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Sam-Sumana Resigns from C4C Party

Samuel Sam Sumana

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The former founding architect and Leader of the Coalition for Change (C4C) Samuel Sam Sumana has on Saturday 4th January 2020 tendered his resignation letter from the Coalition for Change (C4C) party. This disclosure was made during a press conference held at the party’s office on Edward Lane, in Freetown on Tuesday 7th January, 2020.

According to the latest disclosure, he tendered his resignation with a heavy heart from the Coalition for Change (C4C) party. Sam-Sumana stated that they created the party in order to serve the political will of the people furthering how they envisioned a country where every citizen will be treated with equal opportunity saying he is sadly tendering his resignation from the party for the continuation of his political journey.

He expressed thanks and appreciation to the people of Sierra Leone and especially residents of Kono District for their robust show of loyalty and support in his sojourn and to every single individual, at home and abroad, for their diverse support in his C4C journey.

He also thanked the National Chairman, Mr. Tamba R. Sandi and the National Secretary General, Mr. Koighor Aloysious Foh and the entire Executive for their unflinching support recorded  during his leadership.

“Finally, I would also like to extend my special gratitude to all C4C members and supporters for their devoted support in every election that we conducted, which continues to afford the party a say in national governance,” he maintained.

Speaking at the conference the National Chairman, Coalition for Change (C4C) ,Tamba R. Sandi informed that the former C4C leader officially resigned from the party, but assured the general public that as a party they are more than committed to move the party.

He said the party was founded three months to the 2018 general elections, adding that regardless being a new party they are the third largest party in Parliament with over 8 seats.

He reiterated that regardless the resignation of the leader Samuel Sam Sumana C4C remains to be a political party because they have responsibilities with Honorables and Councilors representing them both in Parliament and Councils, adding that they are ready to participate in all elections that will be conducted including the 2023 election which they believe with their fundable team will march them to State House come 2023.

“We are well prepared to hold our delegates conference this weekend”  – Sidi Yaya Tunis

Acting Publicity Officer of the All Peoples Congress (APC) Sidi Yaya Tunis

By Sam Pratt

The Acting Publicity Officer of the All Peoples Congress (APC) Sidi Yaya Tunis has told Calabash that the party’s weekend delegate’s conference will takes place in Port Loko this weekend of January 11, 12 and 13th.

Mr. Tunis said the arrangements have almost completed as the deputy Leader of the party and the Secretary General were in Port Loko Last week to check the facilities to make sure that they will be able to host all the delegates, observers and journalists during the conference.

He said the Finance committee too has worked relentlessly to raise enough funds to meet the financial demands. He also thanked the former MPs who he said made a Le30 million donation few days ago.

“On the delegates list, we will be using the one we used in the last convention in Makeni as we hope to have over 600 members across the country and the Diaspora who will be present to take the required decision for the better and stronger party.”

When asked the reason for this convention of conference, Sidi Yaya Tunis said they are going to Port Loko for two main reasons – the first he said is to look at the revised constitution and vote on it to be the one the party will be working with and secondly to fix a date for the next delegates conference that they will be able to choose the part executives and flag bearer for 2023.

“During this conference delegates will look at the constitution whether to make more inputs or amend areas that they deem unnecessary, but it is very clear that the constitution will be adopted and becomes the new bible of the party. The new constitution is what will take us to an elective congress and the date will be set as we are looking to towards end of this year.”

He said the current 1995 constitution is what will take them to the convention. Sidi said that members that are yet to pay their dues must do so as the party needs their financial support to get the party on track as he said they are poised to get their acts together and be the formidable opposition.

“Sierra Leoneans say we are not performing our role as opposition party that is not true, we have been playing our role by calling press conference, sending our press releases and also having discussions on radio and TV to constructively criticize the government and we will continue to do that after our convention.”

The acting Publicity Secretary said averred that during the conference they might discuss other items during any other business as there might be many issues to discuss as they are expecting the matter of the nine MPs appeal cases that are yet to be heard, the Constituency 110 election, the terminal leave of the Chief Electoral Commissioner issue, the incarceration of their members etc.

Mr Sidi Yaya Tunis said the party hierarchy understands that this conference is very important to bring all comrades together as the party needs to be united and strong. He said they believe that there are challenges but they are not insurmountable because they are humans and they will definitely unite and be prepared to take over 2023.

He called on all Sierra Leoneans to be patient as everybody is complaining about the hardship and economic problems they are facing, but said things will change when they come back in 2023.

Sulaiman Bangura Wins Orange Le75m Grand Prize

Yulisa Ahmadu and Kindo Armani doing the draw

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The end of year Orange draw came to an end on Saturday with Sulaiman Bangura winning the grand prize of Le75 million.

Receiving the call on Saturday, Sulaiman said he was an Orange Agent and that was the first time he has won such prize. “I am very excited and happy to have been lucky enough to have won the grand prize as I have always loyal to Orange. That call on Saturday changed my life for good and I want to thank Orange for organizing this end of year draw. “

Sulaiman said he has been told that the Le75 million is worth of goods rather than cash as Orange wants to create more business men. He said he will make sure that his agency grew bigger and will do other business to expand his scope.

On the last draw on Saturday, 20 people were also winners winning one million Leones each. 18 subscribers and two Orange money winners made up the 20 winners.

Yulisa Ahmadu who in collaboration with comedian Kindo Armani said they were happy to have organized the draw as over 300 subscribers were able to win prizes and appeal to all subscribers tot continue to use Orange because it is the best mobile with quality network and affordable services.

He said those that have won will understand that Orange always do what they say. “As we start another year, we want to promise all our customers that our services will expand and more goodies will be unveiled for all. We continue to work in the interest of our subscribers and the country, because Orange mobile is the best.”

ACC Updates the Press on Auditor General’s 2018 Report

Anti -Corruption Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala

At a press conference held at the St, George Cathedral Hall in Freetown, the Anti -Corruption Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala told journalists and Civil Society representatives present at the meeting that after perusal of the Auditor General’s 2019 Audit Report, they discovered that certain issues dating back to 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 were captured in the report. This venture by the Auditor General, he said, is a composite analysis of the financial transactions of MDAs and Commissions, including those that took place in 2018.

Ben Kaifala furthered that during their examination of the Report, they discovered that some of the issues raised have been investigated and actions taken, some are currently under investigation and others will be given immediate attention. He went on to say that there are issues that investigations have been completed on by the Commission and the persons of interest have been ordered to pay back those monies, in other cases some payment have been done and further payments are due, according to the arrangements made with the persons of interest. In some other cases, they have charged the matters to Court, whilst others are being investigated.

He noted with dismay the discovery in the Report about failure on the part of the National Revenue Authority (NRA) to collect outstanding GST from known businesses. That institution, he maintained, has the mandate to even get the Court to order the culprits to honour their debts. However, he said the ACC will engage the NRA on those issues and if they fail to retrieve those monies, the ACC will take the necessary actions to get the defaulters to comply.

Ben Kaifala further outlined the various issues in the Audit Report that borders on the past years, noting that various Ministries have issues and the following have been put on priority list for immediate investigation: Ministry of Finance, Local Government Ministry, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ministry of Information and Communications, Ministry of Transport and Aviation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Judiciary etc.

He stressed that the ACC will be working closely with Parliament to ensure accountability for the missing funds. He noted that the Parliament of Sierra Leone has the constitutional mandate to investigate all matters of corruption and because of the volume of work on its hand, it decided to form the ACC. Thus the Commission is not usurping the powers of Parliament, but rather working on their behalf for the good of the people of Sierra Leone. Kaifala hastened to say whilst there are cases of corruption to be investigated, yet it does not mean that when the Report say documentary evidence has not been provided for some transactions, that an act of corruption has taken place.

It could be that at the time of the auditing of the respective MDAs the receipts for the said transactions were not provided, but may well be in the possession of the respective institutions. In this regard, he referred to an incident in which an Audit Report disclosed that some Le2.6 billion was not accounted for by the Ministry of Works, but during their investigation, they discovered that they were looking in the wrong places, whilst the money was lying safely in an account at the Bank of Sierra Leone.

He further disclosed that at NASSIT a huge amount said to be unaccounted for is due to the fact that the official who had the password for the machine where the details are inputed, abandoned his post and took with him the password, as a result the figures cannot be reconciled as no one was able to access the data in the machine.

He stressed that issues of 2018 will be immediately dealt with and that they will be holding consultations with Parliament on those issues, especially as the Parliamentary Committee on Accounts should examine and release a report on the said Audit Report before any action is taken on them. He however assured the audience that the ACC is poised to do all in its power to ensure that the missing funds are recovered and if need be, the Persons of Interest charged to Court. Either way, the monies will be retrieved, he stressed.

He urged the media to let the people know that an Audit Report is no longer an opinion, but a fact that should be investigated and the culprits brought to book. On the issue of  the Treasury Single Account, Francis Ben Kaifala said that it involves a combination of accounts under one umbrella, thus defending the issue of the ACC having some 15 Accounts. Those Accounts, he said, were opened by the Accountant General for the Commission and are being regularly viewed by the AG.

He praised Sierra Leoneans for taking keen interest in the way tax payers’ monies being expended and assured them that the ACC will ensure that they are used for the right purposes.

A question and answer session climaxed the Press Briefing.

Mercury, Michael Family Lead “Freetown the Tree Town” Campaign With Over Le 130 Million

Managing Director, Mr Martin Michael

By Theresa Kef Sesay

Mercury International Company SL Ltd does not only make millionaires, but also create the enabling environment for Sierra Leoneans to actualize their dreams.

This was again demonstrated on the 3rd January 2020 at Radisson Blu Hotel, where Mercury International, Radio Mercury and the Michael family pledged a total sum of One Hundred and Forty Million Leones (Le 140,000,000) as a support to the Freetown City Council’s “Freetown The Tree Town Campaign,” which will see a total of 1 million trees planted in the country’s capital city.

Proudly making the said pledge at the official launching ceremony of “The Mayors Ball 2020”, the country’s leading Sports Betting and Lottery Company Managing Director, Mr. Martin Michael, said, as a company, Mercury International will donate One Hundred Million Leones (Le 100,000,000) with a further pledge of Le 30,000,000 (Thirty Million Leones) on behalf of the Michael family.

The sum of 10,000,000 (Ten Million Leones) was also pledged by the Consultant of Radio Mercury, Samuel Valcarcel.

“Pledge to the planting of trees in Freetown and by we-I mean Mercury International and the Michael family- we look forward to seeing our trees grow in the coming years and to see a plush greenery Freetown,” the Managing Director said, adding that: “I am passionate about the environment. As a company, Mercury International is dedicated to the protection of the environment. I was impressed by the passion of both the Minister of Environment and our brilliant Mayor, Yvonne Aki-Sawyer hence we had no hesitation in making substantial support.”

This is not the first time the country’s leading Sports Betting and Lottery Company is demonstrating such patriotic responsibility, in February 2019, Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr together with workers of Freetown City Council (FCC) applauded Mercury International for becoming the first private sector company to support their “Transform Freetown” initiative project.

The Mayor received 30 donated “Street Rubbish Collection Bins” and later received an additional 70 as the company’s support towards the “Transform Freetown” initiative project.

The “Transform Freetown” initiative like the “Freetown The Tree Town Campaign” by the FCC aimed at changing the city

by addressing 11 priority areas, falls under four clusters: Human Development, Healthy Cities, Resilience, and Urban Mobility.

 

To be able to tackle these challenges, three priority sectors – environmental management, revenue mobilization and urban planning and housing – are considered to help achieve this.

Managing Director, Mr. Martin Michael & Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr

African Vision Offers Confectionaries & Cash to Hospitalized Kids

By Amin Kef Sesay

On Monday 6th January 2020, African Vision, a charity organisation, based in the USA, offered an assorted package of confectionaries to children at the Ola During Hospital commonly known as ‘Cottage Hospital’, and at Ward 1 in the Connaught Hospital.

Speaking to the mothers of the sick kids, the President of African Vision, Madam Warrah George and her husband, who is the Vice President, Thomas George, told them that they are a Christ-based charitable organisation, with a vision to care for the needy, less privileged and vulnerable children and women. Being Sierra Leoneans, they thought it fit to start at home. Madam Warrah disclosed to the expectant parents that she was a nurse in her early years in Sierra Leone and has worked with children and the sick. She further stated that God has given her the vision to serve humanity and provide hope for the hopeless. She encouraged them to put their trust in God, as he is the only one that can make them well and change any situation.

She praised the medical staff for their devotion to duty, admonishing them that their reward is from God, as no amount of money can adequately make up for the time and energy they give to the sick. She told the parents looking after their kids at the Ola During Step Down Unit as well as its Observation Unit that they should not lose hope and that God cares for them and their kids and will see to it that they get better.

Matron Francess Pearce of the Ola During Hospital told this medium that the Step Down Unit is where kids that have been taken from the Intensive Care Unit in the facility are stabilized and those that are brought in to the hospital, in cases of emergency, are observed for 24 hours at the Observation Unit. At the Step Down Unit some 40 kids are admitted.

Distribution of packets of biscuits, cookies and other confectionaries were given to the parents, plus some cash in envelopes to enable them purchase some toiletries for the kids. Some of the parents expressed appreciation to the team of African Vision for their kind gesture and prayed for Gods continuous blessings on their lives and endeavours.

This event climaxed the series of donations to vulnerable and less privileged people across the city by the organisation. They started on the 23rd December at the female Correctional Centre at New England, where they offered food items and drinks to some 66 inmates and to other 99 male inmates located at the Special Court at New England, where they are being rehabilitated. On 30th December 2019, the team visited less privileged, homeless and physically challenged people sleeping roughly on the streets, between the Law Courts Building and East End Police Station in Freetown. They too were given food and drinks and words of encouragement and prayers offered for them.

As She Speaks on the Legal Framework on Sexual & Gender based Violence… The Administrator & Registrar General Warns Offenders

Administrator and Registrar General (ARG), Saptieu Saccoh

By Brima Sannoh

The Administrator and Registrar General (ARG), Saptieu Saccoh has said that offenders should rethink their actions against women to avoid spending their lives in jail. She made the statement during a presentation at the Annual Radiance Girls’ Empowerment Conference held in the city of Kenema.

The ARG acknowledged the good work of President Julius Maada Bio and his able wife Fatima in fighting for women’s rights in the country. She noted that the proactive stance by the President in addressing issues affecting women and girls is timely. This, she stressed has helped to uphold the dignity of women and thanked all institutions, organizations and individuals that supported the government in putting laws in place that will protect women and girls.

Dilating on the Legal Framework of Sexual & Gender Based Violence, the legal luminary said the 2019 Sexual Offences Act, which is an amendment to the 2012 has sections that offenders should be mindful of and stressed that the maximum punishment for sexual penetration and rape is life imprisonment.  She said offenders should have a second thought about the punishment that awaits them and described those having sexual affairs with kids as evil and lack conscience.

She explained the different sentencing periods based on age or position of offenders including 5 years, 10 years, 15 years to that life imprisonment.

Lawyer Saccoh also advised religious leaders, family members and chiefs to avoid being stumbling block to sexual offences going to court, saying the fine for such action is Le 10 million or the individual serves a jail term of 1 year or both. She said the court is the only competent place to handle sexual offence matters.

She expressed concern over the action of offenders that have caused so many pains and distress to young girls in society and called on all to respect the dignity of women. She noted that because of the humiliation surrounding sexual violence, women have been calling for the worst punishment for offenders.

Being a female lawyer, Saptieu Saccoh was however careful in juxtaposing the law as against her personal emotions saying the law must be respected. She called for collective effort in the fight against sexual based violence.

The ARG praised Radiance Girls’ Empowerment for organising such a conference, which she said will help to keep people alert and be mindful of their actions.

The Organizer, of the programme, State Counsel Abigail Suwu, thanked the ARG for brilliantly explaining the Legal Framework on Sexual and Gender based Violence to the people of Kenema, saying Lawyer Saptieu Saccoh has shown concern for women and girls’ rights. She said even though this is a festive season and amist the busy schedule of the ARG, she still considered women’s issues paramount, which made her to travel to Kenema to do the presentation.
Lawyer Suwu said the programme was to complement government’s efforts in its fight against cruelty to women and girls.

Over Gay marriage… UMC Bishop Yambasu States Position

Exterior of the First United Methodist Church of Chicago, on West Washington Street in Chicago, seen on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune/TNS)..

By Theresa Kef

A controversial development within the United Methodist Church in the United States is to debate splitting in two after members and ministers were unable to resolve their differences over gay marriage and gay ordination. Sierra Leone’s United Methodist Church Bishop Yambasu stated a strong position.

He said : “All of us are servants of the church and realise that we are not the primary decision makers on these matters. Instead, we humbly offer to the delegates of the 2020 General Conference the work which we have accomplished in the hopes that it will help heal the harms and conflicts within the body of Christ and free us to be more effective witnesses to God’s Kingdom.”

Church representatives on both sides of the debate over human sexuality have drawn up an eight-page “Protocol of Reconciliation and Grace Through Separation” which would mean legislation being put to this year’s General Conference to institute formal schism.

Division of assets has been agreed. Assuming it goes through, each Methodist congregation in the denomination, which has more than 13 million members worldwide, with roughly half these in the US, will have to vote if members wish to join the new conservative Methodist church resulting from the split.

The plan will lead to the formation of a new traditionalist Methodist denomination, which will be given $25 million over the next four years by the post-split United Methodist Church.

In a statement, the Church’s Council of Bishops said the action “comes amid heightened tensions in the church over conflicting views related to human sexuality”. An attempt to resolve the issues at a special session of the conference last year ended in failure.

Most support for a progressive direction comes from US Methodists, with the bulk of the opposition from countries such as those in the Global South, religious demographic also reflected in debates in the Anglican Communion on the same issues.

The 16-strong group that drew up the protocol used mediation and dispute resolution techniques before finalising the new plans, with pro-bono advice given by attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who served as special master of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and also as administrator of the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Compensation Fund.

The protocol states: “The undersigned propose restructuring The United Methodist Church by separation as the best means to resolve our differences, allowing each part of the Church to remain true to its theological understanding, while recognising the dignity, equality, integrity, and respect of every person.”

The protocol is signed by representatives from Europe, Africa, the Philippines and the US.

The bishops said: “An additional $2 million would be allocated for potential additional new Methodist denominations which may emerge from the UMC. Acknowledging the historical role of the Methodist movement in systematic racial violence, exploitation and discrimination, the Protocol would allocate $39 million to ensure there is no disruption in supporting ministries for communities historically marginalised by racism.

“Under the Protocol, conferences and local congregations could vote to separate from the United Methodist Church to affiliate with new Methodist denominations created under the agreement within a certain time frame. Churches wishing to stay within the UMC would not be required to conduct a vote. Provisions exist for entities that choose to separate to retain their assets and liabilities.”

In the meantime, states the Protocol, “all administrative or judicial processes addressing restrictions in the Book of Discipline related to self-avowed practising homosexuals or same-sex weddings shall be held in abeyance.”

The schism plan was greeted with comment from both sides on Twitter. Ibram X Kendi, director of the Anti-Racism Centre in Washington, tweeted: “This makes me recall when Christian denominations split over slavery before emancipation. How do the pro-slavery denominations look today? The same way the so-called ‘traditionalist Methodist’ church looks today and will certainly look 100 years from now.”

Andrew T. Walker, professor at the Southern Baptist Seminary, tweeted: “Though tragic, this is inevitable and necessary. Faithfulness and unfaithfulness cannot coexist. It is not the “traditionalists” who are being schismatics. Those abandoning Scripture, reason, nature, and history are the ones being divisive.”

 

“China will do more for Sierra Leone” Amb. Hu says

Chinese Ambassador Hu Zhangliang

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Chinese Ambassador Hu Zhangliang has told this medium that his country believes in Sierra Leone and will do more to help the country develop. He made these comments after he was on hand to donate vehicles and bikes to Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to turn the sod for the construction in the Military.

Amb. Hu said during the FOCAC summit in Beijing, President Bio and his counterpart Xi Jinping had a friendly conversation and it was from that conversation that the Chinese government was able to make donation of fleets of vehicles to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“In order to give foreign VIP guests a diplomatic and dignify welcome, the Government of China through its Embassy has donated 31 fleets of cars to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAIC) at the Ministry Tower Hill office in Freetown. The fleets include 5 VVIP vehicles, 5 protocol vehicles, 5 official vehicles, 3 Costal buses, 1 Ambulance, 2 supporting cars and 10 VIP police escort motor bikes.”

The Ambassador said handing over the vehicles to Mrs Nabila Tunis who is the Minister of Foreign Affairs was a gesture he was looking forward to and hop that this year the dignitaries that will come will definitely have the status they deserve.

“Mrs Nabila Tunis was very happy to have received these gifts on behalf of the government and she praised China for their continued support. I have promised him that we will not relent but will continue to support Sierra Leone to be a great nation.”

Also,  Amb. Hu with President Bio had turned the sod for the construction of the Officers’ Mess and Single Officers’ Quarters.

During the turning of sod Ambassafor Hu Zhangliang said that the project was the brainchild of President Bio and the result of friendly discussions between the two countries, adding that the gesture was a shining example of the fruitful cooperation between the two countries. He noted that after relentless efforts in communication and coordination at the earlier stages, the project was formally breaking ground.

He also mentioned that the Officers’ Mess and Single Officers’ Quarters would be brand new, the first-class complex, which when completed would go a long way in improving the living conditions of the officers of the RSLAF, bringing them a stronger sense of honour and happiness. He said it would raise the logistics support capabilities and morale of the RSLAF.

The Ambassador averred that the project is a result of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Governments of Sierra Leone and the People’s Republic China, PRC, that included military aid grants to the value of 50 million Yuan ($7.2 million) for the construction of a five-storey building comprising 104 rooms with all modern facilities for single officers. Also, the Myohaung Officers’ Mess would be completely demolished and replaced with a brand new and expanded Officers’ Mess of two floors with ultra-modern facilities, according to the agreement.

“I want to assure the president and the people of Sierra Leone that the Local Content would be in effect as more that 80% of the workforce will be Sierra Leoneans. Take a look at all Chinese project ion Sierra Leone and you will see that there are more Sierra Leoneans working than the Chinese nationals because we believe in the laws of the country and we want to help give more employment to the locals.”

President Bio was happy for the project and is still looking for more support from the Chinese government in the future.

Turning of Sod for the military buildings
The design of the new Officers Mess and the Officers quarters
Some of the vehicles donated by Chinese govt.
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