Very recently ,His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio conducted an inspection tour of the proposed construction site for a University of Science and Technology in Kono, where he is visiting as part of his nationwide thank-you-tour.

In his welcome address, Paramount Chief Fengai Kaimachende of Gbense Chiefdom said he was extremely delighted to host the President and his entourage on the inspection of a project he described as landmark. He said the people of Kono had long yearned for a University in the district that would reduce the burden of traveling to other parts of the country for higher education.

He stated that the people of Kono were excited about the proposal of a University in the district and lauded the Government for thinking well for the people of Kono, adding that President Bio was a man with passion, determination and commitment to move the nation forward. He, therefore, called on everyone to support the New Direction administration.

Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Professor Aiah Gbakima, said he was happy with the cooperation he had received so far from his colleague ministers in actualising the project. He disclosed that Gbense Chiefdom, being the host community, had provided 417 acres of land for the construction project, saying that after its completion the facility would help capacitate children in Kono and other parts of the country.

“We will secure funds for the construction of the university through the Economic Community of West African States and they will send a feasibility team to Sierra Leone. There are a lot of processes involved before the final construction begins, so the construction will take time. After its completion, this university will help to improve on the skills of our children and other children around the country,” he said.

President Bio said his presence at the site was a testament to the preference his government had given to the people of Kono district. He said he was trying to correct the historical injustice that had been meted out on Kono, being a district that had provided a lot for the country but benefited little or nothing. He added that for far too long the people of Kono had suffered and that he wanted to change that by offering quality education to them.

He mentioned that by investing in education meant that his government was investing in the next generations of Sierra Leoneans. He also disclosed that his government would establish two additional vocational institutes in the district to help in capacity and skills development for youth. He encouraged the people of Kono to take ownership of the project and ensure that it was properly implemented.

“I am thinking of a Kono without diamond because we have failed to benefit from it. Kono has great minds that only need the platform to grow. So, we are ready to make sure that the construction starts and ends in good time. We want to make our children attractive to the competitive global market and we can only do that through providing quality education for all Sierra Leoneans,” he said.

Sierra Leonean free agent Alhaji Kamara, who defied a potentially career-ending medical diagnosis to continue playing football, says he still has “more to give to the game.”
In 2016, doctors declared the striker had a heart defect whilst at Swedish club Norrkoping, a finding which briefly halted his career.
The problem was detected after he underwent a mandatory Uefa medical examination before IFK Norrkoping’s participation in the European Champions League qualifiers.
The 24-year old had just won the 2015 Swedish league title with Norrkoping.
He was advised not to take part in top-level football for the foreseeable future because his heart defect was unusual and carried a great risk of ‘sudden death at maximum effort.’
After further tests in the USA later in 2016, he was given medical clearance to resume his career and was signed by MLS club DC United.
He went on to play for USA second tier team Richmond Kickers, Al-Taawoun in Saudi Arabia and FC Sheriff in Moldova where he played in both the Uefa Champions League and Europa League qualifiers.
Kamara is currently a free agent after leaving FC Sheriff, where he scored nine goals in 14 league appearances and he insists he is in good health.
“I still believe I have more time in the game,” Kamara told BBC Sport.
“I’m always fine. I’m healthy, I’m strong, I have never had any heart problem symptoms.
“I went to USA and did tests and I was cleared to play in MLS. I also went to Portugal. I did tests before I joined Al-Taawoun of Saudi Arabia and I went to Europe as well to play for Moldovan side FC Sheriff after undergoing further tests.
“I was cleared to play in Europe as I played in this season’s preliminary stages in the Uefa Champions League and Europa league qualifiers with FC Sheriff.”

Kamara admitted that it was hard for him when he was told about his heart condition but never considered stopping playing – even though he was advised by friends to quit.
“It was shocking, I didn’t feel good but with the help of God, with hard work, with lots of faith and with support from my family and friends I was able to overcome the situation,” he explained.
“I never considered quitting football. My friends showed concern after they heard the news and they took pity on me.
“But I tried to be positive. Some asked me to stop playing but I encouraged them that I would be safe to be back playing.”
He is in search of a new club, and as he recovers from a hernia operation, he says he is not interested in returning to Sweden.
“For now I’m not considering to play again in Sweden because I can’t change the perception about my situation,” he continued.
“I have put everything behind me. Now I’m a free agent and I’m talking to clubs. I don’t have a problem playing in Europe or elsewhere.
“I’m working on my fitness because I went through surgery in November, but I’m getting better. I’m back into running.
“So I talk with clubs and I make myself clear to them about my surgery – I’m getting back to playing very soon.”
Kamara has not played for Sierra Leone since his heart problem was discovered. He was invited to join up with Sierra Leone for their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya in Freetown in June 2017,
At the time, he said his then club – DC United – had insisted on having a defibrillator at the stadium as a precautionary measure.
But the Sierra Leone FA (SLFA) said they could not afford to guarantee the prompt and professional medical attention to him in case of an incident on the pitch, and as a result Kamara did not play in the qualifier.
“The thing about the defibrillator is for the precautionary measure for every player on the pitch,” Kamara said as he reflected on events from 2017.
“DC United always had it on the pitch whether I was playing or not because they’ve seen accidents on the pitch several times.
“There’s no special treatment or care for me on the pitch. Whatever you see on the pitch is for all the players on the field.

In a dejected mood, the Black Leo CEO and Sierra Leone’s rap maestro – Amara Denis Turay aka Kao Denero has threatened to quit Salone Music. The rapper made this announcement on his Facebook page on Saturday 19th January 2019. This came after he has encountered several pitfalls, which have endangered his reputation and peace in recent months. Kao’s statement reads:

“Am contemplating leaving this Salone Music Industry behind me. I honestly think its time for such bold action. Maybe everyone will rest their minds”

It can be recalled that the embattled rapper staged a concert at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in November 2018, a show that didn’t go the way it was expected. The rapper fell out with his partners and Management team when the concert was due in Freetown, in the presence of the Nigerian music star – Runtown. Although his loyal fans made it to the concert, there was no performance from him and Runtown. Soon afterwards, Kao promised his Black Leo fans of a ‘free musical concert’. That promised has not been fulfilled.

This month, the rapper clashed with a former Black Leo rapper – Original Madson at the Old School Complex in Freetown, which resulted in Kao ordering and videoing the beating and mauling of the young rapper. Madson had dissed Kao in his past tracks, which soured the relationship between them.

This incident was reported to the Police by Madson, and few days later, Kao and his men were arrested and detained. The Police are still carrying its investigations while the leaderships of All Stars and Artists for Peace have initiated an out of court settlement. Kao resorted to remorse with the release of a video apologising to Madson and family. There is still believed to be resistances from these peace talks as human rights activists, the Legal Aid Board and other players are still pushing for a prosecution.

The seeming circumstances would have urged the rapper out of frustration to announce that he is dropping the mic for good, insinuating that that would bring peace to everyone’s mind.
Similarly in 2018, another Sierra Leonean Afro pop RnB singer, Rahim De Wezard made similar threats quitting music. This came after backlashes from the public regarding his criticisms on KME’s performance in the Ghana Meets Naija festival in Accra, Ghana.

Will Kao Denero quit music? Well, it’s a question of wait and see.

Ahmed Hussein-Suale, a journalist in Ghana who had exposed corruption in football was shot dead by two gunmen.
Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo, condemned the “heinous crime” and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
“I’ve learnt with sadness of the killing of Ahmed Hussein-Suale, an associate of investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. I condemn the act unreservedly and extend my condolences to his family. I expect the police to bring to book, as soon as possible, the perpetrators of this heinous crime. Once again, my heartfelt condolences,” Akufo-Addo tweeted.
Hussein-Suale was shot twice in the chest and the neck on Wednesday by motorbike-borne assailants. He was close to his house in Accra suburb when the crime took place, quoting his lawyer, Kissi Agyebeng.
The deceased journalist worked for Anas’ Tiger Eye PI organisation and had started receiving death threats after finishing a documentary which revealed corruption in African soccer. So far, Hussein-Suale’s investigation has led to Ghana’s Football Association’s head’s resignation.
The death threats had allegedly started after a lawmaker from Ghana’s Parliament revealed the undercover journalist’s identity on national television.
“We complained at the time he released the video. He said in the local language he was offering a reward for anyone who would beat him up. He endangered a young man’s life, and now this has happened. He has questions to answer,” the deceased journalist’s lawyer said.

Forty Individual Police Officers (IPOs) from Police Contributing Countries to AMISOM will be departing from Somalia because they have come to the end of their tour of duty.
The officers are from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia.
The forty police officers from 6 African countries trained and mentored the Somali police officers in Mogadishu and outstations.
At a ceremony to honour them, the officers received medals and certificates of service. The ceremony was presided over by the Acting AMISOM Police Commissioner, Christine Alalo.
Ms Alalo said “your contribution to providing the Somali Police Force with the international policing standards is worthy of note and appreciated. You went over and beyond your call of duty and for that we commend your efforts.”
“We are grateful for the support and collaboration we received from our Somali counterparts. We are leaving behind best-policing practices comparable to international standards.”
Speaking on behalf of the Police Officers who were leaving Somalia, Inspector Alvince Osura from Kenya said they believe their effort to help the Somalia Police will not be in vain.
“We are confident that our Somali counterparts are better placed in terms of handling suspects, investigations, conduct and discipline.”

His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio visited the diamond-rich district of Kono, Eastern Sierra Leone, as part of his nationwide thank-you-tour and assured a mammoth welcoming crowd of the possibility of a state-of-the-art Science University in Koidu City.

In his welcome address, the Honourable Paramount Chief Member of Parliament, Sahr Yongai Kontanday Mbriwa of Fiama Chiefdom, said it was an honour to receive the President and his entourage in Kono for the first time since the new government in April last year.

He confirmed that President Bio’s visit was historic because it also marked the grand home-coming ceremony of Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh and the country’s First Lady, Her Excellency Fatima Bio, both of them said to have been born and raised in the cosmopolitan diamond mining and cash crop producing district.

“We the people of Kono are extremely happy to receive you, sir. This shows how much value you have attached to us as a people. We also want to thank you for the government appointees from Kono and for the introduction of the Free Quality Education, but most importantly, we thank you for your dream of providing a university for the people of Kono. We shall forever remain grateful to your government and the Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party at large,” he said.

Mayor of Koidu City, Komba Mathew Sam, said they were happy to have the President to the district of precious minerals and expressed hope at the prospect of them benefitting from the New Direction Government’s effort at prioritising education.

“We appreciate your government, Mr President, for the Free Quality Education that you have introduced. This is the first time after almost a decade that 17 schools in Kono have been approved and have received their packages of the Free Quality Education,” he disclosed.

Mayor Sam thanked the government for its sustained plans and steps in the fight against corruption in the country and pledged their support to the government in the pursuit of political accountability. He said fighting and ending corruption was the only way to assure the country of lasting development.

He thanked the President for his thought of giving Kono district their own university and announced that the Koidu City administration had already provided 17 acres of land for the construction of the said university. He, however, encouraged President Bio to continue his support for Kono so that they too could develop as other cities in the country had been.

The Vice President, Dr Juldeh Jalloh, said that President Bio was the promised saviour, meant to transform the country with honesty and sincerity. He introduced the President as the godfather of the Free Quality Education and a man who had pledged to increase the human capital investment through education to a level never attained in the country.

In his response, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio said in amazement that he was happy with the turnout of people who had left their many busy schedules to welcome him to Kono, where he had gone to thank them for overwhelmingly voting him as President in the 2018 elections.

He told them that he had prepared for several years to govern Sierra Leone with righteousness so that he would usher in lasting development.

“My victory as a president is as a result of the collective support of everybody, including that of Kono. I have long prepared for this leadership and I will not be failing you. I will use every energy in me to ensure that Sierra Leone is transformed into a place that everybody will be proud of. Diamond and gold will vanish, the only thing that is sure to transform this country is human capital development. This is the reason I have placed 21% of the country’s annual budget to support education. This, I think, is the best offer every right-thinking Sierra Leonean should embrace with all sobriety,” he assured.

President Bio added that the Commissions of Inquiry were a genuine fight against alleged thieves and emphasised that it would not target any sect or tribe or region, but would investigate wicked people who had robbed the country of her resources.

“Anyone who stands in the progress of the Commissions of Inquiry will receive the stiffest resistance from me. There was no enough reason why the country suffered from the civil war, but if fighting is the last resort for the Commissions of Inquiry to progress and stop corruption in the country, then it is a rightful fight that we must do to ensure we eradicate thieving and embezzlement from politics,” he assured.

There is a school of thought that holds the view that politicians in this country are most unfortunately still very unmindful of the real causes of divisions in our society and as a result continue to germinate the same foundations that eventually led to a destructive war that spanned from 1991 to 2002.
Most frighteningly, this time, they have centred it around hatred , selfishness doing so by unwittingly fanning the flames, and much more terrifying is that they have people who listen to them and follow them.
Let our xenophobic politicians understand that incitement to hatred and genocide is a crime in itself. Sierra Leone will only prevent the killing fields of the future by heeding the lessons from past tragedies. What are these lessons and what can we do?
We should not forget the Rwanda Genocide — an unspeakable atrocity where one million Rwandans were murdered in a three-month genocidal onslaught that began April 7th, 1994. Indeed, what makes the Rwandan genocide so unspeakable was not only the horror of the genocide itself, but the fact that it was preventable. No one can say that Rwandans did not know — they knew, but did not act.
While the world vowed “Never Again” after the unprecedented horrors of the Holocaust, “Never Again” has happened again and again, symbolized in Bosnia, Rwanda and other countries. Such crimes cannot be reversed. Such failures cannot be repaired. The dead cannot be brought back to life, as we saw during our rebel war. So what can we do?”
The first and foremost lesson of the Rwandan genocide — not unlike the Holocaust — is that these genocides occurred not simply because of the machinery of death, but also because of state-sanctioned incitement to hate. Indeed, as the case law of the Rwandan genocide demonstrates, the acts of genocide were preceded by — and anchored in — an orchestrated dehumanization and demonization of the minority , invoking also epidemiological metaphors as prologue to — and justification for — their extermination.
The Holocaust did not begin in the gas chambers — it began with words. It is this teaching of contempt — this demonizing of the “other’ — this is where it all begins.
The second lesson, dramatized by the Rwandan genocide, is the danger of indifference and the consequences of inaction. For the Rwandan genocide occurred not only because of the state-sanctioned culture of hate, but because of crimes of indifferences and conspiracies of silence.
One has only to read the witness testimony on Rwanda in Philip Gourevitch’s book entitled, “We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families”; or Gerry Caplan’s searing indictment in his book on The Preventable Genocide; or Leave None to Tell the Story: The Genocide in Rwanda published by Human Rights Watch, to understand not only the horror of this genocide — conveyed so movingly by survivors like Esther Mujawago-Keiner — but that it was the complicity of the international community — that made this genocide possible. As the UN Security Council dithered and delayed, Rwandans died.
The third lesson is the danger of a culture of impunity that repeatedly emboldens those intent on committing mass atrocities and genocide. Indeed, if the last century — symbolized by the Holocaust and the genocide in Rwanda — was the age of atrocity, it was also the age of impunity. Few of the perpetrators were brought to justice. Just as there must be no sanctuary for hate, no refuge for bigotry, there must be no base or sanctuary for the enemies of humankind.
The fourth lesson is the danger of assaults on the most vulnerable in society. The Holocaust and the Rwandan genocide occurred not only because of the vulnerability of the powerless, but also because of the powerlessness of the vulnerable. In mass atrocities, it is often the most vulnerable of the vulnerable — the brutalized children, women victimized by massive sexual violence, fleeing refugees — who are the first targets of oppression and violence.
May the Rwandan genocide — and other genocides be an occasion not only for remembrance, but to learn the lessons of the crime whose name we should even shudder to mention.

The newly designated Nuncio Archbishop to Sierra Leone, Dagoberto Campos Salas, presented his Letters of Credence, a formal diplomatic letter of appointment, to His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio during a ceremony held at State House.

Salas said that it was an honour to present his letters to President Bio, which accredited him to serve as Nuncio to the Government of Sierra Leone. He said the longstanding diplomatic relationship between Sierra Leone and the Holy See was a sign of the mutual desire to work for the advancement of the human person and the society.

He mentioned that the bilateral relations were an expression of the collaboration which had at heart the integral spiritual and material good of all, saying that the mission of any diplomacy and especially that of the See is to strive for peace and the common good of humanity.

“The Catholic Church is committed to fostering the dignity of the human person, not in the abstract, but in the concrete human realities of everyday life. In this respect, there are many areas of necessary collaboration between the Church and the State. The Catholic Church in Sierra Leone continues to contribute actively to the promotion of a just and peaceful society in this beloved country.

“The Catholic Church in Sierra Leone is also committed to strengthening the existing good relationship with other Christian Churches and other religions, and so to foster religious freedom and peace in the country. I wish to thank Your Excellency for accepting my Letters of Credence and present to you and the people of Sierra Leone my best wishes and prayers,” he said.

In his response, President Bio said he was thankful for the cordial greetings, prayers and blessings shared by the new Nuncio on behalf His Holiness, Pope Francis, and accepted his sentiments of goodwill for the country. He said the relationship between Sierra Leone and the Catholic Church faith had spanned over 600 years ever since the arrival of Portuguese missionaries of the “Order of Christ”.

He noted that he was grateful for the consistent and generous support of the Catholic Church during times of pestilence, humanitarian disasters, war, and in restoring peace and reconciliation, adding that the humanitarian mission of the Catholic Church, in providing quality healthcare and education and in supporting the displaced and the poor, had been invaluable to Sierra Leone.

“We also acknowledge and support the Holy See’s consistent advocacy for peace, defending the dignity of the human person and working for the integral development of human society. The Catholic faith and its imprint on Sierra Leone and changing Sierra Leonean lives for the better have grown immensely and irreversibly.

“My government’s investment in human capital development, social justice, by providing access and opportunity to all, fighting corruption and fostering national cohesion, align with the Holy See’s broader mission in Sierra Leone and in the world. We look forward to a future of working cooperatively on deepening our democracy, fostering the dignity of the human person by escalating investments in human capital development, and promoting national as well as world peace and security,” he said.

In an in depth investigation mounted by this Press it was learnt that statements were taken from 15 executive members of the All People’s Congress (APC) including former President Ernest Koroma. According to the Director of Crime Services, AIG Brima Jah, the Police are currently working to put together a report with regards a Press Release that was signed by the APC Secretary General.
“The report and the evidence will be sent to the law officers department,” Jah stated. “The CID will wait for legal advice and decide to take a line of action on the matter,” Jah continued. He disclosed that during an interview with former President at his residence in Makeni, the latter pointed out that the controversial Press Release was the APC’s position and that he does not have a different position.
The Director of Crimes Services, CID ,stated that former President Koroma said he was not supposed to be at the press conference held by his Party adding that the meeting could go on as long as the meeting makes a quorum without making any reference to him.
“Former President Koroma stated that he does not intend to do anything to undermine the peace and security of Sierra Leone,” Jah revealed adding how the interview with former President Koroma was to ascertain whether the former President was briefed, made any input or suggestions about the meeting when the press release was issued.
It must be realized that the Police questioning of the APC executive members relates to a Press Release issued by the party expressing dissatisfaction on the composition of the Commission of Inquiry set by the SLPP led Government. It is the view of the Police that the said Press Release has the tendency to threaten the peace and security of the State.