Home Blog Page 1209

Dr. Denis Sandy Commends FAO for Straightening Land Issues in Sierra Leone

Minister of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment, Dr. Dennis Sandy

By Sumner Kangbap – 13th August 2019

The Minister of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment, Dr. Dennis Sandy on Monday 13th August 2019 in an exclusive interview commended the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations for its invaluable support to the Government, especially the Ministry, to sanitize the land tenure system in the country.

He highlighted the role of FAO to enhance the capacity of  Traditional Authorities (especially Paramount Chiefs, Section Chiefs, and Mamie Queens) to better understand and advocate for the peace-building mechanisms and promoting women’s land and property rights in their communities in addition to increasing their knowledge and awareness on global and national principles, policies and practices such as the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT) and the National Land Policy-the existing legal framework for securing land and property rights.

According to Dr. Sandy, over the years, FAO has enriched the skills of Traditional Leaders in Alternative to Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to address especially land conflicts in their various communities and informed that the United Nations Peace Building Fund Project (PBF) is linked to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which includes reducing poverty and inequality, zero hunger, gender equality and commended staff of his Ministry for being pivotal in the entire project articulating that Paramount Chiefs are the right people to discuss land rights, disseminate the correct information about land rights as well as become agents of peace and change to ensure that all have equal access to land.

The Lands Minister further revealed that the mapping of lands in some selected chiefdoms in the country has created impact with a lot of advantages and acclaimed the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Green Scenery and NAMATI, underscored that land is critical for development, appealed to Sierra Leoneans to empower others on how to productively make use of land to improve their lives and expressed thanks to FAO for partnering with ILO and other donors to make a difference and create change in Sierra Leone.

“If women, who account for 51% of the population, own land, they will contribute to food security and take good care of their families,” Dr. Sandy asserted.

He also gave the history of the National Land Policy that was developed by UNDP and the Government of Sierra Leone, with technical support from FAO and other partners and approved in November 2016 after nationwide consultations intimating that the new policy would help to address the many challenges in the land sector, correct the mistakes of the past, address climate change and food insecurity and equal access to land emphasizing that the customs and traditions of the people, human dignity, gender equity, transparency and accountability and the challenges women face to access land, were all taken onboard the new policy.

The Minister also disclosed that the main aim of the New Land Policy is to create peaceful societies in Sierra Leone, commended donors for supporting land reforms in the country, assured that access to land would improve in the future, that women are discriminated against in the two land tenure systems in the country and informed that government can acquire land anywhere in the country for development purposes for which the owners would be compensated.

Dr. Sandy furthered, “the Ministry is aware of the numerous challenges relating to land, including large-scale acquisition of land, weak land administration, conflicting and overlapping land laws. My Ministry will go the extra-mile to fully implement the National Land Policy and the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests (VGGT) according to the national development policy. Also, large-scale land investments must be responsible, respect human rights, promote food security, alternative livelihood and protect the environment.”

He also articulated that Paramount Chiefs are the right people to discuss land rights, disseminate the correct information about land rights as well as become agents of peace and change to ensure that all have equal access to land disclosing that the mapping of lands would be scaled-up in some areas, that the pilot project was implemented in eight chiefdoms and 16 villages according to geographic balance –Bo, Kenema, Port Loko and Bombali, that FAO has received a lot of requests to map the lands of other districts, that land includes forests and fisheries, that Sierra Leone is rich in natural resources which, if properly utilized, would benefit the people revealing that over $200 million worth of rice is imported annually in-spite of the country’s fertile soil, rain and abundance land, that over 90% of land is in the provinces and reiterated the need to empower women stressing that traditional leaders are key to peace and stability.

With UNDP Support… Kambia & Kono Benefit from AID/Sierra Leone Awareness Raising on Adaptive Capacities of Climate Change on Water Services

One of the drama groups in action
Participants listen with rapt attention

By Sumner Kangbap – 13th August 2019

With funds from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Advocacy Initiative for Development-Sierra Leone (AID-SL) has intensified its awareness raising engagements with district stakeholders on ‘Adaptive Capacities of Climate Change on Water Services’ in both Kono and Kambia Districts.

Local Council staff, Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and CSOs are taking the lead with active participation to ensure that their communities are aware of the adverse effects and adoptable measures to mitigate climate change on their water services. In the bid to increase awareness on climate change, key and interesting activities were organized in strategic project and highly affected communities in the two districts.

Two theatre drama performances were organized in highly-populated communities. In Kono District, it was held in two chiefdoms-Yardu village, Gbense Chiefdom and Bumpeh Town in Nimikoro chiefdom while in Kambia it was organized at the Main Lorry Park along the Guinea-Sierra Leone Highway and at the popular Bamoi Lumo Market respectively.

The two highly-acclaimed drama groups are the Kono Entertainers and the Kambia Home Boys-both known as local comedy groups always performing unique skits with conscious messages to sensitize their respective communities. The accomplished drama skits in the two districts had interesting characters showcasing the causes, effects and adoptive measures of climate change. Members of the two communities benefited from local and simple messages which they can easily and quickly disseminate to their colleagues, age and peer groups. Each drama performance lasted an hour with many questions, concerns and recommendation from the communities.

Furthermore, 1000 information packages with key environmental and water-related messages were developed with fantastic diagrams depicting the causes, hazards and stop-gap measures of climate change on the water services in the communities. The designed messages were distributed among the people and displayed at the entrances of public offices and places like the Lorry Parks, Ataya Bases, Ghettos, Cinemas and Night Clubs for people to see the diagrams and read the messages for action to mitigate climate change.

Forty (40) radio discussion programs were broadcast during which listeners sent in text messages, twenty (20 per district-Kambia and Kono) were received.

The most popular community radio station with wide coverage was identified and contracted for the discussion programs.

Timely and relevant information was disseminated on climate change on the country’s water services during the discussions. The discussion programs titled, Climate Change Hour for Kambia was aired from 8–9 pm every Wednesday while that for Kono was broadcast from 9–10 pm daily on Thursdays.

During the regular weekly talk shows, most of the callers commended AID/SL and UNDP for the educative program and appealed for sustainability of the program as they are firmly convinced that it would help mitigate the behavior, attitude and practices of the people to change the prevailing situation of climate change in their communities.

The implemented project activities were climaxed by a group evaluation exercise. Two project evaluation meetings were organized in Kambia and Kono. The district stakeholders, the project target and some beneficiaries from the communities had a day’s meeting to evaluate the activities as against the outcomes and results. An evaluation tool in the form of questions were developed and used during the meeting to measure the impact of the project activities on the people and their communities.

Also, frank discussions were held, lessons learnt, challenges and recommendations were suggested for the attention of AID/SL and UNDP for future support.

The Advocacy Initiative for Development-Sierra Leone (AID-SL) is a human-rights national Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) founded in 2000 and officially registered with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports in 2002 and in 2009 with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED).

YACAP Concludes National Youth Summit 2019 in Sierra Leone

Executive Director of Youth and Children's Advocacy Panel, Sheku Foryoh

By Foday Moriba Conteh – 13th August 2019

Youth and Children’s Advocacy Panel (YACAP) in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and its partners has on 12th August 2019 concluded their 2nd National Youth Summit during the International Youth Day Celebration held at the Miatta Conference Centre in Brookfields.

Speaking to this medium, Executive Director of Youth and Children’s Advocacy Panel, Sheku Foryoh, disclosed that the National Youth Summit is geared towards bringing young people together from all the 16 districts to discuss issues affecting them and find possible solutions, adding that during the summit young people from the 16 Districts had a Parliamentary debate at the House of Representatives where they put together a position paper that was presented to the Minister of Youth Affairs during the International Youth Day Celebration at the Miatta Conference Centre.

He said that the position paper looks at issues affecting young people and also proffered recommendations to Government in order to address these issues faced by young people in the country ranging from unemployment, youth marginalization etc.

Fanta Sesay, a participant applauded the Youth and Children’s Advocacy Panel (YACAP) for organizing such an event adding that through the summit she has realized her full potentials as a youth.

She disclosed that the following topics: Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Technology, Innovation, Formal Education and Technical Vocational Education were well discussed which she said have impacted her as young person.

The event was climaxed with the award of certificates to more than 500 Young People as New Generation Leadership Initiative African Youth Honourable Ambassadors.

 

 

 

SIERRA LEONE TOURISM MINISTRY ENDS A TWO-DAY CONSULTATATIVE WORKSHOP WITH ENTERTAINMENT STAKEHOLDERS

By Foday Moriba Conteh – 13th August 2019
In order to discuss the draft Entertainment Policy and bring up recommendations towards the upgrade and review of the 2013 Cultural Policy the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs ended a two-day consultative workshop with entertainment stakeholders in Freetown at the Miatta Conference Centre.

Held from the 6th to 7th August this year, the Director of Cultural Affairs, Mr. Foday Jalloh being the lead facilitator, informed the gathering about the purpose of the occasion.

The All Stars President, Milton Coker aka Colabo, mentioned their long struggle to unite the creative industry especially the musicians and filmmakers. He also thanked the Hon. Minister of the said Ministry for her willingness to work with them across SL for the benefit all.

In her contribution, the Special Adviser to President on Heritage and Culture, Mr. Raymond De Souza George aka Paparay, observed that “Culture is a vehicle that must be manned by its drivers being a delicate commodity.” He added that life has been invested in the service of culture which, according to him, must not be treated with a pinch of salt by any nation. This is what Sierra Leoneans must carefully consider as His Excellency stresses on national cohesion, Paparay continued.

Hon. Mohamed Sheriff Rahman Coker, Chairman Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Tourism and Cultural Affairs, maintained that as legislators they are poised to support the project in becoming a law, thus using tourism and culture as the strongest pillars of our sustainable economic growth and development.

In her keynote address, the Hon. Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu B. Pratt, kindly thanked all for working with her to push such a challenging project. She reminded the gathering of her Ministry’s mandate to rebrand the image of SL, which according to her, has been actualized to some extent.

The Hon. Minister informed the handful of the entertainment elites present about the recent international tourism survey that rated Freetown’s Peninsula Number 2 River Beach area as one of the best destinations in Africa. “We have been supporting a lot of your events, and can’t continue to effectively do this without a policy to guide us all,” Dr. Pratt added. She further updated participants on some key activities of the Ministry ranging from the recent provincial sensitization tour on Civic Peace and Cultural Education to the relocation of the SL National Dance Troupe to the newly constructed Cultural Village at Maballah (6 Mile) village and the procurement of a 30  seaters bus for the Dancers.

Other speakers at the said workshop include the Hon. Minister of Political and Public Affairs, Foday Yumkella; The Chairman, National Commission for Civic Education and Development, Mr. Kalilu Tutangay (on Day One); the Hon. Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Mr. William I.K. Robinson; Mr. Alpha Saidu Bangura from the Strategic communications Unit; the Commissioner, National Youths Commission Ngolo Katta and the Inspector General of Police Representative (on Day Two);

Meanwhile, Dr. Julius Spencer from Premier Media guided the process throughout as one of the resource persons working with the Consultant from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone Mr. Mike A. Sam, History and African Studies Department.

In another development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA), the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, the National Tourist Board (NTB) and the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary (TCS) is reminding the public that it is illegal to bosseschapture, kill or keep chimpanzees (babu) as pets. This is in accordance with the Sierra Leone Wildlife Conservation Act 1972.

Sierra Leone’s chimpanzee population is rapidly declining and facing a serious risk of extinction. In 2016, the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) elevated the status of the Western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) to Critically Endangered’ because in the past 24 years its population has drastically reduced by more than 80% as a result of poaching, loss of habitat and habitat fragmentation due to human activities.

Chimpanzees are a flagship species for Sierra Leones tropical forest and woodland areas and play a key role in maintaining the health and diversity of their ecosystems. Their decline and potential extinction is likely to precipitate the decline of other culturally, economically and/or ecologically important species and the ecosystem in which they live.

Chimpanzees have already disappeared from 4 African countries, and are nearing extinction in Sierra Leone. Chimpanzees are part of Sierra Leone’s culture and heritage, as such, we have a moral duty to conserve their legacy and share with future generations. It is our responsibility to react, protect and preserve them. In the past twelve months (July 2018 to July 2019), the threats faced by Sierra Leones chimpanzees have reached new alarming heights.

The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary has received 14 baby chimpanzees at a rate of more than one rescued chimp per month. The orphaned chimpanzees are arriving from different areas of the country including Pujehun, Moyamba, Port Loko and Koinadugu Districts (see attached map of the location of the rescues). The information gathered by Tacugama field officers reveals that humans have hunted the mothers for the bushmeat trade and captured their babies. This illegal activity, plus the extensive illegal logging, mining and encroachment inside protected areas, are jeopardizing the survival of the chimpanzees.

On 28th February 2019 the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security -Joseph J Ndanema declared the Western Chimpanzee as Sierra Leones National Animal. We urge all Sierra Leoneans to save the countrys national animal from extinction before it is too late. All Sierra Leoneans are reminded that killing or capturing chimpanzees is illegal, and asked to take action by: – Requesting all chiefdoms to enforce the ban on killing and capturing chimpanzees in their respective chiefdoms – Report anyone seen with a chimpanzee to the nearest police station or other authorities – Contacting Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary +232 31 777777; or National Protected Area Authority +232 76482963/+23276857856 – Refusing to eat chimpanzee meat – Refusing to buy any chimpanzees (dead or alive) or chimpanzee body parts (hands, skin, etc) .

 

 

 

 

 

Traumatized, depressed and frustrated! Agony of a Sierra Leonean diplomat in the UK

By Abu Bakarr Kargbo – 13th August 2019

Mrs. Kebiatu Modu-Kamara is currently a victim of circumstances that has fallen in the hands of some of her superiors at the Sierra Leone High Commission Office in the United Kingdom. What has come out clearly in recent days is that the dirty politics played at home by some disgruntled politicians is now taken at international level for the whole world to realize that Sierra Leone is not ready for development. Mrs. Kamara’s decision to work at the country’s Foreign Ministry over eight years ago is currently been shattered by her bosses who have turned themselves into the ‘Goliaths’ working for the current Bio Administration in a foreign land. Those who are knowledgeable about her predicament have described it as a ‘Daniel in the lion’s den’.

Her trauma started during the elections campaign period in 2018 after she was posted by the Foreign Ministry to serve as Second Secretary at the Sierra Leone Embassy in the United Kingdom. Some power-thirsty politicians posing as Civil Servants started it all at the Embassy plotting to get rid of her services after their government (the SLPP) would have won the elections.

Sources say there was a great jubilation after President Bio was announced as the winner of the Presidential Elections, thereby paving the way for Mrs. Kamara’s enemies at the Embassy coming out from their hiding places only to start issuing out threats, intimidating and harassing her to the extent that she no longer felt secured at the Embassy. The Sierra Leonean Diplomat who has worked hard over the years to earn a very good reputation at the diplomatic field is now left wallowing in the wilderness in a foreign land.

“I am hated because I am a northerner and I speak my native language ‘themne’,” she told this Press and added that several accusing fingers have been pointed at her of being in love with the All People’s Congress (APC) party’s Presidential Candidate in the 2018 elections, Dr. Samura M.W. Kamara without any evidence to prove their claims. “I have been deprived of my entitlements such as my annual vacation and when I report of illness I will be forced to report for duty,” she revealed.

Sources say the Second Secretary’s depression and frustration grew to the extent that she had a miscarriage of her two month’s pregnancy. Her only hope is for Divine intervention as she continually invokes the presence of the Almighty God to address her sad situation. “She is not allowed to attend meetings and there are times when some difficult assignments are given to her on the eleventh hour as a means to entrap her,” sources say and furthered that her main duties were taken from her and given to those whom are considered as card carriers of the ruling party.

While she is trying very hard to fight her battle, Mrs. Kamara has received her recall as stated in a letter dated 8th July 2019 and signed by the Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Al-Hassan Kharamoh Kondeh. The letter state amongst other things that “You are to report to headquarters on or before Wednesday, 1st August 2019” and “by copy of this letter, the Head of Chancery is kindly requested to submit to headquarters, the repatriation cost for Mrs. Kebiatu Kamara, not later Wednesday, 10th July 2019”.

Whether the Head of Chancery has failed to prepare the cost or the Government has failed to meet the cost is a matter which  time will tell. But as at present, Mrs. Kamara is yet to receive a dime that will facilitate her journey back home. She is currently stranded in the UK without her last month salary and other entitlements to make ends meet.

Feasibility Study on-going on First Lady’s Medical Centre in Sierra Leone

By Amin Kef Sesay 13th August 2019

In a recent development, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the United States of America, His Excellency Sidique Abou-Bakarr Wai organised  a team of experts to commence feasibility study of First Lady’s Medical Centre in Sierra Leone. When it should have been completed, the Medical Centre will be one of the most advanced Teaching Hospitals in Africa.

It will cater primarily for the Manor River Union (Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone), and will be affiliated to international teaching Hospitals.

The feasibility team was led by Prof. Tunga Demisrarslan and Mrs Mine Anlar. They met with the First Lady and her team to discussed the project. They then met with H. E. President Julius Maada.

In continuing with their fact finding mission ,they met with the Special Adviser  to  the Presidential on Infrastructure, Dr. John Tambi, to have a clear picture of how to synergise the Medical Centre project with the plan of a new city by  the government. The team was taken by Dr. Tommy Koroma (Medical Officer attached to the Office of the First Lady) and Mr. Mohamed Cozie Kosia  from First Lady’s team to visit existing government hospitals.  It was a brief review of strengths and shortcomings of the system. They will come up with a practical strategy on how the new Medical Centre should look like. The feasibility study will also cover the Manor River Union.

President Bio made it clear that the Manor River is long overdue for a major upheaval of the medical state saying it is a welcome project assuring his Government’s full support.

The scale of the project is huge, so the specialists suggested it should be rolled out in stages, with the Women & Children centre recommended as the first stage. Small scale Oncology Centre will be added at the first phase, but will specialise in female based cancer treatment (Breast and cervical). Other specialised areas will be added based on needs assessment.

With sustainability at the core of planning the project will encompass the training of medical personnel, building the hospital and equip it to international standards. Training of Medical practitioners from Sierra Leone will be a top priority.

The Medical centre will be scalable both medically and socially.  A referral system for incoming patients will be operational in the Manor River Union. The referral system will utilise existing hospitals, and where necessary, new referral centres will be built.

The report of the feasibility study will be presented at the United Nations by the First Lady on the 27th of September in the US. The event is being organised by H. E. Sidique Abou-Bakar Wai, the charismatic, community leader, activist, politician, diplomat, and public policy tzar. The Howard University Medical School is also supporting the project by making their students available for residency training as a precursor to a full scale implementation of the medical centre project. The incredible UN event will be co-chaired by the highly experienced  Dr. Fouad Sheriff and Dr. Johnson, the Dean of Howard University Medical School.

The specialist team from Moneta Health have been involved in several projects in Turkey and also in Tanzania and Zanzibar. Prof. Tunga Demirarslan is known internationally as the problem solver of medical establishments. His expertise is in managing, transforming and adopting hospital businesses into profitable and agile organisations. He will bring his vast experience in hospital construction, technical equipment and medical training to the First Lady’s Medical Centre.

 

 

Sierra Leone Receives Commendation from ECA’s Chinganya for commitment to Crvs and ID Issues

Oliver Chinganya, Director of the ECA's Africa Centre for Statistics

By Amin Kef Sesay – 13th August 2019

It has been disclosed that the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is committed to supporting the mobilization of resources required to support the implementation of Sierra Leone’s strategic plan which aims to strengthen the country’s Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) and ID management system.

This will make the system to function efficiently in supporting public administration, good governance and service delivery.

This was said by Oliver Chinganya, Director of the ECA’s Africa Centre for Statistics, at an event commemorating the second Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Day which also marked the official launch of the Comprehensive Country Assessment and the costed National CRVS Strategic Plan in Sierra Leone.

The ECA Director praised Sierra Leone’s President, Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, and his government for their commitment to strengthening the nation’s national CRVS system following the fundamental principles of Africa Programme on Accelerated Improvement of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics that have governed CRVS reform in Africa.

“Marking the second Africa CRVS Day with the official launch of the costed national CRVS and ID Management Strategic Plan 2019-2024 and the Comprehensive Country Assessment Report on CRVS System in Sierra Leone that seeks to pursue the very purpose for which this day was set aside is truly gratifying and confirms the significance of the regional initiative set up almost 10 years ago,” said Mr. Chinganya.

Sierra Leone’s CRVS System, he said, is exceptional like in a few other African countries. It has a system integrating CRVS and ID which is in line with the ECA’s guidelines and international best practice.

The programme is country-driven, with oversight by ministers responsible for civil registration.

“This is an initiative of countries that the ECA and other regional bodies such as the African Union and the African Development Bank are facilitating through technical and financial support. At the regional level, we have a truly collaborative effort, with not only our regional organizations but also the United Nations and international NGOs partnering as a core group promoting and supporting the process at regional and country levels,” said Mr. Chinganya.

At international level, he said, the global CRVS Group and the United Nations Statistics Division are supportive of these initiatives, recognizing their importance towards achieving the 2030 Development Agenda.

“CRVS systems, when fully developed, also contribute to the evidence-base for the African Union Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want. As a result of this partnership, the CRVS systems improvement programme exemplifies the kind of collaboration that makes programming effective and achieve the desired outcome,” the ECA Director added.

At the ECA, Mr. Chinganya said, they follow closely the progress being registered by member States towards the implementation of the regional agenda for improving CRVS and ID management.

“We commend the Government of Sierra Leone for the commitment it has shown since the first Conference of Ministers responsible for civil registration that was held in Addis Ababa, to implement the resolutions of the Ministers. With the assessment and costed plan now completed, the major task of implementation now comes to the fore,” he said.

Mr. Chinganya added that Sierra Leone now needs to take bold steps to advance the programme as envisaged, including substantial investments – human, technical and financial – for smooth implementation and to make it sustainable.

Meanwhile, Togo’s Minister of Territorial Administration of Decentralization and Local Authorities of Togo, Payadowa Boukpessi, has announced at the launch of the Second Africa CRVS Day the extension of the mandatory registration period of births in the country from 30 to 45 days after the delivery.

The fourth Conference of Ministers held in December 2017 in Nouakchott, Mauritania, declared August 10 the African Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Day and advised member States to observe the day.

The first CRVS Day was observed on the 10th of August 2018 under the theme; “Promoting Innovative Universal Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System for Good Governance and Better Lives”.

The second CRVS Day will be commemorated on Saturday 10 August under the theme; “Birth Certificate for All: Fundamental for Protecting Human Rights and Promoting Inclusion”.

 

SLAJ President Dilates on roles the Media could play in Combating Graft in Sierra Leone

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

By Amin Kef Sesay – 13th August 2019
The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Ahmed Sahid Nasralla (De Monk) on the 13th August 2019, during the launch of the 4th Generation National Anti-Corruption Strategy held at the Miatta Conference Centre mentioned the important roles the media could play in the fight against corruption.

He first noted that the absence of corruption is fundamental to the promotion of good governance just as the Anti-Corruption Commission is to the fight against corruption in Sierra Leone.

According to him the ACC is just an institution and it cannot do it alone stressing how it needs help underscoring Political Will but said it should not be centered on the head of His Excellency the President alone. He highlighted the Executive will which he pointed out is the goodwill of the President and his/her Cabinet ministers.

Nasrallah also mentioned Parliamentary will which he said is the goodwill of the Honorable Members of Parliament, Judicial will as the goodwill of those who interpret the laws of the land.

He stated that there should be the Police will which is the goodwill of the Sierra Leone Police, who are constitutionally charged with the responsibility of providing security and maintaining law and order in society.

With regards to Civil Society Will, he said, it is the goodwill of you and me, a well-informed citizenry and civil society organizations.

Coming to the Media will the SLAJ President defined it the goodwill of the media.

“Corruption is the hydra monster that has eaten away our past, our present and is fast swallowing our future,” he said adding that in the fight against corruption there should be no sacred cows.

The President said we all know that the media’s role in social change and development  cannot be overstated stressing how it is something that we all recognize as important.

“We appreciate the efforts made by the ACC to involve the public in the development of this 4th Generation National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2019-2023. I recall that a session was held with the media at the SLAJ Secretariat at Campbell St., Freetown, where journalists contributed their own perspectives in the fight against corruption, including corruption within the media,” he continued further making it known how it is important to highlight the need for continued public ownership of this strategy and support for the fight against corruption generally.

The SLAJ Prezo said there is a need to re-examine the relationship between the State and civil society. “By civil society I mean all of us that are not official state organs, and this include the media. We can all agree that one of the challenges we face in dealing with the scourge of corruption—which seems to have become a culture—is the lack of trust between the public (ordinary people) and the state. There is this ‘us’ versus ‘them’ way of seeing the relationship between the public and the state. We can trace this to the very many years of distrust and lack of confidence in the State’s ability to address the very basic needs of the ordinary people.

The ordinary civil servant or woman in the market (in their misery and suffering) are also witnesses to the sudden social mobility of high-ranking public officials and politicians. People in power or close to power have a good life—with access to good healthcare and private education for their children, while ordinary people struggle to make ends meet. This situation does not support public confidence and trust in the state and a by-product of this is a normalisation of corruption and apathy to the fight against corruption,” he pointed out.

He suggested that we must move on to make people feel that they have a stake and therefore take ownership of the fight against corruption and support the implementation of this strategy.

Highlighting key roles the media could play, he stated: to provide adequate and accurate reporting on anti-corruption efforts by the ACC and its partners as well as to help raise awareness about the new anti-corruption strategy and support efforts that are aimed at nurturing public ownership of the fight against corruption.

He said the Media should be able to help set the agenda and become a serious point of reference for the ACC and other institutions that are involved in the fight against corruption.

“We can only do this by carrying out independent investigative reporting, as well as in-depth analytical reporting on corruption-related issues. We want to continue to hold public institutions and officials accountable and push for better service delivery because inefficient public institutions and lack of basic services is probably one reason the ordinary person doesn’t feel they have a stake in the affairs of the State,” he informed but said as journalists they are constrained with resources and the capacity to take their rightful place in the fight against corruption.

He stated how they are open to working with the ACC, as they have always done stressing the need for renewed partnership between SLAJ and the ACC. The SLAJ President appealed for increased support to the media to enable them report better and do our job.

“As journalists, we are a part of society and we are part of the problem. We do not come from planet Mars. We equally want to be part of the solution and we would not relent in using our profession and the tools at our disposal to move this country forward,” he furthered.

MPIAC Sierra Leone Sub- Committee calls for Urgent Demolition at Mortomeh 

By Foday Moriba Conteh – 13th August 2019

MPIAC Sub- Committee on Friday 9th August 2019 called for an urgent demolition of a house considered to have been constructed unlawfully at the Mortomeh community. This disclosure was made during a press conference held at the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Conference Hall at Kinghaman Road in Freetown.

Dr. Denis M. Sandy Minister of Lands, Housing and Environment disclosed that as a Government, they are ensuring that no new structures are built within Mortomeh adding that the State has paid all those who have built houses in the red zone in order for them to leave those places as a disaster prone area.

He said that the President has also reiterated that no new structure should be built in the Mortomeh community especially within both the yellow, red zones and by extension the entire Sugar Loaf Mountain as they are disaster prone areas.

The Minister said to their dismay when they went on an inspection tour they discovered that Prince Sinoh Allieu has built a house at the Mortomeh Community, adding that the sum of one Billion, five Hundred Million Leones was transferred from the Disaster Relief Fund Account to Prince Sinoh Allieu as compensation payment for the demolition of his property at the Mortomeh Mudslide site.

He said that after receiving the money Prince defiantly went on and built a house at Mortomeh which he said is an affront to the Government stressing how he will ensure that the house is demolished because he was warned not to build in that area but refused to comply.

Memunatu Pratt, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, on her part said that it is the responsibility of the Government to protect lives and properties and the President is committed in doing so. She said it was against such a backdrop that the President maintained that nobody should build new structures.

The Minister said that Prince Sinoh Allieu was the co-chair of MPIAC Sub- committee and  was paid the highest amount of money as compensation for the demolition of his property, adding that the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has put mechanisms in place to construct a memorial park that will attract tourists in the country saying such will be actualized as soon as possible.

She ended by saying even the proposed Memorial park will not be built within the red or yellow zone but rather on a safer place where tourists can access it.

Executive Director Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dr. Foday Jaward also lay emphasis on the commitment of the President that nobody should build new structures within disaster prone areas.

He called on the Government to demolish the newly constructed house in the Mortomeh community which he said will be a precedent buttressing that if the house is not demolished other people might be influenced to build houses on both the red and yellow zones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1...1,2081,2091,210...1,322Page 1,209 of 1,322