, Sierra Leone Road Transport Corporation, Sierra Leone National Shipping Company, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Rokel Commercial Bank and Sierra Leone Housing Corporation.

Sierra Leone News: C4C Set to Give Education a Boost

July 4, 2019

Thankful pupils flanked by CEO Patrick K. Saidu (right) and Councilor Abdul Razark Saidu (left)

Compassion For Children (C4C), a faith-based a non-governmental organization, on Monday 1^st July 2019 in Bo City, was launched during a short ceremony. C4C CEO, Patrick M. Saidu, disclosed that the group is poised to heed to Jesus’ call to embrace children and avoid despising them.

Highlight of the official launching of C4C was the distribution of learning materials to pupils of Nwumbe Pre-primary School been graced by the Education Ministry, Bo City Council and media representatives.

In his welcome statement, CEO Saidu bemoaned that, although being classified as the future leaders, most of Sierra Leonean children are subjected to inequalities. With a mission “To show love, care and compassion for the most vulnerable kids in Sierra Leone by providing support and assistance with food, shelter, clothing, educational materials and medical supplies”, CEO Saidu stressed that although C4C is an apolitical organization it is set to collaborate with the current government more especially in unrolling the Free Education Policy. With the theme “No Child Left Behind”, CEO Saidu noted that C4C aims at serving the most vulnerable children from very low socio-economic backgrounds countrywide.

On the genesis of C4C, CEO Saidu said it was formed by a group of Sierra Leoneans who tremendously suffered poverty and ostracization while they were children but are now residing in the United States of America.

CEO Saidu commended the initiators of C4C and called on other citizens in the diaspora to emulate their show of patriotism.

Making a statement Councilor Abdul Razack Saidu opined that the presentation of learning materials was timely and in-line with the government’s priority for children – education. According to him, although the government is doing everything possible to turn its Free Education Policy a reality, there is an urgent need for the intervention of well-meaning organizations. He encouraged the children present to prioritize their education by making best use of the distributed learning materials.

While making a presentation statement, C4C Program Coordinator Pastor David S. S. Bayoh assured that the organization’s launching will be followed by series of children-centered projects with an aim to inject good morals into the beneficiaries. Pastor Bayoh venerated Jesus for teaching his disciples to love children. And this lesson of Jesus, Pastor Bayoh advised must not only stop with the apostles but should be manifested by all adults.

“C4C is starting by boosting education because the future development of every society depends on a knowledgeable population of children,” says Pastor Bayoh and encouraged the children to be resilient in acquiring knowledge.

The Head Boy of Nwumbe Pre-primary School, Mohammed Lamin Jaih thanked C4C for coming to their aid with quality learning materials. Head Boy Jaih lamented that most of the learning materials they have been using were substandard and adversely affecting their learning process. He assured that they will use the learning materials for their intended purposes.

Sierra Leone News: NYSA Onanah Jalloh Enjoins Youths to be Pro-Active

July 4, 2019

(Middle) National Youth Service Executive Director, Onanah Jalloh speaking

During the 2019 Youth Accountability Forum on Education and Gender Equality, Executive Director of the National Youth Service- Onanah Jalloh, inspired Sierra Leonean youths by enjoining them not to hesitate to make their dreams a visible reality.

Speaking on the topic, “TVET and Gender Equality, what could be done to increase the percentage of young women to enroll in training centers for more employment and the importance of gender equality to sustain human rights,” the NYS Executive Director intimated how his institution after the review process will be the perfect solution to achieving the country’s middle level manpower. He said not everyone will become a university graduate stressing how technical vocational education is needed to train young people in architectural design, auto mechanic, plumbing, upholstery, mason, driving and other technical trainings that will help them to be self-reliant.

According to Onanah Jalloh, NYS is currently focusing on university graduates as provided for in the 2016 Act saying plans are currently under way to review the Act in order to absorb those who are not university graduates. He mentioned the Kenyan model which according to him is best suited for Sierra Leone.

He admitted that there are challenges but the available opportunities should be jealously utilized by young people.

“The world is moving and young people are impatient to be part of the development process,” he said, adding that, “President Julius Maada Bio believes in young people and he is convinced that he cannot achieve his development trajectory plan without our involvement. I am now calling on you all to stand up and stop thinking that white collar job is the solution for us as young people.”

The Chairman, Committee on Youth Affairs in Parliament, Hon. Adbul Kargbo said his committee is working in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and its line agencies especially the National Youth Service to help address the growing challenges young people are confronted with.

He called on university authorities to review their curriculum to match up with the available job market.

“Let us restructure our educational curriculum to fit modernization and avoid offering courses on national integration and mathematical calculation that are not creating the required impact on building the middle level manpower,” Hon. Kargbo averred, noting that education is about solving problems and not just speaking big and impressive grammars.

The Youth Accountability Forum was held on Wednesday, 3^rd July, 2019 at the American Corner on Bathurst Street in Freetown.

Sierra Leone News: SIERRA LEONE SISTER’S FOR DEVELOPMENT-USA DONATE FOOD ITEMS

July 4, 2019

On Wednesday 3^rd July, 2019 the Sierra Leone Sisters for Development USA headed by Isatu Shaban, a Sierra Leonean woman based in the United States of America, donated food items to residents of Magbafth Village, Yoni Mabanta Chiefdom.

The donation came barely one year after the establishment of the organization. The Sierra Leone Sisters for Development, USA, is an organization that was established by some Sierra Leonean women in the USA who thought it fit and incumbent to give back to society.

Madam Isatu Shaban, President of the organisation, disclosed that as an entity their aim is to see that they support less privileged Sierra Leoneans in remote communities underscoring how people living in the provinces are in dire need of help,

She intimated that as humanitarians they were galvanized able to save money together which was then used to procure the food items they were donating. She thanked the entire membership for their financial contributions to make the donation becomes a reality.

She ended by calling on other Sierra Leoneans living in the Diaspora to support less privileged communities in the country as a way of giving back to society.

In another development after the donation, Isatu visited the only primary school in the community where she encouraged the pupils to take their studies serious buttressing how education is the key to success

She further made her commitment on behalf of the organization to provide 327 exercise books for pupils as her support to the school.

Pa Kapri Gbla, Section Chief Magbafth Village on behalf of the community thanked the Sierra Leone Sister’s for Development for the gesture which he said is not only important but timely as things are not really easy for them in that part of the country.

He said this is the very first time for them to benefit from such a gesture and called on other Sierra Leoneans living in the Diaspora to follow the foot prints of Sierra Leone Sister’s for Development.

He ended by admonishing the beneficiaries to make good use of the food items donated to them.

Mariama Conteh, a beneficiary, thanked Madam Isatu and other members of the organization for their support as saying how things are not really easy for them in that part of the country pointing out that the community is faced with a lot of challenges like no good health facility, poor harvest, etc.

She ended by calling on the Government of Sierra Leone and other organizations to help them in that part of the country.