Home Blog Page 1065

Planning & Economic Minister Meets with Executive Director of SLRSA

By Amin Kef Sesay

On the 30th June 2020 the Minister of Planning and Economic Development met with the Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), Ibrahim Sannoh and members of his staff at the SLRSA Board Room on Kissy Road.

The meeting was a follow-up on President Bio’s call to provide political orientation and to help public institutions accelerate effective service delivery in 2020 and beyond.

It also came as a result of the first presidential seminar for Heads of Institutions at the Bintumani Conference Centre on the 25th February 2020, where H.E. President Julius Maada Bio recognised the important role and contribution of commissions, parastatals, agencies and state-owned enterprises to the achievements of his New Direction Agenda and declaring 2020 as the Year of Accelerated Service Delivery.

Delivering his address, the Minister of Planning, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai said that the process was to ensure that SLRSA had clear deliverables and deliver on its targets in order to play a significant role to achieve the vision of President Bio’s Agenda to change and transform the lives of ordinary Sierra Leoneans.

He said such practice had lapsed across Government for a very long time and that some agencies were no longer providing the required service delivery to the public. Dr. Kai-Kai said this attracted a lot of public outcry, which drew the attention of President Bio.

“We need people who can and are ready to deliver promptly to the people. President Bio intends to make performance management systems for officials and public institutions more effective and result-oriented. This also includes ensuring that there is greater accountability for poor performance— hence the need to put in some performance benchmarks for all of us,” said Dr. Kai-Kai.

The Minister, then, introduced Dr. Robert Moikowa, the Director of Service Delivery and Performance Management at the MoPED and his team, who would continue the process of following up with the SLRSA. Previously, the Minister visited NPPA, EDSA, EGTC, NASSIT, SALWACO and the SLPA. He would continue visits to other public institutions, in the coming weeks.

Responding to the Minister, the Executive Director of SLRSA, Ibrahim Sannoh thanked the Minister and Team for the timely visit and recognized the importance of the process in achieving the New Direction Agenda.

He explained that the overall output of the agency was to digitize the activities of SLRSA, adding quality, value and innovation to its services rendered to the public.

While mentioning the many challenges the agency faces, he said they were working towards developing a strategic plan, reviewing its HR policy among other things to improve the overall output of the SLRSA.

Dr. Robert Moikowa, the Director of Service Delivery and Performance Management commended the work of the SLRSA for their efforts in working towards achieving the ultimate goal of Government’s commitment to sustain socio-economic activities. He emphasized on the need for both teams to coordinate and collaborate effectively in accomplishing the task.

Free from Treason Charge…   Palo Conteh Sentenced to 2 Years Imprisonment

Rtd. Major Alfred Paolo Conteh

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The 1st accused person in the just concluded treason trial, Palo Conteh was on the 1st July 2020 was acquitted and discharged on all counts of treason charges when the Jury returned a not guilty verdict. However, he was found guilty on 2 lesser counts of unlawful Gun Possession with the penalty of two years imprisonment.

After several court appearances, the Prosecution team headed by the Attorney General couldn’t prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused (Rtd. Major Alfred Paolo Conteh) had the preconceived guilty mind to commit treason. There was no seeming intention established throughout the trial. Thus, the Jury found him not guilty and has exonerated him on all charges of treason.

Many have expressed the view that such was unprecedented in this country. They argued that the verdict represents a shift from the past, when those dealing with such cases were acting on orders from above, found the accused persons guilty of treason even when there were overwhelming evidences that the trials were politically motivated and devoid of merits.

Before the Jury retired to arrive at the verdict, the Lead Defence Counsel for Palo Conteh, Dr .Abdulai Conteh, addressed the members and the Judge.

He stated that they have been together in Court since the 25th day of May, 2020 and have now reached the stage where they will soon retire to consider their verdict in the matter.

The learned lawyer furthered how it has been said that once to every man (woman) and nation comes a moment to decide between truth and falsehood.

“This is your moment to decide between the truth and falsehood in this case,” he intimated members of the Jury adding that the 1st accused, Alfred Palo Conteh, stands charged on the indictment before them with three counts of treason, seven counts of offences against the Small Arms and Ammunition Act, 2012 and three counts of Perjury Contrary to the Perjury Act, 1911.

He said from the outset the third Count of treason charged in the indictment was never committed to the High Court. “The 1st accused was charged with Count 3 of committing treason Contrary to Section 4(a) of the Treason and State Offences Act of 1963 but we are saying that the Count was never committed by his Lordship on the Section 136 application (CPA) that brought this case before you to this Court,” he persuasively argued stating how for that he is referring to the Committal Order which is in evidence arguing that as such, the 1st accused ought not to have been tried on that count in the court.

Abdulai Conteh then expressed hope and trust that his Lordship will give the necessary directions on that Count at the appropriate time.

The Lawyer of a long reputable standing told the Jury that “Treason”, in our laws, is to overthrow the lawfully constituted Government of the country by force or endeavour to do so by unlawful means.

He told them that his Lordship will at the appropriate stage explain the law of treason to then but they, as a defence team, say on behalf of the 1st accused that treason as it is understood and prosecuted in this country has never been an undertaking or endeavour or attempt by one person but has always been an endeavour or attempt or undertaking by several or a group of people.

“In simple terms for you to convict the 1st accused for the Offence of Treason as charged in the indictment, the Prosecution must have led evidence which show beyond a reasonable doubt that the 1st accused prepared and endeavoured, to overthrow the Government by unlawful means,” he argued.

He pointed out that what the prosecution wants the Jury to believe is that by merely renewing his gun license in March 2020 (as a law-abiding citizen) he was preparing to assassinate and overthrow the Government.

“This proposition is simply ludicrous and untenable because it assumes that when Alfred Palo Conteh ( the 1st accused ) renewed his license on the 3rd of March 2020 he had foresight and fore knowledge that he would be invited to State House for a meeting with the President on the 16th and 19th of March respectively,” the Lawyer tried to make a point.

He said going by the Prosecution’s own narrative, it would mean that when the 1st accused obtained his gun license in 2017 which he renewed in March 2020, he was preparing to overthrow a Government that was then not yet in being. Abdulai Conteh stated that only 007 (James Bond) needs a license to kill and Palo Conteh is most certainly not 007.

Abdulai Conteh maintained that the 1st accused is a 63 year old veteran of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces from which he was retired with the rank of Major. He argued that as an experienced military man, he testified in the witness box that it would be complete suicide for one man with one gun and ten bullets to walk into State House to assassinate the President given the phalanx of security officers with various types of weapons (AK 47, pistols etc) at State House.

According to the Lawyer, it would be a suicide mission and my client is not suicidal stating how they saw and heard him testify from the witness box pointing out how he was composed, dignified and he can be adjudged as a truthful witness.

He told members of the Jury that they heard his client say from the witness box that when he attended the meeting on the 16th of March, 2020 he had his personal weapon in a leather brown bag, but as the meeting was in the afternoon and the car park at State House was empty and was not swarming with carwash boys, he took the precaution of putting the bag containing his weapon at the back of the driver’s seat and then went up for the meeting with the President.

Abdulai Conteh furthered how on the 19th of March, 2020 as a follow-up on the invitation to finalise the plan and brief the President, his client was invited again to State House. He said but this time the meeting was slated for 9 a.m. and his client arrived at State House shortly before 9 am and the carwash boys at that time of the day, in the morning hours, swarmed around him offering to wash his vehicle.

He said as a precaution, he did not think it prudent to leave his brown bag with the weapon inside his vehicle and so he went into State House with his brown bag which had his weapon inside it and he turned it over to the security.

Still continuing his defence Abdulai Conteh said: “Mr Foreman, members of the Jury, I need not remind you that in a criminal trial the accused bears no burden: the Prosecution charged him and brought him here and therefore, the law requires that they should prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. That is to say, to make you feel sure of his guilt on the several charges on the indictment.”

Concluding in addressing the Jury, Dr Abdulai Conteh said this:  “Mr Foreman, members of the Jury, we urge and pray that in this trial you will reject the prosecution’s case of treason against the 1st Accused for a woeful lack of evidence and on the offences under the Small Arms Ammunition Acts, for lack of any supporting evidence, a burden which the Prosecution carries. We accordingly invite you and urge you to return a verdict of not guilty of treason, not guilty of small arms offense and not guilty of perjury.”

At the end of the trial after Jury had listened and took note of everything Dr Conteh had to say all twelve members of the Jury, unanimously found Alfred Palo Conteh – not guilty on all Treason Charges.

Palo Conteh was, however, found guilty on two counts of unlawful gun possession and sentenced to two years imprisonment,

Govt. Steps up Fight against Malaria amidst COVID-19 Outbreak Response

Zero Malaria Starts with Me

By Foday Moriba Conteh

It was stated on the 29 June 2020 that mass distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated bed nets is underway in Freetown and its suburbs to complete a nationwide household distribution of 4.6 million mosquito nets. The campaign started in mid-May with nets distributed in 14 of the country’s 16 districts. The remaining two districts (Western Area Urban and Western Area Rural), in the capital and its suburbs account for around a fifth of the 7-million population and has also been accounting for nearly 60% of the confirmed COVID-19 cases.

“A special strategy was needed to carry out the distribution of the bed nets in these COVID-19 hotspot communities,” says Evans Liyosi, WHO Country Representatives in Sierra Leone. “Safety of the frontline personnel implementing the interventions and safety of the beneficiaries was carefully thought out to mitigate people getting infected with COVID-19 in the process of protecting them from malaria”.

The incidences of malaria also remain high in Freetown particularly in areas with poor sanitation such as the slum communities and informal settlements. Sub national data reported in the World Malaria report 2019 showed that 15% of all malaria cases and 26% of all malaria deaths in Sierra Leone occurred in these two districts.

The campaign is part of the Government’s commitment to continue with the provision of uninterrupted essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malaria is widespread in Sierra Leone with the entire population at risk of the disease, and where it remains the leading cause of ill health and deaths among children and pregnant women. According to the National Malaria Control Programme, malaria accounts for nearly 40% of the disease burden among all outpatient visits and an estimated 1,000 deaths annually among children under 5 years.

According to a modelling analysis conducted by WHO and partners, undertaking the 2020 nationwide mass LLINs campaign and continuing to provide malaria prevention and control services will avert an estimated 13,000 deaths and reduce the number of malaria cases by 29% in the country in 2020 alone.

Sierra Leone relies on multiple interventions to tackle the prevalence of malaria and reduce its devastating effects. Malaria treatment is free in the public health facilities, as is intermittent preventive treatment for infants and pregnant women and the routine distribution of long-lasting insecticidal nets.

Once the Freetown campaign ends, Sierra Leone would have made a significant gain in achieving Universal LLINs Coverage to protect its entire population against malaria even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Malaria is a preventable disease. Yet, millions of people across Africa suffer from it every year. “If individuals, families and communities adhere to and adopt correct measures, such as improved sanitation and consistent use of insecticide-treated nets, among other precautions, they could avoid the devastation that the disease can cause,” says Dr Louisa Ganda, WHO Malaria Programme Expert in Sierra Leone. “Protecting against malaria has health and economic benefits to families and communities – it saves lives and blocks interruption of economic and livelihood activities.”

The country has successfully conducted multiple LLIN campaigns in the past to protect families and communities from malaria. However, this is the first time the WHO-recommended PBO (piperonyl butoxide) insecticide treated nets are being distributed to every family unit in a national malaria prevention campaign. PBO enhances the effectiveness of long-lasting insecticide nets.

The nets are distributed following registration and allocation of vouchers to households that the beneficiaries would present at LLIN collection sites to redeem their nets. “I collected my nets on the second day after start of the distribution. We had two but they have almost worn out. So, the new ones are very timely, and we are happy that we are now able to replace the old ones”, says Yeanoh Conteh, a mother of three in Freetown. “I introduced my children to sleeping under nets from the day they were born, and it has helped to keep us safe from malaria”.

The 2020 campaign is led by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, with technical support from the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, which includes WHO, and financial support from The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the President’s Malaria Initiative with the United States Agency for International Development. WHO facilitated the training and coordination of independent monitors brought in to reinforce a good-quality distribution campaign.

Parliament Starts Debate on Presidential Speech

By Theresa Kef Sesay

Thursday 2nd July 2020  marked the commencement of debate by Members of Parliament on the Speech which His  Excellency the President, Dr. Julius Maada Bio graciously delivered on the occasion of the State Opening of  the Third Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone in the Chamber of  Parliament on Thursday 28th  May 2020.

Proposing the motion for debate, the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nuyma thanked His Excellency the President for delivering his scorecard on the State Opening of Parliament. He pleaded with colleague MPs to give maximum contributions to the President’s address and urged them to do justice to it,by making meaningful contributions in the areas of Health, Agriculture, the Environment, Education and other related developmental programmes embedded in the “New Direction” manifesto.

Seconding the motion, Hon. Francis Amara Kai-Samba of SLPP said the Speech delivered by President Bio captured some of the tremendous tasks that have been fulfilled by health workers to combat COVID-19. In the area of education, he said President Bio has accomplished a lot through the introduction and implementation of the free quality education especially on budgetary allocation.

Hon. Rugiatu R. Kanu of the main opposition APC commended the President for the Speech delivered to Parliament on the occasion of the State Opening of Parliament. She decried the free equality education by stating that many aspects of quality education are not in place, such as placing more burdens on parents instead of supporting them.

On his part, Hon. Saa F. Bhendu of C4C acknowledged the significance of the President’s address to Parliament. Speaking on high interest rates on loans by the banks, he commended Government for the introduction and implementation of the national safety net programme by transferring cash to vulnerable citizens in the country.

In his contribution to the debate, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh of SLPP said the Presidential address is a total manifestation of Government’s action to improve human capital development citing an increase in the number of educational facilities in the country. Relating to road network, he said, Government has done a lot of rehabilitation, maintenance and reconstruction of roads across the country. He also praised the Government for taking concrete steps aimed at improving the socio- economic development of the State.

Hon. Daniel Koroma of APC said the role of the opposition is to help Government to achieve its aims and objectives and called on the Government to provide total peace and stability for its citizens. He decried the Government’s policies on the economy based on the Millennium Challenge Cooperation’s Report of 2020.

Submitting to the debate, Hon. Komba M. Kamanda of C4C commended the Government for the improvement of the health sector and urged Sierra Leoneans to love one another devoid of political and tribal sentiments for the socio-economic development of the country.

Hon. Shiaka Musa Sama, an Independent MP from Pujehun applauded President Bio for the Speech delivered to Parliament and commended him for putting together stronger laws to combat rape and related offences. He also called for reformation and upgrading of the prisons service.

Making his contribution, Hon. Abdul Latiff Sesay of APC said at present there is a bloated wage bill and called for salary harmonization. He also called on Government to capacitate the youth for better standard of living.

Hon. Kekura Vandy of SLPP said the energy sector under the leadership of President Bio has achieved a lot of reforms geared towards adequate and sustainable energy supplies in various parts of the country.

Other MPs made brilliant contributions to the motion and the debate continues tomorrow in the Chamber of Parliament.

The Parliament of Sierra Leone extended thanks and appreciation to the Management of SLBC for streaming the debate live on TV and their Facebook Page amidst COVID-19.

Face of Sierra Network Comedy’s Haja M. Conteh Dilates on the Comedy Industry

Face of Sierra Network Comedy, Haja M. Conteh

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Sierra Leone’s most outstanding female actress, who is a member of the Sierra Network Comedy, Haja M. Conteh, a known personality in the entertainment industry, a mentor, an activist for young girls, has on Tuesday 30th June, 2020 in an exclusive interview with this medium dilated on constraints restraining the growth of the comedy industry in the country.

She disclosed that she started her movie career in 2013 and since when she started Cinematography she has acted in some major movies like, “Dollar don Go Up”, “Country Foul”, “The Ground Dry”, “Mask Up”, “15 Minutes Man”, “Wrong Mission” etc. which paved the way for her success in the industry.

Haja M. Conteh, underscored that the Sierra Leone entertainment industry, especially the Comedy industry, has come a long way and is now trending as Sierra Leone Comedies are making huge waves in the country and beyond. She said that lamentably as local movie makers they are not realizing much from their resources, talents and toil as there is widespread piracy robbing them of their efforts.

Haja M. Conteh disclosed that the entertainment industry plays a pivotal role towards the development of the country, adding that during this pandemic they have contributed towards curtailing the spread of the coronavirus in the country through music, comedy skits like “Mask-Up”, “The Fighters” which she described as Coronavirus sensitization skits which have contributed towards the fight against COVID-19 in the country.

She said that back in the days the entertainment industry was at a peak to excel especially the comedy aspect but unfortunately they declined due to bad marketing, piracy, and lack of support to the industry etc.

It is against such a backdrop she is calling on the Government of Sierra Leone to enforce the Piracy Act and the Local Content Policy as the rate of piracy continues to increase every day and defaulters go unpunished but said with the enforcement of the Piracy Act such will give strength to the entertainment industry especially the Comedy sector.

She noted that the film industry has contributed tremendously to the development of the country, adding that with Government’s intervention the challenges the industry is going through presently will become things of the past as the movie industry has the tendency to revamp the country’s economy by contributing to the nation’s GDP as it is happening in other Africa countries.

Haja M. Conteh noted that another big challenge facing them as film makers in the country is the aspect of locations for shooting their moves as in most cases when they request for certain places in order to shoot like the Law Court building, State House etc., authorities will not allow them to use those places which she said has affected them greatly.

She bemoaned that regardless of all these challenges in the movie industry she is still passionate about acting adding that her love and passion for movie keeps her going.

Haja M. Conteh admonished young people who wish to join the industry not to see the industry as a place for dropouts but rather to empower themselves academically in order to become outstanding personalities in that sector.

She extended appreciation to her Directors, Mohamed S Kargbo and Ishmael D. Bangura who have been working tremendously for her to reach the present peak she has reached in the entertainment industry.

As it Gains Momentum… UBA Introduces EDSA Payment on Leo

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) commitment in making banking easy and affordable, the Bank has on Tuesday 30th June, 2020 disclosed the introduction of EDSA Payment through their LEO Digital Banking which is a digital product that would help customers to access most of their banking services at their convenience. This disclosure was made during an exclusive interview with the Head of Digital Banking, UBA-Sierra Leone, Lanre Agbetu, at the Bank’s Head Office on Charlotte Street in Freetown.

Speaking to this Press, Head of Digital Banking UBA Sierra Leone, Lanre Agbetu disclosed that Leo is an artificial intelligence powered chatbot for banking, developed in partnership with Facebook Messenger furthering that with the Leo product, customers can complete all their mobile transactions using their mobile phones since the Bank has discovered that most customers are familiar with the social media especially the WhatsApp and Facebook platforms, noting that even non-customers of the Bank can also use social media platforms to do all their Banking transactions using mobile phones.

He maintained that with Leo, customers can Send Money, Buy Airtime, Check Account Balance, Pay Bills and a lot more with ease and convenience and that with Leo customers can also experience a whole new world of banking solutions without going to the banking hall, adding that customers can use this service on WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger highlighting that customers must add the number +23279919919 to their WhatsApp contact list and then  begin to chat with Leo.

He added that customers would no longer have to come to the bank, endure traffic or long queues at the banking hall as the LEO product has many features with the latest being to buy EDSA top-up.

Lanre Agbetu stated that the LEO product is easy and convenient to use as one does not need to go out othe streets as it was clarified that one does not need to be a customer of the bank to use the LEO product. Lanre also revealed that the bank is working in consultation with other institutions like Guma Valley, DSTV etc. and very soon customers can also pay their water bills, and pay their DSTV subscriptions using Leo in order to make life and banking easy and comfortable.

He admonished users  that one key feature to look for when accessing the LEO product is the checkmate to ensure that it is verified further stating that if customers find difficulties while using Leo they should call the Bank Customers’ line on +23278200200 or download the UBA mobile banking app on Google play store.

To Strengthen its Social Media Platform… Information Ministry Receives Big Boost from Africell

By Amin Kef Sesay

On Thursday 2nd July 2020 Africell Mobile Company, the leading telecommunications service provider in Sierra Leone, Africell Mobile Company donated mobile phones, Mifas and Routers to the Ministry of Information and Communications in a brief ceremony which was held at the Ministry’s Conference Hall, Youyi Building in Freetown.

Africell Media Manager, John Konteh, in addressing the gathering, noted that as a giant in the telecommunications industry the company knows that the fastest means to disseminate information is through the social media platform and for that reason the institution has heeded to the call to support the social media department capacity of the Ministry.
Recognizing the importance of the traditional media, notably the print and electronic, John Konteh also went on to add that the social media can now do it faster, reaching millions of people in just one minute.

He cited Africell Facebook page, saying it has three hundred and fifty thousand followers, making Africell page the second highest following in the country.
“The Ministry can reach millions of Sierra Leoneans through social media platforms on a daily basis and Africell has come in to provide the Ministry with these gadgets to enhance the communication capacity,” he continued.

According to the Media Manager, the 4G Mifis, Phones (IPhone and Tecno) with 4Grouters provided by Africell will connect up to ten users, fully loaded with data for one year with automatic data renewal capacity when it expires.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Ministry, the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Mamadi Ngobeh Kamara said the donated items came at the right time.

She said just few days ago she walked into the Minister’s office to discuss with him how to find ways to boost the social media unit at the Ministry and the Ministry called on partners to help them.
“We are happy that our discussion was listened to by Africell who were very swift to come to our aid,” Madam Kamara noted as she, on behalf of the Ministry, thanked Africell for their timely support to the Ministry. She assured them that the items would be used for their intended purpose.

CTC Stoutly Refutes False Allegation

By ABT Special

Sierra Leone’s biggest and most reliable rice importer, the Commodities Trading Company (CTC) has on Thursday 2nd July 2020  in an exclusive interview with this medium refuted claims of allegation of  deliberately and nefariously  orchestrating a short fall in quantity of bags of rice and  Sugar that it sells to members of the public. This response by Management of the company came in the wake of an allegation made by a purported member of staff of the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau in an insert that was aired on Radio Democracy 98.1 on Thursday 2nd July, 2020.

The CTC Manager of the Client Town Stores, Theo Yassin, disclosed that the allegation made against their company is completely false and baseless furthering how there has never been a time when they have engaged in such an act.

He said the company started operations in Sierra Leone in 1989 and since then they have been importing the most high quality rice in the country with a workforce of over 2000 workers, noting that due to the high quality of their products, the company sells over 120,000 bags of rice nationwide per day highlighting that they are the only company that is selling such a quantity.

Theo Yassin stated that the company imports rice like Bella Luna, India Pam Boil , Big Joe Green and Orange Bags from South America, Butter Brand (B&B) from China, adding that their mandate is to ensure that they give utmost satisfaction to Sierra Leoneans.

He also disclosed that the company has over 350 contract employees working in their Rainbow Paint and Bomba Ice Cream factories.

The Manager disclosed that all of their workers are insured and the company is paying huge amounts of money  yearly as tax to the Government of Sierra Leone, also providing  health insurance as well as offering one bag of rice to permanent workers on a monthly basis.

He said Commodities Trading Company (CTC) has been in the commodity business for several years now and had consistently maintained an impeccable record in the country, as the biggest and most reliable rice importer in Sierra Leone. Similar explanations were made by the Manager of Datsun Stores at Kissy Yasser Baydoun and  his Deputy Kassim Basma.

Journalists were taken on a conducted tour to verify the authenticity of the allegation. Various quantity of bags of rice and sugar were weighed and it was discovered beyond all reasonable doubts that there were no shortfalls of bags of rice and sugar.

It could be recalled that on Monday 18th May, 2020 during the launch of  one hundred and fifty six million United States dollars ($156M) for the Quick Action Economic Response Programme ,an event which took place at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Finance on George Street in Freetown during  Management of CTC assured the nation that there is sufficient stock of rice in the country that will last for several months.

The Quick Action Economic Response Programme is geared towards maintaining the macro-economic and financial stability in order to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 shocks on businesses and households.

Speaking during the event the spokesman for CTC, Khalil Halloway, disclosed that there is enough rice and people should have no need to hoard rice now and that those hoarding it are doing so at their own risks.

He reiterated how CTC is assuring the nation that there is sufficient rice in the country and that there is no need for panic buying and storage of rice.

He established that they have increased their buffer stock from the usual 15,000 metric tons of rice to 40,000 metric tons and that they are doing so to be on the safer side and to avoid any shortage of rice in the market during this critical time when the country is been hit by the coronavirus that has affected all sectors in the country.

SLCB Boosts NACOVERC With Le500 Million

By Amin Kef Sesay

As part of the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank’s commitment to support the fight against COVID-19 in the country, the most renowned and hundred percent Sierra Leonean owned financial institution, on Thursday 2 July 2020, donated the sum of five hundred million Leones (Le500, 000,000) to the Government of Sierra Leone through the National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre (NACOVERC). The donation took place at the Sierra Leone Football Association Compound at Kingtom in Freetown.

In his address, Managing Director of SLCB, Abdul Fidelis Turay expressed appreciation to the National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre (NACOVERC) for their tireless efforts towards the fight against COVID-19 in the country, adding that the fight requires togetherness in order to emerge victorious.

He said that as a responsible banking institution they thought it fit to make the donation on behalf of Management furthering how they are doing so with the strong conviction that such could be helpful especially at this decisive moment.

He added that the Bank was the first institution from both the public and private sectors to take the lead in engaging on massive sensitization of the people about the “dos and don’ts” in the prevention and fight against the disease in the Western Area furthering that apart from the massive sensitization and fumigation of all its branches nationwide  and with the utilization of its accrued funds, the Bank also instituted stringent measures in place for the prevention and protection of its staff and loyal customers from the virus.

He admonished all to adhere to the precautionary measures that the Government and its partners have put in place in line with the clarion call of President Bio in order to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

Receiving the donation, Chief of Staff of the COVID-19 Response Team, Solomon Caulker, expressed appreciation to the Management of the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB) for the kind gesture which he described as very timely and will contribute positively towards the fight against COVID-19 in the country.

He said the donation will help greatly towards curtailing the spread of the coronavirus and assured them that they will be used for the intended purpose and target the right beneficiaries.

With Valuable Lessons to Learn… NP-SL Ltd is a Reservoir of Good Business Initiatives

By Amin Kef Sesay

The National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is currently a very reliable source of drawing inspiration by indigenes that have big dreams of coming together to establish a company which they may want to see grow exponentially into becoming a towering business entity. Without any gainsaying, there are many useful lessons that aspiring entrepreneurs could learn from NP-SL which would definitely serve as a roadmap to navigate through the business landscape in order to crystallize their dreams into reality.

The company was founded decades ago by thirty-five Sierra Leoneans who were erstwhile employees of the British Petroleum Company which decided to fold up and sell its shares to the Government of Sierra Leone. Based on technical advice, the Government also decided to sell its shares and the 35 former workers bought those shares to set up what became known as the National Petroleum-SL Ltd. It must be highlighted at this juncture that the company is a private-owned business entity and the Government has no hands in it, does not decide how it is operated and grappling with challenges.

One of the underlying factors that have been noted for the meteoric rise of the company could be attributed to the selflessness of its shareholders. These ambitious Sierra Leoneans were so dedicated to the cause of catapulting their “baby” to higher height to such an extent that they put all their best initiatives into play that culminated into the company becoming a formidable force to reckon with.

These fine business initiatives were well implemented to the letter which led to the realization of fruitful dividends. Selflessness, in this context, could mean putting aside ego, working with a collective sense of purpose, brushing aside deceit, greed and ready to give as well as take. This could be Lesson No.1.

The next lesson borders around enhancing customer care with the avowed objective of giving optimum satisfaction. The Shareholders and various Management teams harnessed this so well to an extent that they have succeeded in broadening their customer base. As far as they are concerned it is the interests of customers which are paramount and therefore everything must be done to ensure that those interests are given due consideration whenever decisions are taken to push the company forward.

It is in this regard that the shareholders decided to go in for modern calibrated pumping machines which are capable of churning out the right quantity of fuel that a buyer puts in for as well as displaying the price. These machines make fuel transactions become very transparent, thereby giving customers satisfaction and confidence that they are deriving their monies worth.

Within that realm, the Shareholders also thought it prudent to introduce NP Smart Card which is now in vogue. This Smart Card can be used to purchase fuel, petrol and diesel, with ease avoiding the hassle of having to be rushing to the banks to re intermittently withdrawing monies for the purpose of purchasing fuel. The card could be credited with a certain amount of money and whenever transaction transpires the amount utilized is debited. Its greatest advantage is that it avails the holder of the Smart Card the opportunity to programme or budget him or herself to purchase fuel on a periodic basis.

NP Gas is now going like hot cakes on the market. It is a cooker which has been proven to be very effective in terms of performance. Manufactured in different cylinder sizes it has been attested to be environmentally friendly in terms of less gaseous emissions that could pose health risks. NP Gas can be secured at all the leading Filing Stations of the company and its authorized dealers.

With all these attractive offers, there is a lesson that enhancing customer care, is very key to the growth of any business enterprise. Aspiring entrepreneurs could learn from this.

What also has been identified as a good business initiative which the company has mastered so effectively has to do with promoting the country’s Local Content Policy. The intent of this policy is geared towards ensuring that we make proper use of our local resources, human as well as material, in the production chain.  It is against such a backdrop that the company limits employment opportunities to qualified Sierra Leoneans instead of bringing over expatriates to perform tasks that could be better done by indigenes. Knowing that they are employed by an indigenous company such gives the employees the sense of ownership and the extra motivation to give their best to the company.

Another Lesson: Make use of local resources which could be cost effective instead of spending much to use expatriates just for the sake of showing off. Besides, monies, in the forms of salaries and end of service benefits are retained and not taken out of the country. It gives any company operating with such a policy a nationalistic flavour.

To give back to society, in the form of Corporate Social Responsibility, brings with it respectability and integrity. It is very important to be in a position to always assist residents in communities where a business entity operates or to the country as a whole. NP-SL Ltd has been very consistent in that regard as it recently manifested when the company donated One Billion Leones to the Government of Sierra Leone as a complementary move to assist the latter in its strides to combat COVID-19. Apart from this, the company has been supporting various humanitarian causes as long as such assistances will cascade to impact meaningfully on the less privileged in society.

From all what have been said so far, it could be seen that NP-SL Ltd has valuable lessons which aspiring entrepreneurs could imbibe and infuse in their activities if fruitful dividends must be realized. Indeed, NP-SL Ltd is really a source of inspiration and a reservoir of good business initiatives.

1...1,0641,0651,066...1,362Page 1,065 of 1,362