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Sierra Leone Telecommunications Report is Now Out

By Fatmata Jengbe

In a latest report dubbed The Sierra Leone Telecommunications Report – 8th series there is a complete view of the Sierra Leone telecom ecosystem along with trends and growth factors shaping the future of the market.

The future value proposition for telecommunications market in Sierra Leone to 2025 is detailed in the report. It also provides imperatives for gaining market share in the highly competitive telecom industry. It provides unmatched depth and breadth into drivers, challenges, tariffs, competition, subscriber behaviour, infrastructure, regulatory support and others.

The report also presents detailed insights into Sierra Leone’s mobile communication, fixed telephone and fixed broadband markets. Subscriber count and penetration rates are forecast for each of the sub-sectors including cellular, fixed landline and broadband segments from 2005 to 2018 and 2019 to 2025.

With Long Term Evolution (LTE) rapid expansion and slowdown in 2G and 3G services, the Sierra Leone telecom market is evolving rapidly. Embracing mobile connectivity, IoT, cloud services and smartphones has become vital for telecom companies. Operators across the value chain are forced to adapt to these emerging market changes to sustain revenue and profit.

Sierra Leone telecommunication market size, revenues, investment and infrastructure data is also included in the research work. In addition, business environment in the country is compared with five peer markets in the region to analyse Sierra Leone market prominence on regional front.

Telecom operators in Sierra Leone are witnessing wide range of challenges including rapidly changing customer patterns, financial and technological challenges. Identifying the emerging trends and converting them into actionable strategies is vital for sustaining profitability. This report analyses leading telecom companies in Sierra Leone across the value chain, SWOT analysis, tariffs and financial profile.

In addition, the report offers detailed forecasts into the country’s demographic factors such as population by age group, gender and region. Macroeconomic factors that form the base drivers for telecom growth and branding & pricing strategies including GDP and disposable income are included.

The research work also includes detailed SWOT analysis of Sierra Leone telecommunications market to enable users to identify key trends and hidden opportunities. It identifies emerging and new market trends across segments in the industry.

The study also includes recent telecommunication market developments, mergers, acquisitions and new launches, spectrum availability, tenders and other developments.

Key Findings of Sierra Leone Telecommunications market and introduction 2018 include prominent Sierra Leone market trends on sales, tariffs, packages, infrastructure, technologies, regulations and companies.

The report enables clients to boost revenues from new and existing customer base, identify key trends and hidden opportunities, gain clear understanding of the country’s telecommunications value chain.

It also design sustainable and competitive strategies in times of rapid development, promote understanding the paradigm shift in consumer preferences, compare growth in Sierra Leone telecommunications business with its peer markets and insights into the role of legal and regulatory bodies in Sierra Leone.

MP Alex Mattia Rogers Outshines In China

Hon. Alex Mattia Rogers displaying his certificate

By Theresa Kef Sesay

Member of Parliament for Constituency 102 in the Pujehun District, Hon. Alex Mattia Rogers, lifted Sierra Leone to another level in China when he participated in the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and Tourism seminar.

The People’s Republic of China Ministry of Commerce and Tourism in collaboration with Sierra Leone Ministry of Tourism and other line ministries across the world conducted the seminar which lasted for a month.

The training targeted 6 continents and 22 countries and focused on tourism, cultural cooperation and trade.

Hon. Alex Mattia Rogers explained that his participation on the seminar came through the invitation that was extended to the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Tourism.

He said two Members of Parliament from Sierra Leone including the Principal Clerk and representative from the Ministry of Tourism went for the training last month.

Among the 22 countries, Hon. Alex Mattia Rogers was elected leader during the training and during the gradation he was appointed to give the graduation speech.

He described the training as one that means a lot pointing out that the bilateral relationship between the two countries is remarkable.

He said China Tourism sector is well improved which he said Sierra Leone is yearning to have such.

Hon. Alex Mattia Rogers went on to commend the Tourism and Cultural Minister of Sierra Leone as a loyalist to national development. He said President Bio made no mistake in appointing her in that Ministry as with such woman that Ministry will be transformed.

He disclosed that they were going to submit a report to Parliament and the Tourism Ministry for them to implement what they have learned.

“I don’t have any doubt in this Government that they are ready to promote tourism as we have natural beaches that can attract tourists among other things.”

He said the tourism sector is high on the President Bio’s agenda and with such he believes that Sierra Leone will develop and tourism will raise revenue for the Government.

The magnificent showdown of Hon. Alex Mattia Rogers has caused him to uncontestably become a member of that particular institution

IOM Provides Solar Lanterns to Flood Victims in Resettlement Camp

By Alfred Fornah

In order to respond to one of the social needs of 106 households at the resettlement camp (‘Mile Six’), located 50 kilometres outside Freetown the International Organization for Migration (IOM) last week distributed solar lanterns to those residing there.

The resettlement camp was established by the Government of Sierra Leone following flash floods between 2015 and 2017, and a tragic mudslide which killed hundreds and left thousands homeless.

“The camp is currently facing many challenges and key among them is the absence of electricity,” said Jeneba B. Kargbo, Chair of the displaced families at Mile Six Community. “The solar lanterns will provide precious light in our homes and the camp facilities. They will improve our children’s academic performance by providing them extra hours of light to study and can also help keep snakes out of our homes,” she added.

“The solar lamps will improve and enhance the quality of life of people in the community,” said Akao Kunikazu, Project Manager at IOM Sierra Leone. “Most importantly, the lamps are rechargeable and provide hours of light in the evening, so families can feel safe at the camp after dark,” he added.

The donation of the solar lanterns was made possible through IOM’s partnership with the Japanese multinational electronics corporation, Panasonic. Through this partnership, over 1,000 people in households and health centres received solar lanterns across Sierra Leone.

Last year, the company participated in a side event organized by IOM during the seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). At this event, Panasonic Corporate Social Responsibility Director General reaffirmed the company’s commitment to continue its partnership with IOM.

School Pupils of Makorbeh Village Primary School Benefit from Donation by Chinese Philanthropist

Francis Guo, celebrating his goodwill gesture with school pupils

By Abu Bakarr Kargbo

A Chinese national working in Sierra Leone, Francis Guo, who has been regarded as a kind person, recently extended a humanitarian support to school pupils of the Makorbeh Village Primary School in the Port Loko District. School pupils in classes 1 and 5 received school bags containing school materials and school fees, which serves as a major boost to their academic work. Francis Guo’s gift sparked great jubilation in the school as pupils, school authorities and parents celebrated the laudable venture, which they said came at the right time when things are extremely difficult in the poor community.

Nice sentiments were expressed by school authorities and parents for what they described as a friendly gesture. They thanked Guo for the support and asked that other Chinese nationals in the country to emulate his good example.

His donation serves as a major step to the education sector, which the Government had placed a premium on because of its importance to the development of the country. He believes that investing in education is the right step to boost development in the country.

The goodwill came at a time when the People’s Republic of China is celebrating the Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival. The 2020 Chinese New Year falls on January 25, Saturday, and it’s the year of Rat.

In spite of the physical distance, different cultural and historical backgrounds between China and Sierra Leone, both Chinese nationals and Sierra Leoneans enjoy the shared development concepts and goals.

The Chinese believe in giving out red envelopes as gifts to bring luck during important occasions during the Spring Festival. During the Chinese New Year, money is put inside red envelopes which are then handed out to younger generations by parents, grandparents, relatives, and even close neighbors and friends. Although he did not hand over the traditional red envelop, Francis Guo’s donation was seen as a move in the right direction.

 

Tourism Minister & Delegation ‘Sells’ Sierra Leone in Madrid

Dr. Memunatu Pratt, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs & Delegations

By Foday Mooriba Conteh

Of late much attention has been placed in developing the Tourism sector which it has been agreed is a prime mover of the country’s economy. Indeed efforts have been made and others are still in progress to revamp a once vibrant but a now moribund sector and it is hoped that all will lead to fruitful dividends.

In less than a month’s time after the country’s Tourism sector returned from the Matka Nordic Travel Fair, Helsinki, Finland, the relentless Hon Minister has led another tourism delegation to make the second impressive appearance in FITUR: International Tourism Trade Fair in Madrid.

The country’s tourism team will in the next five days market and promote Sierra Leone’s tourism potentials which objective has been positioned by erecting the third largest stand and space in the African section of the events.

The exhibition will occasion several meetings and business deals and the delegation will discuss core tips to be followed as principles and international best practices recommended by Philip Kotler, the guru in marketing.

The event is a Rift Valley Expedition which is placed as a leading Tour Operator in Spain. It enlisted Sierra Leone as one of the new lead travel destinations in Africa just last year.

The National Tourist Board in its mandate as the marketing and promotional arm of the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs see the need to make this impressive appearance in Fitur Spain Markets as an indication of a proactive marketing and rebranding drive. It offers an opportunity to improving and creating more positive reviews in the generating regions.

This year’s Fitur attracted diverse trade and businesses worldwide. It will feature exhibition of goods and services of tourism and hospitality credence.

Sierra Leone is therefore poised to reach, connect, network and position and to strategically place itself as a new player on the list of new destinations to visit, endorsed by Rift Expeditions.

During the five days ahead, the team will strategically assess and interpret Key Performance Indicators (KPI) based on the previous and current events attended.

Sierra Leone’s attendance this year is to also continue the rebranding path as this is the second coming of the team. “The team will diagnose the impact created from our first entry and also measure the Spanish Markets; how best the orientation of the destination is improving, and as well note the readiness of the hubs,” says Dr. Memunatu Pratt, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.

She says the visit will also enable the team calculate the essence of the country’s participation last year. “Our Green, White and Blue flag has been lifted up among other countries of the world.”  “This year’s stand happens to be the third largest stand and space in the African section, and the colours speak volume of elegance and zest that send message of vibrant cultures and hospitality, as the general promotional materials speaks volumes of readiness and pro-activeness at all times.”

It could be recalled that the Tourism marketing team, recently concluded participation in the Matka trade fair in Finland Helsinki, where Sierra Leone created immense impact in the marketing and rebrand processes of the destination to Finnish markets and Nordic States in general.

2019 Global Corruption Ranks Sierra Leone 10 Places Up

By Brima Sannoh

In a latest release, Sierra Leone is said to have progressed ten (10) places upwards in the Transparency International’s Global Corruption Ranking, moving from 129 in 2018, to 119 out of 180 countries surveyed in the 2019 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (TI-CPI). The country also increased its score from a stagnant thirty (30) points in 2016, 2017, and 2018, to thirty-three (33) in 2019, making a three (3) points gain, scoring above the sub-Saharan average of 32.

The CPI, released on Thursday 23rd January 2020, reveals that for the first time, in more than five years, Sierra Leone is ranked under 120, and the thirty three (33) points scored is the highest the country has ever achieved since its inclusion in the TI index. Sierra Leone now leads sixty one (61) countries in the global campaign against corruption, and more than 28 African countries, including Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Togo, Kenya, among others.

This year’s report reveals that “Sub-Saharan Africa’s performance paints a bleak picture of inaction against corruption,” revealing that “a staggering number of countries are showing little to no improvement in tackling corruption.” The report also suggests that “more than two-thirds of countries – along with many of the world’s most advanced economies – are stagnating or showing signs of backsliding in their anti-corruption efforts.

The CPI is an annual survey indicator used by TI, the global civil society organization leading the fight against corruption, to assess perceived levels of public sector corruption across the world.

Within the past two years,  Sierra Leone has increased its score in the ‘Control of Corruption’ Indicator in the Millennium Challenge Corporation Scorecard, moving from forty-nine percent (49%)  in 2017, to seventy-nine (79%) percent in 2019, making thirty percent (30%) upwards. By that report, Sierra Leone is among the top ten performers in our income category.

Similarly, Sierra Leone has also scored high in other global and regional anti-corruption rankings. In the Global Corruption Barometer of 2018*, the country is ranked 3rd out of thirty five (35) African Countries surveyed on “Government’s Effectiveness in the Fight against Corruption.” In the Afro-Barometer 2018, fifty four (54%) of Sierra

Leoneans agreed that the government is performing “very well” in the fight

Lawyer Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara Challenges State Counsel

Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The lawyer representing former President Ernest Bai Koroma in the on-going Commission of Inquiry presided over by Justice Bankole Thompson, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara has in his final submission said that the Commission was not instituted to fight corruption but to make former President Ernest Bai Koroma a destitute.

He argued that the objective of setting up the Commission is not to fight corruption but to make former President Ernest Bai Koroma a destitute.

“This cycle of political vengeance must stop in this country,” he affirmed.

JFK, as he is popularly known, stated that the purpose of the Commission is to ban his client from holding a public office, confiscate his property and make him destitute, which he considers as vengeance justice.

He said the prosecution has addressed the Commission on the absence of his client, noting that it was the constitutional right of his client to remain silent unless if the prosecution has a strong reason for him to say something to help the investigation.

The Defence Lawyer furthered that as a law abiding citizen, his client complied with the laws of the land by submitting his asset declaration form to the Commission.

He said his client was alleged to have owned half of the property in Freetown, including every powerful building, but that the prosecution did not lead any evidence to the Commission that warrant his client to answer to any of those allegations.

He submitted that the prosecution also took no time to investigate or inform the Commission and the public about the lawfully acquired wealth of his client, noting that his client had over three billion Leones shares at RITCORP Insurance Company and thousands of United States Dollars in other companies before he took office.

He submitted that the prosecution did not investigate what his client had before he took office, but aimed to make sure that his client is ban permanently from politics, noting that his client was financially solvent at the time he took office.

“My lord, my client is not a prolific traveller or a drunkard that spends money in night clubs, but he was a prudent businessman. Now this Commission is seeking to make him destitute,” he said.

He further that the prosecution has presented no document to the Commission to show that he owns any other property rather than those in his asset declaration form and submitted that the case against his client be dismissed.

JFK noted that both witnesses the prosecution presented to testify against his client including one investigator, Dauda Kai Kai and a property valuator named Olu Campbell are incompetent, noting that the property valuator has no academic qualification.

One Christopher Olu Campbell in 2019 testified at the Commission that properties of former President Ernest Bai Koroma worth sixteen million five hundred thirty four thousand and five hundred United States Dollars (USD$16, 534,500).

Pres. Bio Promises to Expunge Dual Citizenship Law

Julius Maada Bio

By Melvin Tejan Mansaray

It is an established fact the prior to the 2018 Presidential and Parliament elections, political aspirants who were known to hold dual citizenship were prevented to vie for various political positions to the annoyance of many.

Regarded as the two-sim (dual citizenship law) it is a socio-politically divisive issue among ordinary and diasporan Sierra Leoneans.

During a recent Town Hall meeting with the Sierra Leonean diaspora community in the UK, Pres. Bio reiterated his commitment to get this law reviewed assuring its tabling in the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone. The President, however, underscored the need for engagements including Parliament as was done with regards repealing of Part Five of the Criminal Libel Repeal.

When a random opinion sampling was conducted among Legislators in Parliament most of them unequivocally stated that, “we are not going to approve any such proposal from the President to review this law.”

They further added that “it is only MPs who are diasporians that will support the proposed review on the dual citizenship.”

It was noticed that not more than five MPs are in support of the review process of the law.

Those Legislators who are not dual citizens say it will be foolhardy for them to approve the law also maintaining that over ninety percent of MPs in the present Parliament are there because of the law adding that to remove it means opening the doors for their own removal for people who have the resources, expertise and lots of other advantages.

At the moment, Hon. Dr. Kandeh Yumkella Leader NGC party and former UN diplomat and Hon. Wuyatta Songa representing the governing SLPP party (whose CV almost speak British) are the proponents of the citizenship law review and their colleagues say they will not entertain any such proposal from them or even the President.

According to the Public Elections Act 2012, Section 16 paragraph (a); “No person shall be registered as a voter or, having been registered as such, shall be entitled to vote at a public election if the person is – (a) a non-citizen;”

In the Sierra Leone Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2006 (Being an Act to amend the Sierra Leone Citizenship Act, 1973 so as to grant the right of dual citizenship and citizenship by birth directly through the mother), Section (5), Section 10 of the principal Act is repealed and replaced by the following section:– 10. “A citizen of Sierra Leone may hold a citizenship of another country in addition to his citizenship of Sierra Leone.”

In Section 13 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone (Duties of the Citizen), paragraph (B) says  ‘Every Citizen shall – “cultivate a sense of nationalism and patriotism so that loyalty to the State shall override sectional, ethnic tribal or other loyalties;”

 Legal Aid Board Bags MOTT Foundation Support

By Foday Moriba Conteh

To create more impact through their activities, the Legal Aid Board has recruited and deployed thirteen Paralegals around the country geared towards increasing its presence in the remotest parts of the country. These are areas with limited access to the Criminal Justice System and therefore the most disadvantaged in access to justice. People in these areas have access to mostly the Local and Informal/Traditional Courts.

This has been made possible by a two-year grant from Charles Stewart MOTT Foundation, a gesture that is in line with ‘Improving access to justice for people in remote communities through the use of Local and Informal/Traditional Courts’.

Two Paralegals have been deployed in each of the two newly created districts of Karene and Fabala. The Paralegals were resident in the districts prior to their recruitment and moreover have been involved in civil society and human rights activists.

Prior to the deployments, Paralegals from the neighbouring districts of Bombali and Koinadugu had been covering the new districts. “This is a welcome relief to the Board because we have been constrained to provide the much needed primary legal aid services in these parts of the country which have access to mostly Informal/Traditional Courts,” the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles said.

“Our Paralegals in the neighbouring districts of Bombali and Koinadugu have been struggling to cope with the demand for our services especially from traditional leaders and civil society activists who were constantly calling for our intervention in matters,” she continued.

The Board has also deployed two more Paralegals each for Sandor Chiefdom in Kono District, Lower Bambara Chiefdom in Kenema District, Lower Banta in Moyamba District and Bumpe-Gao Chiefdom in Bo District. This has increased the number of Paralegals in each of these districts to four. Moreover, one Paralegal has been deployed in the Lokomassama Chiefdom in Port Loko District in the North-West.

The Legal Aid Board had its first meeting with the Mott Foundation in Freetown in 2018 where the Program Officer: Civil Society in South Africa, Lorenzo Wakefield was briefed on the operations of the Board and the fact that the Board has established a niche internationally in the provision of primary justice services by its Paralegals. Lorenzo noted that Sierra Leone will be among four countries on the continent to benefit from the Foundation in the coming years. The others are: Malawi, Kenya and Rwanda.

MDAs & Development Partners Held Consultative Meeting with MOPED

By Edward Vamboi

 In a bid to shove up overall national development, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) on Tuesday 21 January, 2020 held a consultative meeting with Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) and development partners to discuss the Zero Draft National Public Investment Policy (NPIMP) at the Ministry’s Conference room on Tower Hill in Freetown.

The engagement is geared towards  reviewing the draft NPIMP including streamlining the roles and responsibilities of key public investment actors, define the public investment cycle and design appraisal tools to guide public investment decision making. The NPIMP, when developed is expected to be a guide that interfaces with other Government policies to ensure a robust and integrated system in the processing and delivering of public projects.

Welcoming the discussants, the Development Secretary, Peter Sam-Kpakra thanked everyone for their participation; noting that it demonstrates their commitment to ensuring Government addresses challenges that have over the years undermined efficiency in addressing the infrastructural challenges and gaps.

In his statement, the Director of Public Investment Management Department, MoPED, Alpha Bangura noted the importance of the engagement; stating that the preliminary consultative meeting will create the platform for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDA’s) to contribute in developing a National Public Investment Policy that will reflect a national perspective on public investments across all sectors.

Mr. Bangura said the process will further foster transparency and accountability of the process, ensuring ownership of the document when developed.

The Lead Consultant, Osman Kamara, who gave an overview of the zero draft presentation, noted that the process will be very participatory and will include valuable inputs and contributions from all relevant stakeholders.

Other representatives in attendance included the IMF, ADB, Office of Presidential Infrastructure Initiative, SLRA, Ministry of Works and Ministry of Finance among many others.

The Public Investment Management Department in partnership with the consultant will conduct nationwide consultations with key stakeholders on the zero draft policy to solicit their views on Public Investment processes. The consultations will be held in all four (4) regions of the country.

 

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