The leadership of United Council of Imams has expressed gratitude to the Legal Aid Board for resolving the dispute between its members and the Traditional Poro society in Kenema District. The meeting was held in the head office of the Legal Aid Board on Thursday, March 7.
The representatives of the Council at the meeting comprise fourteen Imams from the Western Area, the Regional Chairlady of the West Zone Haja Isha Kamara and the Regional Chairlady for Tombo Haja Kadiatu Kamara. The Imams in attendance include the President, Dr. Mohamed Habib Sheriff, Secretary General, Sheik Ibrahim Mans Kanu and the Director of Communication/Public Affairs, Sheik Ibrahim Kolleya Kamara.
The dispute came about because of alleged critical comments made against the Society by the Imams which the members of the society did not take kindly to. The ensuing dispute led the Government to suspend initiation into the traditional society following displacement of Imams, while others were either attacked or forcefully conscripted into the Traditional Poro Society.
The Board had to intervene in the dispute in January 2019 following a request from the Council. Reverend Bob Kandeh one of the Board’s Adjudicator with the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Department who also happens to be a senior member of the Poro Society was sent to the affected Chiefdoms – Kandu Lekpeyama and Giema Dama – in Kenema District where he held series of meetings between the two parties in Gaama village until a peaceful resolution was reached.
Based on the findings from the mediation, the Board called on the Council to take steps to address the frosty relationship between their members who also happen to belong to the Poro Society.
The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles, said alleged critical comments from these people may have inflamed tensions between the two groups. “There is also the thorny issue of Imams who have denounced their membership of the society which is also a source of tension between the two,” she said.
Based on a request from the President of the Council, Dr. Mohamed Habib Sheriff the Board has agreed to train members of the Council as Paralegals. This will be done in all the regions in the country.

In a staggering revelation the Director General of National HIV/AIDS Secretariat, Alhaji Dr. Momodu Sesay stated that more than 61, 000 people are HIV positive in Sierra Leone. This, he added is according to their 2013 Prevalence Demographical Health Survey which noted that more than 28, 000 people are currently receiving HIV/AIDS therapy.

He made this disclosure during a partnership forum of Religious Leaders and Development Partners for Sustainable Religious Response to HIV/AIDS.
The process of developing a strategic plan to support the HIV/AIDS response in the country started two years ago in terms of prevention, treatment services and eradicating stigma and discrimination of people affected by the disease.
The religious leaders agreed to inform their respective followings about how they can channel or address issues around the crisis of stigma and discrimination which is one of the main problems affecting people affected.
Giving the keynote address, Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, Baindu Dassama said HIV/AIDS is a crisis that needs huge spiritual, social, economic and political attention, adding that increasingly, it is a problem of all ages.
“Overcoming AIDS and the stigma that fuels the spread of HIV is one of the most serious challenges of our time,” Madam Dassama said, adding that it requires courage, commitment and leadership at all levels especially among religious leaders who can use the trust and authority they have in their communities to change the course of this pandemic and all other emerging issues.
Dassama said they can reach their goal through partnership with citizens, communities, and countries to reflect the sustainable development agenda of the country.
According to the Director General of National HIV/AIDS Secretariat, Alhaji Dr. Momodu Sesay they have work to do in scaling-up their services in terms of universal access to 1,308 facilities in the country.
According to him, the limited number of health facilities is a major challenge but that they are hoping to build more.

In the United States of America,His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has wooed academics and students at Harvard Law School during a forum on Sierra Leone organised by the Centre for African Studies, Harvard University.

Delivering his keynote address, a confident President Bio said that he has prioritised human capital development because that is the foundation for sustainable development.

In his usual unique description of human capital development, he told his audience about the three components of human capital development which include education, food security and healthcare. In addition to the free quality education, he also highlighted measures he has undertaken for food security and accessible healthcare.

President Bio also said that he was in Harvard University to seek partnership and collaboration through experience sharing, knowledge sharing and learning. Discussing the cost of his flagship programme, free quality education, he also said that “ignorance is more expensive than education”.

President Bio used the forum discussion which coincided with International Women’s Day to higlight some of his policies which have been targeted towards the protection and empowerment of women and girls in Sierra Leone. In the area of education, he spoke about grants-in aid for female students pursing sciences in tertiary institutions. A passionate President Bio also explained about the state of emergency on rape and sexual violence as part of series of measures to protect girls and women.

President Bio also highlighted his achievements in revenue mobilisation and control of expenditure to demonstrate his efficient economic management of the State. He spoke of his war against corruption and the commissions of inquiry to ensure democratic accountability to the people.

During the dialogue forum there were also expert presentations by academics in the following areas: Dr. Paul Farmer presented on Healthcare Infrastructure and Healthcare Delivery; Professor Fernando Reimers presented on K-12 Education for a Global World; Professor Margaret McMillan presented on Economic Development in Sub-saharan Africa and Professor Raymond Atuguba presented on Law and Governance in Sierra Leone.

Earlier, President Bio held discussion with the Harvard University President, Larry Bacow and senior academics of the University wherein a partnership between Harvard University and Sierra Leone was discussed.

Later in the evening, President Bio was also hosted to an investors dinner where the Presidential Adviser on Economic and Financial Policy, Mr. Joe Demby, presented the Sierra Leone Investment Ecosystem Strategy and the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Mrs Nabeela Tunis presented on investors’ experience in Sierra Leone. During the investors’ dinner, President Bio also assured investors of his commitment to improve the investment climate in Sierra Leone and invited them that Sierra Leone is open for business.

One organization, the National Elections Watch (NEW) on the 10 March 2019 issued out a Press Release in which the elections watchdog demanded explanation from the National Electoral Commission (NEC) for election irregularities observed at the Tonko Limba Chiefdom, Ward 196 Re-run Bye-election
It was further stated that the National Election Watch (NEW) observed the re-run bye-election held in Ward 196 in the Tonko Limba Chiefdom, Kambia District, on Saturday 9th March 2019 furthering that though the election was free from violence, however it noted with concern some serious irregularities during the process. It added that those irregularities undermined the integrity of the entire election.
The institution’s key observations and questions asked include :

• Polling stations were opened on time in all locations;
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by all political parties to ensure that only one high profiled political party official is allowed within the polling precincts was respected;

Representatives from the Political Party Registration Commission (PPRC), All Political Parties Association (APPA), All Political Parties Women’s Association (APPWA), All Political Parties Youth Association (APPYA), United States Embassy and the media were present;
The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) was professional in executing their security role and senior police officers were on the ground;

There were complaints against Polling Center Manager (PCM) in center no. 08057, St. Mary’s Junior Secondary School, Mile 14 in the presence of senior National Electoral Commission (NEC) officials, PPRC representatives and the media. The PCM was accused of being an active SLPP operative within the Kambia District. The PCM was asked by senior NEC officials to sit aside;
NEC officials issued both 2018 and 2019 ballot papers for the same election;

In polling center 08056, station 3, Kagbonkoh, a voter identified as Momoh Samura was caught with 6 pre-marked and stamped ballot papers inside the polling station and was handed over to the police. All ballots were marked in favour of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP);
Banker: Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB)

• Another man was caught with pre-marked ballots in Mile 14 within the polling precincts. When interrogated by the police in NEW’s presence, he admitted that he was given a pre-marked ballot and Le 20,000 on the eve of the election to illicitly cast it on polling day;

• There were unreconciled ballots in a number of polling stations during the counting. For instance, in polling center 08057 at station no. 02, 71 ballots were in excess. In Masunthu, polling center 08060, polling station no. 04, 20 ballots were in excess;

• The over-voting caused political party agents to protest against the process, but senior NEC officials put aside the excess ballots and stated that further investigation would be done at the Kambia District Tally Center in the full view of all political party agents;

• During the recount at the Kambia District Council Tally Center, there were several discrepancies e.g. for Masunthu: center 08060, polling station 04, 20 votes were in excess. For Kagbonkoh: center 08056, polling station 02, the discrepancy showed 87 excess votes;

• The computer at the tally center rejected several Result Reconciliation Forms (RRF).

NEW, therefore, demands that NEC as the body tasked with the responsibility to conduct and manage all public elections in Sierra Leone, explains to the general public the circumstances that led to the following:

• Why sensitive ballot papers were in the possession of some voters prior to the election?

• The use of 2018 and 2019 different ballots papers for the purpose of the same election.
• Why did NEC officials fail to reconcile the ballots issued at the polling station before counting and to also clear this very issue during the tallying process?

• Why were the RRFs rejected by the computer at the tally center?

• How did NEC arrive at the results when the tallying process was not concluded in front of observes and party agents and how was the issue of over voting addressed?

The National Elections Watch commended the SLP and the Office of National Security (ONS) for their professional handling of the security aspect of the election and for their efficient enforcement of the MoU that the political parties signed with elections stakeholders.

The institution stated that the trend of election irregularities is a reverse in our democratic gains and called on all stakeholders to denounce such irregularities and work towards ensuring that the integrity of the electoral processes are guaranteed.

National Election Watch (NEW) is a coalition of local and international organizations in Sierra Leone with a common objective of supporting free, fair and peaceful elections. NEW will continue to observe all elections and will report its findings accordingly.

Housemate No: 6,Bintu Kabba, is truly an irresistible person with a very magnetic personality has make her become very endearing to most people who have been keenly following the 2019 Housemates Reality TV Show. Though she was born in Sierra Leone, however, she was raised in neighboring Guinea but later on returned to her country of origin and continued with her educational pursuit at the Modern High School. Currently, she is a second year student at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM).
Very multi-talented, Bintu is very good at modelling, debating and because of her background she is bilingual, fluent in English and French. Amazingly, she also speaks with ease Mandingo, Susu and Fullah, a true manifestation of someone who can go places.
Currently, in the House Bintu Kabba happens to be the youngest but that has not served as a barrier to inhibit her from thrilling viewers by outwitting the other competitors.
As the 2019 Housemates Salone Reality TV Show provides the congenial place to make relationships, Bintu became so close to Dwight Smith, Housemate No: 9 a relationship that culminated into a tight love tie between the two.
For now Bintu has become the real game changer in the House with others seeing her as a threat. This became very evident recently when a debate and later on a rap competition were organized where she performed exceptionally well in both of these events.
Some of the other outstanding abilities which she has well demonstrated include, but not limited to, being a good team player and peace broker. With the expectation of using strong language, as it is expected of them, there is gossiping going on in the House which sometimes generates heated arguments. Bintu will be there to successfully cool down tempers and restore friendship based on mutual understanding.
However, that spirit should not be mistaken as someone who is shy as she is fearless, bold and courageous.
She is the founder of a charity foundation that helps vulnerable women and children. Housemate Salone will be boring without her.
Bintu is referred to as ‘Small Zainab Sheriff’, not only because she is an outspoken plain preacher but also she is an inspiration to many.
There is a lot of suspense and drama behind this contestant.
This dynamic, ambitious and result-oriented young lady has a bright prospect ahead but she needs to be supported and more empowered in order to reach the top which many truly say she deserves
Housemates Salone will not be so lively if Bintu Kabba, Housemate No:6, is not among the contestants. There is no surprise why she continues to attract more votes as the competition heightens.

By all estimation and regardless of any contrary view that has been expressed, which is naturally inevitable, the crystal fact remains that the ongoing Housemates Salone 2019 TV Reality Competition will go down the annals of the entertainment industry as one of the biggest events that was successfully staged in this country.
The competition, which will end by mid-April 2019, is indeed truly thrilling and somehow funny generating discussions in different quarters not particularly about how it was organised or is being rolled out but rather bordering on the performances and characters of the various Housemates presently in the House.
All the Housemates are frantically putting on their best performances in order to attract votes from the wider public who should vote via Africell No: 5500 for any of these competitors whom they are convinced is worth voting for.
If some of the Housemates appear sexy by the kind of dresses they wear then that must not come as any big surprise simply because they are expected to display nudity. Again, if sometimes they talk harshly then it is because they are to intermittently use strong language and acting funnily is as a result of the expectation of being humorous. In a bid to manifest these elements that is what is really making the Reality TV Show ,that is shown on AYV Television Channel 34, very interesting to watch providing some form of relief for viewers and serving as a therapy to reduce stresses.
Organisers of the event, Africa Young Voices (AYV) and Africell are very enthusiast to enhance youth empowerment in the country and the 2019 Housemates Salone is one platform that is providing that for the young competitors. They are benefitting from motivational lectures and added to that they are given the opportunity to socialize, learn how to play different games, how to speak fluently etc. With all these it will definitely transform the Housemates from what their characters were before they entered the House.
But financially empowering these Housemates is one of the most important channels of making them relevant in society. Each day spent in the House will earn a Housemate Le100, 000. The winner will bag Le100, 000,000 and in the short future champion a key project that is expected will positively impact the lives of young people in the country.

It is an open secret that since its inception the African Young Voices (AYV) has been providing opportunities for young people to have their voices heard, to learn new skills and meaningfully contribute to overall national development.
This youth empowerment drive is one of the cardinal objectives of this renowned media empire and it has been successfully rolling it out.

On the part of Africell, the telecommunications service provider has been supporting various entertainment activities and even young artists in the country with the avowed aim of catching them young and as well contribute to enable young people to realise their potentials and bring them out.

Being an interesting and widely watched Reality TV Show on AYV TV Channel 34, Housemates Salone has also provided a marketing platform for many corporate and business institutions such as Banks, business houses, entertainment entities etc, who are effectively making use of the channel to advertise their products and services.
As advertisement is key to marketing through this means provided by Housemates Salone these business entities are presently reaching out to the wider public.
Abu Mattia, a Sociology Lecturer, opined that 2019 Housemates Salone is an exceptional event that must be staged yearly simply because it affords young people the podium to exhibit their God-given talents which could be enhanced in order to contribute meaningfully towards various spheres of life or development. “Bringing together young people from various parts of the country under one roof and training them to improve on their talents is something that is very good in terms of positively engaging them on different fronts,” he frankly intimated adding that they are beacons of hope when cognisance is taken of the fact that they could cascade what they have gained.
Another regular viewer of the show stated that indeed AYV and Africell must be commended for packaging the Reality Show which is indeed new within the entertainment landscape in the country but very entertaining.

Aminata Kamara, 41 had no idea of International Women’s Day celebrated on March 8th across the World. The mother of four was not the only woman who didn’t have the slightest idea of a day set aside by the United Nations in solidarity with the women of the world. Aminata was among hundreds of women in Yele Chiefdom, Tonkolili District and possibly other parts of rural Sierra Leone who had remained ignorant of the several policies and programs meant to emancipate their lot.

In his nationwide address on International Women’s Day, President Julius Maada Bio called for collective efforts to address the challenges faced by women in Sierra Leone. The President believed the development of our women and girls must transcend “mere words…and mere acknowledgment of an obligation.”

Apparently, the 8th of March would have been of little significance to the women in that part of the country had the Gilo Education and Economic Development (GEED) Foundation, not arrived to complement government efforts by commemorating the day with the presentation of an entrepreneurial package for the Gbonkolenken Market Women Association. This had come after similar packages to women in Bonthe, Western Area, Bo and Masiaka.

The event which took place at the Yele Court Barry saw 30 women petty traders receiving motivational soft commercial packages which they are expected to repay in eight months. “Our focus is to ensure more women benefit from these motivational boosters and help them become self-reliant,” said founder and Director of GEED Foundation, Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin. Gilpin said he started his organization in 2008 whilst working in the diaspora and has carried out several humanitarian interventions – helping school children and women in some parts of the country. “These humanitarian activities have been largely personally funded, with some support from the Good News Prayer Group. I believe every citizen with the means has a responsibility to do something similar and help bridge the poverty gap in our country…this is not just the responsibility of government…it should be a collective responsibility,” he maintained.

The event was climaxed by the feeding of over 200 women and children in Yele as well as the formal launching of the GEED Foundation in Tonkolili District.

As they returned home in apparent adulation, Aminata and her 29 compatriots were visibly happy at the prospect of an increase in their business capital made possible through the kind gesture of Walton Gilpin – a banking executive and a philanthropist with an insatiable appetite to reach out to his less fortunate compatriots.

GEED Foundation is a none political, none profit and progressive organization. Its major focus is on supporting Women and Children, with the aim of improving human capital and the development index in Sierra Leone.

Police officers across the country benefitted from one week refresher training that was organized by the Human Rights Commission on the 9th March 2019. The training was based on application of human rights standards in policing post-election conflicts.

The refresher training was conducted in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Police with support from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). 50 officers were re-trained in Kambia, Makeni, Pujehun, Port Loko and Bo making a total of 250 police officers.

The objective of the training was to strengthen the capacity of Police Officers on the application of Human Rights in policing operations and the appropriate use of force and firearms.

The Human Rights Commission provided two trainers; Frederick Kamara and Richard Tamba M’bayo, Supt Fatmata Kanako Kamara and ASP Solomon Koroma were the trainers from the Police whilst Yande Kane, the Human Rights Advisor to the UN Resident Coordinator also formed part of the trainers.

In Sierra Leone, many security actors are involved in handling security matters before, during and after election. All security institutions do play one role or the other to help the police cope with election challenges. They play their roles with the understanding that police has primacy in the provision of internal security and maintenance of peace and stability as enshrined in the 1991 constitution of Sierra Leone.
Considering the fact that the police force is the principal factor in ensuring internal safety and stability, personnel must be capacitated with an all-round knowledge in Human Rights issues.

The reason for this is that they find themselves trapped in a web of dilemma between Law Enforcement and Human Rights. It is the duty of all officers to ensure that their colleagues uphold the ethical standards of their profession.

One of Sierra Leone’s Finest Economists, Prince Jacob Macauley, in an exclusive interview with this medium, advised the Government to introduce a Free Port at the country’s natural harbour, Queen Elizabeth 11 Quay. This, he stressed, will bring about a turn-around of the country’s economy.
Prince Macauley praised the Government for the bold steps taken so far to revive the economy, but maintained that more should be done. He recognized the fact that the Bio Government inherited a battered economy and it is not going to be easy to fix it. It will take time to fix. The cause of the country’s woes is as a result of the false feasibility work of the African Minerals prior to their establishment in the country. This could be seen after the company folded up operations in the country and sold their shares to Shandong. The Chinese company came with the false picture presented to them by AML on paper, but when on the ground, he discovered that the case was different and it is no surprise that they were unable to cope.
Whilst appreciating the work of the Finance and Development Ministers for their work, he stressed that 3 areas should be addressed namely: reduction of taxation to encourage investors to come to the country, the introduction of a free port at the quay, which will encourage massive flow of goods and a reduction of their prices in the market and most importantly the implementation of the National Development Plan recently developed by the Development Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance. On the latter, he disclosed that it is in consonance with the NDP of the 80s and 90s, but which was not implemented. This plan, whilst ignored by the Government of Sierra Leone the, was adopted and implemented in Botswana and toady that country’s economy is booming. He encouraged the Government to implement this development plan.
Economist Macauley emphasized that the public should know that the economy of the country cannot be addressed within 365 days (One Year), but noted that actions taken by the Government are good and a step in the right direction. Pumping of foreign exchange into the market is not a good practice, but advised that moves be taken to ensure the reduction of taxation on local products. Whilst recognizing that taxation is the process by which the Government generates revenue, he maintained that with less taxation, goods and services will flow and create more job opportunities for its citizens and this increase will further result in more revenue generation.
On the issue of establishing a free port at the quay, Macauley explained that this will encourage the importation of more goods into the country, encourage Asian market to use the port as a transit point of its goods and may even attract investors from those countries to invest in Sierra Leone. It will further create jobs for the youths; thereby reduce the unemployment rate in the country. This move will further reduce the rate of the dollar in the market. It will heighten competition among Sierra Leoneans and foreign business people doing business in the country. He made mention of countries like the Republic of Guinea and other African states that have free ports and how they are impacting on their economies.
“Sierra Leone will become the Dubai of Africa. Free Port will attract duty, investors, buyers and services,” he said adding that it will solve all the problems faced in this sector. With more goods flowing into the country, the bread and butter issues will be addressed and the dollar rate will go down, he asserted.
Economist Macauley further maintained that there should be strengthening of the Local Content Policy. “In Ghana, all foreign businesses have local partners as envisaged in the Sierra Leone Local Content Policy,” he pointed out furthering how Ghanaian business people pay lesser taxes than their foreign counterparts.
He also cautioned that whilst levying taxes on foreign businesses care should be taken not to scare them away.
“The rationale is to encourage local businesses to thrive,” he stated. Government, he stressed, should revisit the tax regime in the country with a view to encourage more investors and motivate interested Sierra Leonean businesses to grow. Local businesses should not be taxed the same as foreign businesses, as this is the case in most African countries that are flourishing today.
On the Development of Agriculture, Macauley maintained that the Agriculture Ministry should go back to the drawing board and map out plans to engage the Farmers’ Associations on ways to improve their yield. The bottom to top approach should be activated. Farmers should be provided with the necessary tools to enhance their work like mechanized farming and provision of seeds and fertilizers. The cultivation of rice, which is the staple food of Sierra Leone, should be encouraged. He made mention of the different varieties of rice and the period of cultivation and harvest (3 & 6 months). Plans should be made to ensure that the varieties are produced according to their respective period and a ready market provided for them. This, he stated will encourage farmers to get involve in farming. With a ready market for their products, farmers will discover that their business will be profitable and this will attract more farmers to the sector. As agriculture improves, the need for more importation will dwindle and exportation expanded.
On the Single Treasury Account implemented by the Government, Macauley maintained that as a start, the measure is good as it ensures transparency and accountability, but in the long run it will hamper the operations of MDAs, as it will slow down their mode of operations. Strict financial management should be implemented and the STA phased out, he suggested.
In his opinion, Economist Macauley said that the government has done extremely well, considering the state of the economy it inherited and the challenges of debt owed that it is still paying back. This improvement has been due to shrewd financial management and planning orchestrated by both the ministries of Finance and Economic Planning. It is his hope that the Government will think seriously about the establishment of a free port to attract more goods and services coming in to the country, for this is the only way it could reduce taxes, create jobs, reduce the erratic rise of the dollar and address all the bread and butter issues.

A Sierra Leonean family from Canada has donated five executive chairs and three conference tables to the Legal Aid Board.
The items were handed over to the Executive Director of the Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles by Mrs. Mabinty Bangura from Thunder Bay, Canada in a short ceremony in the head office of the Board on March 12.
She said she and her husband Bassie Bangura chose to donate to the items to the Board because they want to contribute to the wonderful job it is doing around the country by ensuring poor people access justice in an affordable and speedy.
Ms. Carlton-Hanciles said she is happy Sierra Leoneans overseas know and appreciate what the Board is doing. She assured the family that the Board will do more and ensure the poor have access to and are not disadvantaged in the processng justice. ‘We have set very high standards for ourselves and this is why we have been able to achieve so much and become a household name,’ she said.
It would be recalled that the family donated thirty (30) desktop computers and accessories to the Board in 2017.