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NP Remains Number One Oil Company in Sierra Leone

National Petroleum (NP) SL Limited

It is on record that the National Petroleum (NP) Sierra Leone Limited apart from it being lauded for being one of Sierra Leone’s biggest tax payers is also being lauded for its invaluable contributions towards building the country’s economy.

As a petroleum business entity, NP is proud of having filling stations in various parts of the country and it is vibrantly functioning in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia.

This 100% indigenously-owned company has so far offered various jobs to residents in the afore-mentioned countries, thereby reducing poverty to a considerable level.

Without mincing the truth, NP has a capable and competent managerial team at the helm of affairs, which from time to time comes up with good initiatives, always ensuring that those initiatives are effusively, effectively implemented to create value for money.

Since it was established by 35 Sierra Leoneans, who bought shares from the Government years back, the company has grown from leaps and bounds; weathering storms that would have run it down. But the resolve of its shareholders and Management to succeed has been the centrepiece that has propelled NP to a higher level, equal to none in the sub-region.

The synergy that runs through its members of staff has also contributed to the company’s growth.

Asking those who really know NP, the feedback you get indicate that around its commitment to customer care, NP strongly believes that it must be prioritised to give total satisfaction.

The selflessness and commitment of the shareholders have made it possible for the company to empower many Sierra Leoneans and at the same time put it at a vantage position to continue to open more filling stations across the country.

NP has cordially maintained a good business relationship with its numerous customers’ right across the sub-region where it exists and most have confessed that they are realizing optimum satisfaction in dealing with NP.

The company deals with individuals and various sectors of society, always ensuring that its various petroleum products are available and are sold at affordable prices. This keen symbiotic relationship with its customers has been paying huge dividends, always resulting in a win-win situation, making NP very endearing to all and sundry.

The regulatory institution of the different petroleum companies in the country, Petroleum Directorate, has lauded NP for its efficient service delivery wherever it is operating.

The company is also known for offering Sierra Leoneans affordable NP Gas cookers of various sizes, which are safe and very friendly to use. NP Gas cookers could be purchased at all their filling stations across the country and the very gas is also sold to replenish those that have been used.

When we talk of the steady and effective implementation of the Local Content Policy, NP stands out tall as it is truly has 100% indigenes, particularly in Sierra Leone, as workers. This is one of the factors that have made the company to be a success story.

The company’s result-oriented managerial team will definitely and sustainably continue to put NP at the top.

NP-SL Ltd. is doing exceptionally well in all the countries it is functioning and indeed there are prospects for further expansion.

It can therefore be justifiably asserted that the National Petroleum Limited is the country’s reliable fuel provider as it always ensures that its stockpile is always at an appreciable level.

Lately, NP received many awards; the latest being: “Best Company of the Year” that was received on 6th July 2019 during the National Business Award 2018/2019 held at the prestigious Bintumani Hotel.

Various tests to determine quality and standard indicate that customers of National Petroleum-SL products say they have never had cause to grumble about the products.

It should be noted that customer care is one key element to the success of the National Petroleum Sierra Leone (NP-SL).

Another most important feature of NP-SL is its smart cards which customers can use to make transactions very easily and conveniently.

The public’s recognition of the invaluable contributions of NP both to its numerous customers across the country and to national development has seen it bag meritorious awards from different national and international organisations.

The company always ensures that petroleum products are always available, thereby preventing shortages that could create shocks in many quarters. The level of confidence which overseas business partners have reposed in the company has made it possible for it to enter into payment agreements thereby keeping the demand and supply chain open and running.

NP-SL by giving preference to employing Sierra Leoneans is a clear indication that it adheres to the country’s Local Content Policy. Utilizing local talents make it possible for indigenes to acquire useful knowledge and skills through training courses that could be applicable in other places.

In addition, the company sells the best cooking gas that is available in hundreds of outlets across the country, thereby contributing to creating cleaner environments, thus aiding the work of EPA.

In this digital age, moving away from the traditional way of transacting business has now become the norm.

 

Nigeria: Empowering Young African Entrepreneurs: African Presidents & Global Leaders Tackle Job Creation for Youth Empowerment

L-r: Prime Minister of Uganda, H.E. (Dr.) Ruhakana Rugunda; President of Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E. Felix Tshisekedi; President of Senegal, H.E. Macky Sall; The Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Vice President of Nigeria, H.E. (Prof) Yemi Osibanjo; Wife of the Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Dr Awele Elumelu; President of Rwanda, H.E. Paul Kagame; Moderator and Host Fareed Zakaria GPS, CNN Presenter, Mr. Fareed Zakaria, during the Founder’s Presidential Dialogue held at the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Forum 2019, the largest gathering of African entrepreneurs, held in Abuja on Saturday.
l-r: Director General, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, Dr Sidi Tah; Deputy Director General, International Cooperation and Development, European Commission, Mr. Koen Doens; President, Africa Export Import Bank, Professor Benedict Oramah; President, African Development Bank, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina; Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu; Director General, World Health Organisation, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus; and Moderator and Host Fareed Zakaria GPS, CNN Presenter, Mr. Fareed Zakaria, during the Founder’s Private Sector Dialogue held during the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Forum, the largest gathering of African entrepreneur in Abuja on Saturday

Empowering Young African Entrepreneurs is a most topical issue for African presidents and global leaders. This year, global leaders are set to tackle Job Creation, and Youth Empowerment at the 2019 Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Forum.

  • More than 5,000 participants and 60 speakers across 3 continents converge at the largest gathering of African entrepreneurs
  • 150 SME owners from across 20 African countries exhibit at the UBA Marketplace

At the recently concluded 5th edition of the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Forum, five African Presidents and thousands of young African entrepreneurs converged at the most influential gathering in the African entrepreneurship ecosystem. Job creation and youth empowerment were the key themes tackled at the Forum.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation, which has been at the forefront of advocating for entrepreneurship as the catalyst for the economic transformation of Africa, convened the 2-day Forum on the 26th and 27th of July at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of government. The event convened over 5,000 participants from 54 African countries, including representatives of the 7,521 beneficiaries of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme.

More than 60 global speakers from the public and private sectors across 3 continents participated in interactive masterclasses, plenary sessions and debates geared towards generating ideas and defining concrete steps Africa must take to empower its youth and accelerate the continent’s development. Guests interacted directly with young budding entrepreneurs from across the 20 African UBA-present countries who exhibited their innovative products and solutions at the UBA Marketplace, powered by Africa’s global bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA).

Moderated by American journalist and host of CNN’s show, Fareed Zakaria GPS, the Presidential Debates, which formed the highlight of the two-day event, focused on charting the way forward towards the eradication of poverty in Africa through job creation.  The public sector leaders on the panel include H.E. Paul Kagame, President, Republic of Rwanda; H.E. Macky Sall, President, Republic of Senegal; H.E. Félix Tshisekedi, President, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); H.E. (Prof.) Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria; and Hon (Dr.) Ruhakana Rugunda, Prime Minister, Republic of Uganda, representing the President of Uganda, H.E. Yoweri Museveni.

Healthcare played a dominant role in the conversations as healthcare leaders in the public and private sectors tackled this theme on the plenary session “The Role of Healthcare in Economic Transformation”. Speakers on this panel include Dr. Awele Elumelu, Trustee, Tony Elumelu Foundation and Founder/CEO, Avon Medical Practice; H.E (Mrs.) Aisha Buhari, First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria, H.E (Mme.) Djena Kaba Condé, First Lady of Guinea; H.E. (Mme.) Keïta Aminata Maiga, First Lady, Mali; Gilles Carbonnier, Vice President, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); Oulimata Sarr, Regional Director ai, UN Women Central and West Africa; and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General, World Health Organisation.

At the Forum, Tony O. Elumelu, (CON), Founder of the Tony Elumelu reiterated the urgency in creating jobs on the continent to catalyse Africa’s development.

He said: “Extremism is a product of poverty and joblessness. Poverty anywhere is a threat to everyone everywhere,” he said. “If our leaders understand the reason and rationale for our youths to succeed, they will do everything they can to support them.”

Elumelu also reiterated the role of technology as a key enabler in accelerating development, citing TEFConnect, the digital networking platform for African entrepreneurs launched by the Tony Elumelu Foundation in 2018. With over 500,000 registered users, the hub provides a platform for entrepreneurs to network and forge business partnerships regardless of their location.

Giving the keynote speech, Vice President of Nigeria, H.E. (Prof.) Yemi Osinbajo commented on the impact of the Tony Elumelu Foundation: “By birthing this particular intervention, Tony Elumelu has compelled us to focus on what really matters, our youth and their dreams. The message to Africa’s emerging business giants is a clear one: How and what can you contribute, like Tony Elumelu, to empowering the next generation, helping them to realize their own dreams?”

The forum ended with a tour of the UBA Marketplace, where entrepreneurs across the continent exhibited their products, as a pitching competition saw the winner walk away with a $5,000 grant from the United Bank for Africa (UBA).

SIERRA LEONE COMMERCIAL BANK TOPS BSL 2ND QTR PERFORMANCE RATING

SLCB Managing Director Fidelis Turay 
Deputy Managing Director Bockarie Kalokoh

Under the leadership of Managing Director Fidelis Turay & Deputy Managing Director Bockarie Kalokoh, the nation’s oldest state-owned financial service provider, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank (SLCB) has once again impressively topped the Central Bank’s second quarterly performance rating.

SLCB also topped this year’s first quarterly performance rating, as it did for the past two years. For 2017, the bank made a pre-tax profit of over Le100 billion.

SLCB’s pride of place in the country’s commercial banking sector derives from the decision of management and board some years back to take a bold leap forward into the age of digitalization, internet banking and taking the bank to the doorsteps of the previously unbanked in the rural and urban areas of Freetown.

A move that will eventually be cascaded countrywide as the bank seeks to dramatically increase its customer base to capture the grassroots. With the new product, Mi Yone Internet banking Kiosk that has taken banking to the people of Adonkia in Goderich, Wilberforce and Jui, SLCB has in the last two years captured thousands of new customers.

The two new digital age products: ‘Mi Yone SLCB Teller’ and ‘Mi Yone SLCB Kiosk’ are SLCB’s stride to supporting the Government of Sierra Leone build a stronger economy through reaching the unbanked with appropriate products. Over the past five years, SLCB has invested immensely towards the digitalization of the Bank.

‘Mi Yone SLCB Kiosk’ is a digital non-brick and mortar banking solution that is designed specifically to target the unbanked population and increase SLCB’s access points to drive financial inclusion in the country.

This will enable the Bank to increase penetration of basic banking services to the doorstep of the people and its customers. Since the kiosks were opened in 2018, the bank has been inundated with new customer accounts and deposits. Staff report that the recent unbeatable performance by SLCB has a lot to do with the cordial relationship shared by the MD, management, board and staff that motivate everybody to work as a team towards the achievement of outlined organizational goals.

As a credible credit worthy financial institution, since its establishment in 1973 by the Government of Sierra Leone as its sole shareholder, SLCB under successive managements and board of directors has maintained a leading position as the country’s largest financial service provider to individuals, SMEs, large corporations, industries and embassies.

Speaking with this reporter, the Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Bockarie Kalokoh revealed that the bank is making all these strides because of team work.

“We are working as a team and we will work very hard to maintain the standard of the bank and top position in the financial industry”. Kalokoh noted.

SLCB with its headquarters on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown has branches in Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni, Koidu, Cline Town, Mobimbi, Njala, and Waterloo.

It offers online banking, current accounts, savings accounts, fixed deposits, foreign currency accounts, loans and advances, investment management, and money transfer services.

Financial Inclusivity

SLCB based on the World Bank and the Central Bank’s recommendation to bring more people into the formal banking sector has responded with Mi Yone banking kiosks in the rural communities of Adonkia in Goderich, Wilberforce and Jui as pilots for taking banking services to the doorsteps of the unbanked. This service is of great help to people in those communities as they no longer have to journey to a branch office or headquarters to do their banking.

Internet Banking

Recently having migrated into the world of digital banking, SLCB customers can now access their SLCB accounts using the Bank’s internet banking service anywhere, anytime, no matter where you are with just the click of a mouse.

With SLCB’s internet banking customers can:

– Check balances

– View transaction information

– View statements up to two months old

–  Transfer money between one’s accounts

– Purchase Bearer Bonds and Treasury Bills

– Order Cheque book for collection at counter

– Order extended statement of account for collection at counter

– Download forms

– Effect Standing Orders

– Stop Payment of Cheques

SLCB also offers other products and services such as transferring fund anywhere both locally and internationally.

SLCB’s commitment to excellence in service delivery is guided by a set of core values and principles.

SLCB offers competitive interest rates and bank charges on interest and foreign exchange rates and various bank charges.

Financing Options for Your Small Business

Are you a small business owner or entrepreneur? SLCB can work with you to provide structured financing for your start-up or small enterprise, whatever you need a helping hand with. SLCB is always ready to help you learn about the range of options they offer to help you grow your business which includes:

– Flexible loans

– Overdrafts

– Cash-flow finance

– Lines of credit

Corporate Social Responsibility

SLCB’s approach to Corporate Social Responsibility is built on best practices. SLCB is committed to investing in social programmes in education, sports and environmental challenges for communities countrywide. Our scope of community engagement initiatives are focused on, but not limited to, the following areas:

Health:

SLCB is committed to supporting efforts aimed at combating health issues. To achieve this, we have been partnering with local organizations to promote awareness of health issues and providing financial support to projects that fit the Bank’s CSR Strategy.

Education

In education, SLCB’s intervention ranges from providing scholarships, support in school materials and infrastructural development. Adoption of deprived schools in poor rural communities may be undertaken on a case by case basis.

Community

As the ‘People’s Bank’, SLCB’s goal is to have a lasting impact on the communities involved, with a blend of corporate financial contributions with in-kind giving (donations) and volunteering service of our staff who take part in community volunteering.

 

Barba Koroma, 17, Charged with Murder in Father’s Death in USA

Barba Koroma(Prince George's County Police Department)

A Bowie teenager has been arrested and charged in the murder of his father at a Prince George’s County park Friday 26 July 2019.

Barba Koroma, 17, of Bowie, was charged Saturday morning with first- and second-degree murder in the killing of 62-year-old Barba Koroma, of Bowie.

The younger Koroma is being charged as an adult.

According to Prince George’s County police, the 17-year-old stabbed his father while the latter was driving during a dispute Friday at Allen Pond Park in the 3300 block of Northview Drive in Bowie. The vehicle, an SUV, then crashed into a fence at which time the younger Koroma dragged his father into a nearby wooded area.

Officers who responded to the area around 4:30 p.m. located the elder Koroma on the ground suffering from trauma to the body in the wooded area, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers also located the younger Koroma on scene walking out of the wooded area. He was transported to a hospital for minor injuries before being taken to the PGPD Homicide Unit for questioning ahead of the filed charges Saturday.

Koroma is being held in custody on a no-bond status.

Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (301) 772-4925. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com or use the P3 Tips mobile app.

Sierra Leone Invokes Heavily Armed Soldiers To Protect COI Judges After Robbery Incident

The National Security Coordinator, Brig (Rtd) Jah Tucker says the Military Aid to Civil Power (MAC-P) has been invoked to cover the residence of each of the three judges presiding over the three commissions of inquiry (COI) investigating corrupt former government officials.

Tucker, who heads the Office of National Security (ONS), told journalists that the strand of Mac-P invoked was the “standing” one and not the”emergency”one.

This means soldiers have now taken over the NASSIT Estate residence of the Nigerian, Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean judges who are investigating allegations of corruption under the administration of former president Ernest Bai Koroma.

It follows a burglary at the housing unit of Justice Biobele Georgewill in the early hours of Monday, with thieves carting away his laptop and an external hard drive.

There was another attack on the following day just a few buildings down the street on the home of a presidential adviser, Dr John Tambi, which shares fence with another judge at the Commission of Inquiry. Two laptops and files were also stolen.

Justice Georgewill himself has remained defiant. Resuming work yesterday for the first time since the attack on his residence, the Nigerian judge vowed to move on with vigor to conclude his assignment in the country.

“It is time to move on with greater vigor to take the work of the Commission to its legal logical conclusion, God being my helper,” he said in a statement issued to the press.

In the statement, he thanked Sierra Leoneans from the President to the Vice President and various heads of institutions “for the overwhelming show of concern”and assurances for his safety and security for the remaining days of his stay in the country.

Already investigations on the incident are ongoing, with the police having placed a Le10 Million reward for information leading to any successful prosecution of the culprit.

The COI was instituted in January this year as a result of the recommendations of the Governance Transition Team report in 2018.

Justice Geeorgewill who has been in the country since then, is dealing with some of the most sensitive cases in the commission; these include inquiries into the Ministry of Youths, Ebola funds, unsecured bank loans, Petroleum Directorate and many more.

Some of those cases can directly tie former President, Ernest Bai Koroma and most of his ministers to corrupt practices.

Last week the Nigerian judge opened an inquiry into the Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Trade and Industry. And next week he will be wrapping up inquiries into Ministry of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Health, Mines and Mineral Resources, Petroleum Directorate and Sierra Leone Commercial Bank.

 

Mob Torch Gambia’s Anti-crime Boss’s Home

The Serekunda home of The Gambia’s leading anti-crime police officer has been set ablaze by an unruly mob angry over the reported death of a detainee.

A crowd of angry youth early on Wednesday set fire to Inspector Gorrgui Mboom’s house in Ebotown, 12km south of Banjul as word filtered through that a detainee had died while under the custody of the Police Intervention Unit.

Inspector Mboob and members of his family were not home at the time of the incident.

There has been no independent verification of the reported death in PIU custody of the detainee who was said to be a Sierra Leonean trader.

The outside and inside of Inspector Mboob’s building were vandalized and looked charred as burnt debris lay strewn on the tiled floor of the compound.

A detachment of helmeted PIU personnel has since been deployed to the scene where calm is reported to have been restored.

Meanwhile scores of demonstrators have been arrested by Gambian paramilitaries after a protest against the area council in Brikama, 35km south of the capital.

The protest was called over poor services by the Brikama Area Council (BAC) to the community.

Witnesses spoke of demonstrators being chased, beaten with batons, teargassed and frogmarched into custody by anti-riot police.

Most shops in the Brikama market were forced to close down amidst the unrest.

 

Sierra Leone Chief Justice, LAB to Launch Judicial Week

Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards (center)

The Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards has revealed plans to launch the Judicial Week from the 17 – 20 September 2019 in collaboration with Legal Aid Board (LAB).

During this period, those who have been in correctional centers for a long period – sometimes for years – will have their cases heard by Judges identified for purposes of the Judicial Week. This will include inmates who have indictments but not on trial, those without indictments and those cases of long adjournment. The Chief Justice explained that a key reason for the week is to clean up correctional centers across the country.

The Honorable Chief Justice made this disclosure at a meeting with the leadership of the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board and the Sierra Leone Correctional Service in the conference room in his Chamber on 23 July 2019.

The Chief Justice further revealed that other sections of the High Court will not sit during this period. This is because High Court Judges who preside over these courts will be busy with the Judicial Week. According to the Chief Justice, 13 courtrooms will be available for use. He disclosed that emergency civil matters in the Civil Jurisdiction of the High Court will be heard at the Fast Track Court.

He said that the Correctional Service will have to compile, in good time, the list of inmates whose cases will be heard. He added that this should be done by the next meeting on 5 August 2019.

The Chief Justice said he will be meeting with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution and the Sierra Leone Police to discuss plans for the Judicial Week and also what is expected of them.  This will mean the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution will have to file indictments for all inmates without one, prior to the commencement of the Week.

He said he hopes to have the Judicial Week every year.  He explained that the idea is to ensure those who have been in correctional centers for long time, but have no case to answer, do not continue to suffer.

The Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles welcomed the initiative by the Chief Justice and assured him that the Board will provide legal representation to all inmates who will be brought before the Courts. The described the inmates concerned as clients of the Board whose plights have been brought to the attention of the Chief Justice and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution in the past. She drew attention to a nationwide assessment of correctional centers carried out by the Board which found out that there are 196 inmates without indictments for the period 2016 to date.

The Chief Justice pointed out that the Prison Courts will continue to sit notwithstanding the Judicial Week. In her response, Ms. Carlton-Hanciles expressed concern about these courts which sit within the confines of the correctional centers because they are not considered to be a proper court. ‘These cases should be heard once and for all in an open court so as to not only serve the ends of justice but to also save time and money on the part of the state,’ she said.

He also seized the opportunity to discuss steps being taken to address the issue of jurors which is causing serious delays in the trial of capital offences. He revealed that he will be writing to the Chief Immigration Officer and the head of the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) on this matter.  He noted that there will be a proper juror service by next year. He added that there is a large pool of employees in the public service who can serve as jurors. Another issue that will be addressed is allowance for jurors.

 

 

Sierra Leone: Africa Youth Diplomacy Forum Ends Successfully

Ambassador Mohamed Barrie, Sierra Leone Chairman Peace and Security Council, Africa Youth Assembly 2019

The Africa Youth Assembly hosted in Freetown Sierra Leone to discuss on Africa Union Agenda 2063 and pave the way for diplomatic relations, negotiations, and consultations and achieve Education for Sustainable Development in Africa has ended successfully.

The Africa Youth Diplomacy Forum brought together young diplomats across Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Gambia, Liberia and Uganda) to discuss on numerous challenges causing the underdevelopment of African Countries and proffer solutions in line with AU Agenda 2063.

Admittedly, I must say this is one of my best International Conference I have ever attended, a conference that practically display the facade of International Negotiations, Mutual Agreements, Collaborative Efforts and understanding of each other, strengths and weaknesses in the circus of diplomacy.

At the Opening Plenary of the Conference it was challenging because of miscommunication. Many people (public) thought the conference will not hold including the national and International delegates, we felt discouraged, depressed and disappointed but we realized that we are the leaders of today and as diplomat we should always look for a way forward to achieve our set goals.

National and international delegates including the organizers went to the drawing board and developed Plan B to ensure that we meet our target, after a marathon of consultation, agreement and disagreement we were able to come out with possible solutions in achieving the first ever Africa Youth Diplomacy Conference in Freetown Sierra Leone and they were proud to say that the Plan B worked more proactively than what was expected.

He added that he thanks the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs Hon. Mohamed Haji Kella for honouring their invitation to serve as the Key Note Speaker at the Opening Plenary of the Conference.  He went on to state that he extends profound thanks and gratitude to their dynamic and development-oriented panellist Themoty Sam of Plan International, Miss Hadiatou Dillo of One Family People, Mr. David Moniea of Forum for Empowerment of Young People and Mrs. Fatu Taqi of 50/50.

 

 

 

 

Sierra Leone: FIFA Bans SLFA Ex-Officials for 5 Years

Fifa has banned several former football administrators for their involvement with match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal.

Former Sierra Leone FA (SLFA) official Abu Bakarr Kabba has been banned by Fifa for five years and fined US$50,000 for violating the organisation’s Code of Ethics.

Football’s world governing body found him “guilty of having accepted and received bribes in relation to the manipulation of international matches”.

Kabba, formerly an administration secretary and acting general secretary in the SLFA, was one of 15 players and officials originally suspended in 2014 during a match-fixing investigation.

SLFA president Isha Johansen, who has long fought for a match-fixing inquiry to go ahead despite some local opposition, welcomed the move.

“After years of our country’s favourite sport being plagued by allegations and counter-allegations of match-fixing and betting offences, news of the indictment of senior people formerly connected to the Sierra Leone FA can only serve in the best interest of the nation,” she told the press in a statement.

“Hopefully the dawn of a new era in Sierra Leone football is within grasp.”

Kabba was part of FIFA’s investigation “into various international matches (attempted to be) manipulated for betting purposes by Mr Wilson Raj Perumal”.

The Fifa inquiry had repeatedly been delayed but focused on several matches, one of which was a World Cup qualifier between Sierra Leone and South Africa in 2008.

In April, former Sierra Leone captain Ibrahim Kargbo, who played for the national team between 2000-2013, was banned for life by Fifa who said he had been involved in attempted match manipulation of internationals.

No information was given of the games he had been sanctioned for however.

Like Kabba and Kargbo, several other African referees – and officials – have been punished for their links to convicted match-fixer Perumal, a Singaporean national.

 

 

Sierra Leone: SLP, ACC Brace Against Corruption

“We are not stopping at declaring our assets, incomes, and liabilities. We are taking further steps to reengineer ourselves, to re-commit ourselves to serving the people of Mattru Jong with fairness and honesty in our operations, to install integrity at traffic, to re-command respect in the eyes of the public, and to pledge our commitment to supporting and strengthening the fight against corruption,” ASP Umaru Turay in charge of operations said in a Parade Talk hosting the Anti-Corruption Commission.

His statement comes barely twelve days following release of the Global Corruption Barometer report 2019, which increased dramatically the percentage of people believing that there is less corruption in the SLP as compared to 2015.

“It is not by a mistake the figures have increased, nor is it by a puerile work, and nor is it through some slapdash programme,” ACC Southern Regional Manager told officers at the Parade Talk. Musa Jawara said the Pay No Bribe campaign continues to pay off, and tackling bribery in the SLP is seriously a huge task, but it is surmountable.

He said the monthly technical working group meetings held across the country – where MDAs review each other’s anti-corruption efforts; the sporadic sting operations – where at checkpoints in Freetown, Moyamba and Rutile half a dozen officers were arrested, and at Tikonko checkpoint in Bo and elsewhere several officers were nabbed; the parade addresses – where the petite distance between officers and ‘Pademba Road’ or their dismissal is emphasized; and partnership meetings – where CDIID and ACC strengthen collaboration to tackle graft, have been huge success to producing a desirous perception held by the public of their police force.

The ACC believes asset declaration can as well add to the effort at apprehending corruption and bribery in the force. Senior Public Education Officer, Sulaiman Sowa said when officers at Mattru Jong declare it continues to inform residents there that they are being policed by accountable personnel.

He said asset declaration offers protection against finger-pointing in respect of ownership of assets (vehicles and houses) and incomes. Some officers live a spectacular life style, and may be accused of creaming in an unexplained wealth.

Sowa said only asset declaration can save one’s neck. The forms may prove that the wealth is acquired lawfully.

According to the Anti-Corruption Act 2008, Section 119 (1) mandates public officers, within three months of becoming a public officer, to deposit a sworn declaration of their incomes, assets, and liabilities with the Commission and should also make such declaration yearly. Officers should also declare when they leave office.

However, the ACC proposed amendment bill laid before Parliament exempts public officers below grade seven from declaring. It means more than half of the police force by law will not declare, except officers by the nature of their routine administer finances. Therefore, the ACC is calling on the public to encourage their Members of Parliament to support the Bill in order to make the Commission stronger in the fight against corruption.

The ACC, which was on a three-day tour to Bonthe District, held a similar parade talk with the Sierra Leone Correctional Center (SLCC). The Commission admonished correctional officers – who can be exposed to temptation to indulge in malpractices such as transporting of unwanted materials or articles to inmates, offering preferential treatment to some, allowing inmates access outside the facility at odd hours, and receiving and soliciting bribes from visitors – to guide against perpetrating malpractices.

The Commission said it will sustain the district tours by making them quarterly.

 

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