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SL Mining Ltd… Glaring Record Of Dealing Dishonestly With The Govt And People Of Sierra Leone

By Amin Kef Sesay – 18 August 2019

One of the campaign promises of President Julius Maada Bio was to attract genuine and legitimate investors and to negotiate fair and better deals that will be benefit the people of Sierra Leone.

He also constantly emphasized on a win-win situations for both the people and the investors who would be investing in the country.

The recent stand off or for want of a better expression chicanery by Sierra Leone Mining and the robust position of the government of Sierra Leone is another demonstration of the Bio led administration’s commitment to sanitise our mining sector, bring benefits to the people and resist fleecing and extortion by some so called investors.

 Performance Bond

According to the Mining Lease Agreement of 2017, between the GoSL and Sierra Leone Mining, the latter was to pay $1,000,000 (One million dollars) as performance bond to the former. It is a shock for any reasonable person now to hear the company denying knowledge of any such arrangement when there are documents to the effect.

This does not only show the deceitful nature of the company but also an attempt to circumvent rules as stipulated in their contract with the GoSL.

Fact On Arms Length Sales And Advanced Pricing

Arms-length sales terms is a clause in the Mines and Minerals Act of 2009 that gives powers to government to know tonnage (quantum) of export, destination, buyer and price of minerals being shipped from Sierra Leone (advanced pricing).

This allows government to do proper calculation of royalties and other financial obligations by any company in order to determine what financial inflows go to the GoSL from the sale of its precious minerals.

In the recent past, government has activated this clause in dealing with SLM in order to maximise its benefits from the shipments made so far in June and July, the company has recoiled and refused to cooperate.

False Declarations By SL Mining

SLM after realising that government is insistent on going strictly by the terms of their contract and the MMA of 2009, embarked on false declaration and deceit.  It has given fictitious figures as prices of iron ore, and made false declarations to the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Resources about the destination of the ore shipped in June and July this year.

At a time when the world market price of iron ore was going for $123 per tonne, SLM had the effrontery to tell GoSL it sold its Marampa blue ore at $78 per tonne. But that was not the end of the deceit game of SLM. When pushed by GoSL as to who they sold the ore to, they mentioned a subsidiary company of theirs, which in turn sold to a third party company in China at the world market price.

This in effect means they got the ore and sold to themselves at a cheaper price than the world market price, declared the undervalued sales to government, and then made 100% profit by selling to the third party.

By their own calculations, GoSL was only going to receive about $330,000 (three hundred and thirty thousand dollars) from the Marampa Blue ore shipments of June and July. Government kicked against the entire paltry payment they wanted to make to it, and instead gave them calculations based on existing world market price at the time, which could have fetched them (SLM) about $22M with government getting at least $630,000 (six hundred and thirty thousand dollars). They rejected it and have now gone on a campaign of calumny against the government of Sierra Leone.

No Right To Assets

According to Sierra Leone Mining’s contract of 2017, the company was only given mineral rights at Marampa, but never given rights to the assets they met on ground, which were owned by Timis Corporation, its predecessor company that was owned by Frank Timis but went into liquidation. SLM was to enter into a phased payment plan for the mines assets, according to section 54 of the MMA of 2009, but reneged on this clause. The mines assets had been valued by GoSL at $16M (sixteen million dollars) and SLM was to enter a payment plan of the said sum, but refused to.

Taxes and Other Dues

According to calculations done, SLM owes the government an estimated $2.9M (two million nine hundred thousand dollars) from taxes and other duties, since they started operations in 2017.

In the midst of all of these breaches and violations of the laws of the land and their contract, government has asked for a meeting with SLM by September 30, for a review or renegotiation of their contract. They have refused that offer and instead taken a confrontational posture against government using blackmail and threat of legal action.

 

 

 

Sierra Leone Education, Transport Ministers Discuss School Bus Service

Education Minister, Alhaji Alpha Osman Timbo

 

Minister of Transport and Aviation, Kabineh Kallon

By Sarah Kallay – 18 August 2019

The Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Alhaji Alpha Osman Timbo, has joined the Minister of Transport and Aviation, Kabineh Kallon, to accelerate plans for the commencement of the operations of the school buses as part of the Free Quality Education package.

The meeting was held at the Minister of Transport’s office at Youyi Building 7th floor on Wednesday 14th August 2019. In attendance were the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Madam Melrose Kargbo and Permanent Secretary of the Transport Ministry.

The meeting was precipitated by Minister Timbo’s request for a first-hand briefing considering the set date for the reopening of schools for the 2019/2020 academic year, being the 2nd September, 2019.

Minister Kabineh outlined plans made in respect to allocation of bus or buses per district, routes to be used by buses, lay-bys serving as bus stops, sensitization campaign for both parents and kids, monitoring and feedback mechanisms, recruitment and training of drivers and mechanics and more.

Minister Timbo commended the Ministry of Transport and Aviation for progress made so far on plans for the operation of the school buses and advised that these plans be made public as soon as possible, in fulfilment of the President’s statements to the public.

He outlined that plans have been put in motion for the distribution of school learning materials in time for the reopening of schools, to ensure a smooth learning experience for students and less hassle for teachers and parents.

Madam Melrose Kargbo, representing the local councils, suggested for the inclusion of several sectors in the monitoring team to be established, to ensure care and public confidence, whilst dissuading misuse and monopolization by an individual or entity.

 

 

The Hard Road Ahead for Maada Bio in Sierra Leone

President Julius Maada Bio

=POLITICS=

A Commentary By Abayomi Tejan – 18 August 2019

‘Fortune favours the daring’ is epitome of President Julius Maada Bio’s incredulous, (in the minds of a fairly large chunk of sceptics,) ascendancy to the highest office in the state. Absolutely phenomenal.
It contradicted theories shopped around that any other SLPP candidate, with the exception of Maada Bio, would have defeated the APC for the third consecutive time since 1996, the year President Bio began his arduous, perilous and very eventful journey to the presidency.

That he came out victorious after two decades of trying and failing just once, in spite of all odds stacked against him proves that it was a walk worth the sacrifice, the risks and hazards. And he has won. He has arrived.

President Bio has considerable support in the south east, plus a formidable following in the Western Area in addition to congeries in the Northern Province. No doubt. No comments. No room for argument. Unless……!

Here’s the catch: ‘Unless what?’ Here begins the bickering, the banter, slander and propaganda; the scheming. The if-nots and why-nots, the constant gnashing, nagging and whining of the opposition, who would still not concede that they were now on the ‘other side.’
Juxtapose this with the SLPP’s own inter party subdued, tensions and jockeying for more relevance in a crowded house. And to it add the great expectations of the people taking the brunt of it all, provide little answers to that ominous proviso, ‘Unless….’

In other words, what manner of political contrivance could the opposition hatch that would bring the SLPP down in 2023? The possibilities are endless, with the exception of a coup. ECOWAS, the AU, the UN and the International Community no longer play ball with coupists. And they don’t tolerate those who want to cling to power either.

The only way as at now, is through the ballot, in spite of all its shortcomings. Nothing is perfect. It wasn’t perfect in 2007, 2012 and 2018; we don’t expect it to be in 2023. There would always be sore losers casting aspersion at the elections process.

The transfer of power from one government to another since 2002 is characterized by two distinct factors. One: the ability of the incumbent during his first term to maintain the status quo of the party’s Executive, and keeping the electorate and voter support base in one piece. And while ensuring there’s food on the table.

And two: the tendency in the incumbent, during a second term, to endeavour to over stay. And, the most dominant factor is the tendency of the incumbent to either influence the party’s process of choosing a successor, or bring pressure to bear on the Elections Commission to ‘cooperate.’ These are no simple chores for a novice, which President Bio, certainly, is not.

So, ‘unless’ President Bio fails to execute the above mentioned tasks with keen discretion, he would be deluding himself to assume a too presumptuous attitude to a second term bid. Anything can happen. Nothing is impossible.

President Bio may have traversed a minefield; he may have subdued his rivals and opponents. He even may have imbibed the shrewdness and skills required for successful political statesmanship as leader and president.

Yet, the president has on his hands by far more delicate and complicated task than all those pre-election adventures. Running a state is not the same thing as gunning for the presidency. For the former, the consequence of failing is as severe as the rewards for winning high, in the case of the latter.

President Bio now knows what it’s like to win an election and be the president, but he cannot put himself into former president Koroma’s shoes, who now understand the difference between the two.
Looking back all those years on President Bio’s footprints in the sands of time in his political journey so far, he has travelled a long and slippery slope.

But he now confronts an even harder terrain, riddled with all manner of obstacles, but also offering plenty of opportunities.

He must overcome those obstacles and exploit the opportunities in the interest of the people in his new journey to the 2023 elections. That journey has just begun.

 

As Concerns grow Over Teachers Welfare… Sierra Leone Parliament Summons SLTU

By Ralph Simeon Sesay – 18 August 2019

The Parliamentary Sub-Committee on Transparency and Accountability under the Chairmanship of Hon. Festus Lansana of Constituency 015, on Thursday 15th August 2019, summoned the Executive of the Sierra Leone Teachers’ Union to appear before his Committee in Parliament.

The Chairman disclosed that they have summoned the SLTU amidst growing concerns from splinter teacher groups such as Concerned Teachers, Voice of Teachers etc. that the executive of the SLTU has reneged on their responsibility to address the welfare issues facing teachers across the country as they relate to medical, legal representation and bereavements etc.

Hon. Lansana also disclosed that they have also received concerns from the teachers that the SLTU executive is depriving teachers from using Hotel 5/10, which they noted is their property.

There are also accusations that there is no accountability and transparency as far the management of the hotel is concerned over the years.

Rogerland, a body of teachers in Norway, is also said to be providing huge funding towards the maintenance of the hotel.

The Transparency and Accountability Committee asked for a comprehensive response to the issues raised by the committee with tangible supporting documents and reminded the SLTU executive that they are under oath and hence any attempt to mislead the committee would have dire consequences.

The SLTU Executive was represented at the hearings by the President, Mr. Salieu Bangura, Mr.Alieu Deen Conteh, Assistant Deputy Secretary General, the Senior Assistant Secretary Welfare, Finance Officer, Mr. Mohamed Jalloh, Hotel Manager and Central One Secretary, Gender Desk Officer and Trustee East.

SLTU President, Mr.Salieu Bangura started the discussions by thanking the Parliamentary Sub-Committee for summoning them to account for their stewardship.

He explained the mandate of the SLTU and detailed their activities and programs over the years such as addressing  welfare, training and capacity development issues for teachers across the country.

Mr. Bangura dilated on the support of the executive to the Free Quality Education flagship project of the Government and assured them that negotiation between them and the government is in the concluding phase, and that they are hopeful that government will soon announce an appreciable pay package for teachers.

The SLTU President used the occasion to allay the fears of government that teachers would go on strike at the start of the new academic year and reiterated the fact that they are vanguards of the President’s Education flagship program and they are bent on seeing it succeed.

Hotel 5/10 Manager, Mr. Mohamed Jalloh started the ball rolling by explaining to the committee the processes for the management of the hotel.

He noted that a committee set up by the general membership is managing the hotel and submitting reports to the General Meetings of the Union held every three years.

He reacted to the issue of teachers not using the hotel and told the committee that teachers across the country access the facilities at a reduced cost of Le100,000 while members of the public pay Le 250,000.

Mr. Jalloh presented to the committee registers of teachers bookings over the years into the hotel and refuted claims that they are getting support from Rogarland in Norway for the maintenance of the hotel.

Mr. Alieu Deen Conteh, Assistant Secretary General,  SLTU spoke on the union’s relationship with Rogarland, a teacher union body in Norway and intimated the committee that Rogarland between 1993 and 1995, provided ninety thousand United States dollars (US$ 90,000) to support the building of the administrative block of the SLTU and that the structure has been named after them.

Mr. Conteh further took the Committee through evidences to show that the SLTU has spent huge sums of monies in bereavements, medical and litigation issues on behalf of their membership for the past years.

On medicals, he explained to the committee that the SLTU in 2018 undertook the cost for two breast cancers for female teachers at St. Joseph and St. Phillips Primary Schools in Freetown respectively to the tune of millions of Leones.

He also provided supporting documents to show that the SLTU had provided legal representations through Tana & Co and several other law firms for teachers in Kenema; Mr Browne who was docked for murder and Mabinty Kamara of Sierra Leone Church Primary School in Bonthe   who was also charged with manslaughter and many others.

Other members of the SLTU present at the hearings, including the Gender Desk Officer, spoke on the strides of the union around capacity development and disclosed that currently, the union is providing bursaries for 101 female teachers that are pursuing various educational courses at various institutions in the country.

Senior Assistant Secretary in charge of welfare at the union also explained the union’s efforts over the years to facilitate the payment of loans by various banks to teachers.

The SLTU, he noted, normally guarantees such loans. He also told the committee that over the years the teachers would sign up to various insurance schemes without notifying them, but they would always come in handily to solve any issues that might arise between the teachers and the insurance companies.

The Parliamentary Sub-Committee later raised few issues around the various presentations made by the SLTU executive.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Festus Lansana commended the executive for the brilliant presentations made by the SLTU Executive and expressed his disappointment that the SLTU executive has not been communicating their activities and programs to the general membership.

This, he noted, is responsible for the rancor that has permeated the general membership over the years.

He strongly called for robust public relations strategy by the SLTU executive with a view to addressing the numerous concerns by the membership.

Other members of the Parliamentary Committee raised several issues around teachers’ recruitment and placement and also noted that most of the facilities, especially around legal representation, medicals and bereavements are only enjoyed by teachers in big towns and cities.

They called for the SLTU to concentrate on teachers in the periphery of the country.

The SLTU has over the years come under bashing for mismanaging funds of the union and for also not speaking to the welfare concerns of their members.

This has over the years led to the creation of splinter groups like the Concerned Teachers, Voice of Teachers and the rest.

The move by the Parliamentary Sub–Committee to scrutinize the activities of the SLTU was viewed as commendable and this, many say, will put to rest concerns that the SLTU is unchecked with regards the management of funds meant for the SLTU and the general welfare of teachers.

 

 

 

Sierra Leone CSOs Brainstorm Review of NGO Policy

By Samuel Serry jr. 18 August 2019

The NGO Policy Working Group, with support from Funds of Global Human Rights, has concluded a one-day working session aimed at developing a strategy to enable both local and international organisations to engage government on its 2018 Development Cooperation Framework. Coordinated by the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law, the group seeks to develop a blueprint that guides stakeholders in pressing for a review of the entire policy.

Local and international human rights defenders have urged the Government of Sierra Leone to revise the Development Cooperation Framework, as the current version not only represents an intrusion into civic space, but clearly represents a breach of the government’s obligation under both national and international law to protect and respect the rights of civic groups to exist and function in a democratic state.

The working session held at the Civil Service Training College in Freetown attracted top level representatives from non-governmental organizations across the country. During the brainstorming session, the CSO leaders registered their displeasure over the non-inclusive approach in developing the policy by the government and identified several gaps in the current framework, including a lack of clarity and vision of how the framework could help achieve the country’s aspirations under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Executive Director for CARL, Ibrahim Tommy, said the current version of the cooperation framework is untenable, hence the need to work with the government for a review. “NGOs are willing to be held to account but the current policy isn’t about fostering accountability. There are clearly better ways of doing that without attempting to intrude into our space or co-opt NGOs’” he averred.

At the end of the session, the participants, including representatives from Human Rights Defenders Network, CDHR, CGG, SDI, WAVES, PAACET, SLYEO, FORWARD-SL, NTT, Amnesty International, and DCI agreed on  the development of a robust advocacy strategy that will target every critical stakeholder institution in governance as well as non-state actors.

Sierra Leone NGC Leader KKY Speaks On Economy

Hon. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella

By Anthony Kamara Jnr.- 18 August 2019

Sierra Leone’s Finance Minister – JJ Saffa, was at the studios of Radio Democracy 98.1 on Tuesday 13th August. By all indications, his performance during a live interview did not offer Sierra Leoneans much hope for an improvement in their economic wellbeing, as rising food prices and the rapid fall of the value of the Leone take their toll.

The interview left many labelling Saffa as “arrogant”, “condescending” and “insensitive” to the plight of the suffering masses – the same people he was appointed to work for, on behalf of the Julius Maada Bio administration.

On a previously scheduled call I had with Hon. Kandeh Yumkella (KKY), I took the opportunity to ask him about the state of the economy, given that I had just listened to Minister Saffa’s interview.

This is what he said:

Question: The common topic of discussion for Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad is about the economy and the “Bread and Butter” issues. What is your view about our economy?

KKY: Well, macroeconomic fundamentals can be very stubborn and they cannot be fooled by good intentions and propaganda.

Question: What do you mean? Help the man at the Ataya Base and the market woman along Kissy Road understand your response.

KKY: That is to say, success in economic management is ultimately measured by GDP growth rate, inflation, interest rates, jobs and the exchange rate, among other variables. Ok, may be you can go further to consider the social or developmental or welfare impact of these variables on poverty, health, education.
So the minister’s, and by extension the government’s, performance in managing the country’s economy must be assessed against these variables and not just their rhetorical flourishes.

Question: So how would you frame the debate on the economy?

KKY: The debate on the economy today should examine how the indicators I mentioned earlier changed? Remember, I talked a few minutes ago about exchange rates, interest rates, jobs etc.

Thus, during the period 2017-2019, have the indicators changed for the better, or have they remained stagnant? Have they gotten worse? For now, all indicators tell us that the economy is in deep trouble.

The fact is, we witness the catastrophic depreciation of the Leone due to the absence of any export activities in the country, high inflation, high taxation of the private sector, and more importantly, the absence or paucity of foreign investment due to the unstable and risky governance environment.

It is not too late for the government to take a deep breath, recalibrate, and do a course correction.

Question: There is a lot of talk about the revenue being generated today under the Bio administration compared to President Koroma’s. That was one of the things the minister tried strenuously to stress during his interview. Does that not factor in the state of the economy?

KKY: Well, revenue collection is a necessary condition, but it is what we do with the money we collect that matters. Economies are similar to our household budget; if you receive a high salary every month but you spend it on jingoism and hedonism instead of investments, you will be poor in your old age.

Economies are the same, raising revenue and spending on the wrong things, without deep structural and institutional reforms, will simply postpone the crisis for a bigger meltdown in the future. It is like putting new wine in old wine skin.

Question: Is the New Direction’s economic management different from what you aptly referred to as “Rankanomics”?

KKY: (laughs) Without a doubt, a NEW Direction was and is NECESSARY! However, we expect the current regime by now to put us in the right pathway to growth. The question then, becomes, in which direction are we heading? Are we on the RIGHT direction/trajectory?

Question: Where do you think they are getting it wrong?

KKY: The managers of the economy have basically maintained all the structures left by the previous regime. I am yet to see radical shifts from business as usual. For example, the wage bill has not reduced. In some sectors there is over-hiring and huge expenditures in other areas, and the same parastatals and agencies exist.
Furthermore, still over 80% of our revenues go towards wages and debt payment and this must change. This fiscal capture or overhang trumps all the efforts at enhanced revenue collection.

Question: What would you advise President Bio to do?

KKY: a couple of things: first, appoint a 15 member Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) – on a PRO-BONO basis comprising of businessmen, some bankers, former credible bank governors and former Sierra Leonean IMF staff to hammer out his own economic blue-print. Past leaders in Malaysia, Singapore among others have maintained such an advisory group during their tenure.

This same group can monitor implementation of the president’s economic agenda which should be aligned with private sector aspirations and investment plans.

More importantly, they will give him sound apolitical advice rather than just what he, the president, wants to hear. Second, end inflated procurement and government contracts. Third, aggressively lower the cost of doing business by making it easy to clear goods at the port and lower some import duty and private sector taxes. We need deeper changes in the productive sectors – agriculture, fisheries, mining, etc.

Question: Even before his interview, there have been calls from the public for Finance Minister and the Bank Governor – Kelfalla Kallon to be replaced. Your thoughts?

KKY: I think that question should be addressed to the President. However, don’t forget that it is the President’s prerogative to hire and fire those appointed to serve in his administration. It is the President’s prerogative to hire competent people to help him run his administration so every Sierra Leone can benefit from his stewardship. It is the president’s responsibility to seek the best untainted advice, beyond his immediate circle.

Question: As an MP, have you discussed these concerns over economic management with the government?

KKY: The locus of my discussion with government has been Parliament. But our concerns as MPs or as an opposition are always ignored. If you go to our first budget debate, I raised strong concerns about frivolous spending, and the danger of “jobs for the boys”. I called for rationalization of institutions and more aggressive fiscal consolidation.

The tendency in our country is that ruling parties acquire hubris immediately they are in power (they suddenly seem to know-it-all and damn every other point of view). Another example is that as a party the NGC went to Bintumani-III as a genuine attempt to promote social cohesion. But after that event we have seen the rise in selective justice; we see an increase in political violence and other actions that will cause investors to be cautious about bringing money to the country.

As we head into three bye elections over the next few weeks, we are concerned about the trend in political violence and whether our people will be allowed to exercise their right to vote. If these bye elections are marked by violence, intimidation and fraud, then the world will know that this is not a country where the rule of law, property rights and good governance prevail.

Sometimes I even wonder whether the Sierra Leonean people want genuine change. The deep seated Pull-him-Down syndrome, Do-me-ah-Do-you Syndrome, and Nah-We-Turn Syndrome will make economic management very challenging.

Question: What is your take on the recent floods?

KKY: First, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims. It is a sad spectacle every time.
We hope the impact of climate change will be taken seriously.

This nation still exports massive amounts of lumber in spite of all the expert advice of uncontrolled deforestation. I myself did an article and a video on the latter last year. The Speaker of Parliament hosted a briefing to enlighten members about the long term impacts of deforestation. The recent episodes of flooding in Freetown shows that we are putting bandages on a bad sore.

The Mayor is trying her best efforts; this has to be backed up with bigger public investment to direct the flow of water from the hills to the sea (via ducts); we must move some folks from various disaster-prone areas.

Building climate resilience for infrastructure, agriculture and other development projects is expensive. However, there are many climate funds to help countries undertake such projects.

 

 

SLAJ New President Promises Big Change in Sierra Leone

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

By Amin Kef Sesay – 18 August 2019

Newly-elected President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla aka D’ Monk, on15th August, 2019  at the British Council hall gave his maiden inauguration address.

Speaking before a galaxy of journalists and guests, he thanked the outgoing Executive, especially the three who were actually going out; President Kelvin Lewis, Vice President Sammy Haffner and former Assistant Secretary General Sulaiman Stom Koroma.

He went on to state that the SLAJ constitution proscribes guidance ‘we need as we try to settle and pursue our goals.’

He spoke about presiding over an executive which considers continuity with the good programmes, as he is determined to push SLAJ forward. He urged all and sundry to maintain the good attitude and dedication to teamwork.

He thanked the general membership, saying he believes that the lessons learnt will be taken in good part. ‘It is time to roll-up our sleeves and buckle our boots. Let’s get to work. The challenges ahead are many, but we are determined. We’ll listen; we’ll consult and we’ll engage,’ he said.

He maintained that his priority challenge is two-fold: The first is to accomplish the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law, adding that we are encouraged that our determination seems to be in sync with the political will of the leadership of the current government of Sierra Leone. But so it was again with the previous government.

The second historical challenge, according to him, is to ensure responsible practice across the board, even with our politically motivated colleagues.

‘We have a program on Mentorship and Training. We will knock on as many doors as possible for support in the area of general media trainings, specialized trainings, capacity building and sustainability for our membership and their media houses. We will work with the Mass Communications Department at Fourah Bay College to support us develop training formats. We therefore urge all practicing journalists, as well as PROs, who are not yet members of SLAJ to come under the umbrella body, when we announce the notice for new intakes. We will reconstitute our Disciplinary Committee and give them the necessary support to be proactive, efficient and effective,’ D; Monk said.

He said however that in the meantime, ‘we encourage our colleagues to apply the same professional and ethical ethos provided in our Code of Practice and the IMC Code of Practice on any media platform they ply their trade. We want to caution our colleagues, and the general public- especially the so-called citizen journalists- that the seditious laws, criminal libel laws and the civil defamation laws (in fact the whole of Part 5 of the infamous Public Order Act of 1965) are applicable on social media as well. So be mindful with your exchanges on social media; be careful with your opinions, your posts, what you culled and what you share’ he warned.

He had words of encouragement for Regional Executives, affiliate bodies – SWASAL, SLRU, WIMSAL, SLCRA, PPG etc., including The Guild of Editors and Radio & TV Station Managers.

He said they will work closely with the IMC, NATCOM and MRCG.

He noted that ‘finance is our biggest hurdle to efficiently administer SLAJ and support our regional executives and affiliate bodies.’ He added that the only way SLAJ can get money, apart from membership dues which are meagre, and the government subvention which we have started receiving, is through grants or projects.

iCoin and Blockchain to Disrupt Diamond Mining in Sierra Leone

18 August 2019

As the popular maxim goes, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”, and this is how many might describe the path to a woman’s heart. Without a doubt, for thousands of years, or perhaps since the discovery of diamonds, these rare gems have remained a social symbol of affection between couples owing to their aesthetic beauty.

They are also well recognized as the occasional medium of exchange, as is their use in manufacturing and even medicine — thanks to it being one of the hardest known substances.

However, they also have a longstanding and serious controversial socio-economic and environmental impact, thereby tainting the abstract quality of these precious gems.

Tainted Diamonds

With growing awareness about the illegitimacy surrounding many diamond mining operations, consumers today are concerned about the source of their diamonds. Two broad classes of controversial diamond mining have been identified, one of which is commonly termed conflict or blood diamonds, which involves the class of diamonds mined in war zones and sold illegally to fund conflicts. The other involves mining operations which lead to adverse environmental impacts such as erosion and severe land pollution – creating an extensive land disturbance that has ecologists worried about the long-term rippling effect on the ecosystem.

A point of interest here would be Sierra Leone’s diamond mining operation, which accounts for 1% of conflict diamonds in global circulation, second to Angola with 2.1%. More so, 15% of diamonds produced in Sierra Leone are conflict diamonds according to data by the World Bank. This presents a serious socio-economic problem as even government policies which were expected to curb these practices were in most cases known to intensify illegal mining and distribution of diamonds.

With blockchain technology, Sierra Leone-based Millennium Mining Corporation aims to disrupt the diamond mining business as it introduces transparency, traceability, and tokenization.

As for transparency and traceability, the company will leverage the decentralized nature of the blockchain as a public ledger to build a trustless network with immutable data properties. What this means is that mining operation data stored in the blockchain is decentralized, timestamped, and accessible by the public and can be trusted by diamond business stakeholders across the globe. Moreover, incorporating a smart contract system will ensure that transactions within the system are transparent and efficient due to automation.

Business Evaluation

Mining operations in Sierra Leone seem successful as there are over 2,500 small-scale operations across the country. Moreover, in 2018, the country reportedly exported over $150 million worth of diamonds up from $122 million the previous year. Although, studying the trend for a decade, severe volatility can be observed, perhaps due to the lack of a proper monitoring infrastructure – a phenomenon to be addressed by Millennium Mining corporation blockchain platform iCoin international.

Millennium Mining Corporation is setting up a new paradigm by introducing a monitoring infrastructure for mining operations in Sierra Leone. The company has conducted several tests in the location of Baimbawai Pool in the Sewa River and based on its findings, the pool’s potential is estimated to be worth around 1 to 1.5 million cubic meters of diamond-bearing gravel with grades ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 carat per cubic meter – an approximate 200,000 to 750,000 carats of diamonds in the pool.

Millennium Mining Corps hopes to tokenize the mining industry through its blockchain platform iCoin international, as it issues an ERC20 ICOIN token, which will perform the function of a currency within the platform as well as be used as a fungible token on the secondary market. ICOIN token will be distributed to early adopters of the platform through an Initial Exchange Offering (IEO) sale to be conducted on the LAToken cryptocurrency exchange.

The funds raised during the IEO will be used to fund the development of the platform, and over time, profits from the sales of diamonds will be injected back into the iCoin international business platform to create an exponential growth in value estimated to be worth 5,000% in value appreciation in 5 years.

Moreover, Millennium Mining Corp will conduct a buy-back program next year by offering token holders the opportunity to sell their tokens at market price, which will invariably reduce the number of tokens in circulation and increase the inherent value of the token.

 

 

As Flood Ravages Wellington… Hon. Alpha Bah Calls for Help for his Constituents in Sierra Leone

Honourable Alpha Amadu Bah

By Amin Kef Sesay – 18 August 2019

The Honourable Member of Parliament for constituency 115 Honourable Alpha Amadu Bah on 15th August 2019, called on humanitarian organizations and factories to put all hands-on-deck to help the flood victims.

Speaking to this medium, the Honourable Member of Parliament of Constituency 115, Hon. Alpha Bah, disclosed that the heavy downpour led to 4 confirmed deaths and loss of properties worth millions of Leones within the Wellington community, which he said is very pathetic and called on factories within the Wellington community to come to their aid as people in his constituency are challenged.

He called on the government to put measures in place to repatriate the people living in disaster prone areas, and further called for alternatives and safe settlements to be provided for them.

He said that one of the major reasons leading to the flood was as a result of poor drainage system, and called on the authorities responsible to create proper drainage system for the free flow of water.

He noted that it is the responsibility of government to ensure that those living in disaster prone areas are relocated to safer places. He also called on the Freetown City Council and the central government to forge genuine collaboration to improve on the flood mitigation project in order to protect citizens from further floods not only within the Wellington community, but in the country as a whole.

He encouraged members of his constituency, to move to safer locations where their lives will be protected.

During his visit to the area, President Bio told the flood victims and their family members that he came to them with a heavy heart because of the devastation the flood had caused to lives. He said that as President, he has been very sad over the level of destruction caused by the flooding of areas across the country. President Bio also said that flooding has been worse because over the years people have built in areas without any proper environmental planning. He warned that state authorities will continue to ensure that people who erect structures or live in areas that are prone to natural disasters are relocated.

Whilst he commended state institutions, development partners and NGOs for their support to flood victims, President Bio also encouraged young people in flood-prone areas to continue their vigilance and support in helping victims. He prayed for those who have lost their lives and assured the victims that government and its partners will continue to provide support to them. President Bio also admonished the audience that they should listen to the instructions of authorities whenever they are advised for their safety.

In both Wellington and Tombo, President Bio visited flood- affected areas and made separate donations to the flood victims. In total, President Bio donated 300 bags of rice, 1000 blankets, 200 mosquito nets, bales of clothes and dozens of buckets.

Sierra Leone Mayor Aki Sawyerr to Construct 5000 Low-Cost Housing units

Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer

By Amin Kef Sesay – 18 August 2019

Sierra Leone is set to begin construction of 5000 affordable housing units in Freetown. This was revealed by Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer. She added that the housing construction will cater for the very high housing needs of the low-income class population in Freetown.

“The affordable housing is particularly aimed at easing the plight of the city’s populace, dwelling in mostly uncongenial habitations and dismally poor housing conditions,” said the mayor.

She added that feasibility studies will be carried out on the urban slums and other possible areas where the housing works are to be carried out.

Freetown is wedged between the Atlantic Ocean and steep hills leading inland. Village houses in the provinces are traditionally made of sticks with mud walls and thatch or grass roofs; they may be circular or rectangular in shape. In Freetown, older two-storey wooden houses are being replaced by structures built largely of concrete blocks, with corrugated iron or cement-asbestos roofs. Building is controlled in the major towns, and designs are subject to approval.

In 1999, as a result of the invasion of rebels, about 5,932 homes were completely destroyed in Freetown and the surrounding areas of Kissy, Wellington, Calaba Town, and Allen Town. The town of Koidu, which was once the second largest town in the nation, suffered major destruction. National estimates indicate that by 2001, 300,000 homes were destroyed as a result of the internal rebellion. Approximately 1.2 million people were internally displaced or fled to neighbouring countries.

The government has however made reconstruction a priority and has initiated a National Housing Policy to work on programs of reform, resettlement, and reconstruction. Through one program, the government has planned to sell public housing and to use the proceeds to build more housing units.

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