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Over 500 FCC Staff Go 3 Months without Pay

Mayor Aki-Sawyerr

By Amin Kef Sesay

Over five hundred workers of the Freetown City Council have expressed their disgust and frustration over the non-payment of their monthly salary for the past three months now.

According to the aggrieved workers, they are presently worried and confused, as they have not been paid their three months take – home pay and the management appears to be keeping a sealed lip or dilly-dallying their payments plan.

They claimed that they are finding it extremely difficult to keep their homes going, as they are not getting any positive response from the management with regards the payment of their three months’ salary arrears. “Our situation is getting worse by the day, and we don’t even know our fate and when we will receive our three months’ salary arrears,” the workers asserted,”

The aggrieved workers say that most of them are the breadwinners of their families and relations, asking how the management of the Freetown City Council expect them to keep homes going, attend to their children’s needs when they are not even sure of getting their salary soon.

They also claimed that the top management officials of the FCC are secretly receiving their salary payments every month, while the junior workers continue to suffer in silence and continue to be deprived of their three months’ salary arrears.

Freetown City Council’s Human Resource Manager, Claudius Campbell, when contacted, debunked the allegation, adding that the management of the Freetown City Council has always been committed and sensitive to the plight of its workers.

He confirmed that his colleague workers have gone without salary for three consecutive months, but that the management of the Freetown City Council should not be considered wicked or insensitive to their plights.

He went on to say that council has been always committed to the progress and welfare of its workers, but that the present economic reality in the country has seriously stagnated council’s income generating avenues country wide. Claudius Campbell further responded that no top management staff has been paid his or her monthly salary and are also going through the same situation.

He concluded that despite the fact that the Coronavirus disease has gradually grounded council’s income generating activities and avenues in the country, his management will continue to appeal to the aggrieved workers to exercise patience and understanding, as they are working round the clock to remedy the situation.

 

Sierra Leone’s Planning & Canadian International Development Ministers’ Peace Message

Dr. Francis Kai-Kai, Minister of Planning and Economic Development

By Theresa Kef Sesay

The Sierra Leonean Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai and the Canadian Minister of International Development, the Hon. Karina Gould have offered a strong statement of solidarity in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.

In their joint statement, as co-chairs of the International Dialogue on Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (IDPS), the Ministers said that the IDPS and its members were standing in solidarity with all those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; noting that the pandemic was a human tragedy and a global crisis that posed grave risks for fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS) that extended beyond direct health impacts alone.

The Ministers said, “Together, we are particularly concerned about the pandemic’s potentially destabilizing socio-economic impacts in FCAS. In this regard, we support the United Nations Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire to allow countries to unite in responding to the pandemic. In the spirit of cooperation and mutual support, we also welcome the statements on responding to the pandemic made by the g7+ group of FCAS and the Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and State building [CSPPS].

They noted that at this difficult time, they were drawing the international community’s attention to the need for a holistic COVID-19 response to ensuring that hard-won peacebuilding, statebuilding and conflict-prevention gains in FCAS were sustained; they said It would require responses that draw on integrated support from partners across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus and that were also inclusive, nationally led, conflict-sensitive, attuned to conflict drivers and focused on prevention and resilience. The Ministers stated that without that cooperation, the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development risk slipping further out of reach.

“In this context, we reaffirm our commitment to advocating for COVID-19 response efforts that advance priorities established by IDPS members in the IDPS 2019 to 2021 Peace Vision, the 2030 Agenda (notably Sustainable Development Goal 16+), the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States and the Stockholm Declaration. We reaffirm the relevance of our Peace Vision priority themes in our COVID-19 response efforts to enhance national cohesion; advance gender equality and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda; and support a peace-promoting private sector”, they ended.

The statement continued by encouraging national governments to ensure that measures used to respond to COVID-19 contribute to just and inclusive societies and do not hamper contributions from various actors, including youths, women peacebuilders and human rights defenders. It also reiterated the need to continue supporting the protection and expansion of civil society’s operating space in implementing measures to address the pandemic, including during lockdowns.

They said, “Recognizing that women, girls and other vulnerable groups, such as migrants, refugees and those living in poverty, will be disproportionally affected by the crisis, the global response must be gender responsive and include interventions that protect all vulnerable groups from potential violence and other effects of COVID-19 responses. In this context, we also acknowledge the need to galvanize support from the private sector to support pro-peace activities, as well as safeguard livelihoods and the immediate and longer-term economic effects for people affected by the crisis. Together, we would strive to protect official development assistance budgets, encourage other financial flows to support governments and communities in FCAS and invite all of our peacebuilding partners to do the same”.

The Ministers noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had created a global crisis, stressing that national responses alone would be insufficient to cope with the various dimensions of its impact (political, economic, social and human capital). They said the IDPS, as a unique tripartite platform, had an important role to play in bringing together development partners, the g7+ Group and civil society to preserve peace. In addressing this highly complex crisis, the IDPS partnership would endeavour to mobilize diverse actors to ensure inclusive dialogue and collective engagement, and to foster South-South, triangular and fragile-fragile cooperation.

They said they would work together to ensure that their peacebuilding, statebuilding and conflict-prevention objectives remained at the forefront of responses to the pandemic, and together, “we would continue to advance our common objective of driving positive change for those in fragile and conflict-affected situations.”

 

Parliament Adopts Draconian Media Measures

By Amin Kef Sesay

A letter from the PR Department of the Sierra Leone Parliament has henceforth instructed members of the press wishing to cover Parliament to apply with a CV, photocopy of all relevant documents, and present academic qualifications of at least a Diploma in Mass Communications from a recognized University.

The applicant should also forward a photo copy of a valid ‘operational license’ granted by the Independent Media Commission and must be a registered member of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) among others.

The letter from the Deputy Director of information /Public Relations in Parliament also demanded that the said journalist must have practised for a ‘number of years’.

The documents must be submitted at the Despatch Section of Parliament not later than Wednesday 20th May 2020 to facilitate interview. SLAJ and the IMC will form part of the Accreditation Committee.

Meanwhile, after the closure of applications for media accreditation to report on the proceedings of Parliament, the Office of the Clerk of Parliament reports receiving 28 applications for both print and the electronic media.

Parliament wants it to be known that an accreditation to report on the proceedings of Parliament is not a paid job, but a qualified privilege granted by the House in light of professionalism and accurate reporting on its proceedings for the consumption of the public.

 

With Massive Drop From $2.24 M To $0.33M… COVID-19 Impacts Negatively On Mining Industry

Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Mr Foday Rado Yokie

By Amin Kef Sesay

Sierra Leone is weathering a dramatic crunch in mining revenue as COVID-19 restrictions hurt companies’ ability to export gold and diamonds and access essential supplies. Revenue from mining dropped from $2.24 million in April 2019 to just $0.33 million in April 2020 – an 85% decline year on year, according to mines ministry figures.

Mining accounts for more than 80% of Sierra Leone’s export revenue, generating the lion’s share of its foreign currency reserves.

“This means big trouble for Sierra Leone,” said mining minister Foday Rado Yokie. “We’re praying that things start up again in the next few months, because this is completely debilitating to our economy.”

Gold and diamond exports have ground to a halt since March 21, when Sierra Leone suspended all air traffic in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Shipments from Chinese-owned Dayu Mining, which operates the country’s largest gold mine, have been on standby for more than three weeks, said Mohammed Daffae, the company’s Public Relations Manager.

Dayu Mining, which usually ships gold by air, initially attempted to export by sea, but temporarily misplaced three containers of gold concentrate.

It has since suspended production entirely as supply chain disruptions have hindered access to spare parts and other supplies needed for maintenance, rendering much of its digging equipment unusable.

“If things continue like this, we’re going to have to start making some really difficult decisions,” Daffae said.

Frustration is mounting in the community that hosts the mine, he added, with more than 300 local staff furloughed and its community development projects on hold. COVID-19 and a steep decline in diamond prices have caused investors to shy away from projects in Sierra Leone, said Ibrahim Sorie Kamara, co-founder of Trustco Holdings’ diamond mining subsidiary Meya Mining. Without access to significant in-country capital, he said, the threat to such projects could prove existential.

“The worst thing that has happened with COVID-19 is how hard it has hit the West, which we rely on,” Kamara said. “You have to be able to look inwards for relief when the greater market can’t offer support.”

 

A Very Difficult Post-COVID19 Period Lies Ahead

Covid-19

By Amin Kef Sesay

Failure of national governance has over the decades been the leading risk to peace, stability and economic growth in Sierra Leone and many other African countries; highlighting the continent-wide push for greater accountability and democracy.

In April 2018, President Bio was elected head of state with a commitment to promote economic growth and fight corruption, while strengthening national security and the economy.

The political change offered an opportunity to address citizens’ concerns and priorities. Two years on, Government has the objective of securing renewed political commitment to sustainable development; assess the progress and implementation gaps in meeting already agreed commitments, and address new and emerging challenges.

As the country battles with COVID-19, which obviously like Ebola is diverting much needed resources for governance and development to the fight, this is time for the government to evaluate progress, and identify what has worked and what has not and how to address new challenges and take advantage of opportunities.

Challenges include the adverse impact of climate change, increasing water scarcity, biodiversity and ecosystem loss, low resilience to natural disasters, potential non achievement of the SDGs, energy crisis, food crisis, limited benefits from globalization, health security, the global financial crisis, low penetration of ICT services, urbanization, need to develop better disaster response mechanisms, genetically modified crops in relation to food security and technology transfer among others.

Persistent loss of biodiversity is also a major problem that the government has to think of ways to address. Expanding agriculture, clearing of forests for charcoal and firewood, climate change are the primary causes of loss of biodiversity.

Addressing biodiversity loss requires long-term solutions in the form of development and implementation of appropriate policy guidelines, institutional capacity-building and deployment of adequate resources.

Measures need to be taken to improve water management and storage capacity to ensure continued supply of water for domestic and economic purposes and for ecosystem balance. Persistently high food prices remain a problem.

Unemployment and underemployment compound the socioeconomic development problem. Most of the work available is unskilled or low-skilled.

It requires new regional and global partnerships and entrepreneurial and agile leadership to create pathways for shared prosperity and drive a sustainable future.

Physical infrastructure is a challenge to productivity, a lack of funding for roads, telecommunications, water, electricity and more are impeding productivity. This “failure of critical infrastructure” is a major risk to business.

There is the fiscal crisis, with the country at risk of slipping into a major debt crisis. As debt levels increase, so does the pressure of servicing the debt; money that could be invested in society goes to repaying loans. This could make it less likely to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

 

ACC Issues Deadline for Assets Declaration Defaulters

Francis Ben Keifala

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Anti-Corruption Commission has extended the deadline for all categories of public officials that are required by law to declare their assets from March 31st 2020 to May 31st 2020.

The 2019 amended ACC Act states that pursuant to Section 119(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 (as Amended in 2019) all public officers who are to declare their assets and have failed to do so are now in default.

Section 119(1) of the Act states that every public officer shall, within three months of becoming a public officer, deposit with the Commission a declaration of his income, assets and liabilities and thereafter in every two years that he is public officer, but not later than 31st March of that second year, deposit further declaration of his income, assets and liabilities and also while leaving office.

Furthermore, Section 122A(1) of the said Amendment provides that a public officer who, without reasonable cause, fails to submit his/her Assets Declaration Form or knowingly records false, inaccurate or misleading information in the declaration form shall, in addition to any other penalty imposed under this Act, be liable to administrative sanctions that could be withholding the salary of the Public Officer, suspension after one month of default but not more than three months; and dismissal after exceeding three months.

It is against this background, that the Commission informs public officers that the deadline for the submission of Asset Declaration Forms, which was 31st March, 2020 has now elapsed but extended to, on or before the 31st May 2020.

Beyond the said date, the ACC Commissioner said that defaults will be treated as deliberate and defaulters will face the applicable appropriate penalties as prescribed by law above, adding that anyone who has specific challenges should promptly notify the Commission for speedy remedy.

Asset declaration is intended to instil integrity and accountability in public life in the commission’s fight against corruption.

ECOMED Sierra Leone’s Most Advanced Medical Diagnostic Centre

By Amin Kef Sesay

The EcoMed Medical Center in Freetown, Sierra Leone is the only place in the country where patients can access advanced medical diagnostic tools like MRI, CT-scans, x-ray, ultrasound and ECG.

These imaging technologies are crucial when it comes to diagnosing a wide range of conditions including cancer, blockages in the digestive tract, heart problems and other diseases. EcoMed is Freetown’s most advanced medical diagnostics centre. With innovative technology, first class equipment and internationally trained staff, EcoMed is your first choice for laboratory, radiology and diagnostic imaging procedures in Sierra Leone.

According to the Medical experts at the EcoMed Advanced Medical Diagnostic Centre, the test results will be available in 48 hours after the entire exercise.

ECOMED, which offers a one stop centre for both imaging and lab diagnostics is at the forefront of improving medical services in Sierra Leone providing reliable diagnostic results for Medical practitioners to properly treat their patients.

Today ECOMED provides the only MRI service in the country as well as an array of imaging diagnostics and laboratory work. ECOMED is an example of private sector entrepreneurs providing services in critical areas such as the health sector.

ECOMED is a living example that Public Private Partnership is the only solution to restructuring the health sector where Government spends millions of dollars annually on various equipments which become obsolete within months.

The success of ECOMED in bringing modern diagnostic equipments into the country has been attributed to Management for its dedication and hard work.

Anyone at home or abroad seeking clinical diagnosis for any ailment can contact EcoMed (SL) Ltd,19 Off Upper Kingharman Road, (100 meters from Ministry of Tourism), Brookfields, Freetown on telephone number +232 30 999 529 or info@ecomed.sl

New Internal Affairs Minister Takes Oath of Office

Minister of Internal Affairs, David Maurice Panda-Noah & President Bio

By Theresa Kef Sesay

Newly appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, David Maurice Panda-Noah, after going through Parliamentary vetting successfully, on Friday 15 May 2020 at State House in Freetown, subscribed to the Oath of Office before His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio in accordance with Section 57 (Act No. 6) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.

In his statement, President Bio said: “I congratulate you on this new assignment. We owe it as a Government to keep the peace and to make sure that law and order prevails. You have a lot of work on your hands. I would like to assure you of my fullest support and to provide the security needed not only for development but also for everyone to go about their normal businesses peacefully.”

Mr Panda-Noah thanked the President for the appointment, saying that he was greatly honoured and humbled to serve his country in the new capacity. He said that he was aware of the challenges ahead and was fully committed to surmounting them. He also commended the President for the confidence reposed in him and assured of his loyalty.

Before his new assignment, Mr Panda-Noah was the Executive Director of Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority, set up to regulate and coordinate development in the transport industry, including the registration and licensing of vehicles, the licensing of drivers, the prescription of routes for passengers and goods transportation and for other matters connected thereto.

NP-SL Operations is Second to None

By Amin Kef Sesay

The National Petroleum –Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) has been regarded as a well-positioned institution with the realm of being a very pro-active institution that is always poised to pragmatically put concrete arrangements in place to ensure that the populace in this country gain access to qualitative petroleum products ranging from petrol, diesel, gas to lubricants, including the ever highly demanded Castrol lubricant oil that has been rated to be a very good for the efficient  lubrication of various engines.

NP-SL is indeed poised to give its numerous customers its qualitative products.

The company has in its employ, a workforce as well as distributors that market its various petroleum products. As far as it has been established, this laid down policy that the company is implementing to the letter, is complementing the efforts of the Government to deepen development.

Today, it is now non-existent for individuals to complain that when they are in the process of procuring petroleum products, pump attendants cheat them in terms of not getting their money’s worth. The simple reason is because the Shareholders and Management of the company were indeed very business savvy to procure modern calibrated pumping machines which were installed at their various selling points and are very capable of churning out the exact quantity of what is demanded and the price to be paid. In this regard the company has bagged the covetous commendation of, “1st For Customer Care”.

During a random countrywide survey conducted over a period of time targeting a large percentage of customers of the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd), with the avowed objective of sounding their views on the operations of the company in the country, the methodology utilized bordered on asking random questions in order to get their candid views.

When quizzed on how they view the way the company treats its numerous customers across the country, most of the respondents warmly reacted by stating that the Shareholders and Management of  the company are doing extremely well in the direction of effective service delivery and giving utmost satisfaction to customers.

Abdul Aziz Koroma, a renowned Social Commentator, maintained that when it comes to customer care, NP-SL Ltd is second to none within the business landscape of this country.

“From what I so far learnt in order to conduct sales in a very transparent manner and to give customers their money’s worth, the Shareholders of the company decided to procure and install modern calibrated pumping machines at their various Filling Stations that are capable to pump the exact quantity of fuel, at the same time display the price and quantity,” he pointed out, adding that to even think that the pump attendants are cheating customers could only be a mere figment of one’s imagination, as anything like that is farfetched.

A Development Specialist of long standing intimated that for the country’s economy to grow sustainably it is but important to deepen local content further arguing that it is only when we make meaningful use of both our human and natural resources that development could transpire.

“Instead of depending on the importation of certain consumable items and foreign expatriates, it is but very significant and cost effective to make use of what we have at hand to produce goods and services,” Andrew Soluku, an Economist averred, also stating that for NP-SL Ltd to make it a laid down policy and put into practice to offer employment exclusively to Sierra Leoneans is indeed laudable and no mean feat.

He further underscored that by offering jobs to Sierra Leoneans is a way of empowering the citizenry to take care of daily responsibilities and live improved standards of living.

“I really doff my hat to the Shareholders of the company for actualizing such a high sense of patriotism,” he expressed admiration.

A vast majority of those interviewed revealed that they are using NP Gas for cooking purpose, maintaining that it is very efficient and environmentally friendly. The NP Gas that they referred to is a cooking device which is manufactured in different cylinder sizes and sold at affordable prices at the company’s Filling Stations. “I discovered that this device is very fast in terms of performance and is now going like hot cakes, as many are now going for it, especially when the gas that is used to refill it could be easily secured at various Filling Stations ,” Memunatu Forna, a business woman selling cooking utensils on Sani Abacha Street informed.

With regards the use of NP Smart Card, it is one that is now in vogue. Some personalities who are using it said they find it very useful and a convenient way of purchasing petroleum products. They added that they always ensure their NP Smart Cards are credited to be used to purchase fuel, be it petrol or diesel. “Sometimes I don’t have to go through the hassle of going to the Bank on a busy Friday afternoon to withdraw cash just for the purpose of purchasing fuel that will last throughout the weekend. I do procure petrol by using my Smart Card and it is working perfectly well,” Musa Kalokoh, an Engineer told one of our reporters.

Momodu Fofana stated that the company is really growing by leaps and bounds. “For NP-SL Ltd to successfully establish branches in neighboring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia is indeed no mean feat, especially when cognizance is taken of the fact that these branches are operating vibrantly,” he pointed out.

From what was so far gathered throughout the conducted random survey, it can be safely concluded that NP-SL Ltd is indeed a living testimony of a successful and thriving business entity that is contributing significantly to the socio-economic development of the nation and worthy of emulation.

Govt. Warns Against Destruction of Public Property

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Government of Sierra Leone through the National Public Assets Commission on Thursday 7th May 2020, has sent out stern warning that Government will no longer tolerate the wanton destruction of public property; particularly at a time when the government is severely handicapped in providing the needs of the people.

The commission expressed concern over the recent spate of arson attacks on key Government Facilities, including the Administrative Building at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre, the  Lunsar  Police Station in Port Loko District and the Tombo Police Station in the Western Area Rural District.

Charged with the control, identification, maintenance and improvement of all Government Assets and Property, and for connected purposes, the commission noted that the number of assets currently available for use by Government institutions is quite inadequate, and therefore such unwarranted and dastardly acts of violence would only compound an already difficult situation for Government to handle.

With the Commission yet to estimate the quantum of financial losses resulting from the said arson attacks, Government currently has other priorities and cannot afford to tolerate such wanton destruction to public property under any circumstance.

In view of the above, the NAGPC has issued a stern warning to all those who have been embarking on such criminal acts to desist forthwith whilst investigations relating to the above-mentioned arson attacks continues, and the culprits will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, NAGPC encourages members of the public to provide any relevant information relating to the above-mentioned incidents.

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