Home Blog Page 1054

Kamarainba in Police Net for Alleged Sexual Penetration

Leader of the Alliance Democratic Party (ADP), Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray

By Amin Kef Sesay

Information accessed by this medium indicates that the Leader of the Alliance Democratic Party (ADP), Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray, presented himself to the Police at the Criminal Investigation Department accompanied by his Lawyers on the 21st July 2020. It was also revealed that after obtaining a statement from him he was detained.

He is now helping the Police in their investigation of allegations of sexual penetration, brought against him by a 15 year old girl in Kono, Eastern Sierra Leone. However, Kamarainba told journalists that the allegation of sexual penetration of a 15 year old girl in Kono is false and politically motivated.

According to a Police spokesman, they received a report a week ago at the Tankoro Police station in Kono, pointing to what he referred to as very strong accusations against Mr. Mansaray.

Following the report and in an effort to get to Mr. Mansaray, who was not readily available after a warrant for his arrest was issued, Police officers of the Sierra Leone Police broke into his compound after putting him under siege for over 14 hours.

It was stated that the gate of his house was finally broken into at 7pm on the evening of the. 20th July 2020, after a warrant for his arrest was secured by the Police.

According to Mr. Mansaray, he did not receive any form of invitation by the Police or offered a warrant of arrest, adding that he was only able to sneak out of his house and seek refuge in a safe place a few minutes before the gate of his compound was broken down by Police.

Since the news of his alleged involvement in the case emerged, members of the public have expressed mixed feelings, largely pointing to political intentions meant to silence him and destroy his political career by associating him with the alleged case.

This also came in the wake of very strong statements by the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Mrs Fatima Bio, who has been very vocal lately on the growing incidences of rape of minors across the country, promising an uncompromising stance against anyone found guilty of committing the crime.

Mr. Mansaray, whose whereabouts was initially not known , said  he had always been willing to go to the Police to hand himself over as long as he is assured of his safety.

More details on ensuing events later….

The Makeni Tragedy Highlights the Importance of Communication to Good Governance

Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Swarray

By Amin Kef Sesay

Going by the lack of communication between the relevant State and Local Government authorities and the people of Makeni that caused the unfortunate loss of lives and damage to properties last Saturday raises the question of, how does communication support good governance?

This commentary argues that communication contributes to good governance primarily in the area of influence. Skillful communication can increase stakeholders’ support for governance reform objectives, influencing opinion, attitude and behaviour change.

Effective use of available communication tools can also enhance citizen engagement in political systems. It is important to understand both communication processes and the framework for national dialogue in which these operate.

Good governance is defined as State capability and responsiveness (the ‘supply’ side of governance) and accountability (the ‘demand’ side of governance). Improving governance requires effective and sustainable communication activities to dispel fear, suspicion and other sinister suggestions among the populace.

What does available evidence tell us about the role of communication initiatives in Government capability, accountability, transparency and responsiveness?

In theory, effective communication can help to promote good governance; which means to create the means of communication; enabling factors must be in place so that voices can be heard and citizens can hold Government to account.

Effective communication helps to promote good governance by promoting participation and communication.

As such, if good governance requires an inclusive public space based on informed dialogue and debate, a positive relationship between communication and governance can clearly be seen.

At the process level, communication can foster support for governance reform by influencing opinion, attitude and behaviour change among: (1) leaders and policymakers (political will); (2) mid-level bureaucrats (organizational will); and (3) citizens (public will).

At the structural level, communication links citizens, civil society, the media and Government forming a framework for national dialogue through which informed public opinion is shaped.

Effective communication processes can address both the supply and demand sides of governance, through targeted and combined approaches. They can:

  1. Secure political will through formal and informal public interest lobbying and persuasion.
  2. Build public will through participatory and deliberative approaches
  3. Secure political will and build public support through framing and agenda setting: Framing involves emphasizing elements of an issue and downplaying others in order to convey a particular perspective

Under certain conditions, framing can increase support for viable solutions to public problems.

In agenda-setting, media coverage can influence public opinion, which in turn can arguably influence the policy agenda.

These links can also work in the other direction: for example, communications from policy elites (and perhaps leaks from either disgruntled or ethically-motivated bureaucrats) can influence media coverage.

At the structural level, there are several entry points for communication strategies in governance reform. These relate to groups of stakeholders (between which strong accountability relationships are needed).

  1. Formal oversight institutions (judiciary; parliaments): Support parliamentary coalitions, public reporting mechanisms and institutional legitimacy
  2. Political accountability (political party and business leaders; civil society elites): Support multi-stakeholder coalitions, policy dialogue, and deliberation and debate
  3. Local participation and community empowerment (local Governments and communities): Support coalition-building, grassroots campaigns and local government communication capacity
  4. Civil society and the media/private sector interface (CSOs; journalists and editors; private firms): Support the engagement and participation of multiple stakeholders.

Energy Minister Receives, Presents 2nd & 3rd Consignments of Electricity Materials for Bo and Kenema

By Austine Luseni

Alhaji Kanja Sesay, Minister of Energy on Monday 20 July, 2020 officially received and presented to the people of Bo and Kenema the second and third consignments of materials for the Bo-Kenema Network Rehabilitation and Expansion Project. Members of the Fourth Estate and other stakeholders were taken on an inspection tour of the warehouse at Yamandu -a strategic town sandwiched by the cities of Bo and Kenema.

Based on what a school of thought has expressed it appears as if the President Bio has shown that he is committed to fulfil his campaign promise of providing adequate, reliable and sustainable power supply nationwide, to stimulate economic development through the consolidation, improvement and expansion of existing and potential energy supply infrastructure.

The Bo-Kenema Network Rehabilitation and Expansion Project is a mega energy project which aims at completely overhauling the network and distribution systems in the two cities for the purposes of supplying quality electricity to households. The project will also seek to expand the grid and makes it possible for new or emerging settlements to be connected.

On Wednesday 24th June, 2020, the Energy Minister symbolically presented to the people of the two cities the first consignment of materials for the project, promising that he would be visiting them to be presenting the consignments as and when they arrive.

The Energy Minister, speaking at the warehouse at Yamandu said that the massive warehouse facility was carefully selected because the town is conveniently located between the two cities which would make it easier for the materials to be transported to Bo and Kenema. He however added that some of the materials and equipment would still be stored in Bo and Kenema.

Kanja Sesay also mentioned that a massive stock of the overall consignment is still to arrive, noting that what has been received thus far only constitutes 10% of the complete consignment that is expected. He assured that major towns along the highway linking the two cities would benefit from the electrification project. He concluded by saying that the President had declared this year as a year of delivery , and that as the Minister of Energy he is committed to actualize the President’s directive, irrespective of the coronavirus .

Project Coordinator, Ing. Edmond Wuseni said that the materials met contract specifications in terms of quality and durability. He noted that the consignments include poles, steels and PVC pipes, adding that the next consignment would contain metallic poles and some other heavy equipment.

Present at the ceremony were the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy Tamba Gbetuwa ; the Resident Minister South, Mohamed Alie ; the Director-General of EDSA Joe Lahai and engineers from the Ministry and EDSA.

The Bo-Kenema Network Rehabilitation and Expansion Project would give the two cities a massive facelift in terms of electricity. And with the determination shown by the Minister it is just a matter of time for the two cities to start enjoying quality and uninterrupted electricity supply.

Staff of SLEWRC Benefit from NPPA Procurement Training

By Foday Moriba Conteh

On Thursday 16th July 2020, the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), the country’s mandated institution that regulates procurement procedures relating to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), conducted a training for a cross section of the staff of the Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (SLEWRC) on key national public procurement procedures.

According to the Deputy Director for Capacity Building at NPPA, Siaka Koroma, there is a need for constant review of procurement processes and procedures especially when cognizance is taken of their dynamic and ongoing nature. He disclosed how the objective of the training was to give staff a good idea of the process flow of procurement and the principles that guide the undertaking of procurement activities.

He went further to state that 45-50% of Government’s expense goes into procurement underscoring how therefore there is a need to do things the right way, get results and value for money.

The training concentrated on the use of the standard procurement forms (SPF forms) which included requisition, procurement committee decision, evaluation, final evaluation, RFQs and reporting forms and how each of those could be used in the beginning and end of any procurement cycle.

One of the beneficiaries of the training, Ms Isatu Bah stated that she found the training to be very useful as she imbibed skills such as the standard ways of the procurement process according to NPPA requirements, the need to consider not only the purchasing cost but the time, duration, recurring cost in the procurement process. Other skills learned included knowing the five R’s of Procurements (Right Place; Right quality; Right Quantity; Right Time; Right Price) etc.

In his remarks, the Director General of the Commission, Emmanuel Mannah, stated that the Commission’s request for the training was borne out of President Bio’s call for delivery in all areas and as such, the need for an in-depth training for procurement staff of the newly set up unit of the Commission in order that no one would be found wanting in the future.

For Selfless Service to Humanity… Media Network Movement Awards Sinneh Kamara

Manager of Mortuary Services and Head of National Burial Teams Sinneh Kamara

By Amin Kef Sesay

The result-oriented Manager of Mortuary Services and Head of National Burial Teams Sinneh Kamara, with office at the Connaught Teaching Hospital Mortuary in Freetown, on Monday 20th July 2020, bagged a prestigious award presented to him by the Media Network Movement (a Non-Governmental Organization), in recognition of his relentless and selfless services to humanity in his field of work.

Speaking during the presentation, the Secretary of the organization, James Lewis, disclosed how they have been following the work of Sinneh Kamara further stating that they are impressed with his commitment to duty. The Media Network Movement Secretary added that the award will serve as a motivation for Sinneh Kamara and his team of volunteers to continue the good work.

He pointed out that the presentation of the award was not prompted by any financial consideration, but rather as means of showing gratitude to Sinneh for the good work he has been doing.
Receiving the award, a rather emotional Sinneh Kamara, said that it is the first time in all his 15 years’ service to the nation for him to be recognized and expressed gratitude to the Movement for the recognition.

Sinneh further stated that in all the disasters that had hit the country, he has been the first responder, together with his team of volunteers. He stated that during the Ebola, he was very active in ensuring that corpses of victims were buried in dignified ways. He also disclosed that as first responders to all disasters, he and his team gave their best to help people during the Ebola, Mudslide, flash-floods and now during this Coronavirus pandemic.

He furthered that apart from those incidents, he is also responsible for collecting destitute people, who die on the streets, without people to identify them. According to him he uses his own personal money to collect and bury them. Sinneh revealed that currently he has some 56 unidentified corpses at the mortuary awaiting burial.

Sinneh Kamara further stated that the award has further motivated him to do more and will also serve as a motivation for his volunteers. He however appealed to the President to recognize the work of people who put their lives on the line to make the country better. He noted that in all the disasters that had taken place in which he had played pivotal roles, he did not receive any recognition from any individual or Government, but had stood by and watched others being recognized.

Sinneh disclosed that he is hopeful that this will be the beginning of more recognition for the work of people like him, who do the dirty jobs just to make Sierra Leone a better place to live in. He stated that detractors will come, but encouraged all Sierra Leoneans to stay focused on what they are doing to develop the country expressing optimism that one day they will be rewarded for their diligence and commitment to duty.

According to the CEO of Media Network Movement, Isaac Mansaray, the organization was established in 2018 with the main aim to recognize and appreciate people who in their little corner are contributing immensely to the development of the country.

The Movement, he stressed, works for the people of the country and not for any Government. He said their main focus is to observe how people sacrifice during disasters as well as how people contribute to the development of the country. Such people, he maintained, deserve recognition and a pat on the back to motivate them to do more.

He likened the award to a school going pupil, who is given a very good result for the good work he has done during the academic year. The award, he went on, does not have any financial consideration, but is only to tell the recipient that his or her work is being appreciated and to do more.

APC Condemns Appointment of Chief Electoral Commissioner

All People's Congress Party.jpg
Ambassador Dr. Alhaji Osman F. Yansaneh, APC National Secretary General

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In a Press Release issued by the All Peoples Congress (APC) Party, dated 20th July 2020 and signed by Amb. Dr. Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh, the National Secretary General of the APC, it was categorically stated that the party takes note of a Public Notice dated 20th July 2020 in which it was announced that His Excellency President Bio has appointed Mr. Mohamed Konneh, the present head of the Financial Intelligence Unit, as a nominee to fill the vacant position of Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC).

The party said it wish to inform the general public and in particular their faithful supporters that by letter dated 13th July 2020, the Secretary to the President, Dr. Julius Sandy, forwarded the Curriculum Vitae (CV) of Mr. Mohamed Konneh to the APC Secretary General and informing the APC that Mr. Konneh will be the proposed nominee of His Excellency the President to fill the vacant position of Chairman of NEC.

It furthered that the APC replied by way of a letter dated 15th July 2020 acknowledging receipt of the CV of Mr. Konneh and informing the Secretary to the President that the party will get back to His Excellency as soon as possible.

The APC Party disclosed that a day after forwarding that letter they followed it up with telephone calls including a text message to the Secretary to the President asking when it will be convenient for their party to submit its position on the issue to the President. According to them they did not receive any reply.

It stated that after consultations within their party they forwarded a letter to the Secretary to the President on the 16 July 2020 informing His Excellency the President that after due consultation with the political and legal structures of the party, the APC is of the considered view that the proposed Commissioner of NEC, Mr. Mohamed Konneh, stands disqualified given that he did not meet the conditions precedent as set out in Section 32(4)(a)&(b) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone as he is a “Public Officer” and not on the Register of Electors .

The party quoted Section 32(4) (a) & (b)  for clarity and the avoidance of any doubt:

32 (4) A person shall not be qualified—

  1. for appointment as a member of the Electoral Commission if he is not qualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament, or
  2. to hold office as a member of the Electoral Commission if he is a Minister, a Deputy Minister, a Member of Parliament, or a public officer, or if he has attained the age of sixty-five years.

APC maintained that it is their position that Mr. Mohamed Konneh, the proposed Electoral Commissioner of NEC, stands disqualified on both limbs.

Based on their position, Mr. Konneh is not qualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament because his name is not on the register of electors as required by Section 75 (b) of the 1991 Constitution. Equally ,they said, he is disqualified under Section 76(b) from being elected as a Member of Parliament as he is a “public officer” currently in the employ of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) as its Director.

They furthered that similarly, Section 32(4) (b) of the 1991 Constitution prohibits public officers from being appointed as a member of the Electoral Commission.

The APC raised the point that they  have also taken due cognizant of Section 171(4) of the constitution saying they are satisfied that Mr. Mohamed Konneh doesn’t fall within the exemptions contemplated therein in view of the High Court rulings in election petition matters involving Suliama Marray Conteh as petitioner and Osman Abdal

Timbo as respondent before the Hon. Justice Komba Kamanda (J) and Emmanuel Sahr Gbeki and Hariyatu Ariana Bangura presided over by Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens (J). They said until those judgments are overturned they are the laws of the land.

According to them, the APC is surprised that instead of engaging the party further on the issues raised by their letter of the 16th July 2020 and do proper consultations pursuant to Section 32 (3) of the 1991 Constitution, the President proceeded to appoint Mr. Mohamed Konneh as Commissioner of NEC.

The party revealed that let there be no doubt that their position is that Mr. Mohamed Konneh is disqualified to be appointed Commissioner of NEC adding how the party stands ready to institute legal proceedings to enforce strict adherence to the provisions of the 1991 Constitution.

NP-SL Remains Undaunted in Importing & Marketing Petroleum Products

By Amin Kef Sesay

The National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) remains very undaunted and very committed to the importation and marketing of high grade petroleum products which include petrol, diesel, gas and lubricants one of which is the widely utilized Castrol oil. The company is highly professional in the transaction of these products, having numerous customers in every nook and cranny of the country which is continually and exponentially increasing.

The Shareholders of the company and its various Management teams, over the years, have ensured that timely arrangements are made in order to avail its customers, right across the country, the much desired petroleum products.

However, one outstanding attribute which the company is noted for is its positive customer care stance. The owners of the company take this very serious out of the strong conviction that business will not positively grow well and expand if the concerns and needs of customers are not properly addressed. As a pro-customer company it is against such a backdrop that it was decided by the owners and Management of the company to import highly sophisticated calibrated pumping machines which are highly capable of pumping the exact quantity of fuel ,displaying quantity and price simultaneously.

These machines brought and continue to bring immense satisfaction to customers as it marked a departure from those days when rickety and manually driven machines were used, creating suspicions of being cheated by pump attendants at Filling Stations. It has been proven that individuals always feel satisfied when they are sure of getting value for money and it is that feeling which the calibrated pumping machines give.

“The company indeed proved its mettle when it brought in these machines as they do match one of the international standards of any modern efficient petroleum marketing outfit. It gives you the exact quantity demanded for, is electronically controlled and creates a win-win situation for the dealer and purchaser,” a Petroleum engineer David Williams, intimated this medium during a fact finding assignment.

It was also mentioned by Mohamed Koroma that in addition to the transparent manner in which petroleum products are marketed the courteous ways in which the pump attendants treat customers is highly professional and exceptional further maintaining how NP-SL is a trusted company that operates in an orderly way and has a well-disciplined staff with incisive business etiquette.

Still within the realm of optimizing customer care and more so in order to simplify business transactions it introduced the NP Smart Card with the catchy phrase of  Fuel on Your Smart Card. Customers are at liberty to purchase petroleum products, especially petrol and diesel, using the NP Smart Card as long as they have money in it. An individual can conveniently purchase petrol or diesel with this card inasmuch as he or she has money within that card. Whenever a purchase is made with NP Smart Card the amount of money is debited and when it is top-up the amount in the card is credited.

This is one of the safest ways of conducting business transactions as it prevents individuals the hassle of having to intermittently withdraw monies from their bank accounts as that could be time consuming. As a matter of fact in this modern age, financial transactions are conducted without making use of physical cash and this is advantageous in the sense that it enhances safety. This is more so true for big entities, like construction companies, which purchase large or huge quantities of fuel to last over time.

“NP Smart Card is now trending as everyday more and more people as well as entities are accessing and also using it,” Alfred Sesay, an entrepreneur living in Kenema city informed one of our reporters adding that he is recommending it as a major conduit to procure petroleum products.

In terms of effective implementation of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), NP-SL is said to be doing well. The company has supported many worthy causes, in some cases complementing the efforts of Government, in fostering development programmes. Just recently, NP-SL made available to the Government and People of Sierra Leone, one billion Leones as its support to help prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus and to help contain it.

This was indeed no mean gesture considering the seriousness of the health pandemic, especially as the country is said to have reported 11 cases and the negative economic dislocations it is creating around the world. Such a gesture has been described as very timely with calls for other corporate institutions to give, in their own little ways, their support to Government underscoring that no support should be considered too small.

Still within its CSR portfolio, the petroleum marketing company financed the construction of a water facility for the National Fire Force, Kissy Branch. The state of the art water facility, powered by a kva generator it also donated, is capable of pumping a considerable amount of water into fire engines ,a move that is currently assisting the Force greatly in its fire extinguishing operations  and knowing how unfriendly fire disasters could be, the offer has been considered as a big boost to the NFF.

To again give its customers the best device for cooking purposes, the shareholders and Management thought it fit to introduce NP Gas which is manufactured in different cylinder sizes and powered by gas which is marketed by the company. According to a thorough investigation mounted by this medium it was uncovered that NP Gas is environmentally friendly, very portable and safe for domestic use. They could be secured at the company’s different Filling Stations right across the country.

Commendably, the company has set an exemplary niche by going the extra-mile to establish branches in neighboring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia where all its state of the art outfits are doing extremely well, employing local indigenes and paying huge taxes to the host Governments.

The company stands tall for effectively adhering to the country’s local content policy as it has doggedly implemented a policy of restricting employment opportunities to Sierra Leoneans, making it a truly indigenous company except in rare situations where individuals with the required expertise could only be sourced externally to perform a specialized task. This has helped in reducing poverty and enhancing skills through staff training programs.

Indisputably, NP-SL Ltd is a living testimony of how selflessness on the part of serious like-minded people could transform a mere ambition into a towering enterprise that is capable of positively impacting on socio-economic development and transform lives for the better. In all those directions, the result-oriented petroleum business entity has bagged a lot of commendations. And from the pace it is going, though there are challenges to be surmounted, it however seems that such a resilience will be unstoppable because as far as the Shareholders and Management are concerned it is the sky that is the limit.

Sierra Leone Police Declares Kolleh S. Bangura & Others Wanted for Riotous Conduct

Kolleh Bangura.jpeg

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In the aftermath of the clashes that took place in Makeni City, Northern Sierra Leone, when violent fracas break out between some irate residents of the city and State security personnel, six young people were reportedly gunned down.

Days after the ugly incident erupted, the solemnity that still engulfs Makeni is indeed very scary, as human rights organizations in the country have been frantically calling for an independent inquiry into the incident in order to bring all those responsible to account.

With the catchy phrase of, “Makeni Lives Matters” various stakeholders of the city and within the district have also added their voices calling on the Government to institute an independent Commission of Inquiry and for justice to be meted out impartially.

The whole incident emanated on the 18th July 2020 when it became noticeable that the standby generator sometimes used to generate electricity for Makeni City was about to be forcefully removed and transferred to the Freetown International Airport in Lungi; an act which some residents, especially young people, deemed as a deliberate ploy to deprive Makeni of its bona fide generator, underscoring that the decision was politically motivated and orchestrated.

Vociferous among the young people was one Kolleh Santigie Bangura, who happens to be a member of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) Party.

According to eyewitnesses, Kolleh S. Bangura was among the youths who galvanized and coordinated the other young people to physically resist the removal of the Stand-by Generator telling them that they were being sidelined and ostracized by the ruling Government. Makeni, being the stronghold of the main opposition APC Party, it was easy for Kolleh S. Bangura and others incitement to become infectious, gaining widespread currency.

The Police started firing at the marauding and menacing irate youths, who were by then advancing and pelting stones on them. It was even alleged that some of the young people were also firing against the security personnel, who were only trying to defend themselves. However, the fact remains that at the end of the ugly incident six young people laid dead and some security personnel sustained serious injuries with one said to have been cut with a machete by Kolleh S. Bangura, who was at the forefront of resisting the removal of the generator.

Some arrests were made of those accused of stage managing the protest, but it is reported that one of the ring leader, Kolleh Bangura, narrowly escaped police arrest when he jumped over a window as the raid was getting close on him.

When this medium contacted the Head of Communication of the Sierra Leone Police, Superintendent Brima Kamara, to know what the situation is like now since the incident took place, he categorically stated that they are still looking for the perpetrators for, what he termed as their dastardly act of cowardice to be held accountable for inflicting injuries on Police Officer.

He intimated the Sierra Leone Police is looking out for, Sulaiman Tejan Sesay, Idriss Kamara, Kolleh Bangura, Alie Conteh and others, all wanted for riotous conduct.

According to our investigation, it was revealed that the members of the Sierra Leone Police continue to raid the family home of Kolleh S. Bangura on several occasions.

However, up to the time of going to Press, the whereabouts of Kolleh Bangura could not be located.

Sierra Leone Police Launch Manhunt for Osman Koroma Following Makeni City Clashes

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In the aftermath of the violent clashes in Makeni City, Northern Sierra Leone, resulting in the reported death of six young individuals, the Sierra Leone Police have declared Osman Koroma and several others wanted for their alleged involvement in riotous conduct.

The tensions erupted on July 18, 2020, when residents, particularly young people, opposed the forceful removal of a standby generator destined for the Freetown International Airport. Many viewed this act as a political maneuver aimed at depriving Makeni of its essential generator.

Osman Koroma, who is alleged to be a member of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) Party, was reportedly instrumental in mobilizing and coordinating the resistance against the generator’s removal. The incident escalated, leading to clashes between the irate youths and security personnel. Six young people lost their lives, and some officers sustained injuries.

While arrests were made in connection with orchestrating the protest, Osman Koroma reportedly managed to evade police apprehension by leaping through a window during a raid on his location.

Superintendent Brima Kamara, Head of Communication for the Sierra Leone Police, emphasized that they are actively seeking the perpetrators involved in what he described as a “dastardly act of cowardice,” holding them accountable for causing harm to police officers. The police are particularly looking for Sulaiman Tejan Sesay, Saudiatu Kamara, Osman Koroma, Alie Conteh, and others wanted for riotous conduct.

Despite repeated raids on Osman Koroma’s family home, his whereabouts remain unknown as of the time of this press release. The solemn atmosphere still prevailing in Makeni has prompted calls from human rights organizations for an independent inquiry to ensure accountability for the tragic events that unfolded.

National Competitive Bidding

Invitation for Bids (IFB)

National Competitive Bidding

Accountant General’s Department,

1st & 2nd Floor,  Ministerial Building, George Street, Freetown.

Procurement of Uniforms for female staff

Date of Issue: 20th July, 2020

Procurement Number:________ MOF/GoSL/ AGD/NCB/2020/019.

The Accountant General’s Department (AGD) has received funds from the Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) through the Ministry of Finance. The AGD intends to utilize part of this fund to hire the services of a credible firm with proven expertise to supply Uniforms for female staff attached at the Accountant General’s Department and therefore invites sealed bids from eligible bidders operating in Sierra Leone.

Interested bidders may obtain further information and inspect the bidding documents at the address below between 10:00am to 3:00pm from Mondays to Fridays before the bid closing date. The bidding documents may be purchased upon payment of a non-refundable fee of Two hundred and Fifty thousand Leones (Le250,000.00) at the Administration and Central Services Unit of the Accountant General’s Department, 1st Floor, Ministerial Building, George Street, Freetown and a copy of the receipt submitted to the Procurement Unit for the issuance of the bidding document.

All bids must be accompanied with:

  • Bid security of Three million Leones (Le3, 000,000.00), it must be in the form of a valid bank guarantee from a reputable Commercial Bank operating in Sierra Leone.
  • A copy of a valid business registration certificate
  • A copy of a valid tax clearance certificate from the National Revenue Authority (NRA).
  • A copy of a valid NASSIT clearance certificate,
  • A copy of a valid local council License
  • Sealed bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 14th August, 2020 at 1100 Hours GMT. Electronic bidding will not be permitted; late bids will be rejected and returned unopened to bidders

Bids must be delivered to the address below on or before 14th August, 2020 at 11:00 am.

Bids will be opened publicly on 14th August 2020 at 11:15 am, in the presence of bidders or representatives of bidders who choose to attend, at the address below.  Late bids will be rejected and returned unopened to bidders.

The Senior Procurement Officer,

Administration and Central Service Unit,

Accountant General’s Department;

1st Floor, Ministerial Building, George Street, Freetown.

Contact No: +232-78-350-504.

1...1,0531,0541,055...1,362Page 1,054 of 1,362