The Anti- Corruption Commission on Monday 4th March 2017 provided training for newly recruited staff of National Minerals Agency (NMA) at the Ministry of Mineral Resource Conference Room, Yoyui Building Brookfield. The training was based on upholding Ethics and Integrity in the work place.
In his opening statement Mohamed Bah, Chief Supervisor of Mines said they decided to call on the ACC to train the targeted beneficiaries on the above subject matter in order for them to understand more about corruption and how it can destroy a nation. “As a transparent institution we want to go along with the President’s agenda in the fight against corruption and indiscipline,” he maintained adding that the mineral sector is key in developing the country.
In his presentation Musa Kanteh of the ACC said Ethic and Integrity issues are those that have to do with morality in the work place as well as code of conduct.
He stated that fraud, stealing, deception, bribery which include demanding /offering, abuse of power are all issues of immorality and form parts of corruption.
Highlighting some of the underlying reasons, Musa Kanteh noted that unethical, improper moral conduct could be as a result of financial gains, lack of ethical values, influence of one’s immediate supervisor, poor supervising and monitoring, lack of a solid system of control/ laid down standards and procedures which may lead to discrepancies .
On the issue of gift he stated that no public officer or State employee should receive, accept seek or solicit directly or indirectly, anything of economic value as a gift or gratuity from a person if it is reasonably expected that the gift gratuity or favor would influence decision, votes, judgment or action.
He ended by saying sometimes giving a gift could be considered as a corruption in the public sector but also classed as a Corporate Social Responsibility in the private sector.

As Christians all over the world we start another period of Lent on Wednesday, 6th March, which is also known as Ash Wednesday. This period commemorates the forty days and night Jesus was believed to have spent in the wilderness in preparation for is three years earthly ministry, leading to His suffering and death on the cross.

Matthew chapter 4: 1-11, gives us an account of the temptation Jesus went through at the end of that period. The devil tested him in three very important areas of human life.

1. The temptation of the flesh. Hunger is a real need of millions in the world and many will gladly accept anyone who comes with a gift of food when in dire need. In the case of Jesus though he was in desperate need at that time, he did not rush to accept the offer, but looked at the giver and the motive behind the gift. He knew that though the gift was timely, but the spirit behind the gift was questionable. When like Jesus we are offered gifts that can only satisfied temporarily may we have the courage to remember that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

2. The second temptation was that of pride, the devil knew who Jesus was; the Son of God, he knew he can do all things and that God can intervene on His behalf in all situation. He therefore wanted Jesus to prove his power and authority for his own glory. In His response Jesus remained him that one should not put God to the test.

3. The third temptation has to deal with the quest for power and authority. This is a temptation a lot of people fall into. We want to be at the top in our nation, Church, work place and society and people go at length to seek ways and means to get this power. They worship other god’s, involved in strange sacrifices and even kill to obtain power. All this is done to gain wealth and authority which don’t last. Jesus in rebuking Satan reminded him and is reminding us that; you shall worship the lord your God and him only shall you serve”.

As we go through this period of lent many of us will want to observe and abstain from certain practices and actions. Others will be going through a period of fasting and prayers as a way of identifying with the experience Christ went through. These are all good acts however what God is looking for is a heart of penitence and repentance. Joel 2: 12-13 reminds us that: we should return to God with all our heart, with fasting, with weeping, and mourning; and rent our hearts and not our garments. We should return to the Lord our God, for he is gracious and merciful.

May the grace, blessing and peace of god through his Son Jesus Christ be with us all throughout this period.

Limkokwing University, one of Sierra Leone’s best private universities is showcasing solution to digital, videography, graphic design, advertising and branding challenges in the country.
The University’s Faculty of Design Innovation on Monday 4th March 2019 opened an exhibition to showcase its two programs, digital photography and graphics design to the public at their Hill Station Campus in Freetown.
The exhibition which is expected to end next week also showcased good number of students whom have so far been trained and are ready to make an entrance into the job market to execute what they have learnt.

Limkokwing University Sierra Leone Head of Faculty of Design Innovation, Lesly Tshekedi, said their students are well trained to undertake professional jobs and added that they have the ability to rebrand a whole entity with a comprehensive marketing solution and rebranding. The students, he said, selected some major companies of which they are able to put together rebranding materials that have been accepted by some of the companies. Some companies, the Head of Faculty said have shown interest in the student’s finished products, which they want to use to advertise their products and services. “We have successfully trained them and we’ll soon send them out for three months internship,” he said and admonished companies to accommodate the interns so as to further capacitate them with practical skills.

Some of the advertising and marketing materials exhibited by the students include: food and non-food items, promotional materials, banners, fliers, letterheads, complimentary cards, leaflets, caps, t-shirts, logos and customize printing, calendar, badges etc. Some of the companies showcased include: Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL), Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Gracebell Enterprise, SIERRAAKKER, SSL Takeaway, Bo Garri etc.

On the environmental segment of the exhibition, students displayed good photos depicting various environmental challenges faced in society, such as land pollution, land degradation, soil pollution, water pollution, land encroachment, stone mining, sand mining, slum dwellers, waste management, deforestation etc. “We are using digital skills to manipulate products so as to get them well marketed,” one of the students remarked and added that they are capable enough, with the skills acquired, to transform a whole entity through rebranding and advertisement.

Limkokwing Sierra Leone commits to empowering the world’s next generation by encouraging creativity and innovation in all forms and functions. Because they believe that an empowered youth is key to the transformation of communities all over the world.

The Limkokwing campus in Freetown is home to over 1,000 students. Strategically located in the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, the campus serves as a breeding ground for young and creative Sierra Leoneans to pursue their careers and passion in different fields.

The university runs an extensive range of diploma and degree programmes through six faculties—Design Innovation, Multimedia Creativity, Communication, Media & Broadcasting, Information & Communication Technology, Business Management & Globalisation, and Architecture & Built Environment.

These programmes are accredited by the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) and the Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges & Universities (ASIC).

The campus itself is everything a student needs. It has facilities made and tailored especially for the students such as the library, classrooms, hall, discussion room, and computer laboratory.
The photography team that did presentation included Philip Kanu, Abass Bundu Fornah and Hawanatu Kanu
while Mary Sesay, Ibrahim Barrie and Hindolo Brima Mansaray who are also part of the Graphics design team.

Recently, Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh announced major changes which the Bio led Government will soon be implementing to boost tourism and other key sectors of the economy.
Visiting Njala University last week, the Vice President spoke about the Government’s intention to put University education at the centre of Government’s drive to improve the country’s workforce and bridge skills gap.
He said that the Government will increase University budgets so as to improve not only the buildings and facilities, but to improve learning, research and innovation. Universities are a major component of nation building, because they play a leading role in research and development.
He also spoke about the potential of the marine sector. But he said that regrettably Sierra Leone earns only $17 million revenue from the marine industry, through licensing fees issued to foreign trawlers. This he said is unacceptable and must change.
Sierra Leone lacks the infrastructure for marine processing, packaging and exporting, he said. And this needs to change if the economy is to grow and jobs created.
The Government, he said, is putting appropriate structures and policies in place to make the necessary changes.
But Government, according to him cannot undertake the massive investment needed to grow the marine sector. The private sector must take on this role.
The role of Government, he said, is to create the necessary climate and conditions that will promote and stimulate private sector investment that will in turn create jobs.
The Vice President said that the private sector in Sierra Leone has experienced prolonged periods of contraction because of bureaucratic hurdles, especially in establishing new businesses.
This problem, he said applies, to both indigenous and foreign investors. He added that the President has created an investment board which acts as the key policy making body for all private sector investments.
The aim of the Bio led Government the VP said, is to expand the private sector to create jobs and grow the economy. This will then enable Government to earn more revenue through taxation, rather than borrowing or seeking international aid.
“Government does not directly create jobs but creates the necessary environment that enables the private sector to create jobs,” Jalloh said.
Speaking about developing the country’s tourism industry, Vice President Jalloh is clear about what needs to be done.
“We are working towards putting infrastructure in place to declare Sierra Leone a visa-free country, which means so many people around the world can just jump on a plane and come to Sierra Leone and get a visa on arrival.
“This country does not have a lot of foreign Missions across the world so the best way you can encourage tourists, business people and investors to come is to make things easy for them.
“We are also looking at instituting an eVisa system which means you could sit down in your home and apply for your visa electronically to come to Sierra Leone. We are investing in infrastructure.
“Tourism means a lot for the future of Sierra Leone. We see it as an entry point for re-branding Sierra Leone. We want to send a strong signal to the world that Sierra Leone is open for business and also for tourism.
“We see the tourism sector as one of the vehicles to drive diversification of the economy. We see that it is able to stimulate growth and also build an economic base that offers jobs for boys and girls across the country,” said Jalloh.

On Sunday 3rd March 2019, Sierra Leone’s newest and second private Birth Centre in the country was officially unveiled at 54 Circular Road in Central Freetown. Present at the ceremony were several stakeholders including Dr. Samba, a popular gynaecologist, the head of Midwifery at the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS), Dr. Joan Shepard, Dr. Mike Kamara, Mrs. Jennifer Renner-Thomas, Mrs. Amber Coker etc.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, amidst intermittent bursts of emotion, the Centre’s Clinical Director, Junova Swarray (Nee Ellis) gave a brief background into the journey leading to the establishment of the centre at Circular Road. She disclosed that she was motivated by her 3 year old daughter (now 11years) to take up the challenge to establish the centre. This motivation, she added was also premised on the belief that she was destined to embrace women’s issues, especially in the area of delivery.
Digressing further on her belief that she was predestined to work in that field, Junova dissected her name, which she maintained is a pointer to her future engagement. Born on the 26th of June and her late father on 26th November, she said that the blend of both months is ‘JUNOVA’. Furthermore, the combination of the name of the Roman Goddess of Child Birth (JUNO- meaning every woman needs her personal guardian angel) and the female reproductive organ, the Ovary (women’s eggs), form her name. She therefore had this belief that she was destined to work in that field. As a Maternity-in-Patient Manager in one of the renowned teaching hospitals in the UK, she has vast experience in practical delivery of pregnant women and wanted to replicate them in Sierra Leone. This centre, she maintained, is her own way of giving back to Sierra Leone and hoped for its replication all over the country.
Marina House Birth Centre is named after her late mother, who died due to cervical cancer and House is a place that one can feel relaxed, secured, comfortable, nurturing, get respite and care. Thus the Birth Centre is organised to encourage pregnant women deliver amidst an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity, with latest therapeutic measures to facilitate the right atmosphere for a relaxed delivery. She intimated that there is musical therapy, pool therapy and close personal interaction between the nurses cum midwife and the patients. She maintained that what will take place in the centre will be along best international practices. She added that there will be no need for an ambulance as all the equipment for delivery are in place and even in cases where surgery is needed, the expert surgeons will be available as a theatre is in place for any such cases. The centre has fully air conditioned maternity rooms equipped with TV sets to enhance relaxation of the patients, delivery room, operating theatre, laboratory etc. a real sense of being looked after during labour (is their Trade mark). Midwives in the facility will be with the patients during labour and be encouraging them to hold on. They will display that high level of professionalism where patients are encouraged rather than shouted at. The centre will be run on a 24 hour basis (3 shifts) and there is going to be that one-to-one care in the institution.
On the issue of cost, Madam Junova said that their charges are competitive and are within the reach of many citizens. She invites citizens to come and hold discussions on the charges, admonishing them not to shy away because of the facilities as negotiations can be done and a common ground reached. The hospital has qualified staff and there is commitment by professional midwives who had hitherto retired, to come on board and offer their services. She expressed appreciation to various personalities, singling out her care taker, Amadu for being there all those years.
Sia Katherine Sohna, the MHBC’s first patient, in an exclusive interview with this medium said that she watched the Proprietress of the institution on television, explaining the facilities and care they offer to their patients. This then moved her (as this is her first pregnancy) to contact them. She maintained that being anxious about having safe delivery; she was looking for a place with experts and trained personnels and found it in this institution. She is now pleased and hopeful of safe delivery and called on other pregnant women to come on board for better and proper health care during delivery.
Dr. Joan Shepard, Head of Midwifery at COMAHS, expressed pleasure at the facilities in the clinic, adding that it will enhance further knowledge and experiences of some of her trainees at COMAHS. She praised the Proprietress for this noble act and hoped other clinics will emulate the standards set in the facility. She noted that midwifery is a delicate area because one mistake can be fatal, so there is every need for professional service delivery and concern for detail. She stressed on the protection of the health care workers with the requisite protective gears as they deal with a lot of body fluids. She noted that the facility and the caliber of staff will render quality services to their patients.

The way and manner in which vehicular traffic has degenerated into an eyesore and posing potential serious danger and threat to lives and properties has become a serious cause for concern. What is really mind boggling and heart rendering is the lukewarm approach by the Sierra Leone Police of the traffic division and the Traffic Corps are dealing with the situation of violation of traffic regulations by commercial , private and even Government drivers who everyday with impunity are behaving recklessly creating avoidable inconveniences and sometimes leading to fatal accidents.
As if they are not trained to deal with traffic issues, the Police particularly turn blind eyes to the excesses of drivers leaving them to just behave according to their whims and caprices.
Coming to work yesterday, 5th March 2019, from the Goderich axis this writer experienced first-hand at Lumley how certain drivers deliberately left the lanes they were supposed to be driven on diverting to the other lane meant for vehicles coming from the opposite direction thereby intensifying traffic build-up.
The Lumley experience is just an isolated case as this abnormally takes place on Kissy Road, East End Police and other parts within the city. It has become so lamentable preventing school going pupils to attend school timely and even return home quickly after school not to mention how it negatively affect workers.
What was so annoying was seeing traffic police officers milling around doing nothing to arrest the untoward situation.
When one of them was asked why no action was taken all he could reply was that doing so may jeopardise their jobs.
What has become so funny and bizarre is that some of these Police Officers are always noticed saluting whenever they see a vehicle with tinted window screens going to the extent of giving such preferential treatment by allowing them to speedily drive through even embarrassing other drivers. They act panicky in that way as if they will be castigated but to be very frank it smacks of sycophancy.
To justify that this ugly trend has become very noticeable and unbearable even though the SLPP led Government under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio highlighted the issue on the 16th July 2018 encapsulated in a Public Notice it continues to get worse everyday round the clock.

In the Public Notice it was emphatically maintained by Government that “His Excellency the President has expressed grave concern over the disregard/ disrespect for Traffic Rules and Regulations by vehicles and motor-driven objects including Government Registered Vehicles carrying Ministers. This practice is not only contrary to Traffic Rules and Regulations which are punishable by law but also demoralizes disciplined and law-abiding users of the road and has the potential of causing fatal accidents, particularly when they drive against recognized traffic. With immediate effect, all vehicles and motor-driven objects including vehicles carrying Ministers of Government (save Emergency Vehicles defined by law must adhere to traffic rules and regulations particularly those that run against the traffic will face the full penalty of the law. The Inspector General of Police and the Chief Executive of SLRSA are advised accordingly.”
No research is needed to prove that some of the country’s traffic police officers are well corrupt, unpatriotic paid from the people’s taxes that run a well-knit extortion, bribery and intimidation racket.
Disgustingly, they are more interested in extorting drivers than actually and professionally discharging their duties within the context of enhancing adherence to traffic rules and regulations.
The Traffic Corps are a little better in the area of enforcing traffic rules and regulations. Seemingly though, it appears as if they are working in concert with certain errant Traffic Police Officers as accomplices deeply enmeshed in taking bribes.
“I am sick and tired of this madness and brazen show of disregard by reckless drivers as every day they put our lives in danger. The Government needs to act tough against the errant ones and institute strict penal measures,” a pot-bellied man only known as Mr. Amara fumed.
A shop owner at Lumley confessed that drivers’ reckless behaviours are not strange in that part of the country further suggesting that the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) should come onboard robustly and try to restore sanity.
From what majority of Sierra Leoneans that were interviewed recommended is that President Julius Maada Bio must take stern action to root or stem such reckless and unprofessional attaitudes.

Alhaji Amadu Bah aka LAJ head of the Red Flag Movement or RFM has vented anger at the Police, accusing them of being bias furthering how the Force has the calculated ploy to having a mission to smear his image. He said over the last few years he has had to endure “a string of ill treatments and injustices in the hands of the police” leading him to lose faith in the impartiality of the justice system.
During a press engagement in Freetown, LAJ narrated series of incidents he has had altercation with the Police citing one instance when he was arrested further underscoring that complaints he lodged with the Police were treated with levity.
LAJ has young fans right across the country and some of his released tracks have been popular.
His Movement, RFM had been in tense rivalry with Black Leo another music based group headed by Kao Denero ,Amara Turay, sometimes generating fatal, bloody clashes.
LAJ mentioned different instances when he was accused of involvement in some crime, for which he was arrested, detained and later released without charge without any action taken by the Police.
According to him, he has been attacked at least two times by supporters of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), which is currently in power.
The musician informed newsmen that he is appealing to the Government and Police to treat him fairly pointing out that he is not a violent person as some are purporting.

In a latest revelation, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio will visit the Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Harvard University, the interdisciplinary research laboratory of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and attend the 6th International Development Africa Forum in Casablanca. These three engagements have been scheduled for the 7th – 16th March 2019.

Within the United States the President will engage with students, researchers and faculty as he builds partnerships for technical and academic exchange.

MIT, founded in 1861 in response to the increasing industrialization of the United States, is well known for its stress on laboratory instruction in applied science and engineering.
Harvard, on the other hand, is best known for its popular majors in the sciences. It is also well known for its leadership program.
Both institutions are based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and are privately run.
At Harvard University, President Bio will honour the invitation of the Harvard University President, Larry Bacow to deliver a Distinguished Lecture at the Institute of Politics, Harvard Kennedy School. He will also give Keynote Address at the Harvard University Center for African Studies Forum on Sierra Leone which will take place at the Harvard Law School. The open Forum will include lectures by distinguished faculty from both Harvard and Tufts Universities.

Whilst in Massachusetts, President Bio will also visit the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he will be hosted by the co-founder of the MIT Media Lab and Chairman Emeritus Nicholas Negroponte and MIT Media Lab Director Joi Ito. President Bio will also deliver a speech at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and participate in a roundtable on universal quality education and access to connectivity. It could be recalled that last year former President Barack Obama was also hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

From Massachusetts, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio will also travel to Casablanca in Morocco where he has been invited to attend the 6th International Africa Development Forum as Guest. President Bio has been invited by Mohamed El Kettani, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Attijariwafa Bank. The International Africa Development Forum is a platform linking between economic agents, investors, and policy makers. President Bio will arrive in Casablanca on the 13th March and depart on the 16th March 2019. President Bio departed Sierra Leone yesterday, Tuesday 5th March 2019.
The President is accompanied by senior-level members of the Cabinet and Chief Innovation Officer, Dr. David Sengeh, who is an alumnus of both Harvard and MIT.

In a bid to sympathise with victims of a fire outbreak which occurred in the early hours of Monday 4th March 2019 His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio made an unannounced visit to the Kroo Bay Community. The number of households affected is estimated to be around 309 and the affected population 895.

Following the fire disaster, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio instructed the Office of National Security to mobilise support for the victims while assessment of the disaster is being undertaken.

The Office of National Security, which is required to mobilise Emergency Relief Items within 72 hours, was able to mobilise Emergency Relief Items within 24 hours of the disaster. The items included about 309 bags of rice, 309 blankets, 309 pots, 309 dignity kits, 309 buckets among others.

His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio had to leave work earlier to visit the scene of the disaster and sympathised with the victims. He told the community that it is the job of Government to always support people affected by natural disasters. A symbolic handing over ceremony of the relief items was done by the President to the Kroo bay Community Chairman.

The constituency MP of the All People’s Congress, Hon. Alu-Conteh Alusine Kainde thanked the President for his caring nature and concern shown to the victims as father of the nation. While also receiving the President, the Kroo Bay Community Chairman, Mr. Soriba Kamara said that President Bio is the first sitting President to ever visit the Kroo bay community and the community would forever be appreciative.

During a short but impressive program the Chief Minister, Professor David John Francis, presented the Green Paper of the proposed Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion to His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio at State House.

Presenting the document, the Chief Minister said it was important that he submitted to the President the paper that would eventually help achieve inclusive governance and improve on the infrastructure for peace and democratisation.

“Your Excellency Sir, on 10th May 2018, during your maiden address to Parliament, you promised to build the blocks of unity and national cohesion. This Green Paper is a step to achieving that dream and it will help consolidate a nationwide consultation with every Sierra Leonean and make them a part of the peace process in the country. This Paper will also usher in a Cabinet White Paper that will be endorsed before it goes to Parliament to become a law,” he said.

The United Nations’ Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, Mr. Sunil Saigal, thanked the Government of Sierra Leone for their bold step in pushing for a Peace and National Cohesion Commission, adding that the United Nations supported the Green Paper and its contents.

“This is an important step from this Government. It will build on the democratic principles of the country and aid the Medium-term National Development Plan that has recently been launched by the Government. It will further guide the process of building human capital development, which is at the centre of this Government’s agenda,” he said.

The UN Chief also noted that there could be no development without peace and there could be no peace without development. He assured the Government that the initiative was also integral to all programmes of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council.

Hawa Samai, a Sierra Leonean based consultant, thanked the Government of President Bio for pushing for peace and, in particular, for taking a Sierra Leonean as a consultant to produce the Green Paper for the proposed Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion.

She disclosed that the process and the document looked into the root causes of violence, with special attention on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report. She further stated that they were able to discover that the lack of justice, corruption, greed, tension during political periods, lack of basic social amenities were all major causes of violence in the country.

“This Green Paper is a result of a consultative and an inclusive process that was done with the highest amount of sincerity. We have ensured that every question, that has the tendency to trigger violence in the country, is answered here in this Green Paper. And at the end of the day, there is a clear roadmap that shows that there should always be a National Dialogue across the country,” she explained.

Receiving the Green Paper from the Chief Minister, President Maada Bio thanked all those who participated in the production of the report and added that it was timely for the country to come together for the better.

“We cannot overemphasise the importance of peace in this country. We have gone through a very difficult time during the 11 years’ civil war, and never again should it happen in this country. There should be a collective effort in the eradication of corruption and all other elements that have the tendency to put us apart as a nation. We must put this country together and that is our individual and collective responsibility as a nation. We have to agree on where we want to go,” he said.

President Bio also told the gathering that he was happy because the efforts leading to the presenting of the Green Paper was extensively consultative, noting that that was important. He maintained that people would love to see people from all walks of life in the country take part in putting together an infrastructure that would help deliver on the peace of the country.