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WHO Secures €500,000 to Scale-Up COVID-19 Testing…

By Theresa Kef Sesay

It was stated in a Press Release dated  25 July 2020  that the World Health Organization Country Office has secured a grant of €500,000 from the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) through a strategic partnership to increase COVID-19 testing capacity from 500 up to 1000 tests per day in Sierra Leone.

The support will ensure the procurement of urgently needed equipment for the diagnosis and confirmation of COVID-19 in the country. WHO will facilitate timely procurement and supply of the consumables and equipment for coronavirus testing including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests which are the gold standard, viral isolation kits and viral transport media with swabs.

“We realized that limited testing is a constraining factor, with a significantly low lab capacity in the response in Sierra Leone. We are therefore very thankful to the German Government through GIZ for the support to rapidly scale up the testing capacity of COVID-19 by procurement of the much need laboratory diagnostic supplies. This support has both short and long term benefits as it will inevitably help to improve the skill sets of laboratory staff and in the long term, the diagnostic sector in general,” says Evans Liyosi, WHO Representative in Sierra Leone.

Since the first COVID-19 case was reported in Sierra Leone on 31st March 2020, more than 1,700 cases have been confirmed, with 1,292 (74%) recoveries and 66 deaths.

“We feel that our surveillance, laboratory and treatment centres have interrelated so well in this response. However, we have been quite selective with regards to testing. We have mainly tested primary contacts because of the limited availability of test kits. But today it is pleasing that what this support could procure would double what exists in country as we move towards community testing and testing in the various hotspots”, says Prof. Alpha Wurie, Minister of Health and Sanitation.

Laboratory testing allows early detection of COVID-19 cases and is critical in effective control of the spread of the disease. Approximately 16,000 tests have been conducted in Sierra Leone since the onset of the pandemic with a positivity rate of 11%.  The PCR test is being done in five molecular laboratories in the country including Jui P3, Connaught National Teaching and Referral Hospital, the Central Public Health Reference Lab, 34 Military labs and Kenema Government Hospital. However, this support aims to expand the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to upgrade the laboratory infrastructure in Makeni, Bo, and Kambia.

“We are at a critical moment in the COVID-19 response. While the case numbers have drastically reduced in Germany, we can only succeed if we have a global success and that is why we are supporting the international response. On top of the global response, we are happy to collaborate with WHO to support Sierra Leone in the fight against COVID-19. We will get over this together,” says H.E Ambassador Horst Gruner, German Ambassador to Sierra Leone.

WHO is supporting the scale up of laboratory testing through the recruitment and training of 30 laboratory scientists to support COVID-19 testing in multiple laboratories including Makeni and Freetown International Airport (Lungi). WHO will also provide incentives to the recruited lab scientists for a period of 6 months. In addition, the Organization has hired two international consultants to support training and mentorship of laboratory scientists.

This support is in line with the national COVID-19 response strategic plan and seeks to fill existing gaps in availability of kits to expand testing capacity which is one of the five key national strategies to achieve the response objectives.

Commit and Act Foundation-SL Concludes 5 Days Meeting

By Amin Kef Sesay

From Tuesday 21st to Saturday 26th July 2020,  the Commit and Act Foundation Sierra Leone (CAF-SL) organized a five days meeting targeting forty staff, Board members and partners at Dohas hotel in Bo City, bordering on organizational development and change.

Commit and Act Foundation (CAF) was established in 2010 in Germany to bring psychosocial support to people in conflict areas. The psychotherapeutic approach is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an evidence based behavioural method that has shown to be efficacious in dealing with mental problems (such as depression, anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, addiction, chronic pain, obesity and many others)

The Foundation is also a child centered organization that deals with sexual abuse cases and girls who have suffered rape or abuse are referred to the Centre where they are addressed under the Girl Shelter Project.

The meeting was held to strengthen CAF-SL’s organizational development policy system and to assess progress towards the strategic plans that will move the organization to a higher level within five years, also to review and develop key organizational policies, strategies and systems, to identify progress in relation to CAF’s Strategic Plan, develop an organizational capacity building and succession plan to build the capacity of staff to be able to effectively adhere to the policies and utilize the systems at the end.

In her opening statement, the Country Director of Commit and Act Foundation Sierra Leone, Mrs. Hannah Bockarie, said the meeting was held as a result of their inclusiveness to support new strategic direction that will serve as a wheel that will drive the organization forward. She said an organizational assessment (OA) was carried out in 2019 and those findings were used to design an ‘organizational development and change’ (ODC) strategy, including the five year strategic plan that was done by researchers and staff. The exercise will therefore strengthen the ODC strategy as outlined in its terms of reference.

She furthered that the process will be participatory, involving all CAF staff, board members, overseas partners and donors, at various stages. It will also serve as a means of gathering information, evidence of change, suggestions for improvement, training, review and development of organizational policies, strategies and systems, exploring new opportunities and assessing risks/threats in the work place for their staff.

The meeting attracted high profile personalities as consultants to discuss on different policies, were in policies were discussed like Human Resource and administrative policy, Gender policy , internal financial control policy, bully policy, volunteer policy etc.

Mr Joseph J. Brima ,who was one of the consultants and also a facilitator commended Commit and Act Foundation for such comprehensive and international standard policies they have put together saying he was impressed and encouraged them to work by the document and implement it to the fullest.

On her part Army Kposowa, a Social worker thanked Commit and Act  for organizing such a forum by including them as staff to make inputs in the policy saying such is going to serve like their bible which will guide them on the dos and don’ts in executing their job.

In her closing remarks the Country Director, Mrs. Hannah Bockarie expressed her profound thanks and appreciation to their donors and all present for sparing their time and resources in five days to contribute to the development of the organizational policy of the Foundation.

The organizational development meeting ended with clear understanding on all the policies by every staff.

APC Suffers Another Defeat as… Mohamed Konneh Emerges as New NEC Boss

Chairman and Chief Electoral Commissioner of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Mohamed Kenewui Konneh

By Foday Moriba Conteh

On Tuesday 28th July 2020 The Presidential nominee for the position of the Chairman and Chief Electoral Commissioner of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), Mohamed Kenewui Konneh, was approved by Members of Parliament, after the exchange of  arguments and counter-arguments  by the country’s two major and oldest political parties, the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the main opposition of the All People’s Congress (APC) bordering on eligibility criteria and constitutional provisions.

Prior to the Parliamentary voting, the main Opposition Leader in Parliament, Hon. Chernor Bah in his objection referred to the minutes of a report regarding deliberation and resolution citing constitutional provisions which he thought are inimical to the appointment of the NEC Boss.

The APC also vehemently argued that President Bio nominated Mohamed Konneh without consulting them as enshrined in the country’s constitution. Another objection they raised was that he is not qualified to hold the position because he had not resigned his public office job one year before his appointment.

The APC objected on the grounds that Mohamed Konneh, as Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIB) was a public officer thereby making him ineligible to be appointed as Chairman of NEC.

They furthered Konneh was an employee of a corporation at the time of his appointment making his disqualified to be appointed.

However, at the end of the day out of the Members of Parliament present, 78 voted for Mohamed Konneh and 51 voted against the nominee which constitutionally confirmed and gives him the authority to serve as the nation’s Chief Electoral Commissioner and Returning Officer.

The ruling SLPP and the two other opposition parties in Parliament, NGC and C4C disagreed with the APC position and supported his appointment.

The position of APC before the parliamentary endorsement was that they will recourse to institute legal action against Konneh’s appointment and endorsement. For now it is a wait and see situation.

Mohamed Konneh, as the country’s new Chief Electoral Commissioner has already subscribed to oath of office at State House.

EU & Ireland Launch “Team Europe” Initiative to Combat COVID-19 

By Amin Kef Sesay

On the 28th July 2020 the European Union and Ireland came together to launch “TeamEurope” to help fight the spread and impact of the coronavirus pandemic in Sierra Leone. Dr. Francis M. Kaikai, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Ms Mary O’Neil, Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Ireland, Ms Jamila El-Assaidi, Deputy Head of European Union Delegation officially launch the Team Europe CSOs initiative in the presence of partner NGO representatives Concern Worldwide, Trócaire, GOAL, Advocacy and Development Sierra Leone (AAD-SL), Kambia District Development and Rehabilitation Organisation (KADDRO) and Social Enterprise Development Sierra Leone (SEND).

During the launch it was stated that Sierra Leone continues to record COVID-19 cases across all 16 districts. The challenge presented to the health system is also having multiple impacts on socioeconomic sectors including livelihoods and food security. In a bid to support and strengthen Sierra Leone’s response to the virus and mitigate its compounding impact on the most vulnerable communities, the European Union and Ireland have combined resources and mobilised approximately 1.5 million EUR (or 16.5 billion Le.) to support decentralised COVID-19 response in Sierra Leone.

Through two coordinated interventions, this response will be delivered in partnership with CSOs across 11 of Sierra Leone’s 16 districts: Bombali, Bonthe, Falaba, Kambia, Karene, Kenema, Koinadugu, Moyamba, Port Loko, Tonkolili, and Western Area Urban, reaching an estimated 400,000 individuals.

The EU intervention – #EUStandsWithSalone – is implemented by a coalition of NGOs and Local Authorities led by Trócaire, the official overseas development and aid agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland. It focuses on empowering local actors in Falaba and Karene districts to coordinate and strengthen district-level response interventions. It will be implemented in partnership with Action for Advocacy and Development Sierra Leone (AAD-SL) and Kambia District Development and Rehabilitation Organisation (KADDRO), and in close association with the district councils and District Coronavirus Emergency Response Centres (DICOVERCs) of Falaba and Karene districts.

The intervention will involve operational support to the districts; distribution of locally-produced hygiene materials; awareness raising and information-sharing on support services, support to people in quarantine as well as the most vulnerable post-quarantine households.

The second intervention is a joint Irish agency intervention funded by Irish Aid and implemented by a consortium of Irish headquartered NGOs led by Concern Worldwide – the other members of the consortium are GOAL and Trócaire. The intervention will support the national COVID-19 strategy and response efforts in both urban and rural communities and will be implemented in partnership with the local NGOs AAD-SL, KADDRO, and Social Enterprise Development Sierra Leone (SEND).  It will focus on both immediate and longer-term impacts of COVID-19:

  • Communities’ own efforts to prevent/reduce the transmission of the virus will be assisted with information and training in infection, prevention & control (IPC) and the provision of hand-washing and other essential items. The consortium will also support the Government’s own ongoing communications and messaging on COVID-19.
  • Assistance will be provided to quarantine facilities, Community Care Centres, and other district level structures to help them provide effective services.
  • The project will support vulnerable communities address other longer-term impacts of COVID-19 and emergency situations such as seasonal flash flooding. Using a flexible adaptive approach, consortium members plan to implement food security and livelihood protection interventions, work to counter the rising levels of gender based violence, among other measures to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the food, health, and income security of vulnerable populations.

By bringing together the Government of Sierra Leone, the European Union, the Irish Embassy, Irish and Sierra Leonean NGOs and district authorities, the Team Europe initiative is fully committed to supporting Sierra Leone in the fight against the pandemic and its consequences on the most vulnerable communities throughout the country.

ECOWAS President Applaud Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis

By Abdul Malik Bangura

President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, His Excellency Dr. Jean Claude Kassi Brou, has on Saturday 25th July 2020 congratulated Speaker of the 5th Legislature of ECOWAS Parliament His Excellency Sidie Mohamed Tunis, and pledged the Commission’s total support to the Parliament.

Whilst delivering his speech to the regional members of parliament at the ECOWAS Parliament’s 2nd extraordinary session of 2020 held via videoconference between Monday 20th to Saturday 25th July 2020, the President of ECOWAS Commission said: “It is together, strong and united that we will win, that we will triumph over the evils which overwhelm us to turn resolutely towards the objectives of regional integration. In this regard, I would like to assure you that the Commission and all the other ECOWAS Institutions stand ready to work together with you for the achievement of all the objectives of our Organization.”

In addition, the ECOWAS Commission President dilated that for ECOWAS Parliament to be able to play its role, they must work in “coordination and synergy, revitalize and re-establish our framework for exchanges between Parliament’s standing committees and Departments of the ECOWAS Commission; contribute in a concrete and effective manner to the development and implementation of Community programs which have an impact on our populations; strengthen institutional dialogue and communication; cooperate in a judicious manner to make the ECOWAS area a space of peace, security and development; put to good use the input, utility and support of Parliament for the visibility of ECOWAS in member states.”

Furthermore, HE Dr. Jean Claude Kassi Brou added that the Community Levy (PC) remains the most important source of income and funding for ECOWAS programs and activities. However he said, one of the harmful consequences of the coronavirus pandemic is the significant drop in imports in the region, which necessarily affects the mobilization of products from the community levy.

Thus, he said “as of June 30, 2020, the Community has only succeeded in mobilizing 11.8% of PC revenue. This is why we ask you to advocate for the mobilization of your respective Parliaments for the timely contribution of your countries to the fruits of the Community Levy. In doing so, the Commission will include in its field missions, the Honorable Members of the Parliament of ECOWAS to reap the fruits of the PC in accordance with the strengthening of inter-institutional cooperation.”

Moreover, the ECOWAS Commission President added that the significance of the gathering for the second time in the Extraordinary Session of the Fifth Legislature of the year 2020 is in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Additional Act relating to the strengthening of the prerogatives of Parliament that the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS adopted on December 17, 2016, in particular in its Chapter V, relating to the competences and the processes of adoption of the community acts, in Article 5 relating to the modalities of participation in the processes of the community acts which stipulates that: “the Parliament express its opinion when adopting Community acts, either by: Notice or Compliant notice.”

Meanwhile, in his closing remarks, the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, His Excellency Sidie Mohamed Tunis on behalf of the members expressed their profound gratitude to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Dr. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, and his “team of competent Commissioners and Technocrats, for the collaboration between our two important Institutions.”

HE Tunis furthered that: “Over the years since the inception of the Parliament, our collaboration with the Commission had grown wider; covering virtually all areas associated with the integration process. Ours is a symbiotic relationship, in which we as politicians are expected to promote the ideals of the Community at the level of Member States, while the Commission, with its team of competent technocrats, is to ensure total implementation of programmes and policies. We are determined to reap maximal benefits out of this relationship and we expect it to yield adequate rewards for the promotion of the vision of our founding fathers.”

In addition, HE Tunis said, unfortunately, the 5th Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament had to encounter a great challenge almost immediately after inauguration due the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic. He added that “there is no doubt that the remaining part of 2020 and early 2021 would be highly challenging, both economically and socially. Ours is to collaborate with our Governments, both at national and regional levels, to ensure that we protect the interest of our people and work towards easing their affairs during this anticipated difficult period.”

Whilst concluding and closing the 2020 2nd Extraordinary Session, ECOWAS Parliament Speaker HE Tunis said their “duty as Community Parliamentarians is not restricted to when we hold meetings or other activities. We remain Community Members of Parliament where ever we find ourselves. We should, therefore, endeavor to preach the ideal of ECOWAS at all times and in all places.”

Meanwhile it could be recalled that for the very first time, the community parliament met via videoconference for a six-day virtual extraordinary session to consider some referrals from Community institutions on germane issues that border on the wellbeing of the people of the sub-region. Notable among the referrals are: Request by the President of the ECOWAS Commission seeking assistance from the Parliament in implementing the ECOWAS protocol on the community levy;

That Parliament takes decision relating to the contribution of ECOWAS Member States to the African Union Solidarity Fund in the fight against COVID-19; Referral from the ECOWAS Commission on the fight against COVID-19, the stabilization and recovery of the economies of ECOWAS Member States amongst others.

UBA Appoints Six New Country CEOs

By United Bank for Africa (SL) Ltd

The United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), the leading pan-African financial services institution, announced the appointments of Rokia Hacko, Chioma Mang, Chinedu Obeta, Bode Aregbesola, Kingsley Ulinfun and Usman Isiaka as chief executive officers of six of its 20 subsidiaries across Africa, subject to regulatory approvals.  The new CEOs will drive the Group’s strategy and activities in Mali, Uganda, Zambia, Senegal, Tanzania and Sierra Leone respectively.

In addition, Ogechi Altraide has become the new Head, Retail Banking; Amadao Konate, Head, Treasury & International Payments for UBA America.  These international appointments compliment the prior appointments of Sola Yomi-Ajayi as the CEO of UBA America, and Patrick Gutmann as the CEO of UBA UK.  UBA provides a full suite of corporate banking products and services to businesses, multilateral institutions and governments transacting from and with Africa.

Earlier this month, UBA announced the appointment of Ayoku Liadi and Oliver Alawuba respectively, as Deputy Managing Directors in charge of the Group’s Nigeria and Africa businesses, attesting to the importance of UBA’s African business and its strategic positioning as “Africa’s Global Bank”.

UBA Group Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu, stated “The appointments further reflect the strong growth of the Group’s pan-African businesses, currently responsible for over 40% of total Group revenue and the increasing importance of our international businesses in London, Paris and New York, offering superior treasury, trading and corporate banking solutions to clients globally.  We are committed to catalysing growth on the African continent and the new CEOs are taking up roles at a very exciting period, as the Group executes its innovative digital play across the African continent’’.

Also announced were the appointment of three new country Executive Directors – Haoua Cisse as the Executive Director, Wholesale, UBA Mali; Samba Fall as the Executive Director, Wholesale, UBA Senegal and Julien Kouassi as Executive Director Wholesale, UBA Côte D’Ivoire.

United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with over 20,000 employees group wide and serving over 20 million customers, across its approximately 1000 branches and over 30,000 ATMs, PoS and agencies in Africa.  Operating in 20 African countries and globally in the United Kingdom, the United States and France, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge products, including the first ever banking chat bot in Africa, LEO.

 

President Bio Launches Insurance Scheme for Health Workers

By Theresa Kef Sesay

At State House on Tuesday 28 July 2020 President Julius Maada Bio has said that over the past one week his Government has done Sierra Leone proud with a hat-trick of momentous firsts while launching insurance scheme for health workers.

“After 55 years, we stood up as a nation and expunged criminal and seditious libel laws. Free speech and good governance go hand-in-hand… We revamped the Sexual Offences Act, established the first-ever One Stop Centres and now, we have set up Sexual Offences Model Courts to fast-track justice for survivors…and so today, as we take this next momentous step, let us be reminded that when the Ebola Virus Disease struck in 2014, hundreds of our health workers paid the ultimate price,” he said.

He, therefore, noted that the pain of the 2014 tragedy, for survivors of health workers lost to Ebola and the nation, was made even more excruciating because those survivors did not receive appropriate compensation for the loss of their loved ones.

“My Government salutes the selfless heroism of the departed health workers and profoundly thank them and their families for their service to our nation. Beyond just words of remembrance for their great service to this nation, our firm commitment is to ensure that in spite of resource constraints, we will, henceforth, fulfill our national obligation to every health worker who puts his or her life in great danger to serve fellow Sierra Leoneans,” he assured.

The President stated that his Government was following up on their campaign promise to the women and girls and to do more about sexual and gender-based violence in this country, adding that even in the midst of the raging COVID-19 global pandemic, they had practiced disciplined financial management, provided for the most vulnerable citizens with social safety programmes, and had also just passed a supplementary budget that was focused on saving lives and enhancing livelihoods.

“We have placed the inclusive safety, security, and development of every citizen at the centre of our nation’s development aspirations. Sierra Leoneans, individually and collectively, have a history of making our nation proud.

“We argued in the New Direction manifesto that without ‘a well-resourced and functioning national healthcare delivery system, the country will continue to face depressing socio-development indicators and limited economic growth As a nation, we have no option but to change poor health services and poor health outcomes,” he recalled.

Managing Director, National Insurance Company, Abdul Kargbo, thanked the Government for the trust and confidence reposed in them to provide the first-ever Group Life Insurance Scheme for frontline health workers who were engaged in the fight against the deadly COVID-19, adding that the window of opportunity opened by the Government, reflected its commitment to build a skilled human resources base in Sierra Leone.

Chief Medical Officer, Rev. Dr. Thomas Samba, said that since his assumption of office President Bio had repeatedly demonstrated his love and compassion for healthcare workers. He noted that the launch of the scheme was meaningful and would restore a renewed hope to energise and motivate health workers across the country, adding that the Government was committed to changing the narrative of the health sector.

President of the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association, Dr Delwin M. Findlay, said that the launch of the insurance scheme, which covered everything around their work, signified a notable day in the history of the country, especially for healthcare workers. He also thanked President Bio for being a motto in the realisation of the scheme.

President Bio used the occasion to present a cheque to beneficiaries of healthcare workers who had so far died of COVID-19 since March of this year and another cheque of over seven billion to the National Insurance Company to cover for all eleven thousand health workers in the country up to 2021.

NP-SL Ltd.’s Ineradicable Imprints on the West African Sub-Region is Awesome

National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited, NP (SL-Ltd).

By Amin Kef Sesay

There is no gainsaying that NP-SL Ltd.’s imprint on the petroleum business landscape within the West African Sub-Region is indeed awesome. Indeed, if we are identifying business entities that have made indelible imprints within the West African sub-region, then the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) stands tall. This could not in any way be an overstatement or exaggeration as the facts speak out clearly of a company that originated from a humble origin, established by thirty-five (35) Sierra Leoneans, former employees of British Petroleum (BP) Company , who bought shares after BP decided to fold up its operations in this country.

As a result of selflessness, the sheer determination to succeed in their investment venture and the steady injection of sound managerial initiatives, this small entity grew over the years to become a towering petroleum business company that now has vibrant branches within the West African sub-region in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia.

Today you can find the presence of the company in those countries, easily spotted by its green and yellow colours as well as its attractive well-constructed Filling Stations, which are very spacious to accommodate many vehicles, some having shopping marts, tire repairing/mending sections.

Because of its proactive stance with regards quality service delivery, with the avowed objective of always maximizing the interests of its numerous customers, within the petroleum business context, the company has earned the reputation of being 1st for Customer Care. This could not be dismissed as any theoretical attribution because the Shareholders and various Management team, over the years, have rolled out concreate steps and initiatives that still continue to give utmost satisfaction to all its customers everywhere the company is operating.

A realistic demonstration of doing so was borne out of the pragmatic step taken in the direction of securing and installing at its Filling Stations calibrated pumping machines, highly capable of pumping the correct amount of fuel, petrol or diesel, that a particular customer demand, displaying quantity in litre and the price. With such machines in place, obviously, customers always have the conviction that transactions are transparent which gives them the confidence to remain glued to a company that they trust. This is the situation in all the aforementioned countries where the company is steadily operating.

To enhance public safety and by extension that of its customers, the company made it paramount to clearly display precautionary measures at all its Filling Stations out of which these include but not limited to avoid smoking when within the precincts, not to light any naked flame, switch off mobile phones, engines of vehicles when fuel is being pumped. It is always ensured that there are fire extinguishers handy to be used in the event of any fire incidence.

Taking into cognizance that the company is dealing in highly inflammable products, the stance on the part of the Shareholders and Management to uphold best practice within the context of enhancing safety definitely falls within the purview of promoting customer care.

It has been established by development experts that there is a symbiotic relationship between strict implementation of a country’s Local Content Policy (LCP) and economic development. This had been justified on the basis of avoiding the over dependence on importation of what we use to produce and consume. Besides, sound implementation of this policy provides room for the utilization of local skills and materials in the production chain.

As for the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited strict implementation of the country’s LCP is a top priority which must not be taken lightly.

It is against such a backdrop that the company gives preference to indigenes when it comes to employment. Except on exceptional and rare occasions when it comes to employment. For example, in The Gambia, the Management does not say because the parent company is from Sierra Leone therefore Sierra Leoneans should be given priority. No! If there are Gambians who are qualified they get the jobs.

The company has gained wide respect for this stance because it offers sources of livelihoods to those who were hitherto jobless, thereby empowering them to be gainfully employed to take care of responsibilities.

With the introduction of NP Smart Card, which has gone viral, the Card can be credited with money and the amount of money utilized to buy fuel is debited after every transaction. With the use of NP Smart Card, customers are saved the hassle of having to always move with physical cash in their possession in order to purchase fuel and indeed there are times when one may not have time to rush to the bank to make withdrawals. Customers, who are holders and users of NP Smart Card, are at the vantage position to properly budget, through the amount that is contained in the card to buy fuel, during a considerable period of time, say a week or a month. Indeed, NP Smart Card has become trending.

The company also markets NP Gas which is a cooking device that is manufactured in different cylinder sizes and sold at the company’s Filling Stations across the country. It can be easily refilled with gas, is said to be non-hazardous to the health of individuals and easy to operate. Its performance has been rated high and many are indeed going for it.

Within the realm of  churning out its Corporate Social Responsibility, the company recently proved that it is always ready to stand by the side of the Government and People of this country ,especially during trying times. This was recently demonstrated when the company donated one billion Leones to the Government as its own token of contribution towards the fight against COVID-19 which the country is grappling with at the moment.

Indisputably, from the foregoing ,it can be firmly asserted that when we count companies that have made solid marks within the business landscape of the West African sub-region there is no way that the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited could not be mentioned as the company is greatly contributing to socio-economic growth wherever it has a presence. And the good news is that the company is doggedly poised to expand its operations.

Abdulai Bangura On The Run For Being Gay

Abdulai Bangura

By Foday Moriba Conteh

There are reports that a native of Kossoh Town and Grafton communities in the Western Rural District, Abdulai Bangura, has come under serious intimidation and harassment from members of the two communities after being caught practicing homosexuality with his male partner in his room.

Abdulai who hails from an Islamic background was not expected to practise this act especially when his father Sheik Alhaji Saidu Bangura is the Chief Imam of the Grafton community.

Both national and  Islamic laws totally forbid individuals from practising such act. Community members were completely disappointed at Abdulai’s action which they noted goes contrary to our customs and traditions.

A senior family member Sheik Mohamed Bangura was accused of leading the angry mobs to take stringent action against Abdulai with a view to send the message to other people that such activities are not tolerated in the community.

The Village Headman Francis Sora told this medium that the intention of Abdulai’s family was to eliminate him because he has not only embarrassed and disgraced them but has also broken the customs and traditions of the land in addition to violating the national and religious laws governing the country.

Many people have described Abdulai as the black sheep of the family because of his gay related activities.

His father who commands enormous respect in the community as religious leader attempted to commit suicide when the news broke out of Abdulai’s activity.

A senior police officer attached to the Grafton Police Station  Chief Superintendent Abdul Fofonah told this medium that  on July 25th 2020, Abdulai Bangura was caught by his father, making love to one Abdul  Goodman during morning prayers contrary to the country’s laws.

CSP Fofonah said his father decided to take the law into his hands by conniving with the community and physically and violently attack Abdulai at his residence even though he narrowly escaped through the window.

Family sources however told this medium that after this unfortunate incident Abdulai escaped to an unknown destination and since then his whereabouts remains unknown.

Other family members have expressed serious concern about his safety.

 

Journalists in Bombali Benefit from COOPI Engagement on Agricultural Evolution

By Alusine Rehme Wilson – (AR-WILSON)

On Wednesday July 22, 2020 the Cooperazione Internazionale – (COOPI) engaged over 20 Journalists on a day’s workshop at the MAF Conference hall in Bombali District, Northern Sierra Leone.

The engagement was centered on bridging the gap between the media, farmers and other agricultural partners as well as fostering smallholder Agriculture in the country and was facilitated by COOPI’s Project Officer, Alpha Kamara and colleagues.

In his opening statement, Alpha remarked that: “The Media is a strong factor that can easily influence any stakeholder to present the needed measures to be taken, sharing their success stories, publish knowledgeable materials at the same time can serve as a medium of extension services.

“Unfortunately the media seems not to be interested in agricultural coverage especially the print media apart from few radio programs which are usually powered by Agricultural development partners.” He facilitated presentations, discussions and group work on the topics treated.

Participants comprised reporters, presenters, producers among other Journalists from various media outlets such as Newspapers, radio, TV stations and Online platforms who were all introduced to lessons about the ProAct 2015 project COOPI is implementing, its overall objectives, working areas, major components (Cashew value chain development, LANN adaptation and rollout, Bee Keeping in Cashew Orchard, Cashew Based Agro Forestry and Cross cutting) via PowerPoint point presentations.

The situation of Nutrition and Food Security, Nutrition and Health, its social situation and contributing factors were also pertinent topics discussed during the workshop.

COOPI’s ProAct-2015 Bombali and Karene Districts Project Coordinator, Mrs. Mariam Kabba, while speaking to Journalist at the event commended the participants for their responsiveness in all sessions of the workshop.

She also urged Journalists to accelerate the level at which they report challenges and success stories of farmers and their work which she said will increase the rate at which agricultural reports are being aired and published in the media by way of managing our natural resources, identifying farmers challenges  share opportunities, reduce the gap in the sectors to enhancing better productivity and commercialization of honey and cashew in all four districts (Kambia, Bombali, Port Loko and Karene) where COOPI with support from the European Union and Government of Sierra Leone is implementing the ProAct2015 Project.

MAF Bombali District Agricultural Officer, David Sallieu pledged his Ministry’s commitment to the development process as he underscored COOPI’s tremendous work which had and is still empowering women and changing lives through agriculture in Bombali district and beyond.

He further revealed that his office will soon resume the monthly meeting with all agricultural partners in the district and that he will recommend strongly for the inclusion of Journalists in subsequent activities as he hailed Journalists in Bombali for their support towards agriculture amidst major challenges they do encounter in the process of seeking for and reporting the News.

On behalf of the participants, Senesi Dumbuya and Adama Fornah, both Producers at Radio Mankneh and Hope Radio respectively expressed delight for taking part in what they described as a fruitful dialogue.

They further assured COOPI and partners that they will fulfil the much need expectations as Journalists with much optimism that they will do their best to deliver more through their work in order to meet the much desired goals of the newly established Media on Agricultural Evolution (MOAgE).

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