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President Bio Recieves NaCCED Draft Civic Education Textbooks

By Theresa Kef Sesay

The National Council for Civic Education and Development (NaCCED) has presented the final draft documents of the national civic education (Civics) textbooks to President Dr. Julius Maada Bio at his presidential lodge office in Freetown. This comes a year after a civic curriculum development team was set up by the council charged with the mandate to develop and produce curriculum contents in the form of textbooks, in order to acquire innovative approaches for the promotion of good citizenship, especially for pupils in classes 1 to 6 and JSS 1 to 3.

The final draft documents were presented by the Chairman of NaCCED’s Steering Committee, Dr. Denis Bright, and the Head of the Civic Curriculum Development Team, Professor Joe A.D Alie.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Kalilu Totangi expressed gratitude to the President for being forthright and forward looking in setting up the Council for civic education and development. He said that the council, since its inception, has established the Head office in Freetown with the appropriate level of staff, and recruited regional coordinators for the four administrative regions in the country. He expressed immense thanks to the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and the Sierra Leone Teachers Union for their sustained support to the council.

He implored the President to continue to support the council, as its interventions are timely and critically needed. Chairman Totangi also briefed the President Bio on a just concluded massive engagement with 120 Youth leaders in Makeni and its immediate environs, on the recent youth related violence in the city of Makeni that caused the loss of lives and destruction of both private and public properties. He stressed the absolute need for continuous civic engagement with youths through appropriate information sharing.

In presenting the Civic Education draft textbook documents, Prof. Joe A.D. Alie said that citizenship education aims at producing citizens who have respect and concern for one and other, recognize and appreciate the equality of all human beings, have regard for rules and laws and opposes all forms of discrimination, promote a spirit of cooperation, tolerance and peace in the society, have awareness of their rights and responsibilities in a democracy and also, citizens that can meaningfully contribute to the national economic growth through self-development amongst others.

“Citizens’ education is not about trying to fit everyone into the same mould or indoctrination. But it is rather aimed at presenting learners with different viewpoints and allowing them to make informed decisions for themselves,” said Prof. Alie. He added that citizenship education involves a wide range of different elements that includes knowledge and understanding, skills and aptitudes, and values and dispositions.

Dr Denis Bright, while presenting the final draft documents, expressed optimism that civics will change the current situation of young people in the country. He emphasized that focus should not only be on the youths, but children and adults as well. Given the current situation of youth related violence in the country, NaCCED is timely and positioned to change the dynamics through effective engagement and overall civic education. He added “NaCCED is ready for work because every recent event justifies the absolute need for the intervention of civic engagement.”

Responding to the NaCCED delegation, President Bio expressed gratitude to the Council for taking national issues seriously. He stated that a sure way for correcting societal ills and shortcomings is by gradual approach through civic education. According to the President, when things fall apart, they happen in bits and pieces and to rebuild requires the same progression. He furthered that for one to be proud of his or her country, one needs to recognize the peculiarities of the country in order not to lose their identity and heritage.

Civics, President Bio stated, is a big part of what we want to achieve and it takes conscious and deliberate efforts to bring back Civics to our schools. He advised that the textbooks be digitalized so that the level of access will be enhanced and sustained for now and generations to come. According to the President, civics encourages one to be proud about where they come from because there is no small history as history tells us who we are and there is a compelling need to remember our heroes and use it as a national strength to fight for what we want and build resilience. His Ecellency concluded that “we have been a great nation but we have forgotten that, because we are not reminded about our past interventions”.

The core areas and learning outcomes for this Civics text books are live skills acquisition, peaceful co-existence, unity and national cohesion, relationships, roles and responsibilities, good governance and global citizenship. The writers of the Civic Education textbooks are Prof. C. Fyle, Pro. Joe A.D Alie, Mr. Prince Fisher, Mr. Nelson Williams and Mrs. Kadiatu Fofanah. President Bio supported the recommendation of NaCCED and the rest of the delegation, to have Civic education (Civics) be adopted as a separate and stand-alone compulsory subject in schools to enhance its success and effectiveness.

National Tourist Board Embarks on Familiarization Tour

By Amin Kef Sesay

On Friday 7th August, 2020, the Board of Directors of the National Tourist Board and a cross section of management and staff of the National Tourist Board (NTB) embarked on a familiarization tour of various touristic sites in the country, with a maiden trip to  Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Regent in Freetown.

The mission of the Board was to aufait with many activities in the tourism sector by visiting all touristic facilities and attractions countrywide.

Speaking at the Tacugama Chimpanzee Santuary, the Chairman of NTB Board of Directors, Alieu Kokobay underscored the importance of their familiarization tour in touristic sites, adding that they would be in the best position to market, talk and defend the industry at any given period locally and internationally.

He added that the Tacugama is one of the important touristic sites promoting the development of tourism in the country.

As the institution responsible for marketing and developing the tourism sector in the country, he said they would not leave everything in the hands of the administration alone.

As Board Members he said that they must know what the country have as a nation in the tourism sector so that they would be assisting to market the industry through communication to the people.

He further registered commitment to support the development of the site as there are more facilities to be provided there that will have to benefit generations.

Bala Amarasekaran, Director of Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, disclosed that the touristic site is neither private nor NGO, but a government owned site, notwithstanding the financial challenges they are facing to access fund from government. He furthered that it was very costly to feed and care for the chimpanzees, which are nearly hundred in number, plus the staff who are volunteers there. He maintained that the Wildlife Conservation Project is a good project, but in time people would start to appreciate it.

He spoke of the seventy three (73) communities they are working with across the country to protect the forest, pointing out that they partnered with the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) for the protection of the Luma Mountain National Park in Koinadugu district, which has been described as the highest concentration of western chimpanzees anywhere in the world.

The Minister of Tourism, Dr. Memunatu Pratt’s giant strides in the sector are sending positive messages to the outside world and have brought a major facelift in the tourism sector, which places Sierra Leone presently as tourists’ destination.

The Board of Directors visited the National Museum, Railway Museum, Old Fourah Bay College Building and a host of historical city centres in the Western Area.

Deputy Information Minister Launches Sierra Leone’s Covid-19 Response Hub Portal

By Bampia James Bundu

The Deputy Minister of information and Communications, Madam Mamadi Gobeh-Kamara, has launched the Sierra Leone Covid-19 Response Hub Portal, a centralized public dashboard with near-real-time updates of containment effort and spatial information on critical resources.

The virtual launch took place in the conference room of the Ministry of Information and Communications at Youyi building in Freetown on Friday 7th August 2020.

Madam Mamadi Gobeh-Kamara noted that the overarching vision of the government is to create a digitally inclusive society and economy empowered by digital innovation and entrepreneurship.

According to her, the creation of the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation and the appointment of Dr. Moinina Sengeh as the Chief innovation Officer to lead it, is an expression of President Bio’s commitment towards creating a digitally inclusive society for all Sierra Leoneans.

She informed that the Sierra Leone Covid-19 Hub Portal was developed in collaboration with the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation, Statistics Sierra Leone, and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation with support from ESRI, GRID3, and GPSDD to serve as a centralized public dashboard with near-real-time updates of containment effort and spatial information on critical resources.

She expressed government’s appreciation for the material and technical support provided through the new partnership with ESRI, GRID3, and other stakeholders, and looked forward to more productive and lasting partnerships.

The Deputy Minister maintained that the Hub will add a growing number of digital tools leveraged by the government to tackle the immediate COVID-19 threat and beyond through an informed populace and to present data transparently and concisely to allow for effective decision-making and resources allocation.

The Hub, she furthered, provides analyzed data on confirmed cases, recoveries, deaths and other indicators that meet public interest through a dashboard that gives a quick snapshot of the current Covid-19 situation along with spatial information on health facility access, risk and vulnerability, population estimates, settlement, points of interest like markets, libraries, schools, water source site stations, tourist and accommodation, and post offices, among others.

She encouraged all to make use of the Hub Portal as it will give them informed data on the country’s response.

The Director of DSTI (Directorate of Science Technology and Innovation), Madam Michaela Mackay, stated that the vision of DSTI is to use science, technology, and innovation to help government deliver on its national development plan and to establish Sierra Leone as an innovative nation where agile, exploratory and research-driven start-ups and initiatives led by young people can experiment at the appropriate scale, and within the right economic, policy and regulatory framework.

She commended the Ministry of Information and Communications for the move and also thanked the players who worked hard to achieve the goal.

The Director General of the Sierra Leone News Agency (SLENA), did a presentation on ‘Pushing the Boundaries on Data Liberalization’ while the Statistician General, Prof. Osman Sankoh, spoke on ‘Using Spatial Data for the Decision Making Process’.

The Director of Programs, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, also presented on the theme ‘Data 4 now: Building Africa’s Resilience in Partnership with UNECA’.

Presentations were done by other personalities on similar issues.

 

Big Idea of the Week… Masks Here, Masks There. Masks Worn by All, Everywhere!

SLAJ and NACOVERC Big Idea of the week

By Amin Kef Sesay

It is important for everyone to note that the coronavirus is still in our midst. It will be fool hardy for some people to continue to propagate the message that the existence of the virus is a farce or unrealistic. Coronavirus is a global pandemic and has killed thousands of people around the world, of which Sierra Leone is no exception.

Coronavirus can be easily spread from one person to another. If one person has the virus and spreads it to others, and then each of those people spreads it to others, within a short time, the virus can spread throughout a community. Most people with coronavirus have only mild symptoms or do not show any signs and symptoms. It is possible that you, or the person near you, have the coronavirus and do not even know it. While most people who have the virus feel fine, they can still spread it to others.

Some people who get the virus can get very sick and even die, especially people who are older or have other health conditions. We all have loved ones who are older and have other health conditions. Sometimes, people do not know they have other health conditions until they get worse and get sick. Those other health conditions, even when we do not yet know about them, can make our bodies weaker in fighting other sicknesses, like coronavirus.

But there is hope! If we come together in solidarity; if we pledge to wear a mask when in public correctly and consistently; we can slow the spread. And we can save lives.

Wearing a mask shows you care for each other. “I cover my face to protect you; you cover your face to protect me.” The coronavirus pandemic is not over; in fact, it’s spreading like wildfire in far too many places around the globe.

Science postulates that community masking is critical to stop the spread of coronavirus. Until we have vaccines or medicines, mask wearing is one of the best tools we have that we can all use (along with social distancing and hand washing). We now know that any of us could be carrying and spreading the virus, even if we’re not experiencing symptoms.

A review funded by the World Health Organization of 172 research studies from 16 countries and six continents found that face mask use could result in a large reduction in the risk of infection. Based on this growing evidence on how to slow the spread of coronavirus, the global public health community agrees: wearing a mask or face covering when in public helps protect communities.

That’s why we support World Mask Week (August 7-14). This movement demands each of us to do what we can to slow the spread of the virus and to save lives in our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and communities. We want to applaud everyone who has been wearing a mask and invite more people to join the movement. We must ensure that everyone, everywhere knows and understands the benefits of wearing a mask and how only together as governments, leaders and individuals can we rise up to meet the challenge and overcome this pandemic.

#WorldMaskWeek: 9 th – 15th August 2020, is a global movement to inspire more people to wear face masks to help stop the spread of coronavirus, and Sierra Leone is on board! Masks here, masks there. Masks worn by all, everywhere! World Mask Week.

#MaskUpSalone Studies continue to prove that more mask wearing, together with handwashing and physical distancing, helps stop the spread of coronavirus in communities everywhere. The coronavirus pandemic is not over. It is still here and spreading in Sierra Leone, and it is spreading rapidly in far too many places around the globe.

International Youth Day is Wednesday August 12th. We applaud all the young people who are stepping up and helping to stop the spread of coronavirus by wearing a mask. You are making a difference.

Wearing a cloth mask correctly over your mouth and nose helps catch the spray of those small liquid droplets from going into the air or onto surfaces that could then spread to other people and make them sick. That is why wearing a cloth mask correctly, even when we feel healthy, helps stop the spread of coronavirus and protects our loved ones.

Cloth masks used alone do not stop the spread of coronavirus, but they can help when used together with other actions. The most effective actions to protect yourself and others against coronavirus are to wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, cough and sneeze into your upper arm or sleeve, and keep a safe distance of at least 1 meter or arms-stretched length from others.

How To Use Cloth Mask

  • An effective cloth mask should: Be held to the head by ties or ear loops. Use multiple layers of fabric. Fit close against your face. Fully cover your mouth and nose and not fall down when talking. Allow for breathing without problem. Be able to be washed without damaging the mask
  • It is important to know how to wear a cloth mask correctly and care for it safely. Always wash a cloth mask before trying it on or wearing it. Before putting on a cloth mask, wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol-based.

Cover your mouth and nose with the cloth mask and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask. Tie the mask behind your head or place the elastic loops over your ears. Make sure the mask fits well.

Move it around using the ties or elastic loops to get the best fit. Do not touch the cloth part of the mask. Once you have put on the cloth mask, do not touch your face again until you take it off.

▪ If you touch the mask, wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer. Cloth masks should not be lowered when speaking, coughing or sneezing. This is when they are most important!

To take off the mask safely, undo the ties or loops. Do not touch the front of mask or your eyes, nose and mouth. Carefully fold the cloth mask inside out and hold it by the ties or loops.

Wash the cloth mask right away with soap and water or put it in a plastic by itself until you can wash it later. After removing the mask from the plastic, throw the plastic away.

Dry the cloth mask well before using it again. Iron the cloth mask if possible. Use a fresh, clean cloth mask every day. If the mask gets damp from sweat or from talking or breathing, replace it with a clean dry one.

  • It is good to have at least two cloth masks so you have a clean, dry one you can wear while the washed one dries.
  • Masks should not be placed on young children under the age of two or any person who cannot remove it themselves or tell someone they need help.
  • Do not share cloth masks with others.
  • Place cloth masks that have tears, cuts, or holes in a plastic and throw away.
  • While the use of medical masks for hours at a time can be uncomfortable, it does not lead to poisoning from carbon dioxide (CO2) or a shortage of oxygen.

Young people, let’s show others the future we want – one where we protect ourselves and one another from coronavirus. “I wear my mask to protect you; you wear your mask to protect me.” If you’re on social media, snap and share a photo of how you #MaskUpSalone! World Mask Week is the time to do this.

Corona fet na we all fet!

NP (SL) Ltd still Occupies Leadership in Petroleum Marketing

By Amin Kef Sesay

Many have attested that the National Petroleum –Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is really a company that has been progressively making inroads within the petroleum business landscape, not only within this country, but even beyond, as could be seen in the vibrant functioning of its branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia.

Starting as a small business enterprise that was established years back by certain Sierra Leoneans who were erstwhile workers of the British Petroleum (BP), out of shares that they bought, when the latter decided to fold up operations here, the company has grown exponentially to become the leading petroleum marketing company in this country and even beyond. NP-SL Ltd is renowned for importing high grade petroleum products which include petrol, diesel, gas and other lubricants of which Castrol oil has been confirmed to be the best and very good for the efficient functioning of  all types of engines.

From a thorough research conducted by this medium, over time, what became very glaring was that the company has continuously enhanced customer care to the highest level, which positioned it to bag the accolade for 1st for Customer Care. The Shareholders and various Management teams of the company thought it really prudent to harness customer care well, out of the realization that “the customer is always right”. It may literally not be true, but what is understandable to those who are at the helm of affairs at the company is that the cogent concerns and inputs of customers must be taken into consideration for informed decisions to be taken, relating to how they should be factored into the business. Of course, such an open door policy has been paying good dividends.

In order to ensure that fair play takes a foothold in business transactions that will give customers utmost satisfaction, it was decided years back to install calibrated pumping machines at its Filling Stations. These automated calibrated pumping machines are very capable of churning out the right quantity of fuel that a particular customer buys at a given Filling Station, as they display the litres pumped and the price(s). According to the research result, when majority of those buying fuel at various Filling Stations were interviewed, was that they believe they are getting value for their monies.

“When I was in my twenties there were complaints and a lot of grumbling that pump attendants were clandestinely stealing fuel whenever customers went to purchase fuel. The machines used in those days were not in the least transparent and some of us had the impression that they were tampered with. However, when the transition took place, with the replacement of the old machines with the calibrated ones, many, especially commercial drivers, breathe a sigh of relief as it dawned that it was no longer business as usual.

Many began to commend NP-SL for coming up with a new system and breaking from the past, as it became apparent that transparency has gained ascendancy over what was considered as opaque transactions,” Mohamed Abu Sesay, a man in his early sixties, fondly recalled while talking to this medium and what he said resonates with the views of others who witnessed the transition.

Still in the realm of giving their customers the best, in terms of qualitative service delivery in a timely manner, the company decided to secure good tanker vehicles of varying sizes that transport petroleum products to provincial towns. These vehicles are being serviced from time to time in order to ensure their road worthiness. It was understood that petroleum products are always transported in record time to different parts of the country so that there will be no iota of shortage as long as fuel is available.

Another outstanding feature of the company that sharply came to the fore, during this medium’s research, was that it is a laid down policy that when it comes to the offering of jobs then, as an indigenous company, preference must be given to indigenes as against bringing in expatriates from other countries. Even in situations where foreign expatriates are brought in, there must be Sierra Leoneans to understudy them and in time, the indigenes must take over.

This stance on the part of the company is in sync with the country’s Local Content Policy, which is deemed as a sine qua non for economic development to transpire. When this policy is translated into tangibles, it is realized that it has helped in reducing the unemployment rate by whatever margin that could be measured. And as jobs are offered to those who are really qualified, but were hitherto jobless, then it contributes to the reduction of the rate of poverty in the country.

“I want to doff my hat to the Shareholders and Management of NP-SL for doggedly sticking and implementing this policy, as it is in line with not only best practice, but has demonstrated that the private sector plays a pivotal role in job creation,” Emmanuel Konjoh, a leading champion in enhancing compliance with the country’s Local Content Policy intimated us.

With regards the company’s rolling out of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), NP-SL Ltd has been doing so over the years through giving various supports to worthy causes. Just recently, out of consideration to complement Government’s efforts in scaling up the fight against the deadly coronavirus, NP-SL donated the whopping sum of one billion Leones to the COVID-19 Response Centre as its own token of contribution to beef up the arsenal geared towards defeating the new enemy.

The company has also given institutional supports to certain sectors, especially those that are closely aligned to it like the National Fire Force. Knowing that it deals in highly inflammable products the company has been very supportive to this important institution. It is against such a backdrop that NP-SL decided to facilitate the construction of a state of the art borehole water facility with a kva generator to pump up the water, for the Kissy Branch of the National Fire Force, since the terminal’s fuel discharge is close to that branch. As a matter of fact it was not the first support that the company has rendered to that institution and when cognisance is taken of how it is most times difficult to access water in that part of the country, then it will be seen that it was indeed a big blessing.

NP Smart Card is now in vogue and has become trending. It was introduced by the company at the right time, as countries globally are shifting away from cash transactions to cashless ways of transacting businesses thereby creating room for the convenience and security of customers. Banks are doing it and there are other online ways of doing shopping. With the NP Smart Card, monies could be credited into the card and used to buy fuel of any quantity that is within the region of what the card contains. All could be used or some with a balance remaining. But what is so far advantageous with making use of it is that it gives customers the opportunity to budget or save in the card certain amount of money that has been designated to purchase fuel.

Introducing NP Gas brought relief to many who hitherto had to depend on the use of wood or charcoal. It is quick, with high performance precision and can be easily refilled with gas that could be secured from the company’s Filling Stations. Manufactured in different cylinder sizes, many are indeed going for it and have spoken glowingly about its good performance.

NP-SL Ltd, it is agreed, has firmly taken over the petroleum business landscape as a result of coming up with various offers that make its numerous customers always feel happy. It is a dependable and reliable business entity that has been growing by leaps and bounds.

Housemates Salone Season 2 Offers Positive Youth Empowerment

By Amin Kef Sesay

Housemates Salone Season 2.organised and sponsored by Africa Young Voices (AYV) and Africell-Sierra Leone provides the enabling environment to help young people discover their talents, as well as expose them to the wider world, thereby fostering youth empowerment in the country. Whilst a couple will emerge as winner of the show, all participants will benefit from the exposure and be possible choices by corporate bodies for the promotion of their brand.

It should be noted that both AYV and Africell are known for promoting and empowering young people. Their engagement goes years back when they supported sporting activities, the entertainment industry, incorporating young people as Brand Ambassadors, offered job opportunities and rolled out mapped out programmes that have seen growth in those sectors. During their promotion programs, both entities have made millionaires and promoted entrepreneurs out of unsuspecting youths. To further contribute to youth development, the bar has been raised by AYV and Africell Sierra Leone, with the Star Prize of Le250 million for the winners of this current Reality TV Show, Housemates Salone Season 2, dubbed ‘Quarantine Drama’.

Mindful of the fact that Youths constitute 70% of the country’s population and are the leaders of the future, the organisers of the show is determined to make the participants in this show discover their hidden talents and provide the enabling environment to allow them to develop those skills and talents and in the process prepare them for the future contribution to society, as well as their own personal development. This is what Housemates Salone seasons 2 seeks to do, provide POSITIVE EMPOWERMENT that will sharpen their skills, improve their potentials and make them productive citizens in society.

AYV and Africell-SL, in the Housemates Salone Season 2 show, have fused entertainment and youth empowerment, to not only give exposure to the participants and its accompanying benefits, but to provide a lively show that will keep viewers glued to their TV sets, especially during this period of social distancing, where many Sierra Leoneans and viewers across the world will be staying at home.

With 20 housemates from both sexes staying under the same roof for 60 days, physically cut off from the rest of the world, socializing, learning useful skills like cooking, singing, going through trials on how to articulately express themselves in different situations, setting goals they want to achieve, learning how to resolve conflicts, playing games, swimming and so on, will provide the necessary experience needed to go through life. Whilst in the house, theses housemates will cultivate positive attributes that will help shape their lives in their future endeavours, and has the proclivity to positively influence young viewers.

Housemates Salone will also provide the platform for influential people to spot their talents and bring them on-board to foster their respective projects and may even lead to sponsorship of certain projects of these participants. In this regard, no better reference is needed than that of the winner of Housemates Salone Season 1, Kenchin Palmer, whose exposure by the show, resulted in his staging of a show in the UK, with support from other stakeholders, as well as his signing as Brand Ambassador for the Sierra Juice Company in Freetown and now advertising the company’s products. Furthermore, other participants in that Show have been eye-marked to feature in documentary films that depict societal ills, especially those relating to young people. Their inclusion is expected to make the desired change of the producers on society.

Apart from bagging the Star Prize of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Leones (Le250M), the winner will also undertake a round trip to Dubai on the expense of the organisers and will be expected to develop a personal project that will be rolled out to impact the lives of other young people. Though the winners will get the Star Prize, all other participants will have their daily allowance of Le100,000, whilst they still remain in the house.

As was stated by the pragmatic and result oriented Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AYV, Ambassador Anthony Navo Jr, who was recently recognized as one of the most reputable Africans out of one hundred African personalities assessed by Reputation Poll International, a leading global reputation management firm, during the closing courtesies of Housemates Salone Season 1 in 2018, “Housemates Salone Season 1 is an amazing show which has brought a sense of direction and uplifting in the entertainment industry in Sierra Leone. The show has brought social cohesion and unity to Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad devoid of their political, cultural and other biases.”

He furthered, “I feel very proud to have provided this platform to give opportunity to our young men and women to rediscover their potentials and add meaning to their lives, and I wish on behalf of the entire team, to register our thanks and appreciation to everyone who has contributed to this success.”

Ambassador Navo continued, “Firstly, I would like to thank our amazing housemates- who have been true role models; we are proud of their great time in the House. They have demonstrated the true meaning of Youth empowerment. I appreciate that everyone is a winner and we stand ready to work with all the housemates on a long term basis beyond Housemates Salone and support them to achieve their dreams.”

Application forms are now available at a price of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Leones (Le150, 000) and could be paid for via Afrimoney and transaction IDs will be given to access the forms. It is advisable for those who have plans to secure forms to do so now, as time is running out, especially as it is anticipated that it is going to be a hotly contested show.

For interested participants in Sierra Leone, the number to access their forms is 088 201020 (Afrimoney number) and a ‘fast track’ for those in the diaspora is available on line. Interested persons can apply on line through Africell and AYV websites; do their videos and send them to the judges on line. Interviews will be conducted on line.

And for the benefit for those in the diaspora who may want to participate in the show they may contact the following www.africell.sl or www.ayvnews.com.

The closing date for receipt of all applications is the 21ST August 2020, and audition will take place in the first week of September. On 21st September 2020, auditions will close and 40 finalists will be chosen who will then battle for the final 20. The final 20 will go into the House on the 14th October 2020.

For voting through Africell network, the lines or numbers will be announced or disclosed in due course.

Meanwhile Sierra Leoneans are eagerly awaiting the commencement of Housemates Salone-Season 2, describing the show as the long awaited platform to promote Youth Empowerment and transform the youths into productive individuals.

Legal Aid Retrieves Illegal Le 500,000 Fine from Local Chief

Foday Moriba Conteh

The Legal Aid Board Paralegal for Lokomassama in the Port Loko District, Sahr Tortor on Wednesday, 5 July 2020 succeeded in having the Traditional Chief of Taindekum village to refund the sum of Le 500,000 (US$ 50) to a client of the Board. The Chief had imposed the very probative fine on the woman for allegedly disrespecting her mother-in-law.

The lady reported the matter to Legal Aid Board office in Petefu Junction in the Lokomassama chiefdom. Torto informed the Local Court Administration in the chiefdom about the injustice the woman has been subjected to. He then informed the chief that the matter has been reported to the Legal Aid Board, as a result, he should refund the money to the lady, which he did.

The Paralegal also impressed upon the Chief that in future he must not impose any fine that is above Le50,000, which is the amount stipulated in the Local Court Act 2011.

The Paralegal went ahead and mediated the matter between the women and her mother-in-law. Both parties were satisfied and the women went home with her Le 500,000.

In a related development, the Board’s Paralegal for Kaffu Bullom, Philip Sesay secured bail for two suspects who had been held at Lungi Police Station for more than 72 hours for a minor offence.  The Police were given an ultimatum to either charge the matter or put the suspects on bail while continuing with their investigation. The Police settled for the latter after he threatened to call the Executive Director of the Board.

On the 3rd August 2020, the Legal Aid Board concluded a fruitful engagement with volunteers of four Community Advisory Bureaus (CAB) in the East-End of Freetown. The four Bureaus represented at the meeting were: Pamaronkoh, Old Wharf, Maxwell and Mellon Street Community Advisory Bureaus.

The Outreach Manager of the Board, Bankole C.E. Morgan said the purpose of the gathering was to discuss the reason for the issuing of Identity Cards (ID Cards) to volunteers, and the strengthening of the administrative structure of the Bureaus. He said the issuance of the ID Cards is a demonstration of trust in the volunteers. He underlined the important role they play in providing primary legal aid services to their communities. He added that the reason for the establishment of the Bureaus is to bring justice to the doorsteps of the community. He assured them that the Board will do everything within its power to boost their work.

Mr. Morgan said the Board is aware of the embarrassment they are sometimes subjected to as they go about their work, simply because they do not have an ID Card. He said this has affected their relationship with the police, traditional court administrators and stakeholders in line of duty. ‘We understand the constraints you face in your work because you do not have an ID Card,’ Morgan said.

Mr. Morgan said the Board will continue to build the capacity of volunteers. He disclosed that he will be doing periodic presentations on the Gender Laws namely Domestic Violence Act 2007, Devolution of Estates Act 2007 and the Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act 2007.

He encouraged the volunteers to refer all criminal matters to the nearest police station. He concluded by calling on them to take the work of the Bureau seriously noting it is a way of giving back to their community.

The Chairman of the Pamaronkoh Community Advisory Bureau who hosted the event, Mustapha Kamara called on his colleagues to take the work of the Bureau seriously, stressing that the Board has carved a reputation for service to the poor. He assured the Board that they will strive to maintain integrity in their work.

Consumer Protection Bill Becomes Law 

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Bill entitled: “The Consumer Protection Act, 2020” was passed into law by the Parliament of Sierra Leone on Thursday 6th August 2020, with some amendments, after an extensive debate.

The Act is seeking to provide for the protection and promotion of the interest of the consumers and provide for the establishment of a National Consumer Commission and other related matters.

The Bill was piloted by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy. It was debated on a separate date by Parliament before committal to a joint committee for further scrutiny.

The Minister had earlier informed the House that the objective of the Bill is to enhance the protection and rights of the consumers in a free market economy; to address issues surrounding a restricted market, and to allow a free flow market in respect of consumer protection in Sierra Leone.

Presenting the Joint Committal Report of Legislative and Trade Committees, the Chairman of the Legislative Committee, Hon. Hindolo M. Gevao informed the Committee of the Whole House that, both the Legislative and Trade Committees proposed the amendments with inputs from Standard Bureau and Trader’s Unions present during the course of the hearings.

In light of the recommendations, the Chairman disclosed that the Committees spent few days to amend and scrutinize the long and short titles, definitions, paragraphs, clauses, fines, and penalties on culprits, service delivery and safety, consumer protection, composition of the Board among others.

He assured the Committee of the Whole House that the Report reflects a consensus of Honourable Members of both Committees who formed part of the deliberations.

After presenting the Report, the Chairman was accorded a resounding applause for a job well done; before the recommendations were adopted and the said Bill passed with some amendments.

With Regards Killing Unarmed Demonstrators… Are The Police Above The Law?

Ambrose Michael Sovula, AIG of Police – North East

By Amin Kef Sesay

Police brutality or Police violence is legally defined as a civil rights violation where law enforcement officers exercise undue or excessive force against a subject. This includes, but is not limited to, bullying, physical or verbal harassment, physical or mental injury, property damage and death.

Back in 2016 or 2017, the killing of two people at a protest launched a debate about the tactics of the police.

Other than that, killing of people by Police in Tonkolili, Freetown, Makeni and other places mean that it is high time we as a nation confront the issue of Police lawlessness with impunity. The crux of the matter is: How do you maintain law and order in a civilized nation? Is it the presence of guns?

Makeni was not the first time that Police have killed innocent people.

What is troubling about Police killings is that nothing seems to come out of the numerous investigations that follow. This leaves frustrated victims and their families without justice.

In Makeni and other places where Police have wantonly killed civilians, people no longer have trust in the Police. If these sorts of things continue to happen, peace will suffer, and the potential for reprisals and conflict will thrive, many say.

It can be recalled that following the Kabala incident some years back, a press release from the Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI), said that: “For far too long, there has been double standard in place for Police Officers involved in incidents of brutality and misconduct. The ease with which Police Officers use live bullets to disperse unarmed protesters is a very worrying sign for peace and tranquility and the country’s political future.”

Superintendent Brima Kamara, Head of the Sierra Leone Police’s Media and Public Relations denied the allegations, pointing the finger instead at protesters for taking the law into their own hands.

He maintained that all civil protests must be approved by the Police according to the country’s 1965 Public Order Act. The protesters in Kabala, he said, did not follow this procedure, which was why the Police had to fire tear gas. In the heat of that moment, Kamara adds, the protesters started throwing stones and other missiles at the Police.

What the Executive Director of the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR) Andrew Lavali holds is that in the twenty first century, there are alternatives to bullets for crowd control. “Most of the circumstances leading to the use of live bullets in Sierra Leone over the past years are not warranted; they do not meet the minimum threshold,” he said.

The right to protest, he maintained is a “constitutional provision that must be respected by law enforcers. Any loss of civilian life in a protest must be thoroughly and speedily investigated and culprits brought to book.”

Lavali said that as monitors of peace and governance in Sierra Leone, they have found that: “Most incidences of shootings and unlawful killings of civilians are not investigated, and [as] such serve as motivation for reoccurrence of the problem.”

Responding, Superintendent Kamara agreed that the Police should be on the side of the people, including those that are not part of any protests.

“Our responsibility is to protect lives and property, and when we realize that these lives and property will come under threat during a proposed protest, we are bound to prevent it,” he said.

The nation looks forward to seeing the Police using more humane crowd control measures to deal with protesters and demonstrators because it is their right as citizens in a democracy and for Police Officers who deliberately use excessive forces against unarmed civilians brought to book as deterrence to others.

MEYA Mining Ltd. Pays $100,000.00 Surface Rent to four host Chiefdoms in Kono District

By Amin Kef Sesay

On Thursday, 30th July 2020, Meya Mining presented a ceremonial cheque for Nine Hundred and Seventy-Five Million Seven Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand Leones (Le 975,755,000) to its four host chiefdoms; Gbense, Kamara, Nimikoro and Tankoro, in a ceremony held at the Kono District Council Hall, to commemorate the Company’s maiden Surface Rent payment.

In anticipation of the granting of a Large-scale Mining License (ML 02/2019) in 2019, Meya Mining entered into a Surface Lease Agreement with the four chiefdoms on the 7th June 2019, in compliance with Section 34 (a) of the Mines and Minerals Act 2009.

Welcoming stakeholders to the event, the Company’s Stakeholder Relations Manager, Catherine Finda Greenwood, noted that the payment of Surface Rent at a time when the Company, like many others, has to contend with the debilitating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges, underscored its commitment to fulfilling its statutory obligations to its stakeholders. Mrs. Greenwood reminded the respective recipients that payment of the Surface Rent would be done by way of direct bank transfer, as per the banking details which they provided to the Company.

In his statement, the Co-chairman for the programme, the National Minerals Agency (NMA) Manager in Kono District, Mohamed Gaima, emphasised the need for investors seeking to acquire mineral rights in any part of the country to first get the buy-in from the host community before submitting an application to the NMA. “Government has made this mandatory,” he added.

He further commented on the importance of the aspect of the law that addresses community agreement. According to him, in the past there had been a lot of controversies among landowners, investors, and the Government. Mr. Gaima noted that in a way to address the many community grievances, Government has now made provisions for a Community Development Agreement to be signed between Large-Scale Mining License holders and the host communities, which would give landowners the confidence of potential benefits in exchange for the utilization of their land.

“In adherence to the Law, Meya Mining signed a Surface Lease Agreement with its host communities in June 2019, which is why we are here today so that they can honor their commitment,” he concluded.

Speaking on behalf of the Company and its shareholders, Dino Coutinho, the Chief Operating Officer of Meya Mining, expressed profound gratitude to the host communities for creating the enabling environment for the Company to, firstly, conduct its exploration program between 2016 and 2019, and then to transition to a large scale mining operation, following the acquisition of a Large-scale Mining License (EL 02/2019) on 26 July 2019. Dino also thanked the Government for granting Meya Mining a 25-year large-scale mining license. In anticipation of the acquisition of the License, he said, the Company and the landowners signed the Surface Lease Agreement in June 2019.

Mr. Coutinho, lamented that the COVID-19 induced challenges have, in recent times, dogged business entities like Meya, and, by extension, their host communities and Government. COVID-19, he emphasized, remains a clear and present danger. “It has not gone away yet. It is still with us,” he warned. “Throughout this time, we have remained in a state of operational readiness, even as we wait for the easing of restrictions that will enable us to continue with the development of the Mine,” Dino added.

The re-opening of the airport, he said, was a good sign that some sort of normalcy is returning, which, he said, would allow for the rotation of some key staff and the importing of critical spears and items needed for the operation. In these trying times, the Chief Operating Officer said, Meya has maintained their staffing levels, keeping all their personnel on board as they hope to hit the ground running very shortly.

Concluding his rather detailed presentation, Dino assured stakeholders that this maiden Surface Rent payment was the first of many to come. “We are here for the long haul. Meya is here to stay and with your help, we are going to develop the Meya Mining operation into a world-class asset for the community, the host government, the shareholders and all stakeholders. We hope we will be sitting here again soon for the second payment,” he assured.

In his statement, Ibrahim Satti Kamara, the Community Affairs Director of the National Minerals Agency of Sierra Leone (NMA) expressed delight at seeing the community receiving benefits from their minerals. He congratulated Meya for meeting their obligations, even at this difficult time with the company’s operations. He added that Dino’s presentation on the percentage distribution of the Surface Rent was not manufactured by Meya-it is stipulated by the Mines and Minerals Act of 2009.

Mr. Kamara reminded stakeholders that the surface rent they were about to receive was just one of the many benefits their communities could enjoy from mining companies. The CDA, employment opportunities, and CSR projects, are among other benefits, he said, they host communities stand to derive, as the company expands its operations.

The Director also had words of admonishment for the beneficiaries; “Receiving these monies also means the community should be able to put them into profitable use. And one such use could be personal development.” Since surface rent is mostly geared towards landowners, he encouraged parents to develop themselves and their children so, in the long-run, the community would have something tangible as benefits derived from Meya Mining’s surface rent.

He lauded the strides that have been made by the NMA to, as he put it, “change the face of mining.” The narrative, he said, is that mining companies should leave a landmark of their operations in any community. He concluded by thanking and commending the people of Kono for making the process smooth and peaceful, unlike what he had experienced in other mining communities.

P.C. Aiah Denton Bona III of Nimikoro Chiefdom was the first of the four Paramount Chiefs to respond. “The day is a good one in the lives of the four host chiefdoms,” he declared. He recounted the controversy he had with Meya during the height of their exploration about a year ago. He said what happened did not happen because they hated Meya, as they only wanted to have an understanding as a family.

Thankfully, he said they all enjoyed the privilege at the office of His Excellency the President and had the dispute sorted. He congratulated Meya on their progress made in acquiring the Large-scale Mining License and was thankful that they were now talking about surface rent, which, in his view, is a giant step for the Company. The Chief used the opportunity to also thank the Community Affairs Director of NMA for his advice on the utilization of the Surface Rent and for making clear distinction between private money and public money for the attention of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

P.C. Bona disclosed that the Surface Rent he received will be used for its intended purposes, as 10% out of the 50% allocated for landowners and 5% of his own allocation will be set aside to assist community teachers who are not yet in the government’s payroll, distance learning students who are struggling for assistance, and for the maintenance of community structures in the Chiefdom. This, he said, is what he and his people have decided.

P.C. Sahr Fengai Kaimachiande III of Gbense Chiefdom was brief in his response, focusing mainly on the level of transparency that was on display. Of utmost importance in this process, he said, was the level of transparency presented by Dino. He said the transparency shown will take away a lot of burden off the Paramount Chiefs and the host community leaders. The Chief noted that Meya Mining is a serious company and that he will continue to give his unflinching support to them.

P.C. Paul Ngaba Saquee V of Tankoro Chiefdom registered similar sentiments, adding that other like-minded Sierra Leoneans need to follow the footsteps of the Director of Meya Mining Mr. Ibrahim Sorie Kamara, an indigenous Sierra Leonean who has demonstrated a very good example for the youth to emulate. He admonished the youth of Kono to desist from anything that will create unrest for any mining company in the District.

He assured Meya Mining of his relentless support and promised that his subjects will not be part of anything that will create instability for any mining company in Kono. Mining companies, he said, are here to support the people, especially the youth and the government. Chief Saquee, encouraged stakeholders to adopt a more conciliatory approach to addressing grievances. “If there is any grievance between the company and the community we should call on the attention of the company in a civil manner rather than being emotional,” he stressed.

The Chairman Kono District Council, Mr. Solomon Gbondo, also applauded the transparency Meya had shown in the surface rent distribution presentation, he stated that the surface rent is coming at the right time when they are struggling for funds to complete the council’s many projects across the districts. He said thankfully Meya has been able to fulfill its commitment as this he said will foster a good working relationship with the host chiefdoms whilst enhancing development in the district and added that the Council will continue to give its full support to Meya Mining.

Assuring the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) he said Councils are the most audited institutions, at three audits per year, so they are not afraid to receive funds from any institution based on their level of financial prudence and they will ensure that some of their projects are completed with the funds received from Meya.

Making a short statement the Anti-Corruption Commission Manager in Kono, Mrs. Hawanatu Kamara, applauded Meya for the transparent presentation to the community on the surface rent payment distribution. She said the Commission’s statutory mandate is to encourage a transparent process in relation to any public funds meant for the utilization of public projects. She added that, as a Commission, the ACC will ensure to give their support in addressing any form of corruption. She continued to encourage the community and stakeholders to use those monies judiciously for its intended purposes.

Percentage Distribution of Surface Rent Payment to the four host chiefdoms as shown in the table below (as presented during the ceremony).

Enquiries: Catherine Finda Greenwood

Stakeholder Relations Manager

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