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NOC President receives Taekwando Technical Team from South Korea

By Esther Wright

A Taekewando Technical Team from South Korea headed by Jang Kem Woo paid a courtesy call on the NOC President Dr. Patrick Coker at his office on Howe Street on Tuesday 14th January 2020 at 2:30pm to brief him about their visit to Sierra Leone, courtesy of the Sierra Leone Taekewando Association.

The Leader of delegation introduced the rest of his members to the NOC President and gave a brief update of their visit. In response Dr. Patrick Coker welcomed them to Sierra Leone and told them that the President of Taekewando Association, Oness A Johnson, is a hardworking and dynamic President. He said it is the second time to bring such a delegation of Technical Team to the country.

He expressed determination to take Taekewando nationwide in terms of development. “I wish you all the best during your one month stay in my country,” he stated.

In his statement he assured them of his support, should they need any from him and wished them Good Luck and hoped they will come back some other time.

Witnessing the program were Prince Sualley, Alie G Koroma (AG), Unisa Deen Kargbo (UDK), Oness A Johnson etc. The delegation is comprised of two male and two female i.e Jang Kem Woo Leader of delegation, Lee Ba Da, Oh Young Long Han Byul and Kwon Hae Jin.

According to report from the Taekewando President the program starts from the 15th January to the 7th February 2020 at the Siaka Steven Stadium.

 

 

Economic Diversification Report Launched

eputy Minister of Finance ll, Mr Sheku Bangura

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Deputy Minister of Finance ll, Mr Sheku Bangura, on 14th January 2020, at the Radisson Blu Mammy Yoko Hotel, launched the ‘Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Study’ Report. The Report was launched in a bid to complement the Government’s ongoing economic diversification drive and make the over-reliance on the mining sector a thing of the past.

The World Bank’s report outlines sectoral and firm-level analysis of productivity in Sierra Leone; challenges to growth and productivity; and suggestions of what the Government could do in the short, medium and long term to drive diversification and enhanced productivity into sectors for which Sierra Leone can be competitive globally.

The report does not only look at direct interventions, but it also looks at the wider doing business environment and some of the cross-cutting investments that Government should undertake.

According to the Deputy Minister ll, over the years Sierra Leone’s economy has mostly been driven by the mining and agriculture sectors, noting that the limiting effect of having an economy heavily dependent on the mining sector is widely known, mostly due to the lessons learnt from the twin shocks of the fall in commodity prices and the Ebola epidemic in 2014.

He said whilst labor productivity in this sector is relatively high, the capacity to generate jobs and linkages with the rest of the economy has been limited.

He said the agriculture sector on the other hand, despite accounting for 60.3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employing about 58 percent of Sierra Leoneans, has the lowest levels of labour productivity, noting that there is clearly a need to change the reality.

The World Bank’s Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Study covered both the macro and micro economy.

“It examined historical growth and labor productivity performance by sector and at firm level; outlines determinants of productivity and challenges faced by firms; provides a rationale for diversification; highlights paths to economic diversification; potential sectoral priorities; and also provides lessons from comparators like Ivory Coast and Rwanda on global competitiveness,” he said.

The Deputy Minister ll said as part of their support to improve access to finance, the Ministry of Finance is working with international financial institutions to create new credit guarantee schemes for targeting sectors, noting that they are already working with the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), a member of the World Bank Group and have also started discussion with the African Trade Insurance Agency.

He said this year the Government will also re-introduce a national micro credit scheme that will be implemented by commercial banks, micro finance institutions, community banks and Non-Governmental Organisations to support the provision of finance to Small and Medium Enterprises.

Senior Economist and Co-Task Team Lead at the World Bank, Mr. Youssouf Klendrebeogo and Senior Economist at the World Bank, Kemoh Manasaray co-presented the critical findings of the study.

The Team explained that the promotion of economic diversification is important in many respects and not just for economic growth and development, but also crucial for guiding the design of future World Bank engagements in Sierra Leone. They also presented lessons from others that have successfully diversified their economies and possible pathways through which Sierra Leone can replicate appropriate successful strategies.

Representatives from the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and the Ministry of Trade and Industry stressed the relevance of the report to their respective Ministries.

A panel discussion was held with participants mainly from the business community to discuss the recommendations in the report.

 

Foreign Affairs Minister Shines in Dakar

By Fatmata Jengbe

Sierra Leone’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Nabeela Farida Tunis, was the Chair of the 8th Session of the Ministerial-Level Meeting of the African Union Committee of Ten African Heads of State and Government C-10) on the reform of the United Nations Security Council at the King Fahd Place Conference Hall in Dakar, Senegal on Monday 13th January, 2020.

Delivering her statement, the Hon. Minister noted with satisfaction that their presence was a demonstration of the collective commitment of African Heads of State and Government in pursuing the mandate to canvass, promote and advance the Common African Position on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council.

“Allow me, Your Excellency President Macky Sall to convey to you sir, hearty commendations from His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, for Your Excellency’s unflinching personal commitment and that of his other peers C-10 Heads of State and Government to canvassing, promoting and advancing the Common African Position, as well as for upholding the exactness of our position on the reform process,” she stated.

The Minister recalled that several consultative meetings have been held in different African cities including Freetown, Nairobi, Oyo, Livingstone, Windhoek and Malabo and that they are in the historic city of Dakar to continue with the consultations on how to build progress in advancing and canvassing the Common African Position as adopted in the Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration; and also to explore means to further solidify the cohesiveness and unity among African Union Member States on the reform process of the United Nations Security Council.

Madam Tunis maintained that, the Coordinator, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, has, on few occasions, stated that, the United Nations was designed for a different world, born as a result of the effect of the Second World War, when colonial reign was supreme.

She said the Dakar meeting provided them the opportunity to take stock of the current state of play of the reform process, and accordingly report to their Heads of State and Government on the way forward.

She expressed her profound thanks and appreciation to those member states that have recognized and supported the call for the immediate redress of the demand for an equitable representation in the Security Council.

The Sierra Leone Foreign Minister on behalf of her colleague Foreign Ministers, thanked the Ambassadors from Addis Ababa and New York and their experts for the great commitment they demonstrated at the Senior Officials meeting on Sunday 12th January, 2020.

In her statement, the African Union Commissioner on Political Affairs, Her Excellency Cessouma Minata Samate, thanked and applauded the Government of Senegal for hosting the 8th Ministerial Level Meeting of the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government (C-10) on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council.

She stressed the need for unity among Africans and encouraged all to hold firm to the Common African Position within the frame work of the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, which, according to her, will help to address the historic injustices meted out to the African Continent.

In his official opening statement, the President of Senegal, His Excellency Macky Sall, expressed his thanks and appreciation to the delegates for their commitment to the Common African Position and attendance at the meeting.

He thanked his Sierra Leonean counterpart, His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio for his unwavering time and efforts in coordinating the C-10.

The Dakar Ministerial Level Meeting, President Macky Sall said, was an opportunity for them to evaluate the ongoing New York negotiations on the Common African Position on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council.

He called on his African counterparts to be firm and steadfast on the Common African Position for 2 Permanent Seats with veto rights and 2 Non-permanent Seats at the UN Security Council.

CAN Raises Concerns over Limkokwing University Saga

Thomas Moore Conteh Citizens' Advocacy Network (CAN)

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Citizens’ Advocacy Network (CAN) on Thursday 16th January, 2020, in a letter addressed to the Minister of Tertiary and Higher Education, New England Ville, Freetown raised concerns over the deadlock or seeming hampering of the educational future of young Sierra Leoneans at Limkokwing University.

In a Press Release the organization stated that their attention has been drawn to the seeming deadlock in negotiation between your Ministry and the LIMKOKWING UNIVERSITY of Creative Technology adding that a similar situation occurred last year, but said that the office of the Ministry of Tertiary and Higher Education did the most conscionable thing by looking at the future of their Sierra Leonean children above all else.

CAN maintained that their engagement was impressive and it rekindled hope and gave great reassurances to many Sierra Leonean students across the country who are benefitting from the quality, top-notch, contemporary and modern education suited for the 21st century delivered at this globalized University.

The organization said it appreciates the strides of the Government to upstage the value of relevant education in transforming the destiny of Sierra Leone, noting that they respect the decency with which agreements of the past government around the corridors of education are being managed and they fervently pray that good conscience prevails in dealing with the future of Sierra Leonean citizens.

“Granting scholarships to students to access the same quality education acquired by students in other European nations at their doorstep, lives true to improving the human resource for quality output, which is in line with President Bio’s vision in delivering transformative education”, CAN maintained.

It registered the belief that registration of students on scholarship has been stalled and it denies them their fundamental right to education enunciated by national, regional or international instruments, lamenting that a good number of Sierra Leonean students that gained scholarships are already on the verge of completion and that the seeming protracted or unending negotiations stand fatal to their employment opportunities and creates room for more disgruntlement and frustration, adding to the already precarious economic condition of the nation.

CAN underscored that they cannot afford to keep repeating the mistakes of the past, which stands inimical to our progress, and the students did not ask for such. It noted that this will generate bad blood and conscript more depressed or disgruntled youths who could be agents of unthinkable atrocities, which the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Report spoke wisdom to such situations.
CAN called on the office of the Ministry of Tertiary and Higher Education and all parties involved to resolve this issue and give oxygen to the dreams of Sierra Leoneans who are being choked or suffocated by this deadlock in negotiations.

Electronics Expenditure Management System to take over PETS

By Amin Kef Sesay

In line with the National Innovation and Digital Strategy (NIDS) that was launched by President Julius Maada Bio, the Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), have been working on digital interventions to ensure fiscal discipline and the efficient and effective utilization of public funds and one of such interventions is the introduction of the Electronics Expenditure Management System (EEMS).

This system is a web-based system jointly designed and developed by the Ministry of Finance and DSTI to streamline and automate the end-to-end processing of payments in the public service, from the paper-based PETS forms and vouchers.

In rolling out of the EEMS, the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) on the 15th January 2020 at the Miatta Conference Hall in Freetown, trained cabinet Ministers and Deputies on Electronics Public Expenditure Tracking Survey (E-PETS).

The Business Analyst at the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation, Madam Binta Diop, said the new approach to process PETS forms and vouchers has been extensively reviewed and tested so as to reduce processing time for payment and increased users’ convenience, improve on tracking and enhance transparency in public sector transactions.

According to her, some of the key benefits of the system are that it can help vote controllers and other relevant stakeholders to track their forms in real time, both internally within their Ministries, Departments and Agencies and externally in the Ministry of Finance. The app makes it easier for vote controllers to approve forms, and also make auditing purposes much easier.

After the training, the joint team from DSTI and MoF will be conducting training for all users to ensure ease of utilizing the system.

MoF and DSTI are working on the roll out of the EEMS to MDAs including Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) users, and it is expected to be completed by 1st April this year.

 

Pres. Bio Re-Echoes Commitment to Accomplish SDGs 

By Sam Pratt

During an interview at the Future Sustainability Summit on the margins of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, President Bio reiterated his Government’s commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Speaking on two of the Sustainable Development Goals; Education and Peace and Justice, the President spoke about progress his Government had made in the area of education through the Free Quality Education Programme, providing access to education for over two million children.

He spoke about the importance of investment in education and called for young people to take advantage of accessing quality education so that they could be meaningful to the development process.

He also spoke about Government’s efforts at consolidating peace and increasing access to justice for ordinary people. President Bio also told the delegates about his Government’s commitment to establishing an infrastructure for peace through a Commission for Peace and National Cohesion.

During the interview, the President also spoke about investment opportunities in Sierra Leone, especially in the energy sector. He also advised other African Governments to prioritise the use of science, technology and innovation in governance.

 

Danny Saad cries for justice

By Abdul Hassan Fackie

Proprietor of the Samjana Pharmacy, situated at 5 Upper East Street in Freetown, has said that he is frustrated that since he appealed against a High Court judgment in early June of 2014, his case has never been called for hearing at the Appeals Court of Sierra Leone.

Narrating his ordeal to this medium, Mr. Danny Saad explained that he appealed against a judgment made against his pharmacy in a matter he brought against the Reliance Insurance Trust Corporation (RITCORP) sometime in 2012 for non-payment in respect of medicines he had supplied the company, which refused to honour its bills.
He revealed that the amount that was owed him by the RITCORP at the time was about one hundred and five million Leones (Le 105,000,000.00), which was equivalent to about thirty thousand Dollars ($30,000) at the time.

He further explained that he was dismayed when on 12th March, 2014, Justice N. C. Browne-Marke dismissed his matter and ordered him to bear the costs.
“This judgment has adversely affected my business to the extent that I have not been able to pay most of my debts,” he tearfully stated, averring that his business is now in a virtual state of collapse.

He pointed out that while he respects the judgment of the High Court, he is of the opinion that he has enough legal grounds to appeal against the judgment and win it.
He lamented that for close to six years now since his Lawyer filed his appeal on 10th June, 2014, his case has not yet been called for hearing.
He concluded by appealing to the Chief Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards to kindly visit his matter and expedite his appeal so that he can be given the opportunity to prove his claims and retrieve his money.

Stats SL Hosts UNFPA Country Rep & Team  

By Theresa Kef Sesay

Statistician General, Prof. Osman Sankoh, received the UNFPA Country Representative to Sierra Leone, Dr Kim Eva Dickson and team including Dr Chris Oyeyipo and David Kanu at his AJ Momoh Street office in Freetown on Tuesday 14th January 2020, when they paid a courtesy call on him.

In his statement to the UNFPA team, Prof. Osman Sankoh said that Stats SL now has a strong governance structure to be proud of with a new Deputy Statistician General and very qualified Directors that are performance driven. He intimated the team that when he took over, there was need to not only right-size the institution, but to also gain credibility by employing qualified staff.

He said, he recommended the creation of new divisions namely: Communications and Public Relations, Operations, National Statistical System and Internal Audit which he said is critical in ensuring internal controls and compliance to processes, procedures and policies.

He told the UNFPA Country Rep that Stats SL is blessed to be keenly supported by Government, adding that the Government through the Ministry of Finance has paid all the allocated budget for 2019, which is an indication that the Government realises the importance of Stats SL.

Prof. Sankoh informed the UNFPA team that as the Central Statistics Office charged by law to coordinate, collect, compile, analyse, accredit and disseminate high quality and objective official Statistics, one major challenge as is the case with almost all over the world, is the upsurge in the proliferation of open data, especially when  a plethora of institutions and research organisations produce data and then feel that they are as well competent, which sometimes challenges the position of the Central Statistics Office.

Concerning the accreditation of all official Statistics Produced within Sierra Leone, he informed the UNFPA team that this will be discussed at the 51st session of the UN Statistical Commission in New York, where Sierra Leone will start sitting as one of only 8 African countries, starting March 2020, for the next four years. He also made it known  that the parliamentary sub-committee on finance had  also backed STATS SL to have a legislation that will coerce every research institution in the country to get accreditation from Stats SL for every research work done. He said that Stats SL is in the process of starting the legislative process.

On using technology solutions in data collection, Prof Sankoh said that recent surveys like the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, the Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey and the recent Demographic and Health Survey were all done using Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI), which is a tablet based data collection. He furthered that the proposed Midterm Census to be undertaken in December 2020 will be with the use of tablets which will be a first in Sierra Leone.

He concluded by assuring the Country Representative that Stats SL is a credible partner that will do all it takes to ensure that the institution delivers on its promise of Credible Data to the populace of Sierra Leone.

In her response, the Country Representative of UNFPA, Dr Kim Eva Dickson, expressed delight at the warm reception accorded her and her team whilst commending the Stats SL team for the incredible facelift that has been given to the Stats SL headquarters, which she said was a far cry from when last visited. She expressed regret that she is only coming to visit now since Prof Sankoh(Mallam O) took over as SG, but is more than happy to meet the new management team. She said she had no doubts when she first heard that Prof Sankoh was the new SG as she had heard commendations and trust for Prof Sankoh since her days as a house officer.

She said another purpose of the visit was to renew UNFPA’s implementing Partner (IP) agreement with Stats SL and present a few office items to management. She expressed UNFPA’s commitment to supporting the Midterm Census, especially because it is of national interest and registered UNFPA’s continued desire to supporting Stats SL.

In few words, the Deputy Statistician General, Andrew Bob Johnny, told the UNFPA Country Rep that he is particularly pleased with the unflinching support that UNFPA has provided over the years to Stats SL through representatives that have come and gone.

The session ended with the presentation of office equipment from the UNFPA team to Stats SL, which included 3 Lenovo Laptops, 3 Lenovo 27 screens, 3 keyboard and mouse, 3 dockstation, 3 carrying Bags (Backpack), 3 MS office user license and 3 HP LaserJet Pro printers.

 

Pottery Production Techniques at MMCET Gets Chinese Embassy Sponsorship

Cross-section of the audience at the ceremony

By Foday Moriba Conteh

On Tuesday 14th January 2020, the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology (MMCET) polytechnic officially opened a training course on Pottery Production Techniques for Sierra Leone sponsored by the Chinese Embassy in Freetown.

The ceremony was held at the Great Hall of the Goderich campus in Freetown.

In his statement, the Principal of MMCET, Dr. Philip John Kanu intimated that the training is commencing at the right time and commended the Governments of Sierra Leone and China for their support to the college, affirming that it is not the first time the Chinese Embassy has supported the college.

The Principal also highlighted that the college is the only institution of higher learning in the country renowned for offering courses in Arts and Crafts, Performing and Practical Arts, Music, Technical and Vocational Education and therefore appealed to the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education to help transform it to a Technical University in the country.

Earlier, the Vice Principal and Director of Studies, Dr. Mohamed Alie Jalloh, revealed that the training for 45 participants, is a technical/vocational skills training program aimed at empowering youths and that it would last for 42 days.

The Economic and Commercial Counselor in the Chinese Embassy, Mr. Zhang Xuequiann asserted that the course is being sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

Formally declaring the ceremony opened, the Director of Technical/Vocational Education in the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Dr. Victor Massaquoi, informed the audience that the Ministry has two major programs: Higher and Technical Education, noting that the training would enhance the technical capacity of the participants to help them become self-reliant, support their communities and in the process reduce crime rate.

Ms. Du Mengyi, Project Manager in the Chinese Embassy and the College’s Registrar, Mr. Sheriffu Bangura, also made salient statements.

Accused of Illegal Acquisition of Properties… Lawyer Kowa ‘Nails’ Ex-Pres. Koroma

Ernest Bai Koroma

By Brima Sannoh

It has become noticeable that most have lost interest in the proceedings of the Commissions of Inquiry that were set up by the current SLPP led Government to look into areas that have to do with financial impropriety by public officials from the period starting 2007 to 2018 and come up with recommendations.

However, it is worthy of note that the three Commissions of Inquiry established are now in the final phase of wrapping up their work.

On Tuesday January 14th 2020, one of the State Counsels in his final submission to the Justice Bankole Thompson expounded on the illegal acquisition of wealth by former President Ernest Bai Koroma.

Lawyer Robert Kowa, taking his time to delve into the assets of the former President, his official salary for the duration of his Presidency and some other startling revelations, divulged to the public that former President Koroma’s salary for the entire duration of his Presidency was around Le 3.9 billion, but he amassed money in excess of Le 103.9 billion – a sum way above his legal earning.

Lawyer Kowa also disclosed that some houses in the country that were subjects of investigation by the Commission have been linked to the former President. He said even after notices had been put out by the Commission for the owners of those houses to produce documents showing ownership of the properties, they never did, adding that they were said to be former President Koroma’s illegally acquired houses in the name of surrogates. State Counsel Kowa recommended the seizure of the properties and a ban on the former President from holding public office.

Lawyer for the former President, Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, was at pains to counter Lawyer Kowa’s very strong position on his client. Lawyer Joseph F. Kamara said his client acquired some earnings through his insurance business and that he indicated that in his asset declaration. The former Attorney General said some of the properties attributed to former President Koroma were properties belonging to other persons who are in possession of conveyances speaking to such.

 

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