To Alleviate Poverty… Govt. Must Focus On Controlling Inflation

November 15, 2019

By Amin Kef Sesay

Inflation is one of the largest hidden tax increases a government can put on their citizens. Too much inflation hurts the public due to decreasing their buying power before the wage inflation catches up (it never does) and can send the entire economy into a long period recession leading to stagflation.

Inflation relates directly to rises in general price level of various goods and services in an economy, which very obviously does not make the political party in power popular with the people; especially those that did not vote for it.

Theft-by-Inflation constitutes the erosion of savings. Thus, inflation is frightening because it means your hard-earned money isn’t worth as much anymore over a period of time as prices rise.

High inflation can be damaging for the economy as it takes away much needed money from the poor and makes allocating the resources more difficult. Beside this, it also damages savers. Several measures can be adopted by the Central Bank to control inflation and unemployment. Measures include high growth in output leading to employment, macroeconomic regulations and wage limitation.

Other determinants may include high growth in overall demand, low labor costs, wage subsidies and flexible laws in the market to give freedom of free trading between the labor market and investors. Central banks can also use monetary policy in order to keep price and currency stability. They do it via setting the interest rates.

If the inflation is very high they will try to increase the interest rates so it will be harder to borrow money and more beneficial to save it. This will reduce the expenses and lower the inflation.

Another way to control inflation is for government not to remove subsidy on fuel and food. For example, it is very obvious that when government on the advice of the IMF removed subsidy on fuel, that is when domestic inflation started shorting up dramatically.

Trade policies

Retail prices are artificially high because of the effects of import tariffs. One policy option for the Government involves gradually lower import tariffs, perhaps as part of a wider trade agreement with other countries.

Lower tariff could have the effect of reducing import prices leading to an outward shift of short run aggregate supply. The costs of imported raw materials, component parts and finished consumer goods fall leading to a deflationary effect on the general price level.

A potential downside of this approach is that domestic firms would then face tougher price competition from overseas suppliers and there might be a contraction in home-based production, employment and investment. The government would also be giving up some tax revenues from import tariffs which is a significant source of tax income. Reducing trade frictions can be an effective policy to bring down the rate of inflation although domestic businesses would need to increase their efficiency to be able to compete with cheaper goods and services from overseas.

Supply-side policies

Supply-side policies are measures designed to increase the competitiveness and efficiency of the economy, putting downward pressure on long-term costs and therefore helping to control inflation.

These policies include government tax relief for business investment and also State funding to fast-forward major infrastructure projects in sectors such as transport, energy and power supply, telecoms and health care. Ultimately, if supply-side policies prove successful, then more new firms will enter markets (increasing industry supply and driving down prices) and labour productivity will increase helping to control the unit costs of businesses so that fewer of them are under pressure to raise prices.

However, they are unlikely to have much effect on the rate of inflation in the short term. In this sense, monetary policy has a more important role to play in controlling price increases.

Monetary policy to be effective has to be accompanied by a policy of wage controls or wage freezes – bitter as this is for public sector workers.

Final evaluation

Overall, monetary policy has the main job of keeping inflationary pressures in check during the economic cycle whereas supply-side policies have an important role to play in keeping costs and prices down over the longer-term.

It is important to note that there are limits to the effectiveness of policy when it comes to lowering the rate of inflation, as the annual rate of price increases in most countries is susceptible to external shocks such as volatility in global commodity prices, unexpected movements in the exchange rate and the changing global economic cycle.

As such, policy can influence prices but not necessarily determine them in the direct way that economics textbooks might imply.

GTBank Support Police Wives Institute With 10 KVA Generator

November 15, 2019

By Joenal Sesay

It will be a momentous day for the Sierra Leone Police Wives Association Vocational and Training Institute when the Guarantee Trust Bank donated a 10 KVA generator set to the institution.

The donation which took place on Monday 11 November, 2019 at the institute formed part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility. The Vocational and Training Institute was built by the Sierra Leone Police Wives Association as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility and was commissioned on Monday 4th November 2019 by President Maada Bio.

GTBank Managing Director, Ade Adebiyi, described the donation as a token and a contribution from the Bank being part of the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility which borders on four pillars. He further described it as a key social responsibility for them because they are focusing on Community Development, Health, Education and Agriculture.

MD Adebiyi went on to say the generator is going to be used to assist the project in order to complement the erratic power supply in the city.

“With this generator, this institute project will always have power any time they need it. The generator will provide 24 hours power for students who attend classes from day to day,” he further disclosed.

He said in any environment in which a responsible organization operates they should give back to that society, “…giving back to that society in all forms, education, community development, which will show your organisation as a responsible one and that is what we are doing here. We believe this donation will help promote the objective of this organization,” The MD intimated.

The MD expressed hope that it would be a continuous one and also prayed for them to be in a position to generate profits to make more donations.

“As we continue to operate in this environment, we will continue to support projects such as this. What we need to do is to continue to be in a position to support such a project. Please keep us in your prayer for us to continue to do more.”

He disclosed that GTBank has done quite a lot for education.

GTBank Head of Corporate Affairs, Arthur B. Kallon, disclosed that the Bank receives over 50 requests on average bases, everybody asking for different things but they gave the premium treatment to the deserved institute.

He continued to say the Bank prided itself in associating with that particular association as they can only hope for the better. He concluded by saying he sees prospect at the end of that relationship and they want to associate themselves with every activity of the association.

Sierra Leone Police Wives Association President, Mrs. Olga Maria Moigbe thanked the Bank on behalf of the association. She said she was ashamed of the other banks as none of them came to their aid after several letters and follow-ups. “Considering the electrical situation in the country, if you don’t have a generator you will stalked. This will go a long way for us. GTBank is the only bank that has sponsored us. We really appreciate what you have done for us.”

GTBank first assisted the Association with bags of cement for the construction of the institute and the administrative blocks.

City Globe Raises Awareness of Diabetes Through Exercise

November 15, 2019

By Joenal Sesay

Citiglobe and the National Eye Care Program have raised awareness through exercise to commemorate this year’s World Diabetes Day. The exercise took place over the weekend starting from Congo Cross and ended at the Gulf Club in Freetown. World Diabetes Day is commemorated on the 14th November every year.

Consultant Clinical Pharmacist and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Citiglobe, Madam Manal Ghazzawi said diabetes is not only a disease that is present in the developed world but also a disease of the developing world. She disclosed that Citiglobe has been raising awareness of diabetes since 2013 and every year they commemorate World Diabetes Day.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa will have the greatest hit of non-communicable diseases like diabetes. This finding, Madam Ghazzawi explained, could be due to the adoption of westernized practices.

Madam Ghazzawi explained further that increase in urbanization and westernization are some of the factors leading to the increase in diabetes in Africa as residents have access to transportation, exposed to unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle and lack of knowledge about nutrition and what they should eat among others.

She said one can also get diabetes if that person has a family history of diabetes but if he or she does regular exercise and eats healthy, it will take a longer period for the disease to show up. “There are some without family history but because of obesity which is one of the main causes of diabetes such will end up to cause insulin resistance because of fats” she revealed.

She defined obesity as a disorder involving excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems and it results from taking in more calories than are burnt by exercise and normal daily activities. Diabetes, a non-communicable disease, is a chronic condition characterized by increase blood sugar level. It is a condition that impairs the body’s ability to process blood glucose, otherwise known as blood sugar.

There are several types of diabetes. The three major types include: Type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Type I diabetes: Also known as juvenile diabetes. This type occurs when the body fails to produce insulin. People with type I diabetes are insulin-dependent, which means they must take artificial insulin daily to stay alive.

Type 2 diabetes: Type 2 diabetes affects the way the body uses insulin. While the body still makes insulin, unlike in type I, the cells in the body do not respond to it as effectively as they once did. This is the most common type of diabetes, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and it has strong links with obesity.

Gestational diabetes: This type occurs in women during pregnancy when the body can become less sensitive to insulin. Gestational diabetes does not occur in all women and usually resolves after giving birth. Less common types of diabetes include monogenic diabetes and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes.”

Diabetes is a serious, chronic condition. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the condition is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. While diabetes itself is manageable, its complications can severely impact on daily living, and some can be fatal if not treated immediately.

The Consultant Clinical Pharmacist said based on her research, people are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity is more common in females.

She emphasized that regularly monitoring blood glucose levels and moderating glucose intake can help people prevent the more damaging complications of type 2 diabetes. “For those with types 1 diabetes, taking insulin is the only way of moderating and controlling the effects of the condition.”

Symptoms of any type of diabetes are related to high blood and urine glucose levels and include: frequent infections, nausea, vomiting, and blurred vision, hunger, dehydration, weight loss or gain, fatigue, dry mouth, slow-healing wounds, cuts, or sores, itching skin, and increased susceptibility to infections.

Madam Manal Ghazzawi pointed out that some of the signs and symptom are overlooked. She said it is important for the public to know about diabetes as it is a global health situation. She advised for regular weekly exercise, reduction in oily and starchy food.

Programme Manager, National Eye Care Program, Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha said diabetes affect the whole body and more especially the eyes, it can affect one’s vision and lead to blindness. She said there are several problems diabetes can cause to the eyes which one can’t be aware of until they check their eyes.

Founder of Body Tech Fitness Club, Francis said they joined the walk to raise awareness about the disease as many lack the awareness about it existent and how its kills.

He encouraged those that were not present for the walk to know that there are things that regulate the existence of diabetes such as regular exercise. He categorized the exercise in three forms which are flexibility that covers a range of motion and muscles, strength exercise that strengthens bones and prevent one from bone problems, fractures and cardio that improve one’s heart. These, he said, if done regularly will help prevent contracting the sickness.

The walk was climaxed with free screening, eye examination and educative messages about diabetes.

2020 Finance Bill Becomes Law

November 14, 2019

By Sam Pratt

After the Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa read and tabled the 2020 Finance Bill in Parliament on the 8t^h November 2019,the Parliament of Sierra Leone on Tuesday 12th November 2019 extensively debated and passed into law late yesterday 13^th November 2019 with some amendments the Bill entitled: “The Finance Act, 2020”. The Bill is aimed at the alteration and imposition of taxes for the services of the Republic of Sierra Leone for the Financial Year 2020.

The Minister of Finance; Jacob Jusu Saffa, said among other things that the Act was seeking to provide for the imposition and alteration of taxes as to give effect to the financial proposals of the Government and to provide for other related matters for the 2020 financial year.

The Minister also informed MPs that the Bill would enhance some economic prudence and foster growth which would improve best practices relating to the management of public finances.

Contributing to the debate, the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Sidie M. Tunis said that Finance Bills always had issues, adding that the Minister of Finance deserves accolades for making this particular one so thorough. “We have a very, very good Finance Act for 2020 and with this the Bread and Butter Budget will succeed,” he said in a joyful mood. He also assured Members of Parliament who contributed to the healthy debate that the concerns raised would be addressed at a later stage.

On his part, the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Chernor R.M Bah said that the All Peoples Congress (APC) Party would support the Act, saying that MPs are under obligation to make sure that the Minister of Finance succeeds for the good of the nation. He also expressed hope for an economic boom by the year 2020.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Finance Committee in Parliament, Hon. Francis Amara Kaisamba explained the importance of the Bill, stating that a lot of amendments had been made in order to put the document together to match up with the 2020 National Budget. “75% of the expenditure in any budget is generated by the Government, while the balance is funded by donors,” he stated. He also used the opportunity to appeal to colleague MPs to look at the Bill with a national lens.

Hon. Daniel Koroma of APC asked the Minister to give due consideration to the taxpayers, whilst encouraging the Minister to introduce better and newer ways to generate funds for Government to undertake development programmes in the country.

Hon. P.C. Bai Kurr Kanagbaro Sanka III of Tonkolili District appealed for the reduction of taxes on some companies in order to continue their promotional services in their areas of operations. “If you tax the poor people to provide money for the rich, you will have economic growth without economic development,” he informed the Minister. The Paramount Chief also asked the Minister to focus on job creation through the establishment of industries and viable agricultural interventions to reduce importation.

Hon. P.C Kontanday M’briwa of Kono District called on the Minister to consider equal distribution of resources at the chiefdom level for actual development initiatives to take place in the rural communities.

Hon. Abdul Kargbo of APC criticized the Ministry of Finance for establishing a Procurement Directorate, noting that it was not proper and such conduct was counter-productive to the operations of NPPA (National Public Procurement Authority), adding that all MDAs are supposed to have a unit and not a directorate.

Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh of SLPP called on the Minister not to change the supervisory functions of Rokel Commercial and Sierra Leone Commercial Banks by the National Commission for Privatization (NCP) and give it to the Ministry of Finance. He also asked the Minister to reconsider his decision and give support to the local companies in order to create more jobs, so as to reduce importation and to pay keen attention on auction to maximize huge benefits for the State.

Lessons Learned from NP-Sierra Leone Could serve as a Road-Map to Success

November 14, 2019

By Amin Kef Sesay

The National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is among one of the oldest thriving indigenous companies that have stood the test of time in this country and it is viably moving from one height to another. A committed and dedicated company that is here for real business, NP-SL is an epitome of how selflessness and sincerity of purpose can powerfully transform an initiative into a towering business entity. The original 35 shareholders really harnessed those attributes very well and infused them in policies and managerial decisions that contributed immensely to the development of the company.

It is an established fact that certain indigenous companies were ambitiously set up by certain individuals with big dreams of turning them into conglomerates. Lamentably, with time some of those business ventures collapsed like a pack of cards as a result of internal pressures and external forces. Unwise managerial decisions, political unrests, inability to strongly compete and sheer lack of perseverance sent some of those companies into oblivion well before consolidating their bases. With particular reference to the 11 year senseless war that wasted lives and properties most locally founded business entities just dissipated into thin air.

Authoritatively, it can be categorically stated that NP-SL is an exception to the norm. Like other business entities, NP-SL was badly shaken by the war but it will interest many to know that though it was seriously affected such did not deter the resolve of NP-SL to continue doing business as it used to do before. With confirmation of relative peace in the country NP-SL bounced back and by putting the right things in places normal transactions in petroleum products gradually took momentum to the utmost satisfaction of many. Today, amidst teething challenges, the company keeps surviving.

Currently, the company has earned a good reputation for enhanced customer service delivery as a result of its pro-active stance in always trying to optimize customer care, which it holds in high esteem with the view that in the absence of its numerous customers then the company’s existence is meaningless. To the shareholders and Management of the company, achieving customer satisfaction is very precious and key which is why it does everything within its reach and reasonably to give customers high grade petroleum products at affordable prices.

Through its pro-activeness and the ultimate need to succeed, latest innovative and technological techniques were installed and applied at the company’s various Filling Stations, one of which are calibrated pumping machines that pump the appropriate quantity of petroleum products paid for. As they are very transparent, these calibrated pumping machines continue to instill confidence in customers that they are dealing with a very transparent company as well as feeling that they are getting their money’s worth.

Within the same ambit of bringing technology closer to its customers for enhanced transactions, the idea of availing its customers the use of NP Smart Card was borne. Today we hear of “fuel on your smart card” which figuratively could be interpreted within the context of using a financially loaded NP Smart Card to purchase the right number of petroleum products one intends to utilize without any physical monetary transactions.

Using NP Smart Card guarantees safety, saves time and gives air of importance to the holders, some considering them as the crème-de la crème of society, when in actual fact anyone can make use of it. It creates a situation where a customer will intermittently know the balance of finance on his card and use such information to make informed decisions as to further top up or utilize, for example, the quantity of fuel that the balance amount could procure.

With a view to make people gain easy access to a device that could be suitable for various cooking purposes, NP Gas was introduced and since gas is one of the petroleum products that is up for sale then it just falls in place that it will be prudent to make it convenient for people to access them at their filling stations and from authorized dealers, going at affordable prices. It had been undoubtedly proven that they are environmentally friendly and safe to use as well as refill.

Strengthening relevant institutions as it did recently in capacitating the Kissy Branch National Fire Force with a standard water facility to capably respond to fire emergencies is just one way through which NP is complementing efforts being made by both the central and local Governments in fostering development interventions geared towards improving overall standards of living. NP Gas has now become the ubiquitous cooking friend in many households and many are trying not to miss out on it.

When job opportunities are created from time to time, the negative impacts of poverty subside with a corresponding upsurge in peace and tranquility. Instead of tempers rising, daggers drawn out there will be joy and harmonious co-existence. Through its expansionist drive and to match up with modern trends, NP-SL has been providing various jobs for many who were hitherto at the lower ends of society. Family lives have been transformed for the better and there is room for future positive outcomes.

People who intend to set up businesses that they would like to flourish must understudy NP-SL, see how it grew and learn valuable lessons that could serve as a roadmap to higher heights. NP-SL is flying the country’s flag not at half -mast but fully and glowingly.

President Bio Discusses Free Quality Education, DSTI with UNESCO Director-General

November 14, 2019

By Brima Sannoh

In Paris, France, on Tuesday 12 November 2019 His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio engaged the Director-General of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Audrey Azoulay, on the significant impact of the Free Quality Education Programme and the establishment of the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation, DSTI.

During the engagement on the margins of the 40th Session of UNESCO’s General Conference, the President also disclosed how his Government had prioritized education as the foundation to support all other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He added that the investment in education was an investment into the future and not about winning votes, noting that the expansion of the country’s fibre optic was in readiness for digital education.

President Bio also highlighted the Government’s commitment to improving heritage sites, biodiversity and culture in Sierra Leone.

On her part, the UNESCO Director-General commended the President for prioritizing education, particularly access to universal education and girls’ education. She spoke about the ongoing collaboration between her organization and the government on a diagnostic of the education system.

Ms Azoulay also informed the President that UNESCO would support various areas such as providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, support for planning and advocacy for more funding, support for teacher professional development and curriculum development and partner on Artificial Intelligence.

Earlier, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio also took part in a high-level panel discussion on the theme: “Youth Perspectives on Multilateralism”. During the discussion, he called for young people to be involved in the governance of the state and be agents of multilateralism.

Plans afoot by FCC to introduce Cable Car system in Freetown

November 14, 2019

By Theresa Vamboi

The Freetown City Council is already working on reducing emissions from waste by setting up a controlled and regulated waste collection and management system within its integrated solid and liquid waste management strategy.
FCC is now also exploring opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation by looking at alternative, greener, and more sustainable modes of transport. One of these solutions is implementing a Freetown Cable Car system, a mass transit concept that can transport up to 6,000 people per hour over an aerial cable.

Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr met with Governor-elect Anibal Gaviria Correa, former Mayor of Medellin, the first city in the world to introduce Cable Cars as a mass transit system. Governor-elect Correa explained how Medellin started with one Cable Car line 16 years ago and how the city is now constructing its 6th line. Governor-elect Correa is currently President of Cities Alliance. Also in the meeting was Hon Clare Short, former UK Secretary of State for International Development and Chairperson of the Cities Alliance Board. The City of Medellin and Cities Alliance are committed to supporting Freetown in realizing this initiative.

Mayor Aki-Sawyerr had a briefing meeting on Monday 4th November with the Minister of Transport and Aviation and senior ministry officials to present the Cable Car concept and the pre-feasibility studies already undertaken by FCC. The concept was positively received by the Ministry. An FCC team is now working with technical experts and other stakeholders to conduct a full feasibility study on the technical and commercially viability of this mode of transport for Freetown. The Mayor and FCC are committed to deliver a greener, more environmentally sustainable and efficient transport solution for Freetonians.

In Paris… Pres. Bio Impressed with how Orange Sierra Leone is Championing the Telecoms Digital Revolution

November 14, 2019

By Foday Moriba Conteh

His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio and delegation together with Aminata Kane Ndiaye CEO of Orange Sierra Leone visited the Orange Labs in Paris, France on the 13^th November 2019 where they discussed issues bordering on E-education, Smart metering, National identification, OPAL & more to support Sierra Leone.

After the discussions, His Excellency, The President, Julius Maada Bio in an autograph maintained: “As always Orange is an interesting telecommunications company but for this particular visit I am very impressed by the innovations taking place.”

The determination and affirmation of championing the telecommunications digital revolution was first made by Aminata Kane Ndiaye during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Directorate of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) at State House sometime in the recent past.

It will be recalled that when President Julius Maada Bio visited Harvard and MIT in March 2019, Madame Kane Ndiaye, who was present at the meetings promised that Orange would support Sierra Leone’s digital transformation.

Based on the signed MoU with DSTI, a coding school was planned to be established as an innovation hub at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM). Earlier this year IPAM allocated the fifth floor of the Institute’s new building for an innovation hub with a signing of a MoU with DSTI.

IPAM’s commitment has paved the way for Orange to engage DSTI and for the three institutions to form a public-private partnership to meet the shared objectives of supporting the technology and innovation ecosystem in Sierra Leone.

In her statement at the signing of the MoU, Madame Ndiaye said Orange Group seeks to empower young people across the African continent with skills for tomorrow but that the coding school in Sierra Leone will be a first of its kind. “We are here to create an enabling environment for whoever wants to be a part of the revolution that’s going on around the world,” said Madame Ndiaye.

“Writing code is not something you wake up and do; it’s something you need to learn. So this is why we decided to partner with DSTI to make sure that along with English, along with French, along with Krio, Sierra Leoneans can learn how to code.”

She said that the coding school would create new job opportunities for Sierra Leoneans. Orange and many other multinationals operating in the country currently have to bring technologists from different parts of West Africa to do coding and computing in Sierra Leone because those skills are not readily available in the market. She thanked Dr. Moinina David Sengeh, Chief Innovation Officer, DSTI and the Ecosystem technical lead for their openness to collaborate with the private sector.

“IPAM took the lead and generously gave us their best space for the innovation hub, and now with this commitment, Orange is taking us closer to our goals,” said Dr. Sengeh, Chief Innovation Officer, and DSTI.

“When we do digitization, the private sector in Sierra Leone; the banks and the telecommunications companies are the largest industries, so they are most important. We are engaging with the private sector and linking them with the Government to ensure that the solutions that we implement for Government, can be used by citizens,” he said.

With this partnership, DSTI and Orange SL will bring coding skills to the general public and create a space where anyone with a proven interest in learning computer languages can become a coding expert.

The coding school will officially open its doors to the first class of students at the end of the year. Aminata further disclosed that the company is operating in over twenty five countries across the globe, in over twenty countries in Africa, serving over one hundred and twenty million people.

Orange Sierra Leone CEO made the disclosure during an interview on Facebook live from the United Nations 73rd General Assembly in the United States of America where she was invited by the Global System for Mobile Communications to be part of a panel discussion to chart the way forward on how telecommunication operators could play a role in the development of Africa.

According to her it was the first time for her to be part of the United Nations General Assembly and that one thing she found interesting, constructive and positive about the event, was the great dialogue between public, private sectors, Non-Governmental Organizations, government and businesses.

Many have attested that Orange Sierra Leone has been a trusted partner in development as the company, through various promotions has positively transformed the lives of many. Just recently, the company ended the distribution of sanitary pads to female pupils in twenty secondary schools in Freetown. That was part of the five million dollars pledge that the company committed to the smooth implementation of the Free Quality Education for school-going pupils after realizing that girls do not attend school when they are experiencing their menstrual cycle.

For President Julius Maada Bio heaping such a commendation on Orange Sierra Leone came as a result of no mean accomplishments by the company. It is anticipated that many stand to benefit from the innovation hub at IPAM which obviously will cascade to overall national development.

The CEO stated that Orange will continue to be part of the revolution to transform Sierra Leone as champion in the digital revolution.

QNET TRAINS MORE THAN 25,000 INDEPENDENT REPRESENTATIVES IN 11 AFRICAN COUNTRIES ON PROFESSIONAL MARKETING

November 13, 2019

Ghana, Nov 8, 2019 – QNET, a leading global e-commerce based direct selling business has heightened its efforts to ensure that the company is professionally represented across its Sub-Saharan African markets. The company has launched a series of on-ground training programmes and advocacy campaigns across multiple countries in the region to ensure that the QNET business is represented properly and professionally.

QNET offers a wide range of health, wellness and lifestyle products through an e-commerce platform that are marketed by independent representatives in different countries using the direct selling business model. These representatives are compensated through commissions based on volume of product sales. The direct selling industry globally has experienced challenges with misrepresentation of the business, products and earning potential. In Africa, where the industry is still in its nascent stages, a lack of awareness often leads to misconceptions being formed about the industry as a pyramid or financial scheme.

QNET has pioneered the direct selling industry in many countries in the Sub Saharan Africa region. The company has offices in Rwanda and Cote d’Ivoire and has a presence through local agents in several other countries including Ghana, Cameroon, Tanzania, and Senegal.

Since January this year, about 25,000 independent representatives of QNET in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Togo have been provided training and education. This encompasses knowledge about the direct selling industry, QNET products and its benefits, the compensation plan of QNET, policies and procedures related to conducting the business, and most importantly professional and ethical practices in direct selling.

These training programs are conducted under the umbrella of the QNET Pro initiative. Launched by the company as a global education programme, QNET Pro empowers its representatives with the right information, values and industry best practices to enable them to build a long-lasting business.

“As one of the more prominent companies in the direct selling industry operating in this region, we take our responsibility towards education and advocacy very seriously. We are on a mission to dispel the myths and rumours that have plagued the industry and our business. We are taking all necessary steps to change the perception of this business. In addition to the in-person training programmes, we also have online webinars, digital tools, and mentorship initiatives to guide our distributors in building their business the right way,” says Mr. Biram Fall, QNET’s Regional General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa.

In addition to the QNET PRO initiative, the V-Educate programme was launched in May 2019 and has also trained about 17,000 people in more than 20 cities covering 11 countries in the Sub Saharan Africa. This programme focusses on leadership building, professionalism and ethics, and mentorship.

QNET takes violations of its policies and code of conduct very seriously. The company backs responsibility with action through its solid network integrity review processes. This year alone, disciplinary actions were taken against 18 independent representatives in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Burkina Faso and Cameroon, for various violations.

QNET Pro Trainers have conducted trainings in more than 35 locations worldwide this year.

End.

APC Opposition Leader takes a Snipe at Bio’s Cabinet Reshuffle

November 13, 2019

By Hon. Chernor Maju Bah – Parliamentary Leader of the main opposition All People’s Congress

On Thursday, November 7th, 2019, President Bio shocked the nation with a cabinet reshuffle that comes across to many as insensitive and needless.

One of his cardinal campaign messages was that, within one year, his government will turn around the economy which he described as ‘battered and the worse in Sierra Leone’s history’. President Bio persistently accused the erstwhile APC government of a bloated cabinet and wastage. But almost two years on, Sierra Leoneans have experienced economic hardship never before seen. Inflation has only hyper galloped with prices of basic commodities increasingly becoming unaffordable.

Everyone agrees that this President Bio led government has in all accounts failed to sustain the growth they inherited from the APC, let alone improve on it. The biggest disappointment has been the very poor management of the economy. Report after report, including the MCC, has pointed to this fact that the government’s economic management has been disastrous.

Therefore the public expectation is that after almost two years of trying the same failed policies, it’s about time this government changed course. But what we have seen is a dogged continuation on the wrong direction as demonstrated in this most disappointing cabinet reshuffle which doesn’t even align with the president’s own avowed development priorities.

How can you run such a sham economy yet you are adding undue pressure on the budget by creating new ministries, appointing more deputy ministers and keeping the same old non- performing ones!

And on the new embassy in Turkey, even the current embassies, consulates and missions are not well resourced, yet a new embassy has been opened under such difficult circumstances; the timing is just simply wrong.

It’s also a shame that this reshuffle ignored the gaping need for more inclusion of women in cabinet, which from the outset has been a serious deficiency in this government.

I think that this cabinet reshuffle is a deliberate denial of the suffering and aspirations of the general public; it clearly shows that the establishment doesn’t care about how the electorates feel. This is a totally insensitive and unnecessary cabinet reshuffle.

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