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$100M Windfall from World Bank to Support Sierra Leone’s Economic Resilience

By Amin Kef Sesay

It was disclosed in Freetown on June 17, 2020 that the World Bank Group Board of Executive Directors has approved a $100 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) to support the Government of Sierra Leone in promoting sustainable and inclusive growth and building economic resilience.

This Development Policy Financing (DPF) supports ongoing reforms to enhance macroeconomic stability, increase productivity in agriculture and fisheries, promote transparency in public procurement, and build an effective asset disclosure system to fight corruption and improve public sector accountability.

“This financing will help address fiscal challenges and improve overall governance to build resilience and enhance the delivery of services to the people amidst this global COVID-19 pandemic,” said Gayle Martin, World Bank Country Manager for Sierra Leone. “Sierra Leone’s opportunities to eradicate extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity rest on sustained macroeconomic stability, robust growth and a solid enabling environment for the exploitation of its abundant natural resources.”

The program focuses on two primary objectives: creating the conditions for increased productivity in selected economic sectors and improving transparency in selected Government decision making processes.

“The World Bank continues to support the Government’s commitment to tackle difficult and needed reforms to promote inclusive growth,” said Youssouf Kiendrebeogo, World Bank Senior Economist and Task Team Leader.

Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, Sierra Leone’s economy grew by 5.1 percent in 2019 driven mainly by robust activities in agriculture and services. With the spread of the virus in Sierra Leone and the effects of the global pandemic, the economy is expected to contract by between 2.3 and 3.1 percent in 2020 and growth could be 1.4 to 2.0 percentage points lower than forecast for the medium term.

The downside risks to this outlook are also heightened, depending on the duration of the global pandemic and the implications for the opening of borders and markets for Sierra Leone exports as well as essential imports, including food. An extended crisis could lead to major disruptions in the service sector (trade, tourism and transportation in particular) with substantial job losses and increased poverty. A key challenge for the Government is to diversify the economy to raise real per capita growth above the population growth of 2.1 percent in order to ensure that the gains in reducing poverty and inequality are sustained.

This is the last operation in a programmatic series of three operations to support the implementation of the Government’s priorities articulated in its Medium-Term National Development Plan (2019 – 2023).

For The Attention Of ACC… Traffic Police Running Lucrative “Booking” Syndicate

By Amin Kef Sesay

Expectations were very high among the populace when His Excellency President Bio after announcing that he was going to reform the security sector after the bloody riots that took place in several communities across the country recently appointed a new Inspector General of Police.

However, whist a sector of the populace applauded the appointment as the precursor to serious reforms including discipline being instilled into a force whose credibility with the public that it is supposed to serve still remains very low, there are others that opined that the culture of bribery, corruption and bad policing is so ingrained into the work ethics of the so-called Force for Good, that they did not see any robust, transformational remedial steps that the new IG would take.

Now to the matter specific that hundreds of highly disgruntled and very angry commercial drivers plying various routes in the capital city have appealed to The Calabash Newspaper to draw the attention of the country’s two major corruption fighting star warriors – Grand Commander His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio and Five Star General Francis Ben Kaifala.

From Waterloo, to Grafton, to East End Police, to Circular Road, to Congo Cross, to Lumley, to Goderich, scores of commercial vehicle drivers who spoke to this Press categorically reported that the minimum they lose daily at booking points run by traffic Police Officers is Le50, 000.

When asked how and why, they said they have to book at several points along their route. When asked why, they replied that the price for non-compliance is unnecessary arrest, torment, harassment and charging to court.

They all swore that this happens to them every day and that they are so fed up with the total failure of the Police Management to arrest this blatant criminal act by traffic officers that sometimes they are forced as a body to park their vehicles the whole day in protest.

Still the poor hopeless, defenseless commercial drivers moan that nothing has been done by the authorities to arrest the criminals in uniform that have turned extortion (booking) into a very lucrative enterprise that they say traffic officers at the divisional headquarters take a share of.

The reason why this matter is being brought to the attention of the President and the ACC Czar is that it greatly undermines the credibility of the Government’s avowed zero tolerance to corruption policy, with many people because of the deep-seated corruption in the Police Force simply resignedly saying, “nar de same soup”, with regards the attitude of the former Government and this to corruption; especially with regards to corruption in the traffic division of the Police Force.

More on this thorny public issue in next editions on how traffic police corruption contributes heavily to the suffering of commuters at the hands of commercial vehicle drivers…

Diaspora Focus Donates PPEs & Raises Awareness on COVID-19 to Residents of Waterloo Community

The International Director of Diaspora Focus, Dr. Emmanuel J. M. Stafford handing over the items to Residents of Waterloo

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In a bid to complement the efforts of the Government to reach out to communities with preventive messages on COVID-19 in the country,  one of Sierra Leone’s most proactive organizations, Diaspora Focus, on Friday 12th June 2020, embarked on a sensitization drive on the causes and prevention of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and also donated Personal Protective Equipment worth millions of Leones, viz:  25 Veronica buckets, 25 waste buckets, 45 packets of soap and 1,500 facemasks, to residents of the Waterloo Community in the Western Area Rural District.

In his welcome address, Alhaji Chief Pa-Alimamy Sieh Turay expressed appreciation to Diaspora Focus for being the first organization to engage in such a massive sensitization exercise in the Campbell Town Community saying the Coronavirus preventive materials donated will help them immensely in the fight against the virus.

He lamented that they have been ignored in the fight against the disease and called on the authorities to involve all stakeholders, including traditional leaders, religious leaders and local representatives in the fight against COVID-19.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the ceremony, Rev. Dr. Momodu Conteh, admonished the people to continue to abide by the do’s and don’ts of the World Health Organization (WHO) admonishing residents to continue to wash their hands frequently, maintain social distancing, observe coughing ethics and wear face masks in order to curtail the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

On her part, Miss Diaspora 2019, Favour Sesay, encouraged her female compatriots to take the front stage in the fight against COVID-19, noting that if any member of the family falls victim to COVID-19, the mother of the family will suffer the most. She admonished them to wash their hands after returning from the market and to encourage every member of their families, including their husbands to wash their hands before entering the house and to clean and disinfect common areas regularly.

The International Director of Diaspora Focus, Dr. Emmanuel J. M. Stafford, expressed gratitude for the presence of key stakeholders and representatives, including the Deputy Chairman of the District Council and the Hon. Member of Parliament, youths, women and other stakeholders for gracing the occasion. He informed the gathering that Diaspora Focus comprises members both at home and abroad and that the items donated came from contributions made by both group of members in Sierra Leone and the Diaspora.

He expressed appreciation to members of the Diaspora Focus who contributed towards making the donation of the said items possible, including the Chairman of the Ireland Branch, Benoni Maurice Samuels and team in Ireland, Madam Henrietta Cole, Sento Conteh and team in UK, Andrew John Simbo, Amb. Malisha da Queen and others in USA, Alfred Minah in Liberia, Amb. Omrie Gollie and other key stakeholders like Rev. Dr. Chambers, Dr. Ramesh and himself.

Presenting the COVID-19 preventive materials, Dr. Stafford appealed to the beneficiaries to ensure that the items are used for their intended purposes.

Giving his keynote address, the Deputy Chairman of the Western Area Rural District Council, Cllr. R. A. Browne, expressed appreciation to Diaspora Focus for the gesture, describing it as very timely. He noted that this is not the first time Diaspora Focus is supporting the District, furthering that during the outbreak of the Ebola disease in 2014, Diaspora Focus also supported the District with Personal Protective Equipment, which he said, contributed tremendously in the fight against Ebola, expressing hope that with the items donated to the district such will help in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

He assured the International Director of Diaspora Focus, Dr. Emmanuel J. M. Stafford and team that the items will be used for their intended purpose.

Other members present including representatives/leaders of various communities, organizations and groups, Chiefs, Headmen, Councillors, Okada Riders, farmers associations, musical artists, Youth leader, women organization etc expressed similar sentiments.

The items were distributed amongst the various stakeholders amidst strict adherence to all Coronavirus protocols.

‘We Yone Child’ Foundation Doles out Used Clothing to Vulnerable Children

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their support to vulnerable children in the country, We Yone Child Foundation in collaboration with ‘Giving Tuesday Sierra Leone Chapter’ with support from the Wegdam Foundation in the Netherlands has on Tuesday 16th June, 2020 donated used clothes worth millions of Leones to Vulnerable Children within the Dwarzark Community in Freetown.

In his address, Education Outreach & Child Protection Officer, We Yone Child Foundation, Amara Shengbe stated that the Day of the African Child is celebrated on June 16 every year since 1991, when it was first initiated by the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to honor those who were brutally suppressed during the Soweto Uprising in 1976.

He said, over the past years, children have been celebrating the day in a grand style but said due to the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country children were not opportune to celebrate it this year, adding that since We Yone Child Foundation is an organization that has been working for the development and welfare of children in the country its members thought it fit to execute the aforementioned donation to vulnerable children within the Dwarzark Community.

He stated further how the donation is a clear manifestation that they care for children even at a crucial moment like this when the coronavirus is ravaging the country and people are  in dire need underscoring that is why they deemed it prudent to donate thee used clothing to the vulnerable children.

He added that at a time like this when the coronavirus is ravaging the country the welfare of children should be considered as very important stating that in that regard they also used the opportunity to educate the children on hand washing and the use of face masks.

She expressed gratitude to Wegdan Foundation in the Netherlands for their continuous support towards the organization in order to implement their activities which have contributed tremendously towards the development of less privileged children across the country.

A member of Giving Tuesday- Sierra Leone Chapter, Ibrahim Lansana, disclosed that in order to unleash the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world, on the 5th May, 2020 they launched its Sierra Leone Chapter, adding that ‘Giving Tuesday’ is a Global Generosity Movement that believes in the power of people and organizations.

He said that Generosity is part of their work and that is why they collaborated with We Yone Child Foundation to undertake the aforementioned donation to vulnerable children.

He said every act of generosity counts and everyone has something to give, further encouraging everyone to identify his or her gifts, pick a cause that gets he or she fired up, and give back not just occasionally but every day as a way to show generosity to people in need.

 

UBA Foundation Commemorates 2020 International Day of the African Child, Donates Books Across Africa  

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, UBA Foundation, on the 16th June 2020 joined the rest of the world to celebrate African children in this year’s edition of the International Day of the African Child.

June 16 every year, has been set aside by the United Nations as the International Day of the African Child to celebrate children in Africa in recognition of the courage of students who marched for their right to better education in Soweto, South Africa, and as an institution that cares about the education and welfare of the African child, UBA, through its Foundation, marks this all important event annually.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown on educational institutions, the UBA Foundation was not able to visit schools and community centres as is its usual practice. However, the Foundation held activities online, where students of secondary schools were afforded the opportunity to watch and listen to virtual mentoring and reading sessions.

During the virtual session, the Managing Director, UBA Foundation, Bola Atta, spoke to the students on various issues, ranging from financial literacy and the importance of imbibing good reading culture to nation building. She also explained why UBA Foundation centres on three key pillars of Education, Empowerment and Environment, adding that the Bank, through its Foundation, recognises the huge role that education and indeed a good reading culture have to play in the lives of the youth.

She said, “These days school children barely make out time to read and are easily distracted by the presence of electronic social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others; and to curb this declining culture of reading across the continent, UBA Foundation came up with the ‘Read Africa’ project, designed to resuscitate the reading culture amongst our youths across the African continent.

“As a pan-African institution, we believe that the future of Africa lies in her youth and for this reason, UBA Foundation is actively involved in facilitating educational projects and bridging the literacy-wide gap on a pan-African scale, and is helping to rekindle the dwindling reading and literacy culture amongst African youths as they pursue their education,” Atta said.

While emphasising the belief that a highly educated and well-informed youth is critical to the future of Africa, Atta seized the opportunity to read a few passages of the recommended novel to students and encouraged them to visit the UBA Foundation website on www.ubagroup.com/uba-foundation, register and gain access to read some more at their leisure.

UBA, through its Foundation, believes that quality education is crucial in developing the manpower needed by Africa to exploit emerging opportunities and propel the continent to higher levels of development.

Last month, the Bank also held its UBA Conversations, an annual event commemorating the Africa Day, where world Presidents and leaders contributed to discussions aimed at propelling African growth post COVID-19.

As a Pan African institution, UBA is in the forefront of promoting Africa and African values, especially in the areas of economic development for the continent. Operating in 20 African countries and globally in the United Kingdom, the United States and France, the Bank has a strong record of supporting its communities, through challenging times.

With Le274 Billion NGO Support to Combat COVID-19…   Dr. Francis Kai-Kai Plays Pivotal Role in Coordinating External Resources

By James Samba

Guest Writer

Freetown, Sierra Leone

For many around the world, COVID-19 is a first experience of a pandemic. For the people of Sierra Leone, there is spectral familiarity to what is unfolding in the country.

With the outbreak of Ebola in May 2014, about 4000 people lost their lives to the deadly virus. The effect was far-reaching. The economy was battered and shattered as if it was a war in a boxing ring. Surely, the Ebola outbreak had its semblance of a fighting arena and now comes COVID-19.

​For the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, there was massive collaboration and coordination of financial and technical support from developed nations, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to collectively combat the corona virus in West Africa. On the other hand, however, the COVID-19 pandemic has seen limited support from these bodies because they themselves are barely grappling to contain the deadly virus in their regions and right across the world.

Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation reported the country’s first case of the novel corona virus on the 30th March 2020. As of June 2020, Sierra Leone has recorded over a thousand cumulative confirmed cases of the COVID-19 and just over fifty cumulative confirmed deaths. The country underwent two successive lockdowns for a 3-day period each, first in early April then in early May, and restrictions remain solid.

This could have been far worse, if the Bio-led government had not imposed tough restrictions before the COVID-19 hit Sierra Leone, particularly the restrictions on overseas travel, on public gatherings exceeding 100 persons, the closure of educational institutions and also a state of public health emergency for a period of 12 months.

Some of these restrictions, despite the criticisms, proved effective, as Sierra Leone became one of the last nations in the world to record its first confirmed case. This was expected given that the virus was present everywhere in West Africa; especially our neighbors— Guinea and Liberia.

Yet, it was jolting! Nonetheless, in a country, whose health infrastructure has limited Intensive Care Unit capacity, very few ventilators including a majority of people whose incomes and lives are direly affected by the strict social distancing measures seen in other countries would always struggle with such novelty.

That is why the Bio-led Government stressed on effective preparation with proactive measures well before the COVID-19 struck Sierra Leone. President Bio activated the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre focusing primarily on strengthening surveillance at official points of entry, improving case management, and conducting effective campaigns at the national and sub-national and community levels. The Government also developed the Quick Action Economic Response Plan (QAERP) to mitigate the economic and social impacts of the pandemic.

The QAERP was designed to enhance the economic impact of the restrictive measures on households of the most vulnerable population and succeed in the health, economic and social fight against the COVID-19 outbreak, in order to return to the growth path needed in ensuring the delivery of our Medium-Term National Development Plan and His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s priority of Human Capital Development.

“My Government rapidly activated all Emergency Operations Centre pillars across the country and instituted International best practices in contact tracing and surveillance. We are determined to prevent the incidence and spread of the virus”, said President Bio. “Our Quick Action Economic Recovery Plan has ensured the provision of essential commodities and support for SME’s and vulnerable populations”.

Even though the global response to the corona virus is different to the Ebola, many of the response strategies from International Organizations and Non-governmental Organizations have been quite commendable in Sierra Leone due to the confidence development partners have reposed in President Julius Maada Bio and his administration. This was evident in a meeting with development partners held at the State Lodge. There have been numerous pledges and donations already to complement the Government’s fight against the corona virus pandemic.

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), under the leadership of the dynamic Minister, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai and his colleague, the Minister of Finance (MOF), Jacob Jusu Saffa have been pivotal in coordinating external resources towards the COVID-19 fight, especially from development partners including Non-Governmental Organizations. The MoPED has continuously recognized the NGO community as critical actors in the actualization of President Bio’s agenda in particular and Sierra Leone’s development in general.

With such recognition and confidence, the NGOs (International and National) put together over 274 Billion Leones COVID-19 Response package to complement the efforts of the Government, in the fight against the COVID-19. This is a novel act of solidarity and partnership by non-state actors in which Government has created a space for marshalling the development aspirations of Sierra Leone.

The package includes support to health, personal safety, social mobilization, surveillance, training of health care workers and the promotion of livelihood support in all 16 districts of Sierra Leone.

“Most of the funds have been secured already from existing grants that are repurposed and efforts are continuing to mobilize additional resources from their headquarters and donor countries,” said Eric Massallay, the National NGO Coordinator, MoPED.

During the formal presentation of the response package, the Minister thanked and assured the NGO community of President Bio’s commitment to recognizing them as worthy partners in delivering basic social services to the people of Sierra Leone, which is integral to development thinking. This partnership will demonstrate the long-term commitment required to effectively mobilize the community and identify low-cost solutions to Sierra Leone’s development problems.

“Government recognizes the invaluable role that NGOs play in promoting national development, and believes that both parties must work closely to ensure mutual trust, confidence and transparency within a strengthened partnership framework,” said Minister Kai-Kai, “we remain committed to providing the enabling environment for NGOs to operate and contribute to national development in a free, responsive, transparent and accountable manner”.

The policy oversight that MoPED provides to the operations of NGO activities ensures that they are effectively coordinated and monitored to increase performance, as clearly recommended in the Development Cooperation Framework (DCF). This new framework outlines the broad principles including ownership, alignment, the use of country systems and mutual accountability, among others, for development cooperation. It reaffirms Government’s commitment to ownership and leadership of the country’s development process.

The DCF is simply, a positive new cooperation framework that encourages a broader spectrum of development partnerships between the Government and all development cooperation partners contributing to Sierra Leone’s development efforts.

In several ways, NGO’s have always been a value addition to Sierra Leone’s development process. Particularly, with their efforts before, during and after the 11-years’ civil war, they are popular for getting to the last mile and filling critical development gaps in the process, and the Sierra Leone Association of Non-governmental Organizations (SLANGO) has been a key player in ensuring they perform their roles.

The global humanitarian community must be at the forefront to the rapidly escalating humanitarian needs around the globe— in Sierra Leone, the President continues to demonstrate leadership in its entirety, especially with Government’s proactive response during this difficult period.

Moreover, as with any crisis, there is opportunity and the opportunity here to design and develop new solutions, through technology, which is high on the agenda of President Bio. This could help to find new and better ways to tackle global challenges together. This has never been more needed than now.

Responding to the COVID-19 in Sierra Leone requires collective cooperation among Government, development partners and non-governmental organizations.

After the presentation of the NGO (international and local) response package, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) and SLANGO completed a 10-day nationwide tour of all 16 districts, as directed by H.E President Julius Maada Bio. The tour started on 28th May and ended on 6th June 2020. MoPED and SLANGO introduced the NGO District Leads that would help the District COVID-19 Emergency Response structures to coordinate the work and Information around the fight against the pandemic.

On the first day of this engagement, the Team led by the Minister, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai, at the National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre (NACOVERC) in Freetown, presented Save the Children, Concern Worldwide, Catholic Relief Services (CRS, International) and SLANGO as the NGO Response Leads for the Western Area Urban and Rural respectively.

The Minister, in his address, re-echoed President Bio’s commitment to improving the COVID-19 response through collaboration with the NGO community. He said the NGO’s were particularly willing, capable and ready to join Government’s efforts working with the national and district response structures across the country.

“As a Ministry, we will do an immediate follow-up to this introduction by presenting the district NGO Lead Representatives to the respective District COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre (DICOVERC) around the country,” said Dr. Kai-Kai “This process will minimize duplication of efforts and ensure limited resources are effectively utilized to achieve maximum impact together”.

Sheku A.F. Bangura, Deputy Interim National COVID-19 Coordinator said the support was a valuable addition towards supporting Government’s efforts and it will go a long way in  complementing the country’s COVID-19 response strategy. He said President Bio insisted that the National COVID-19 Response architecture be replicated, at district level.

The MoPED Team together with SLANGO, led by the Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Robert Chakanda proceeded to Port Loko and Kambia Districts to continue the engagements. At the Port Loko DICOVERC, the introduction of the NGO Leads (Care, International and Sierra Leone Social and Volunteer Service was witnessed by the Hon. Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, who had a similar COVID-19 meeting with stakeholders and the NGO partners assuring them of government’s determination to end the COVID-19. A background information on the rationale of the visit was done by Eric Massally, National NGO Coordinator.

In his presentation, he opined that for better coordination, effective service delivery and to minimize duplication, there is need to identify the support from NGO’s and identify focal persons that would liaise between government structures at District level and mobilize the resources from NGO’s to complement government efforts. According to him, the NGO leads would also ensure effective communication flow between NGO’s and from district to national pillars.

In Kambia, Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development expressed similar sentiments, noting that the role played by NGO’s before, during and after the war was a manifestation of their commitment to support the country’s development trajectory, as he introduced Trocaire (International) and KADDRO (National) as the Leads working with the Kambia DICOVERC.

In Bombali and Karene Districts, the National Coordinator, SLANGO, Shellac Davies recognized the importance of NGO’s in supporting Government in this fight. She emphasized on the space created for NGO’s to be part of the country’s development process, encouraging them to be more vigilant in order to ultimately help minimize duplication of efforts, assist in improving the overall communication and ensure limited resources are effectively utilized to achieve maximum impact together. The NGO’s— GOAL International and Mankind’s Activities for Development and Accreditation Movement (local) were selected to support the Bombali DICOVERC Team and Action for Advocacy and Development (national) was selected to support the Karene DICOVERC Team.

For Falaba and Koinadugu Districts, the NGO Leads are CRS, GOAL and Christian Extension Services respectively. During the engagement, the team continued to emphasize on the need for effective coordination and collaboration in the fight against the COVID-19 in their districts.

Falaba District, one of the newly created districts has seen an immediate and significant reduction in NGO presence since its separation from Koinadugu— the reality is mainly due to the roughness of its territory and the de-amalgamation process that the previous Government initiated. So, one would always ask: Was it really a necessity? This question would completely open a new debate. Simply put, Falaba lacks everything!

At the Ernest Bai Koroma University in Tonkolili, the District COVID-19 Response Coordinator, Alusine Sesay expressed hope and determination in tackling the COVID-19 fight in the district. He thanked MoPED and SLANGO for leading the process and called for a more collaborative approach to responding to the pandemic. The NGO Lead selected to work with the Tonkolili DICOVERC are Concern Worldwide and Family Homes Movement.

In the Eastern Region, the NGO Leads for Kailahun DICOVERC—Save the Children (International) and One Village Partners (national) have spent years working in the district, supporting livelihood and social services. Addressing the MoPED Team, the DICOVERC Coordinator, Morie Feika said even though the challenges were many, the district is on the right track in complementing the government’s efforts in fighting the pandemic.

The Kono DICOVERC Team expressed similar sentiments, working with the International Rescue Committee (IRC, International) and the Network Movement for Justice and Development (national) as the NGO Leads. Presenting the Leads, the DMOPED, Dr. Robert Chakanda, also an indigene of Kono District, emphasized on the need for both teams to properly coordinate the work on information and trust around the COVID-19 preparedness and Response.

“We need to do all it takes, working closely together to fight this virus. The President Bio-led government is determined to address the challenges and we will pass on all of the challenges highlighted to the leadership of the NACOVERC and expect them to be addressed soonest”, said Dr. Chakanda.

The Team travelled to Kenema next where the NGO Leads are Welthungerhilfe (WHH, International) and Youth in Action for Development (Local). In the evening, after the Kailahun engagement, Minister Kai-Kai met with the team to debrief and discuss the strategy for the next districts.

In the Southern Region, the Minister and team travelled to Pujehun District, his hometown; where he met a highly spirited, young and dynamic team led by Mohamed Kpana Gbato Kemokai. Mr. Kemokai, welcomed the Team and assured them of the district’s readiness in the fight. He acknowledged the district stakeholders for their continued support in the fight against COVID-19, which according to him, has been a critical step in containing the spread of the virus. This was followed by a situation report of Pujehun District.

Addressing a well-organized and socially distanced audience, the Minister, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai noted the importance of collaboration among the key players in the district, stating that it would yield good dividend in the COVID-19 fight. He introduced Save the Children (International) and Fambul Initiative Network (national) as the NGO Leads to the Pujehun DICOVERC Team.

In Bo, the District Council Chairman, Joseph Munda Gbinde expressed hope on such a new collaborative structure, noting that this was the very first time government has initiated such collaboration with NGO’s in fighting a disease. He said that such strategic leadership would create the necessary impact and minimize the gaps and overlaps in responding to public health emergencies. Action AID and CARITAS Bo were introduced as the District NGO Leads.

The Bonthe DICOVERC Team, led by Joseph Kamara has managed to contain the virus, after a spike in cases on a single day, weeks ago. Since then the DICOVERC Team together with NGO’s operating in the District have collaborated well to contain further spread of the virus in the Bonthe District.

“It was no longer just a cold. I ached all over, my head thumped, my eyes were burning, my throat was constricted and I had a ‘hacking cough’. This was a strange nightmare for me”, said Paramount Chief, Alieu Badara Sheriff II, as he explained his ordeal, as a survivor in a meeting held to introduce the NGO Leads. P.C. Sheriff II said he only knew he had the virus after being taken to the hospital. He called on Sierra Leonean’s to take the virus seriously and take safety precautions, while adhering to government restrictions.

With very limited facilities including healthcare, road networks and an archaic drawbridge over the River Jong, linking Bonthe and Moyamba District only speaks to the neglect these parts of the country have seen over the last decade. Amidst all of these challenges, the DICOVERC Team continues to do a great job in the COVID-19 fight. Leading the Team, the Minister introduced World Vision International and SEND-SL (national) to the Bonthe DICOVERC Team. In Moyamba, where the district rollout ended, the Action against Hunger (International) and Children of the Nation (national) are the NGO Leads for the Moyamba DICOVERC TEAM.

James Samba is a Mass Communication graduate from Fourah Bay College and he is the Technical Assistant to the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, NAO Building, Tower Hill, Freetown.

Xi Jinping Addresses China-Africa Summit on Defeating COVID-19 with Solidarity and Cooperation

President of the People’s Republic of China, H.E Xi Jinping

By Amin Kef Sesay

An Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19 was held on the 17th June 2020 in Beijing with the theme “Defeating COVID-19 with Solidarity and Cooperation”.

Among those in attendance were President Cyril Ramaphosa, President Macky Sall, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations and Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.

The President of the People’s Republic of China, H.E Xi Jinping started by stating that this is a critical moment in the global fight against COVID-19 which is why they are gathered in a Summit revealing how old and new friends are connected via video link to discuss their joint response to COVID-19 and also to renew the fraternity between China and Africa.

The Chinese President thanked President Ramaphosa of South Africa and President Sall of Senegal for joining him in initiating the Summit, and expressed appreciation for the participation of colleagues present while at the same time sending his regards to other African leaders not able to be present.

“The sudden onslaught of COVID-19 has taken a heavy toll on countries around the world, with the loss of several hundred thousand precious lives. Here, I suggest that we observe a moment of silence for those who have tragically passed away due to COVID-19 and express our condolences to their families,” H.E Xi Jinping paid respect to the departed.

He continued that in the face of COVID-19, China and Africa have withstood the test of a severe challenge underscoring how the Chinese people have put up a fierce fight and made enormous sacrifice to bring the situation in China under control.

“Still we remain mindful of the risk of a resurgence,” he expressed caution adding that in the same spirit, Governments and peoples in Africa have put up a united front stating how under the effective coordination by the African Union, they have taken strong measures to effectively slow the spread of the virus which, he said, are indeed hard-won results.

He informed the Summit that China and Africa have offered mutual support and fought shoulder to shoulder with each other stating how China shall always remember the invaluable support Africa gave China at the height of battling with the coronavirus. He pointed out that in return, when Africa was struck by the virus, China was the first to rush in with assistance and has since stood firm with the African people.

President Jinping  maintained how China and Africa have enhanced solidarity and strengthened friendship and mutual trust further reaffirming China’s commitment to its longstanding friendship with Africa.

“No matter how the international landscape may evolve, China shall never waver in its determination to pursue greater solidarity and cooperation with Africa,” he asserted.

He reminded all how COVID-19 is still affecting many parts of the world also intimating how both China and Africa face the formidable task of combating the virus while stabilizing the economy and protecting people’s livelihoods.

The President told the gathering that they must always put their people and their lives front and center, must mobilize necessary resources, stick together in collaboration, and do whatever it takes to protect people’s lives, health and minimize the fallout of COVID-19.

He stated that in achieving that, first they must stay committed to fighting COVID-19 together, that China will continue to do whatever it can to support Africa’s response to COVID-19 and they will lose no time in following through on the measures he announced at the opening of the World Health Assembly, and continue to help African countries by providing supplies, sending expert teams, and facilitating Africa’s procurement of medical supplies in China.

The President continued that China will start ahead of schedule the construction of the Africa CDC headquarters this year and will work with Africa to fully deliver the health care initiative adopted at the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and speed up the construction of China-Africa Friendship Hospitals and the cooperation between paired-up Chinese and African hospitals.

“Together, we will build a China-Africa community of health for all and pledge that once the development as well as deployment of COVID-19 vaccine is completed in China, African countries will be among the first to benefit,” he assured.

He enjoined all to stay committed to enhancing China-Africa cooperation noting that to cushion the impact of COVID-19, it is important to strengthen Belt and Road cooperation and accelerate the follow-ups to the FOCAC Beijing Summit.

“Greater priority needs to be given to cooperation on public health, economic reopening, and people’s livelihood,” he went on.

He said within the FOCAC framework, China will cancel the debt of relevant African countries in the form of interest-free Government loans that are due to mature by the end of 2020.

The President stated that for those African countries that are hardest hit by the coronavirus and are under heavy financial stress, China will work with the global community to give them greater support, by such means as further extending the period of debt suspension, to help them tide over the current difficulty.

“We encourage Chinese financial institutions to respond to the G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) and to hold friendly consultations with African countries according to market principles to work out arrangements for commercial loans with sovereign guarantees,” he intimated.

He maintained that China will work with other members of the G20 to implement the DSSI and, on that basis, urge the G20 to extend debt service suspension still further for countries concerned, including those in Africa.

H.E Xi Jinping said China hopes that the International Community, especially developed countries and multilateral financial institutions, will act more forcefully on debt relief and suspension for Africa. China, he informed, will work with the UN, WHO and other partners to assist Africa’s response to COVID-19 and do it in a way that respects the will of Africa.

“To help Africa achieve sustainable development is what matters in the long run,” he said adding how China supports Africa in its effort to develop the African Continental Free Trade Area and to enhance connectivity and strengthen industrial and supply chains.

He noted that China will explore broader cooperation with Africa in such new business forms as digital economy, smart city, clean energy, and 5G to boost Africa’s development and revitalization.

“Third, we must stay committed to upholding multilateralism,” he furthered maintaining how in the face of COVID-19, solidarity and cooperation is a powerful weapon.

He promised that China will work with Africa to uphold the UN-centered global governance system and support WHO in making greater contribution to the global COVID-19 response.

“We oppose politicization and stigmatization of COVID-19 and we oppose racial discrimination and ideological bias but stand firm for equity and justice in the world,” he affirmed.

Jinping stated that they must stay committed to taking China-Africa friendship forward maintaining that the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century.

He highlighted that given the new opportunities and challenges they face, closer cooperation between China and Africa is needed, more than ever.

“On my part, I will stay in close touch with all of you, my colleagues, to consolidate our friendship and mutual trust, support each other on issues involving our respective core interests, and advance the fundamental interests of China and Africa and, for that matter, of all developing countries,” he told the august body stating that they will be able to take the China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership to a greater height.

He said that at the FOCAC Beijing Summit, they agreed to work together to build an even stronger China-Africa community with a shared future.

“Today’s Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 is our concrete step to deliver the commitment we made at the Beijing Summit and to do our part in the international cooperation against COVID-19.

I am convinced that humanity will ultimately defeat the virus, and that the Chinese and African people are poised to embrace better days ahead,” he concluded.

To Strengthen the Fight… COVID -19 Regional Coordinators Receive Vehicles from Pres. Bio

By Theresa Kef Sesay

On the 16th June 2020, at State House, President Julius Maada Bio met with Resident Ministers, who double as COVID-19 Regional Coordinators and presented them with vehicles to ease their work in the fight against the Coronavirus.

Chairing the meeting, the Chief Minister, Professor David Francis, said the move is part of the President’s plans to support, strengthen and capacitate the different actors in the fight against the virus.

“This move is to acknowledge and support your work as Regional Coordinators,” he further intimated.

Brigadier (Rtd) Kellie Hassan Conteh, Interim National Coordinator, said that since their appointment the Regional Coordinators had always responded quite well and they had made lots of inputs in the fight.

He thanked the President for appointing the Resident Ministers as Regional Coordinators, noting that they wouldn’t have done much coordination if it were not for their involvement.

He also mentioned that they had disbursed funds to all the district operation centers to start their operations.

In his response, President Bio thanked the Regional Coordinators for their contributions and roles in the COVID-19 fight.

He said that there had to be local ownership of the fight against the virus, adding that such means there is the need to decentralize.

The President said that the vehicles handed to regional leaders was in recognition of the remarkable work of coordination they had done and to further enable them to do more.

Resident Minister South, Mohamed Allie, said they were happy to receive the vehicles because it would help them perform their duties effectively. He assured of their commitment to provide the required leadership at regional levels and to work with Government to get rid of the COVID-19 in the country.

NRA Mobilizes Le103 Billion in 2 Days

National Revenue Authority (NRA), Commissioner General, Prof. Samuel Jibao

By Amin Kef Sesay

The National Revenue Authority (NRA), Commissioner General, Prof. Samuel Jibao and his team are said to be on top of situation in terms of revenue mobilization despite the presence of COVID-19 in the country.

Just within two days, the NRA is on record of raising another impressive breaking figure in the history of revenue generation in the country at a time when COVID- 19 is seriously hitting economies around the world with a total sum of Le 103,000,000,000.00 (One Hundred and Three Billion Leones) on the 15th June, 2020 and 16th June, 2020.

It is also on record that this is not the first time NRA has registered a three digit collection rate over the outlined period. The current average collection rate per day is 21 Billion Leones which is 4 Billion less than the original target before COVID-19.

The Commissioner General is optimistic that things will be a lot better when we see the pandemic behind our backs.

The past two years have seen a consistent growth of revenue generation of 1.1 trillion Leones in 2018 and 2019 respectively.

NP-SL Ltd Continues to Stand the Test of Time

By Amin Kef Sesay

Within the business landscape of this country, one outstanding indigenous company that has stood the test of time amidst intermittent teething challenges is undoubtedly the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd). Authoritatively, one can argue that indeed there are fewer indigenous companies that could be fairly compared with the leading oil marketing company in this country. In some cases, sustainability of certain indigenous companies was slaughtered on the altar of poor entrepreneurial initiatives, improper management styles and sheer bankruptcy, sending them into oblivion.

One area that the Shareholders and Management teams have successfully harnessed over the years has to do with maximizing customer care which is why NP-SL Ltd is synonymous with 1st for Customer Care. Both has long established that without treating the concerns and recommendations of their numerous customers and take them into consideration when taking important decisions bordering on the importation and marketing of various petroleum products, then obviously the company will head for doom.

In order to ensure that their customers derive value for money, it was thought prudent on the part of Shareholders and Management to make use of state of the art and highly modernized calibrated pumping machines which were installed at the company’s different Filling Stations capable of pumping the exact quantity of fuel, be it petrol or diesel, that a particular customer requested for.

This fine move by the company has helped instilled confidence among customers that they are really dealing with a very transparent business entity and getting what they are paying for. This singular business strategy has got many glued to a petroleum company that is considered to be marketing the best of petroleum products which include petrol, diesel, gas and high grade lubricants, one of which is the most sought out Castrol oil, said to be very good for the proper functioning of engines.

It is also on record that NP-SL Ltd has bagged wide commendations for introducing a system that makes the purchasing of fuel very simple and fast. Here we are talking of introducing NP Smart Card which has a memory chip that can store information. This card can be credited with money and the amount of money utilized to buy fuel is debited after every transaction. With the use of NP Smart Card, customers are saved the hassle of having to always move with physical cash in their possession in order to purchase fuel and indeed there are times when one may not have time to rush to the bank to make withdrawals. Customers, who are holders and users of NP Smart Card, are at the vantage position to properly budget, through the amount that is contained in the card to buy fuel, during a considerable period of time, say a week or a month. Indeed, NP Smart Card has become trending.

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

One yardstick that could be used to assess the potency and vibrancy of a company is how well it is entrenched or established. With regards NP-SL Ltd, one can actually see that the company, over the years, has grown by leaps and bounds as seen in its opening of branches in neighboring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. All these NP branches, within the sub-region, are functioning very efficiently and contributing immensely towards the socio-economic development of those host countries. Through their operations, the company is paying taxes to the various Governments and indirectly boosting the revenue bases of those countries to roll out different development programs.

An admirable quality that NP-SL Ltd has been exhibiting throughout the years is the proper implementation of the country’s Local Content Policy. This policy is geared towards giving preferential treatment to indigenes or making use of local ingredients , in the form of human and material resources, instead of depending on those that are acquired through importation.

The company has the laid down policy of giving preferential employment consideration to indigenes instead of relying on expatriates.  As long as Sierra Leoneans have the requisite qualifications and skills they are first considered for various vacant positions in the company. The greatest advantage is that the policy has made it possible for indigenes to be gainfully employed and live improved standards of living.

From the foregoing, it could be argued with all amount of certainty that NP-SL Ltd is indeed a highly successful and very competitive petroleum company that continues to stand tall within the business landscape of this country. And from the look of things it is poised to reach further higher heights.

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