As Zoonotic Diseases continue to pose threat to human health, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation through the One Health Platform which consists of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Environment Protection Agency, Office of National Security, WHO, UNICEF and NGO partners, last week with support from Breakthrough Action-USAID validated Sierra Leone’s first Message Guide on Zoonotic Diseases at the Hill Valley Hotel in Freetown.
While giving out the objectives of the Message Guide Validation Workshop, Chief Health Education Officer and Programme Manager at the Health Education Division, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, stated that the key objective was to reintroduce the message guide to a group of informed experts to not only review the major changes to the Message Guide since the December Review Workshop in 2018, but also to make expert contributions, thereby improving the contents of the guide, adding that they were also going to review and revise the needed messages for technical accuracy, cultural and contextual appropriateness, commonly used languages, words and use of effective messaging principles.
Mr. Conteh was optimistic that the validated Message Guide would be very useful in risk and Health Communication, Community Engagement, and Media Engagements to educate the public on the dos and don’ts as a way of preparedness and prevention on zoonotic diseases, adding that majority of the diseases that pose threat to human health come from zoonotic animals and are as a result of unhealthy interference/interaction with the environment. He added that the Message Guide would not only serve as a resource material but would also be useful in further development of messages and Information, Education and Communication Materials on Zoonotic Diseases for Public Education and Communication. Mr. Conteh also hoped that the Message Guide would be useful to learning institutions, like the Schools, Colleges and Universities. “The Message Guide is not only the first in Sierra Leone, but also the first in the West African Sub Region,” Mr. Conteh noted.
Tina Dickerson of Breakthrough Action, while giving out the overview, noted that the Message Guide emanated from the One Health Platform which was launched by the Government in June, 2017, to spearhead collaborative efforts amongst government sectors to prevent, detect, and respond to existing zoonotic diseases and emerging pandemic threats and was grounded on the premise that the health of people is connected to the health of animals and that of the environment for which the platform identified the following Country Priority Zoonotic Diseases for preparedness and response activities in the country: Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (Ebola, Lassa fever, Marburg Virus, Bombali Virus), Rabies, Zoonotic Influenzas (Avian also known as Bird flu), Swine also known as Pig flu), Salmonella, Anthrax, Monkey Pox and Plague.

She educated that zoonotic diseases are diseases that are initially spread between animals and people and may have the potential to then spread from Person to Person.

She further said that the Message Guide does not only highlight the zoonotic diseases but also carries key messages on the mode of transmission, signs and symptoms, preventive messages and how to safely live with domesticated animals, bush animals and the environment. “The Message Guide clearly states the responsible persons and institutions to contact in the case of animal bite, scratch and death and emphasizes the need for people to limit contact with bush animals, as it puts them at risk of zoonotic disease,” she continued adding that “most known human infectious diseases, and about three out of every four new diseases originate from animals”.

The validation workshop drew participants from the Health Education Division, Directorate of Health Security and Emergencies, Environment Protection Agency, Office of National Security, Breakthrough Action, Directorate of Primary Health Care, Sierra Leone Red Cross, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, UNICEF, WHO, FAO, Local and International NGO Partners and District Social Mobilization Coordinators and key stakeholders of Bombali District.

A Civil Society Organization, Students Against Violence Everywhere Sierra Leone (SAVE – SL) on Friday March 1st, 2019 taught over 500 students of the Hammond International School and Academy on how to keep themselves safe in school and the community through their Say Something Program.

According to the National Director of SAVE Sierra Leone, Joseph A. Sesay, the Say Something (SS) Program is designed for Secondary School Students, with a focus of teaching youths how to recognize signs and signals, especially on social media, from individuals that may pose a threat to themselves or others.

The program looks at three (3) simple steps:
1. Look for Warning Signs, Signals and Threats,
2. Act Immediately & Take it Seriously,
3. Say Something to a Trusted Adult

“Individuals often show warning signs and share information BEFORE they are violent, attempt suicide or make threats, and there are steps students can take to PROTECT themselves, classmates and community to help prevent violence,” says Joseph A. Sesay.

It is worthy to note that Incidents of school violence do not just happen without a precursor. “When youths are taught on how to Look for Warning Signs, Signals and Threats, Act immediately and take it seriously, and Say Something to a Trusted Adult, they will be able to reduce violent threats, consequences and also create healthier schools and communities,” he further opined.

Warning Signs are the thoughts, feelings and behaviours, gestures or ACTIONS that could be either obvious or unclear, which can SHOW significant change that an individual may be in NEED OF HELP. They include, withdrawal from others, bullying or hitting, negative role models, excessive anger, extreme mood changes, feelings of rejection, thoughts or plans of harming self or others, blaming others for own failures, fear of going to school, unwillingness to forgive and forget the wrongs of people, feelings of isolation, dramatic changes in physical appearance and personality.

Warning Signs of Violence can also be bragging about access to or fascination with weapons, upcoming attack, warning a friend to stay away from an event or school on a particular date or even rigid beliefs in students.

Threats can contain any communication that has the intent to HARM oneself or someone. Statements such as “someone should do that” (supporting a violent act), “life is not worth living”, “I will show them that I’m tough” etc. are very threatening signs.

Warning Signs and Threats are often found on Social Media, classrooms, hallways, lunchroom, on the way to and from school. They can be in the form of Spoken Words, gestures, photos, videos, written form, actions and behaviours.

Students can help their friends if they can identify the Warning signs, Signals and Threats. Maybe their friends have been bullied or are the bullies. Sometimes they have been abused or being abusive (verbally/physically), they may be a sex predator/being preyed on or they may have a substance abuse or addiction problem. But whatever they are going through, their friends can help them get help if only they can follow the second (2nd) Step which is ACT IMMEDIATELY, take it SERIOUSLY.

When students see, hear or read a Warning Sign, Signal or Threat it is mandatory for them to act IMMEDIATELY and seek help. Acting immediately can be hindered by students taking issues into their own hands. Statements such as “we all spoke to him and he said he would never do that”, “we thought someone else would tell someone”, “we thought they would feel better tomorrow “, “they are too young to hurt themselves or others”, “they just want attention. It is not real”, “let us wait for the right moment to say something” and “if they were going to do something, why would they announce it public?”. Those are some of the excuses from students who should have prevented violence in their schools. Students of all ages can act immediately. It is up to a Trusted Adult to decide the seriousness of the sign, Signal or threat.
Many times, students fear that telling someone will make them a traitor or be at risk of being aliened or physically hurt. But the truth is that Saying Something is different from Telling on someone. Saying Something is getting someone help for their own safety and well-being and to protect oneself and others from harm. The focus is on getting help. On the other hand, telling someone is done purposely to get someone in trouble for a gain. “That is why when a student acts Immediately, he is saving someone from trouble,” explained Anas A. Ansari, the President of the SAVE Promise Club of Hammond International School and Academy.

The Principal of the School, Mr. Bobson Amara, in his statement said that Saying Something to a Trusted Adult who has the experience and knowledge to get help for an individual, can help prevent violence. But students don’t know who are trusted adults are anymore. A Trusted Adult can be a teacher, parent, school psychologist or counsellor, police officer, community organization leader, coach or mentor, principal or school support staff and even religious leaders. To say something to trusted adults, students should bring any text, photos, videos or other communications they have available. If the conversation was spoken, they can write exactly what was heard and submit it to a Trusted Adult.

The guest speaker of the program Superintendent Brima Kamara, who is the head of Media and Public Relations and Official Spokesman for the Sierra Leone Police in his keynote address, admonished Students to say something because they are the eyes and ears of their schools. “They should say something because they hear things that others don’t,” he suggested.

One of Sierra Leone’s media dinosaurs, a graduate from the reputable London School of Journalism (LSJ), who has built an enviable reputation and niche in the field of journalism, the charismatic Abdul Karim Fonti Kabia, has officially quitted the Africa Young Voices (AYV) Media Empire, after diligently serving that renowned institution for almost eight years.

Fonti started working for the AYV Media Empire since it was established. He served in the capacity of Executive Editor of the Ariogbo Newspaper and played key roles at various management capacities.

He officially left that institution on Thursday 28 February, 2019 in the capacity of Director of Quality Assurance, Communications and Public Relations to occupy his new position at State House as Strategic Communications Specialist in the Education, Foreign Affairs and Social Development Sectors. Though it was a sombre moment, yet it was inevitable.

As a young man, Fonti acquired years of experience and remarkably contributed with his pen as well as fingers to generate meaningful and positive transformation in different spheres.

He has travelled to different parts of the world and is held in high esteem internationally, even at one point in time, meeting and having fruitful discussions with former US President Obama and other important political personalities in that country.

Fonti will be fondly remembered for his presentation of HOT SEAT and FRONT PAGE on AYV Television and Radio Stations.

Undoubtedly, knowing Fonti’s calibre, there is every possibility that in his new position he will definitely create an indelible impact, both within and outside the country, which will surely shape, influence public decisions and meaningfully change lives.
He is a very objective journalist and has been practicing professionally, displaying a high sense of independence and clarity.
The SLPP Government has indeed wooed a priceless and true asset into its fold.
Good Luck Abdul Fonti Kabia. Wishing you the best of luck in your new station.

Something that is unique but very discouraging about the general Sierra Leonean personality is the appetite for pulling down fellow Sierra Leoneans that are busy working hard to make positive impacts on the country’s crucial development needs.

One such personality that deserves praise, not the hate of his enemies and detractors, is one of Sierra Leone’s leading indigenous road construction investor, Mohamed Gento Kamara.

Being that every Sierra Leonean, by law is free to associate with any of his fellow citizens, and free to identify with any political party of his/her choice, one first of all wonders why Gento, as he is commonly called, should be attacked for (a false allegation), supporting one of the candidates vying to become councillor for Ward 196 in the Karene District?

With a manifest intent to tarnish the good name of Gento as a development oriented investor who serves any government of the day, there is an audio message on various social media platforms purported to be Gento campaigning in Tonko Limba for one of the councillor aspirants.

What comes out clearly is that the author of the mischievous social media posting completely detracts from Gento’s key message to his Tonko Limba people of bringing development to Mama Salone in general and Tonko Limba.

Hence the reason why Gento said that if God gives him the power, he will bring more development to Tonko Limba to make the district attractive; especially in terms of roads and other commonly desired socio-economic goods.

Gento explained that indigenes such as former Chief of Staff at State House, Saidu Conton Sesay, during the rule of the former government, wanted to bring development to Tonko Limba, but certain ill-motivated people stood in his way.

To have all hands on deck for development of the district and the chiefdom, Gento called on the chief and all stakeholders to give him the green light and free hand to bring development to the district, which will positively impact the lives of residents.

The audio clearly shows that Gento diagnosed the problems of the people of Tonko Limba and expressed his commitment to address those problems if God gives him the necessary resources.

So for anyone to say that Gento’s statement in Tonko Limba was political and calculated to influence the pending Ward election in favour of the SLPP candidate is not only disingenuous, but calculated to create enemies for Gento.

An employee of Gento’s road construction company that is currently at work completing the Hill Cut and King Harman Road project who listened to the audio message, described his employer as a very kind-hearted man that has provided hundreds of youths of both sexes with employment; noting that even in lean times when money was not forthcoming from the Government, Gento kept them on the payroll and paid them.

As a humanitarian and a philanthropist, Gento continues to contribute generously to many worthy social courses, including providing scholarships for needy students. As such, Gento’s detractors should not seek to drag him into the murky world of politics.

On Thursday 28th February 2019 at State House in Freetown, the Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman and the Presidential Adviser and Head of Strategic Communications at State House engaged stakeholders as a follow up on President Julius Maada Bio’s declaration of State Of Emergency on Rape and Sexual Penetration.

Welcoming representatives from partner organisations in the fight against rape and sexual violence, Press Secretary, Yusuf Keketoma Sandi said he was happy with the turnout and stated that the essence of the meeting was to discuss further plans to deal with the rape of minors and work collectively to tackle the broader issues affecting survivors of rape and sexual violence.

Representative of the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, Dr. Kim Dickson, said they welcomed the declaration by the President and thanked him for putting the issue of rape and sexual-based violence at the centre of his governance agenda, adding that the pronouncement was great news for all organisations advocating against rape and sexual-based violence in the country.

Dr Kim, however, urged the government to act fast in strengthening laws that could provide a broader scope to addressing the problems of rape and sexual-based violence, noting that the declaration of a state of emergency was a strong indication of intent, but was also a temporary measure.

Rev. Fr Joseph Valiplackel of Don Bosco Fambul, a charity organisation specialised in child protection, also said that they had also supported the proclamation, adding that rape and sexual violence were damaging the future of the girl child at an alarming rate. He, however, called on the government to empower the Family Support Units, which are specialised units attached to police stations across Sierra Leone.

“I think the FSU should be empowered and strengthened as they have the mandate to investigate all forms of child abuse and violence against children – sexual and physical abuse, exploitation, including commercial exploitation, as well as internal and cross-border trafficking,” he said.

Chernor Bah, Executive Director of Purposeful Production, said that building on the concrete actions announced by the President and mirroring evidence, based on good practice, the national and global plans tackling rape and sexual abuse would focus on 6 major pillars.

Laws and Policies – The Initiative will work with the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Parliament and other stakeholders to update existing laws and policies, draft new ones, clarify tensions and conflict between customary laws and other laws, draft holistic policies and plans of actions and ensure compliance with international laws and best practices.

Institutions: The Presidential Initiative will work to strengthen the capacity of government institutions to deliver on the President’s declaration.

Prevention: A key focus of the initiative will be on prevention strategies and actions. The Initiative will work with partners to understand root causes and patterns of rape and sexual violence in Sierra Leone, develop strategies to tackle all forms of discriminatory gender attitudes, norms and practices that perpetuate rape and gender-based violence.

Providing Essential Services to girls and women who come forward: This pillar is about making sure services are available, accessible, friendly and effective in responding to and dealing with rape and sexual violence across Sierra Leone. The Presidential Initiative will work with various governments, UN and local stakeholders to make sure the full range of basic health, psychological, legal and other services are available to victims and survivors of rape in every corner of the country.

Quality Disaggregated Data: Creating a quality-disaggregated database of the types of sexual violence, prevalence rates: This pillar will also work to ensure to create a sexual offenders’ database.

Women’s Movement and Civil Society: Coordinated involvement of the women’s movement and civil society actors. Providing a platform for a community-driven approach to solutions and ensuring local ownership.

The Presidential Adviser and Head of Strategic Communications at State House, Dr Patrick Muana, thanked the various stakeholders for their invaluable inputs, contributions and commitments to ensure that rape and sexual-based violence were mitigated. He promised to brief the President on the recommendations of the outcome of that stakeholders’ engagement and to inform them of future meetings that would be geared towards putting an end to the impunity of rape and sexual penetration.

On Thursday 28th February 2019 at the Bintumani Conference Centre, Freetown, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio shared the country’s comprehensive national development plan with partners, bilateral and multilateral agencies, highlighting national priorities and emphasising mutual accountability approaches that maximise impacts of growth interventions.

“When I took over the mantle of leadership of this great nation about ten months ago, I made policy statements in Parliament about our country’s development goals. I identified our country’s key national priorities and the key sectors we needed to develop. I also emphasised that what we needed as a nation was a comprehensive blueprint for sustainable long-term development – one that is consistent with global targets set in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said.

He said to ensure consistency in the execution of the medium term national development plan, he had directed that the country’s future annual budgets be fully aligned to the plan, adding that his government would also encourage development partners to channel their assistance through the national development priorities, work closely and avoid wasteful overlaps and duplications.

He added that while he had called for an inclusive approach to national development, he also had stressed that the process of developing the plan must appear to be owned and driven by citizens, inclusive, consultative and be domesticated to the country’s specific development context.

“They range from developing our human capital and infrastructure to promoting good governance and protecting vulnerable members of our society, including our women, children and persons with disabilities. But how do we fulfil our obligations to the people of Sierra Leone against the background of the bankrupt and battered economy that my Government inherited? Institutions that are responsible for driving growth and development were politicised, bloated, lacked capacity, and corrupt. Officials and politicians engaged in widespread looting of development resources,” he recalled.

He further stated that given the circumstances and upon assuming office, his government delineated key strategic imperatives to create the right environment for development by identifying the immediate needs that included institutional reform, decentralisation and taking a second look at enabling laws, capacity building and resource identification and mobilisation as critical factors for building the right context for development.

“When there is no discipline, no commitment and no political will from the highest levels of power, development will not happen. When there is no structure and no consistency to development activities within the short or long term, development will not happen. When there is no predictability to development activities and outcomes and partners are unsure about how to engage and commit to national development, or worse still, when that partnership does not include continuous dialogue and feedback, development will not happen. When the government is unclear and uncommitted to clearly laid out development outcomes and a comprehensive short and long-term plan, development will not happen. So, my government developed the medium term national development plan to get the development context right once and for all,” he told the conference in Freetown.

He emphasised and recognised the fact that Sierra Leone was impatient for development and that Sierra Leoneans were impatient for development too and rightly so, adding that that was why his government did not wait for the plan to be launched before addressing some of the critical development needs that had been identified during the nationwide consultation.

“I am reminded of the saying that when one gives birth to a child, one does not plan only for the first five years of that child’s life. Let me use this opportunity to remind all of us that this Medium Term National Development Plan is the first part of the longer-term plan, which will span over a twenty-year period. During the consultation process, it clearly emerged that the majority of Sierra Leoneans prefer a long-term plan, as it allows for continuity in implementation, irrespective of a change of government. They based their argument on the overwhelming desire to have a stable development focus for our country and to ensure that successive governments are guided by broad priorities set by the people of this country,” he said.

“My government has underscored the critical need to strengthen performance management in the public sector. So, for the first time in the history of this country, a comprehensive results and indicator framework accompanies this development plan. That framework will provide further guidance to MDAs as they deliver on the people’s plan,” he added.

Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa, said they had anchored the plan on the Sierra Leone People’s Party New Direction Manifesto, which was based on consultation. He said the document was a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Planning and Development and Finance as well as other ministries, departments and agencies, including development partners.

Mr Saffa also stated that as a show of commitment his ministry, for the first time, had provided both the financial and human resources to support the process of preparing the National Development Plan, saying that that was a way of showing leadership. He said the total estimated cost to execute the plan would be $ 8.15 USD billion.

Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Nabeela Tunis, said after a broad-based national consultation, she was of the belief that the Plan would transform the country. She disclosed that about two million people were consulted during the process as a way of ensuring that no one was left out. She added that the feedbacks, which contributed to the content of the document, were overwhelming.
She said the Plan was aimed at transforming Sierra Leone to where everyone had dreamt of, adding that that would only be possible through partnership and collaboration. She noted that the document would transform the President’s vision into a plan that would enable sustainable development in the country.

United Nations Country Representative, Sunil Saigal, who spoke on behalf of donor partners, congratulated President Bio for putting the Plan together and for placing human capital development at the centre of his priorities. He noted that the new plan incorporated the UN Agenda 2030 for sustainable development as well as the African Agenda 2063, adding that in doing so Sierra Leone was setting the example for other countries by blending both global and other African regional goals in development planning.

Over the weekend the second set of housemates’ eviction was effected from the 20 participants in the house. The atmosphere was filled with suspense and tension as supporters and fans waited anxiously to know who the victims would be, whilst participants in the house were having anxious time waiting to discover who the evicted people will be. Tension rose in the house.

As they waited nervously anticipating victory and despair, viewers say that all participants had done their best in projecting strong language, nudity and humour. Observers maintained that the housemates made use of every given opportunity to appeal to their fans and the wider citizenry here and abroad to vote for them using their tagged numbers via text to Africell Code Number 5500.

One thing that is very certain is that Housemates Salone offers the Housemates the opportunity to be empowered and after leaving the House they will definitely never be the same again but become different persons. To justify this assertion the Reality TV Show, organised by the Africa Young Voices (AYV) and Africell , provides the platform for social interaction leading to strengthening of relationships, self-expression as is evident in responding to questions posed by the unseen Chief, taking through lectures by professionals, portraying artistic skills whether in acting, poetry or modelling.

This rather unique event is now the talk of the town. AYV and Africell’s Housemates Salone 2019 has earned the name of an epitome of Reality.

During the eviction ceremony being witnessed live and via the various streaming media, fans were advised to keep the votes coming in to maintain the housemate of their choice as their vote counts in determining the position of the various contestants in the house. They were reminded that an individual’s stay in the house largely depends on the percentage of votes that each will scoop from the populace, but the evictions hinge on their performances in the House, which are closely monitored and judged.

The attractive star winning prize of Le100, 000,000 (One Hundred Million Leones) is what each competitor is eyeing, but for each day a Housemate stays in the House he or she is entitled to receive Le100, 000.
With the huge and electrifying momentum that the Housemates Salone is ascending, it has currently become the widely talked about event in the country and has indeed gone viral. Workers, school pupils, students, market women and traders are heatedly discussing it in different circles, even in Ataya Bases, with candour and varying views.

Sustained investigations cum research mounted in different parts of the country revealed that the majority are really commending the organizers of the TV Reality Show, African Young Voices (AYV) and Africell for packaging and rolling out what they described as a very extra-ordinary and breath-taking entertainment show.
Indeed, the House is getting hotter as the competitors are tensely battling to ultimately emerge as the winner to bag the Le100, 000,000 that is at stake.

But what is so good about rolling out this show is that it has really exposed all the participants and there is the probability that people cum investors could be interested in making use of their talents, be it in the music, acting, film industries or in modelling.
“It is indeed very good that the organisers of this TV Reality contest made provision for empowerment and for those that have been and will be evicted, to at least take home financial packages which will serve as a therapy to any unforeseen psychological anguish. To those that will be affected take heart and be courageous as there is more goodies in life after Housemates Salone,” Ann-Marie Williams, an activist shuttling to and fro the USA and Sierra Leone enthused.
Housemates Salone continues to thrill millions in and out Sierra Leone.

Positive development strides of the National Petroleum (NP) SL Limited, has made it the epitome of a viable Indigenous national enterprise in the Petroleum industry. It embodies what the ordinary Sierra Leonean can achieve when they come together with a shared vision and goal. With a capable Board of Directors and Management the company has contributed positively to the development of the nation.

NP SL-Ltd has turned the fortunes of this company since its inception into a viable profit making and job creation entity. In its employ are Sierra Leoneans occupying various senior and junior positions. With honouring its tax obligations to Government via the National Revenue Authority (NRA) in a timely manner, the company has contributed to the boosting of the country’s economy as well as the steady and meaningful execution of its Corporate Social Responsibility, which has improved the standards of living of many Sierra Leoneans.
The pro-active and sterling initiatives of NP’s Board of Directors and Management in respect of timely procurement of petroleum products and ensuring its availability on the market for public consumption, has seen a marked deviation from the days of fuel shortage to that of abundance.
It is highly commendable for a well-established and result-oriented company like NP to have climbed to such an enviable position especially when cognizance is taken of the fact that it is exclusively owned by Sierra Leonean shareholders, a typical testimony of how local entrepreneurs could raise the bar high.
Going down the annals of history the former British Petroleum Company decided to sell its shares to the Government of Sierra Leone that was in Governance at that material period of time.
Things took a different twist when in 1996 the Government sold its 60% shares in NP to some of the company’s members of staff. Again it was made known that 55 % was paid upfront from the end of service benefits of the workers from BP and the 5% offered to all the other workers. Thus the company known as LEONEOIL was born.
The 55% sale of Government shares to NP came as a result of the World Bank’s advice to privatize the latter. It was also revealed that among the 4 companies that bided, which included ELF, LEONOIL won the international competitive bidding conducted by Arthur De Little, a United States based Management consultancy firm hired by the World Bank.
It could be recalled that the World Bank, which advised Government to privatize NP, monitored the bidding process for the three international companies and one local company that competed culminating in LEONEOIL, which metamorphosed to NP, meeting all the set criteria.
Financial experts, whom the Calabash Newspaper had the privilege to talk with, noted that the aforementioned members of staff were indeed entrepreneurial enough to properly manage the company to such an extent that, unlike others, it survived most of the bottlenecks that it encountered throughout the years it has been in existence.
Shedding light on the historical background of NP, it came out glaringly that the 40% PMMC’s stake in the company, owned by the late Jamil Sahid Mohammed and Tony Yazbeck, was given as collateral for a loan from a Bank by one of the parties.
The business mogul, Jamil Sahid Mohammed, later sold to Cape Oil PMMC’s 40% shares to offset a fidelity loan, but LEONE OIL was not satisfied with that move and took the matter to court on the grounds that it was in violation of the M and A which dictates that the other side has the first option to buy. The outcome of the matter was that the High Court gave judgement in favour of LEONE OIL.
For mischievous reasons certain individuals have been churning out rumours that NP has a monopoly over the petroleum market in the country which is totally untrue, baseless and misleading as it has been factually proven that there are other Marketing Companies marketing petroleum products that are registered with the Petroleum Agency.
It must be noted that Petro-Leone is a storage company developed by both Addax and Leone Oil so that petroleum products will always be available in the country and avert shortage. Experts further stated that if such a venture is disrupted, the country will relapse to the former state of shortage of fuel and long queues will once more re-surface across the country, causing a lot of inconvenience and national hiccups.
At present, NP-SL has filling stations in different parts of the country with other facilities like tyre mending, mini marts and sale of gas in some of them. The company was also established in neighbouring Liberia offering various petroleum and other related services.
It can be asserted that the National Petroleum Limited is one that has grown by leaps and bounds. The company is an embodiment of sterling local entrepreneurship that is worthy of emulation.

On Friday 1st March 2019, in an unprecedented move aimed at strengthening political engagement and collaboration, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio met with all the leaders of the registered Political Parties in the country. This maiden consultative meeting, State House say is part of his inclusive governance approach to state governance.

Leader of Government Business in Parliament, Hon Sidie M. Tunis, in his welcome statement told the various political party representatives that he was instructed by the President to contact the leadership of all political parties for a meeting that will strengthen political engagement and collaboration.

Addressing the members of political parties, President Bio maintained that politics was now over and it was time for governance, adding that it is his belief that all political parties would want the best for the country but that the routes to achieve that goal are different. He further maintained that the meeting was meant to show that politicians are not enemies but that all of them can work in the best interest of the country. “This meeting is to encourage dialogue among political parties for national development and social cohesion in the country,” President Bio stated.

President Bio also used the forum to update political parties on three recent national issues which have stirred up public debates: the appointment of the Electoral Commissioner – South, the Commissions of Inquiry and the declaration of the State of Emergency.
On the three issues, President Bio briefed the leaders of political parties that all of the decisions have been taken in the best interest of the country and that the forum will now strengthen the consultation and dialogue among political parties. “For instance, the Commissions of Inquiry is for all of us as politicians so that it can serve as a deterrent and draw a line under corruption,” President Bio asserted.

Explaining the rationale for the State of Emergency, President Bio emotionally explained that when he heard the statistics and listened to the stories of survivors, he felt compelled that something urgent needed to be done not just to call for action, but to mobilise resources to support the survivors. He assured the leaders of political parties, including representatives of the All People’s Congress, that the State of Emergency was specific to address rape and sexual violence and not for politics.

Responding to President Bio, various senior members of other Political Parties including Hon. Minkailu Mansaray and Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh of the All People’s Congress, Dr Dennis Bright of the National Grand Coalition, Dr Jonathan Sandy of the National Unity and Reconciliation Party, Tamba R. Sandi of the Coalition for Change among others, praised President Bio for the initiative to engage leaders of other political parties on national issues and individually stressed that such dialogue will promote social cohesion and reduce political tension. Detailed discussion also took place in camera between the President and political party leaders.

All seventeen (17) political parties were represented at the meeting by their senior leadership and these registered Parties are: Alliance Democratic Party (ADP); All People’s Congress (APC); Citizens Democratic Party (CDP); National Democratic Alliance (NDA); National Progressive Democrats (NPD); National Unity and Reconciliation Party (NURP); Peace and Liberation Party (PLP); People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC); People’s Democratic Party (PDP); Revolutionary United Front Party (RUFP); Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP); United Democratic Movement (UDM); United National People’s Party (UNPP); Unity Party (UP); National Grand Coalition (NGC); Republic National Independent Party (RENIP) and Coalition for Change (C4C). His Excellency President Bio also assured the leaders of political parties that such a meeting will be held more frequently to enhance political dialogue and collaboration.

Stakeholders have at the end of the Western Area Peninsula (WAP) Land Use Conference held at the Hill Valley Hotel on 21st and 22ndFebruary 2019 committed to the development of a Land Use Plan for the Western Area Peninsula landscape and re-affirmed intentions to introduce strict compliance of existing rules and regulations.

The statement is made taking cognizance of the fact that the government of Sierra Leone, under the leadership of His Excellency, President, Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio with the support of environmental conservation organizations, is keen to institute responsible management of land, the environment and state resources.
The WAP Forest has been a protected Forest Reserve since 1916 and most of it was designated a National Park in 2012. The WAP National Park is a Globally Important Key Biodiversity Area and is currently on the Tentative List of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with the potential to become a fully accredited World Heritage Site.
Stakeholders have therefore unanimously declared that activities within the boundaries of the National Park should be strictly controlled; cognizant of the extent of land and forest degradation of the Western Area Peninsula (WAP) landscape; recalling the 2017 mudslide disaster and the increasing trend of disaster events and loss of natural resources and ecosystem services in the country mostly as a result of human activities.
According to the Program Manager of the Sierra Leone Conservation Society, the Western Area Peninsula receives the highest rainfall in the country-200 inches (5,000 mm) annually; and elevation rises in places up to 1,798ft (548m), that the WAP Forest Reserve stores and provides the water needs of nearly 1.5 million people settled around the reserve (Guma Valley and the Congo Dams), that the remaining forest ecosystems and endangered biodiversity need to be protected and provide the potential for sustainable development on the WAP, including social and economic benefits, if well-managed (e.g. through habitat restoration to protect water supplies; potential financing for storage and ecotourism.
However, according to Edward M. Sesay, the conference observed that the following activities greatly impact the people, land and environment of WAP negatively-massive degradation of the natural environment triggered by land grabbing, illegal and un-regulated construction, deforestation (0.7% annually), marijuana farming, logging, pole and fuel-wood cutting, sand mining, stone mining, illegal fishing and hunting and generally poor land use compounded by crime and lack of law enforcement.
Furthermore, the conference recommended strict enforcement and compliance of existing government policy and regulations on land use in and around the Western Area Peninsula Forest to be undertaken and reinforced, that all stakeholders must support government in monitoring, stopping and preventing current illegal activities that negatively impact the environment on the WAP, that a Western Area Peninsular Landscape Partnership of Government Agencies, NGOs, and civil society be established/promoted/re-vitalized highlighting that the partnership will coordinate Western Area Peninsula conservation and sustainability initiatives and oversee development of a Land Use Plan for the WAP.
Mr. Sesay further stated that funding will be sought to support the development and implementation of a WAP Land Use Plan; using a framework approved by the Government, the WAP Partnership, and local communities, develop WAP Land Use Plan /Map, to be published, popularized and implemented as quickly as possible.
Also, systems to be put in place for strict enforcement/observance of the WAP Land Use Plan, that once funding is available, a Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) of the current WAP landscape will be commissioned focusing on areas bordering the forest and identifying major risks to the WAPF ecosystem and the human population, immediately work to institute plans, including feasibility studies and pilot demonstrations, for sustainable practices and alternatives to address key threats to WAP, develop and operationalize Disaster Early Warning Systems (EWS) for particularly vulnerable areas in the WAP, development of programmes of community benefits/ livelihoods–activities that can also support forest restoration and conservation and depend on sustainable use and management of the resources of the WAP in perpetuity and awareness-raising and advocacy campaigns to be undertaken by all stakeholders to highlight the value of the WAPF to people and biodiversity.