Home Blog Page 1103

Mercury International Boosts Govt’s COVID-19 arsenal with Le 500, 000,000

Managing Director of Mercury International, Mr Martin Edmond Michael

By Amin Kef Sesay

In line with its corporate social responsibility and in a bid to support Government’s efforts to fight the spread of the COVID-19 virus in Sierra Leone, Mercury International Company (SL) Limited, on 29th April 2020 donated the sum of Le500,000,000 (Five Hundred Million Leones) to the Government of Sierra Leone.

The money was transferred to the COVID-19 account at the Bank of Sierra Leone. This amount is in addition to the over Le50,000,000 (Fifty Million Leones) worth of face masks bought and distributed
by Mercury International to various poor, vulnerable and marginalized groups including market women and Okada riders.

Mercury International also ensured that its staff, retailers and their immediate families were supplied reusable masks to enable them to protect themselves and their customers.

The Managing Director, Mercury International, Martin Michael Esq. said, “in as much as we have lost business due to the cancellation of football leagues around Europe, we have tried our best to keep our
staff on a full-time basis and have ensured that payments to all our staff, customers and suppliers are made in full. We have dug deep to get this money together to make this contribution. The Board of
Directors feels that this is a fight that requires all Sierra Leoneans to come together”

Mercury International, it was stated, will continue to assist and complement the Government’s efforts in any way possible and is joining Government in urging all Sierra Leoneans to practice good hygiene, wash hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub, maintain a safe distance from others, wear a mask and stay home if possible.

SLAJ Institutes Disciplinary Committee

President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Ahmed Sahid Nasralla (De Monk)

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), in a release it issued out on the 29th April 2020 and signed by the Association’s National Secretary General, Mohamed Asmieu Bah, has intimated its launching of a Disciplinary Committee Pursuant to Article 14 (3) of the SLAJ constitution which states: “There shall also be a Disciplinary Committee of SLAJ whose function shall be to adjudicate upon matters of indiscipline and professional misconduct of individual members of SLAJ.”

The Disciplinary Committee of SLAJ comprises three members. Two of such members were drawn from within or without SLAJ.” “The SLAJ Disciplinary Committee should co-opt two additional members, comprising one from civil society and another from the floor to enhance its operations.”

The newly constituted Disciplinary Committee (SLAJ-DC) is as follows:

SLAJ:

  1. Mrs. Bernadette Cole- (Chairperson)
  2. Abu-Bakarr Sheriff Esq- (Secretary)
  3. Lucy Ann Ganda

PUBLIC:

  1. Marcella Samba Sesay
  2. Batilloi Warritay

The SLAJ-DC will be supported by Regional and District Monitors as follows:

REGIONAL MONITORS

  1. Ibrahim Jalloh- Northern Region
  2. Samuel Haffner- Southern Region
  3. James Jamil Fatorma- Eastern Region

DISTRICT MONITORS North

  1. Alusine Rehme Wilson- Bombali District
  2. Hassan Y. Koroma- Tonkolili District
  3. Yakoya Kamara- Port Loko District
  4. Foday Dumbuya- Kambia District
  5. Duramanie Boima- Karene District
  6. Margaret M. Mansaray- Koinadugu District
  7. Sahr Paul Aruna- Falaba District

South:

  1. Grace Okekearu- Bo
  2. Samba Koroma- Bonthe
  3. Emmanuel Koroma- Pujehun
  4. Alpha Lalugba- Moyamba

East:

  1. Ahmed Jusu Sheriff- Kenema
  2. Mohamed Fofanah- Kono
  3. Shar James- Kailahun

In mentioning the Goals/Deliverables of the Committee it was noted that:

  • The SLAJ-DC shall enforce the SLAJ Code of Ethics.
  • The committee shall cover all matters of discipline, professional conduct, integrity and reputation of the association.
  • The Committee shall improve on SLAJ Code of Conduct to include regulations on new media (Online publishing, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter and other social media platforms).

The release ended by the SLAJ Executive thanking the members of the Committee for volunteering to serve and assured them of the Association’s support.

 

Outcomes of Commissions of Inquiry not to Undermine National Cohesion

By Foday Justice Jalloh B.Soc in Peace & Conflict Studies (FBC) 

Commissions of Inquiry have become preferable mechanisms used to hold past Government officials to account. While such form of accountability promotes democratic governance, it can also affect national cohesion. This is the case in Sierra Leone. After the multitier elections (local council and presidential elections) in March 2018, the victorious Sierra Leone People’s Party, which formed the New Direction Administration, established Commissions of Inquiry to hold its predecessors to account. Though two-third of the country’s population welcomed the move (IGR’s Voices &Views Report on COI, 2019,pp.3), it was however, classified by the outgone All People’s Congress Party, as a political witch hunt. This further exacerbated the existing primordial division between the two traditional parties.

Several reasons exist for this exacerbation, apart from the establishment of the commissions; hereinafter, the ‘COI. ‘ First, the major opposition party (APC) argued that the New Direction Government Transition Team Report (GTTR), which recommended the establishment of the COI, was flawed. The report included names of individuals to be held accountable who were not even in governance at the time, as stated in the report. Additionally, the report or some of the authors of the report labelled past Government officials as ‘ criminals’ which to them, is a usurpation of the powers of the court of law.

Secondly, the COI mostly investigated Northerners (specifically the Temne and Limba ethnic groups) in the stronghold of the APC. Leaving out Southerners (specifically the Mende ethnic group) in the stronghold of the SLPP, who according to the APC, also served in their administration.

Third, the APC also claimed that both GTTR and COI represented a clear move by the New Direction Administration to destabilize their party. Although violent conflict is yet kept at bay, the ensuing contradiction succeeded in creating political and ethnic tension in the country; further escalating the political division between the Northerners and the Southerners. However, the claims put forward by the major opposition party, can be argued. For instance, while it is indeed true that the number of Northerners investigated far exceeded that of Southerners, this was not unexpected since Northerners held more political positions than Southerners in the past regime- the negative effect of the ‘winner takes all’ politics.

Only few loyal and trusted Southerners made it to the hierarchy of the past administration. Similarly, the claim that the Temne and Limba were ‘deliberately’ targeted by the New Direction Administration could not be entirely true. The aforementioned groups have been historical supporters of the APC party. As such, they have always been in majority in more or less all branches of the party’s political processes. And the Mandate of the COI was to investigate key government officials who served in the past administration. The polarized circumstance has already affected the country’s national cohesion, and will get worst depending on the nature of the Government’s final decision on the reports of the COI.

Certain measures could however, be taken to bridge the division between the affected communities; now that the commissions have completed their investigations. Going forward, there should be a consultative dialogue involving the two major political parties. This should have a reconciliatory face during which parties will be allowed to constructively air out their grievances. Such a move must be made by the ruling party. Although the Bintumani three had some effect, a more bipartisan approach is needed.

Moreover, inasmuch as massive corruption was discovered by the COI, care must be taken with regards the scale of punishment given out. Interestingly almost all major politicians in the past administration were found wanting by the COI- including the former President.

Some sections of the public recommend forfeiture of all properties and a five to ten years jail sentence or ban from active politics of guilty persons. But with the kind of regional division and fragile political situation, such punishment has the tendency to trigger conflict and further divide the nation. For Peace to prevail, having guilty persons refund misappropriated state resources will be quite enough.

Finally, due process must govern the entire accountability process. Final state decision must not be made based only on the findings of the COI. Accused persons must be allowed to appeal the charges before the court of law. This will promote fairness and public satisfaction of the entire process.

In conclusion, albeit that the major opposition portrayed the ongoing accountability process as a political witch hunt and attack not only on their party, but also on northerners, some of their claims however, are arguable as such corruption allegations have even been raised by numerous Auditor General’s reports under their administration. Similarly, the argument that northerners were deliberately targeted by the COI is also not a good one, as northerners had preference in the past administration. Above all, as the situation gets even more polarized with the completion of the investigations, the Government, in collaboration with civil society should organize a consultative meeting aiming at bridging the resulting polarization.

Author:

Foday Justice Jalloh B.Soc in Peace & Conflict Studies (FBC) fodayjusticejalloh33104@gmail.com +23276690073

APC Lambasts SLPP Govt. Over Riot at Male Correctional Centre

All People's Congress Party.jpg
Ambassador Dr. Alhaji Osman F. Yansaneh, APC National Secretary General

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In a Press Release issued by the All People’s Congress (APC) Party on the 30th April 2020 and signed by Ambassador Alhaji Dr. Osman Foday Yansaneh, the National Secretary General of the party, it was categorically highlighted that the party is gravely concern with the developments that took place on the 29th April 2020 at the Pademba Road Maximum Security Male Correctional Centre that led to the burning of Government properties and loss of human lives.

The party’s Executive stated that it is their understanding that there was a riot at the Centre during which the security forces, including the heavily armed Presidential Guard and other security personnel rained live bullets on the prisoners and Prison Officers thought to be in one of the safest places in Sierra Leone. .

“Without prejudice to any of the conflicting reports so far received from Government and media outlets, the APC notes with grave concern that some of the initial video footages that have made their way into the public domain show videos of known SLPP thugs like Tanibola that our sources tell us was never an inmate in that Correctional Centre.

That he now found himself inside the Correctional Centre can only lend credence to the aspersions making the rounds on social and other media that this alleged prison riot was another dastardly ploy by the SLPP and its operatives to kill innocent civilians and inmates including Senior members of our party, in the persons of  Major Retired Palo Conteh, Herbert George Williams, Abu Bakar Daramy and Amadu Koita who at the time of the incident were in the custody of the security forces,” the release mentioned.

It went on to maintain how the APC is further appalled by the fact that armed security forces raided the home of Palo Conteh, harassed the occupants of the house and took into custody his innocent wife.

“The whereabouts of our Comrades have since remained unknown and all attempts by the leadership of our Party and the legal team to reach them have proved futile,” the Executive of the party expressed concern.

Again the Press Release contained that reports making the rounds indicate that their comrades are currently being held under very inhumane conditions and the health conditions of some of them have deteriorated significantly.

It was added that the leadership of the APC wished to make it known to President Julius Maada Bio and the SLPP Government that the APC will hold them singularly and collectively responsible if anything is amiss to their Comrades and of course for the innocent lives that were lost during the skirmishes.

The Report continued by stating that the APC is demanding the immediate information on the whereabouts of their comrades, and access to them by their lawyers and leaders of the Party.

It continued that the APC leadership wished to inform their development partners and the international community that the harassment and intimidation of the APC and its members have now reached a level that is unbearable.

Leadership of the party stated the APC can no longer guarantee their partners that they can restrain their members that are seeking for justice and the protection of their fundamental human and basic rights.

The party said they shall continue to consult with their members around the country and in the diaspora on this and related incidents that clearly threaten to undermine the peace and security of the country that they have fought so hard to uphold and protect over the years.

Caritas Freetown Supports Govt. with Beds and PPEs to fight COVID-19

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In a bid to complement Government’s efforts in the fight against the coronavirus in the country, with support from Healey International Relief Foundation, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, and LANYI Foundation, Caritas Freetown has on Friday 1st May, 2020 donated Hospital Beds and Personal Protective Equipment worth millions of Leones to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Covid-19 response team. The presentation took place at the Forecourt of the Emergency Operation Centre at Cockerill in Freetown and included donated items such as 15 Hospital Beds, 15 Mattress, 100,000 Face Masks, 20 Cartons of Hand Gloves, etc.

Present at the ceremony were the Chief of Staff of the COVID-19 Response Team, Solomon Caulker, Minister of Youth Affairs, Mohamed Orman Bangura, Executive Director Caritas Freetown, Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh, Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Mohamed Haji Kella, Programs Manager Healey International Relief Foundation & Tzu Chi Foundation, Ishmeal Alfred Charles, Head Coordinator Caritas Sierra Leone, Sister Josephine, Staff of Partnering to serve Humanity Consortium and the EOC.

Presenting the items on behalf of the consortium, Executive Director of Caritas Freetown, who also doubles as a Board member for the HealeyIRF, Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh expressed appreciation to the Covid-19 Team for their tireless efforts towards the fight against the coronavirus in the country, adding that the coronavirus pandemic is affecting everyone in the world and in that regard noted that it needs collective responsibility in order to combat the pandemic. He said that they have been involved in different pillars disclosing how they have renovated Connaught Hospital and supplied the hospital with support from Tzu Chi Foundation underscoring that no Government can adequately carry out the fight without the support of individuals and institutions etc.

He said they have been helping other Ministries and that recently the consortium donated 6000 bags (10 Kilograms) of rice to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary School Education (MBSSE) in order to support the Government National School Feeding program.

“We decided to donate these Hospital Beds and Personal Protective Equipment towards the fight as they are very key in curtailing the spread of the coronavirus in the country,” Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh stated.

He assured them of their continuous support towards the fight against the coronavirus in the country.

Receiving the items of behalf of the Covid-19 Response Team, Chief of Staff of the COVID-19 Response Team, Solomon Caulker, expressed appreciation to the Partnering to Serve Humanity Consortium for the donation which he described as not only important towards the fight but also very timely at a moment like this when the number of confirmed cases continue to increase in the country and have been struggling to track down primary and secondary contacts.

He said the items will help greatly towards curtailing the spread of the coronavirus in the country and assured them that the items will be used for the right purpose and the right beneficiaries will be targeted.

Caritas Programme Manager, Ishmeal Alfred Charles, noted that the donation is been done as their own little support to the fight against the Corona virus in Sierra Leone.

He said since the outbreak they have been supporting various groups including vulnerable groups, the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Ministry of Social Welfare, the District Health Management Teams among others and they deemed it fit to support the Government with the protective gears.

“We are happy to make this donation as we all fight to end this pandemic,” he noted.

In the wake of gutted facilities at Correctional Centre… VP Juldeh Jalloh Takes Stock

Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In the morning hours of the 29 April 2020 there was pandemonium at the Sierra Leone Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in the West End of Freetown with some claiming that there has been a prison break. However, it clearly turned out to be that a fire incident inside the correctional centre has created the panic which inmates wanted to capitalize on to escape.

Such did not transpire as the Police and Military gallantly descended on the scene and tried to bring the situation under control but with some causalities including Prison Officer, being killed in the process. Some buildings within the Prison Yard such as the Reception, Stores, Hospital, the Vocational workshop were all burnt down. Several other infrastructure such as the Church and the Mosque were partially damaged.

In order to commemorate Sierra Leone’s Independence Day, President Julius Maada Bio announced the release of 235 prisoners nationwide on 27 April, but as yet there is no confirmation that they have been released.

In the wake of the unfortunate incident, Deputy Director of Amnesty International, West and Central Africa, Marta Colomer said:

“The first case of COVID-19 was reported in Freetown’s central prison on 28 April, causing alarm among people detained therein who live in severely cramped conditions. There have been some restrictive measures imposed by the authorities, including the prohibition of visits by their relatives. The riot shows that prisoners are becoming increasingly desperate at the Government’s inaction to protect their right to health. There must be a prompt, thorough, impartial and effective investigation into the reasons that led to the riot and the heavy-handed response from prison guards who used live ammunition.”

“Prisoners are concerned about getting enough food after the prohibition on visits, as well as the spread of the virus and their ability to take preventive measures against COVID-19,” the Deputy Director added.

“We are calling on the Sierra Leone authorities to put their promises to release hundreds of detainees into action – unless overcrowding is eased and conditions of detention improved; there is a risk of further riots and infections. They should release all those held in pre-trial detention and consider the release of other prisoners at risk, such as older people and those with underlying medical conditions,” it was recommended

To assess the damage caused by the unknown fire disaster the Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh conducted an inspection tour of the Sierra Leone Correctional Services facilities.

The Vice President, who is also Chairman of the Correctional Services Council, visited the facilities to get a first-hand impression of the damage.

The Vice President was accompanied by senior government officials, including but not limited to the Ministers of Information and Internal Affairs, the Deputy Minister of Information, the Head of the Strategic Communications Unit at State House and senior members of the security agencies.

Making a short statement after completing a conducted tour of the facilities in which he got a first-hand assessment of the destruction caused to the premises, Vice President Juldeh Jalloh noted with dismay that the altercation had caused extensive damage to crucial facilities like the administrative blocks, the workshops, some cells and other structures. He however stated that despite the wanton destruction done to the administrative building, records of prisoners and of the centre were intact as the authorities had long digitalized the record keeping system.

Vice President Juldeh Jalloh assured citizens that investigations into the issue had been launched and promised that it would be swift and that its outcome would be accordingly made public. He acknowledged the fatalities that emanated from the fracas and urged all to be calm and to go about their normal businesses. He said that Government has put together some progressive plans for the centre and that those plans would be rolled out in due course with a view to changing the face of the centre and to help transform inmates into productive citizens.

The visit of the Vice President illustrates how committed the New Direction Government is in treating every security issue with the utmost seriousness that it deserves. With President Bio nearing conclusion of his self-isolation, there is every reason for him not to be worried while at home for the simple reason that he has a go-getter of a Vice President.

Freetown’s prison was originally built for a capacity of less than 300 prisoners but today it has more than 1,000 inmates.

NP SL Still Remains the Committed No.1 Oil Marketing Entity

By Amin Kef Sesay

There is not a single iota of doubt that the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is a premier oil marketing company that has been doing extremely well in the areas of importing and marketing various petroleum products in the country, notably petrol, diesel, gas and lubricants of which the most outstanding is Castrol oil.

Without contesting the undiluted fact, this 100% indigenous company has left its footprint on the sands of time as it continues to bag wide commendations for its timeliness in always ensuring that qualitative petroleum products are imported into the country, distributed country wide to its sales points or Filling Stations across the country in order for its esteemed customers to easily gain access to them.

The company has never renege in doing so save only certain situations where, as a result of unforeseen contingencies, most often beyond its control, there has been some delay. However, in such circumstances measures are quickly rolled out to address them and restore normalcy in the supply chain.

It must be noted that for any petroleum marketing company to maintain such a solid and unshakable posture could only be attributed to prudent business management initiatives. Indeed, it could be said with all amount of certainty that the selflessness and dogged determination on the part of the 35 Sierra Leoneans who established the company have greatly influenced most of the policies that were adopted, effectively implemented which saw the transformation of a small business enterprise to a towering entity.

One of those laid down policies is that which places premium on enhancing or maximizing customer care to create a situation where its customers are always made to feel good and satisfied. The company’s Shareholders and Management are also conscious of the fact that by taking customer care to a higher pedestal such could serve as a leeway to attract other individuals to come on board its customer platform.

Indeed, it is in that light that a conscious move was made to make the company’s Filling Stations very attractive and welcoming. Built in state of the art fashion, painted with yellow and green paints, these sales points are very spacious to accommodate fleet of vehicles, are very eye catchy and in some of them there are shopping marts where customers could purchase basic items and even relax to socialize. As of now social gathering in those marts has been put on hold as social distancing has been recommended as one of the preventive measures put in place to avoid the spread of the deadly virus.

To promote transparency and win the trust of its numerous customers as well as match up with international standards, it was decided on the part of the company to invest so much in procuring and installing calibrated pumping machines. These have the capacity to pump the exact quantity of fuel in vehicles and containers to the utmost satisfaction of buyers. “I always feel gratified whenever I do purchase petrol at NP Filling Station because I am always satisfied that I am getting my money’s worth,” a banker divulged to this medium adding that the Managers of the company are doing a fantastic job ,referencing the orderliness of how business transactions are taking place.

One very striking feature which NP-SL has so far exhibited, to the admiration of many, is its strict adherence to the country’s Local Content Policy. Development Economists have recommended that one viable route to be used to boost a country’s economy is to make effective use of indigenous resources, both material and human, as long as they are available. Enhancing local content has its attendant merits one of which is creating employment opportunities and ensuring that monies paid workers are not remitted overseas.

The National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited is one of the few companies in this country that has successfully implemented its internal policy of giving employment preference to Sierra Leoneans. This is indeed very impressive and is helping in major ways to reduce poverty.

If today NP Gas is going at the pace of the Concord, in terms of sales, then this is simply because it has been discovered that it is very fast, efficient and environmental friendly for cooking purposes. Besides, it can be refilled without going through the hassle of having to find gas elsewhere as the company markets gas alongside petrol, diesel and other lubricants. They are manufactured in different cylinder sizes and are easily accessible.

“NP Gas is my kitchen partner and I am finding it very cooperative. It is easy to handle and for me it poses no danger. I am therefore recommending it and for anyone to secure it there will be no regrets,” Mariatu Sesay a resident, living in Makeni recommended.

What is much talked about today, well not in social circles as social distancing is now the norm, is NP Smart Card. As the name suggests the card is so smart to such an extent that as long as it is loaded with money it can be slotted in the calibrated pumping machine and after demanding the amount of petrol or diesel requested for, it churns out the exact amount plus displaying the price. It is trending, secured and convenient to use.

“NP Smart Card works well and since I have been using it I always procure fuel for my car and generator in record time. Using it, there are many benefits one can derive,” a Civil Servant, Mohamed Jusu, underscored.

The company does not joke with rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility fully aware that it is incumbent on it as a business entity to give back to society. This is all the more reason why it has been complementing the Government’s development interventions. The Shareholders and Management have always stood by the side of Sierra Leoneans in thick and thin always endeavouring to give succour and deepen development. The good things it had done are so many to catalogue and time plus space could not permit one to narrate all of them. However, the recent one should not go unnoticed and it has to do with availing the Government one Billion Leones to help scale up the fight against the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

“This shows that the company is a responsible business entity,” an official of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency commended.

The company stands tall for having vibrant branches operating in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia where they are operating efficiently, offering jobs and paying taxes to Governments. NP-SL is indeed a force to reckon with and is poised to further make its presence felt and expand its operations.

Why The Prison Riot Took Place…

Freetown’s central prison

By Amin Kef Sesay

According to Marta Colomer, Amnesty International West and Central Africa Deputy Director, “The first case of COVID-19 was reported in Freetown’s central prison on 28 April, causing alarm among people detained therein who live in severely cramped conditions. There have been some restrictive measures imposed by the authorities, including the prohibition of visits by their relatives.

“Prisoners are concerned about getting enough food after the prohibition on visits, as well as the spread of the virus and their ability to take preventive measures against COVID-19.

“Yesterday’s riot shows that prisoners are becoming increasingly desperate at the Government’s inaction to protect their right to health.

There must be a prompt, thorough, impartial and effective investigation into the reasons that led to the riot and the heavy-handed response from prison guards who used live ammunition… “We are calling on the Sierra Leone authorities to put their promises to release hundreds of detainees into action – unless overcrowding is eased and conditions of detention improved; there is a risk of further riots and infections. They should release all those held in pre-trial detention and consider the release of other prisoners at risk, such as older people and those with underlying medical conditions.”

Pademba Road prison was originally built for a capacity of less than 300 prisoners but today it has more than 1,000 inmates.

Beside overcrowding, insanitary living conditions and poor diet, one of the principal reasons for prison instability is definitely staff shortages. Younger, inexperienced officers are less able to manage difficult and sometimes dangerous situations that can be encountered almost every day in jails.

The impact of staff shortages can affect every aspect of prison life. In the worst case scenarios, if there are too few officers to open cell doors to allow prisoners out to go to work, education, exercise or association, then inmates are likely to be confined to their cells for most of the day.

Been locked up for 24 hours means no opportunities to take showers, phone family or have any exercise. In such conditions, prisons can quickly become pressure-cooker environments, seething with frustration and resentment.

For the majority of prisoners, riots tend to be dreaded as they know there could be weeks or even months of disruption of their daily lives and even collective punishment involving those inmates who didn’t get involved in any trouble.

For those reasons, ringleaders of major riots are rarely regarded as ‘heroes’ by their fellow prisoners, but dangerous rebels who just bring trouble on everyone else.

AWOL Donates Le 150 Million Towards Covid-19 Fight

By Amin Kef Sesay

To assist the Government in its strides to scale up the fight against the spread of the coronavirus in the country, the All Works of Life (AWOL) on Saturday 2nd May, 2020 donated the sum of one hundred and fifty million Leones (Le 150,000,000) to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Covid-19 Response Team. The 100 Million Leones (Le 100,000,000) was an intangible kind donation in terms of Food Items and Face masks and the 50 Million Leones (Le50,000,000) was donated in cash. The presentation took place at the Forecourt of the Emergency Operation Centre at Cockerill in Freetown.

Present at the ceremony were the Chairman of All Works of Life, Anthony Navo Jr, Public Relations Officer, National Covid-19 Response Team, Solomon Jamiru Esq, Executive Secretary of All Works of Life, Sho Cole, Public Relations Officer of the All Works of Life, Ezekiel Duramani Lakkoh, Secretary General of All Works of Life, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, Senior Adviser of the Covid-19 Response Team, Fredrica Kella, Western Area District Coordinator Covid-19 Response Team, Miatta French etc.

In his address, Chairman of All Works of Life (AWOL), Anthony Navo Jr, disclosed that AWOL has been working assiduously to support the Government and the people of Sierra Leone through diverse programs and initiatives, adding that AWOL is a group of young Sierra Leoneans who  came together to serve as an auxiliary in order to reach out to communities.

He said they thought it fit as an organization for all their branches all over the world to come together and raise the sum of one Hundred and Fifty Million Leones in order to join the fight against the coronavirus in the country, noting that the one Hundred and Fifty Million Leones was apportioned into three categories as such: 50 Million Leones Cash to be donated to the Emergency Operation Centre, 50 million Leones worth of food items to be presented to their partner, United Sierra Leone, in order to work with the EOC to distribute the donated food items to the needy during the three days lockdown with the aim of targeting 500 beneficiaries further mentioning how the 50 Million Leones worth of face masks, which is about 10,000 face masks, to be donated to the EOC in order to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in the country.

On behalf of the National Covid-19 Response Team, the Public Relations of the National Covid-19 Response Team, Solomon Jamiru Esq expressed appreciation to AWOL for the kind gesture, adding that they are not surprised to receive such gesture from AWOL because their good work in society are evidences maintaining how the organization had been creating a lot of positive impact across the country.

He said that at a time like this when the EOC need such gestures, they as members of AWOL have demonstrated what he described as a timely intervention. He assured them that the donations will be used for the intended purposes and will reach the right beneficiaries.

1...1,1021,1031,104...1,360Page 1,103 of 1,360