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Sierra Leone’s Poverty Rate at 56.8%

By Statistics Sierra Leone

The 2018 Sierra Leone Integrated Household Survey conducted by Statistics Sierra Leone and the World Bank has revealed that Sierra Leone’s poverty stands at 56% in 2018.

The survey, which was conducted under the auspice of Osman Sankoh of Stats SL, the World Bank under Alejandro De la Fuente in Washington DC and Elizabeth Forster of the World Bank office in Freetown, made particular references to the 2018 levels and trends from 2011 to 2018.

Although, some of the findings have now been disclosed, the actual report would be launched on the 1st October 2019.

It was noted that Poverty remains high in Sierra Leone with the official poverty rate at 56.8% in 2018. Calculations from the 2018 SLIHS place the food poverty line (the amount needed to buy a sufficient amount of food following the local diet) at Le 2,125,000 annually per adult equivalent, and the total poverty line (accounting for both food and non-food expenditure) at Le 3,921,000 per adult equivalent. This results in an extreme poverty rate of 12.9%, a food poverty rate of 54.5% and an overall poverty rate of 56.8%.

It was additionally maintained that Poverty is concentrated in the rural areas in Sierra Leone.  The rates in rural areas are more than twice as high as in urban areas, 73.9% compared to 34.8%.

In the findings it was highlighted that separating out Greater Freetown (all urban areas in Western Area), they discovered that  Freetown has a significantly lower poverty rate (22.8%) than other urban areas (49.3%).  Extreme poverty rates show an even greater disparity: the rate is 19.9% in rural areas and 3.8% in urban areas.

Food poverty rates show less variation and the rate for rural areas is quite close to the rate for other urban areas, showing that although those in rural areas are much poorer overall, they are no worse than urban dwellers (outside of Freetown) in terms of having sufficient food.  Poverty depth and severity (which consider not just whether households are poor, but how poor they are and inequality among the poor) show stark disparities between urban and rural areas.

It was again disclosed that the North is the province with the highest rate of poverty. Districts like Tonkolili, Pujehun and Falaba have the highest rates by district. Poverty rates are 64.1% in the East, 76.5% in the North, 62.3% in the North-West, 67.7% in the South and 23.3% in the West.  Poverty rates vary widely within province, however, and the three poorest districts (Pujehun, Tonkolili, and Falaba) span the far south, center and far north-east of the country. The least poor districts are Western Area Urban and Rural, Kambia and Bonthe.

Among the findings national poverty has decreased modestly since 2011 driven by decreases in urban areas. The new poverty rate of 56.8% is not directly comparable to the official rate of 52.9% in 2011, due to differences in methodology and setting a new (higher) poverty line for 2018. Adjusting for these changes, the team found out that poverty has decreased by 5.6 percentage points.

Poverty in rural areas has remained flat (increased by a statistically insignificant amount) while poverty in urban areas has decreased significantly (by 6.2 percentage points), concentrated in urban areas outside of Freetown.

It says all the regions saw decreases in poverty, but only that in the West is statistically significant. Extreme poverty has not changed overall since 2011 but increased in rural areas (5.3 percentage points) and the East (5.9 percentage points).  Food poverty has increased significantly (8.4 percentage points) with particularly large increases in rural areas, the East and the North.

 

Sierra Leone President calls on ECOWAS to beef up against Terrorism

By Alim Jalloh

President Dr. Julius Maada Bio on Saturday 14th September 2019 called on Presidents and Heads of State in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to optimize their efforts in the fight against terrorism.

“First, I urge colleagues to support the ECOWAS Standby Force, a brigade-sized unit, as a coherent regional force that augments and complements the capacity of existing military forces in fighting and containing the spread of terrorism,” he said, adding that that force might also help in harmonizing operational philosophies and procedures among the region’s armed forces.

He called on his colleagues in the 15-member regional political and economic union to speedily deploy equipment and pursue other capacity-building arrangements to bolster military forces in the region.

“I, therefore, urge Your Excellences and the ECOWAS Commission to speedily operationalize and closely monitor the implementation of Phases 2 and 3 of the ECOWAS Standby Force Logistics Depot, which Sierra Leone is hosting at Lungi. Delaying the operationalization of the logistics depot is a dangerous calculation,” he warned.

President Bio also reminded the Extraordinary Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government on Terrorism to view the sub-region as their neighborhood and must, therefore, ensure that that neighborhood is free of strife and the danger of terrorism.

“We must therefore quickly operationalize a coherent plan for collecting, processing, sharing timely and actionable intelligence on terrorist activities and movements across the entire region. We must, therefore, invest resources into a comprehensive and effective strategy to achieve this.

“Thirdly, I urge the ECOWAS Commission to closely examine legal, policy and institutional frameworks across the region that addresses the threat of terrorism. The region must tackle extremist violence, terrorism, transnational crime in an organized and harmonized manner,” he said.

He finally called on the summit to impress on civil society stakeholders that national development and resilience depend on security, adding that they must, therefore map out clear and coherent ways in which civil society actors could help Governments communicate with populations, build trust, defuse the triggers of conflict, support equitable and accountable governance that would create opportunity and support peace building.

After three weeks Educative Seminar… 30 Sierra Leone Media Practitioners jet in from China

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Some 30 Media Practitioners, having received valuable media training and experiences in China, jet back into Freetown on Tuesday 17th September 2019.

On 26 August 2019 thirty Sierra Leoneans, comprising practicing journalists and Press Officers in Ministries, Departments and Agencies departed for the People’s Republic of China to participate in the three weeks long educative seminar.

The engagement was organized by the Research and Training Institute (RTI) of the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) and sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce both in China.

Officially opening the Seminar, the Deputy Director General of International Cooperation Department of NRTA, Mr. Cheng Heng, said the institution is a Ministerial level Central Government Agency under the State Council of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). He intimated that the first newspaper in China was established in 1822 and was called Abelha Da China or Macao China.

Giving a brief chronological run down of the development in the media in China, he said the first radio station was opened in 1923 in Chengai and the first Government radio service was established in Najing in 1928. In 1940, Mr. Chengheng went on; the Xinhua Radio Station was opened.

“In 1958 the Deputy the Beijing Television Station started broadcasting,” he told the participants.

Throughout the seminar the participants benefitted from incisive lectures by Chinese media professionals on several topics including the New Media in China.

Apart from the lectures that were delivered the team of journalists from Sierra Leone also visited many key media institutions both in Beijing and Guangzhou.

Guangzhou is a huge industrial city with booming trade in textiles as well as in electronic and many more. Also, the team visited historical and touristic sites such as the Great Wall near Mongolia and the Forbidden City in Beijing amongst others.

Alongside their Chinese hosts, they also visited the Sierra Leone Embassy in China and met with the Ambassador, His Excellency Chief Ernest Ndomayeina and staff including the Deputy Ambassador His Excellency Saffa Wuya.

The entire Seminar climaxed on Monday September 16th 2019 with a formal farewell gathering during which several high profiled personalities including Ambassador Ndomayeina were present.

Talking to some of the beneficiaries all agreed that they have acquired useful media professional knowledge during the three days seminar which they believe will be very useful in furthering their day to day work.

NP Sierra Leone is a source of inspiration

By Amin Kef Sesay

The country’s leading petroleum business entity has become a household name as it continues to offer qualitative products to its numerous customers. It cannot be swept under the carpet that the company is a major source of inspiration to some Sierra Leoneans who are ambitious of establishing business entities that will grow to the magnitude of NP.

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 held in high esteem for its invaluable contributions towards building the country’s economy.

The company has worked hard over the years evident in the opening of 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 ideas 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 prioritized 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 during the National Business Award 2018/2019 that was 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 organizations.

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.

From what was understood the company is inspiring many to invest, grow indigenously, become sustainable and succeed.

 

Sierra Leone Brewery is indeed on Top of Situation

By Amin Kef Sesay

From a well-coordinated country-wide survey mounted by this medium to really know which business companies are doing well in terms of socio-economic advancement the one that kept coming up or was most times mentioned is the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL).

Since its establishment in 1961 the country’s premier brewer of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks has been growing from strength to strength providing many attendant benefits to the nation.

Ideally situated within the Wellington Industrial Estate, in the East End of Freetown, the company is vibrantly functioning and timely offering its numerous esteemed customers both within and out of the country to the admiration of all and sundry.

A very impressive aspect of the company is the seriousness its shareholders and competent managerial teams have been attaching in rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility on various fronts that are positively impacting lives meaningfully and by extension contributing to overall national development.

The company is on record for ameliorating the acute water shortage within and out of its area of operations. With support from its partners the Sierra Leone Brewery Limited has championed the construction of state of the art water wells in communities that were previously bedevilled with water supply living in its wake serious social implications including unwanted pregnancies and drug abuse.

Residents are now at vantage positions to access clean and pure water supply which was hitherto difficult to get. In its production chain SLBL is making use of sorghum which is grown locally. The number of sorghum farmers is increasing exponentially and presently stands at over 25,000. The symbiotic relationship between Brewery and the farmers is watertight with the latter benefitting financially thereby putting them in positions to take care of major responsibilities.

Making proper use of the Local Content Policy has placed the company in a good stead as one that is empowering Sierra Leonean farmers. As a matter of fact the company has been undertaking intermittent tours in the provinces on missions geared towards encouraging people to cultivate sorghum. Through radio talks and face to face engagements the awareness has been spread that sorghum is an important product required by the company.

The Sierra Leone Brewery Limited is helping in the area of providing job opportunities both formally and informally. The company has in its employ workers who are working at its production but there are other individuals who are self -employed, dealing in the products produced by the Brewery. These offered opportunities are helping in terms of poverty alleviation.

As it continues to produce favourite drinks cherished by many, it goes without saying that SLBL is really a very relevant entity in this country and it is indeed indisputably right on top of situation.

 

 

 

 

From the Brink to the Brim… Sierra Leone Rokel Commercial Bank clocks 102

By Samuel Serry Jr.

Established in 1917, it was originally known as Barclays Bank. This month, the Rokel Commercial Bank is celebrating 102 years of existence and exactly 20 years ago, the name Rokel Commercial Bank was adopted after Barclays withdrew from the country, selling 51% of its shares to the Government of Sierra Leone.

Fast forward to 2015, an aggressive transformation drive began with a recapitalization package   that helped repositioned the bank as a dominant force in contemporary Sierra Leonean banking.  Since then and with a new Management in place, the Bank has significantly grown, exceeding every expectation.

An enviable growth trajectory in the last three years has been predicated upon a marketing strategy robustly rolled out alongside an ambitious expansion drive. This has not been deterred by the unfavourable global economic climate as the bank’s Management had utilized every available opportunity to change the narrative of bank known for a tumultuous past.

In 2018, the bank made a staggering Le66 Billion profit after tax – which accounts for 30% increase from Le52 Billion profit after tax in 2017. Profit before tax was Le79 Billion – a significant leap from the Le62 billion profits in 2017. Customer deposits increased from Le770 Billion in 2017 to 873 Billion in 2018.

Rokel Commercial Bank has become a champion for financial inclusion in Sierra Leone.  Revolutionary mobile based products like the Rokel Simkorpor had taken banking to virtually every corner of the country whilst its sponsored national debating competitions on financial literacy have also invariably helped to broaden the knowledge base of a critical mass of young people on financial issues.  RC Bank has remained steadfast in adhering to its corporate social responsibility – touching lives and making a big difference in society. For this reason and improvements in service delivery, there has been no financial institution that has surpassed Rokel Commercial Bank in both local and international recognition over the last two years with over 20 awards from very reputable indigenous and international organizations. In the words of Managing Director, Dayoh Gilpin,   “We are setting our footprints on the sands of time…we know exactly where we want to go as a bank and we believe our passion to succeed is not fuelled by the desire to make profits, it is our desire to complement government’s economic development policies. This is of existential relevance to whatever we do to attain middle income status by 2035…”   

The 20th Anniversary Celebrations will run from the 14th to the 22nd September with a plethora of activities including a marketing parade, lighting of the bank, inter-faith service at the main branch, a thanksgiving service, march past and a grand reception at the Bank of Sierra Leone Complex at Kingtom.

 

Sento Kamara Declared Wanted for Practicing Lesbianism

Sento Kamara.jpeg

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The increasing reports of isolated physical attacks on persons found to be lesbian seem to have no end in sight as the recent case Sento Kamara indicates.

News intimated this medium revealed that at Black Hall Road East End of Freetown, stakeholders and youths of that have mounted a round the clock search for Sento Kamara who is now declared wanted.

According to an in-depth investigation mounted by this medium, the 29 Years Old Sento Kamara hails from an Islamic background, of which his father is the Head of Basharia Council of Imams in Freetown Sierra Leone was involved into a lesbian with a 14 years old Fatmata Turay.

According to our investigation Sento Kamara and Fatmata Turay were caught red-handed by Fatmata Turay’s uncle making love at Fatmata Turay’s room. The both were punished and wanted to be sentenced life imprisonment but Sento Kamara’s mother cry to the Muslim elders in the community and Sento’s Father who is the head of all the Imams to forgive Sento Kamara as she is young and don’t know the consciences of the crime they have committed.

A week before she was accepted by her father and the community, she was raped by unknow men at unfinished building where she was sleeping of which she become pregnant and give birth to a bouncing baby boy on the 1st January 2012.

Findings reveals that Sento Kamara was still not comfortable with men even when she has given birth.

On the 7th of September 2019. Sento Kamara, was also caught red-handed for the second time in the same abominable act with a woman named Madam Kadie.  The said Madam Kadie was caught in the act of having intercourse with Sento Kamara.

Following this, Sento Kamara and Madam Kadie were given the beating of their lifetime by angry religious fanatics that left them half dead.

The hunting for Sento Kamara became more serious after a Muslim insurrection against his father, demoing him never to preach in the mosque again and the shucked of this sad development led her father to heart attack and was hospitalized.

Since then, no one knows the whereabouts of Sento Kamara but it is believed that her family, Muslims elders of the community and Police are angry and still looking for her if seeing she will face the law.

According to Sierra Leone Laws lesbianism and gay acts are totally discouraged and disallowed. The laws state that anyone caught in the practice must face a sentence of life imprisonment with hard labour

Among others hunted lesbians Sento Kamara is the top of the police search and wanted list and if caught today, she will face the law with a brutal sentence or might even lost her life.

Alie Marah Declared Missing

Alie Marah, sustaining wounds after being manhandled

By Foday Moriba Conteh

It has emerged last night that the eldest son of the late Village Chief of Senekedugu village in the Wara Wara Yagala Chiefdom, Koinadugu district Alie Marah has been missing for the past couple of days now.

Alie got missing after he was declared wanted by elders of the secret society in the village after he failed to abide by their decision to inherit the Chieftaincy of his late father Chief Lansana Marah who died on August 25th 2019 following a sudden illness.

Investigation revealed that after the death of the late Town Chief, Alie was invited to take over the Chieftaincy on the condition that he must sacrifice his manhood during the initiation ceremony.

The source said Alie was invited to the society bush to perform the first part of the ceremony.

On the 1st September, 2019. A senior member of the society, Alfred Peter told this medium that  a group of secret society members stormed Alie Marah’s house ordering him to follow them to the bush but he refused on the grounds that he was not interested due to the condition. When Alie told his wife about this latest development, the lady refused on the grounds that they have just wedded one month ago without a child. The wife insisted that if her husband accepts that condition, they will no longer have children which will definitely affect the relationship.

Peter said when Alie Marah refused he was dragged out of the house and seriously manhandled to be point that he became unconscious.

Alie was rushed to a nearby Pharmacy and given first aid treatment. Because of the sensitive nature of the matter, the Nurse at the Pharmacy Sister Fatmata Mansaray insisted that Alie should not stay in the place.

Since that time members of the secret society have been coming regularly in search of Alie. This latest development prompted Mr. Alie and his wife to escape to an unknown destination.

Family members are worried about the whereabout of their son who they say has been assisting them greatly over the years.

As they fell to unfortunate late win in Liberia… Leone Stars to get revenge on Sunday

Leone Stars

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Sierra Leone’s darling Leone Stars fell to an unfortunate late defeat to the Lone Stars of Liberia last Wednesday, but the Leone Stars would be looking to get their revenge as the two sides meet for the second leg this Sunday in Freetown.

The Leone Stars lost the first leg of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers preliminaries to the Lone Star of Liberia by three goals to one (3 – 1), after a 95-minute encounter at the Samuel K. Doe Sport Complex in Paynesville, outside Monrovia, Liberia on Wednesday, September 4.

It was a star-studded affair as both sides fielded big names from across the globe. The Leone Stars conceded the first and second goals through penalty kicks. The first goal was described as very controversial and coming into the first half of play; and the second scored in the second half of play.

Terrence Tisdell, who plays professional football in South Africa, and Mohammed Sangare, who plays professional football in England of Lone Star converted their kicks from the penalty spots in the 18th and 82nd minutes of play, respectively.

The second and third goals scored by the Liberian side came in the last ten minutes of play after the visiting team had reduced the deficit in the second half during the 56th minute of play with Kwame Quee, who plays professional football in Iceland, scoring the only goal for the Leone Stars.

However, the third goal for the Liberian side came from Sam Johnson, who plays professional football in the USA, in the 89th minute after what appeared to be a defensive blunder and lack of proper coordination between the central defender and the goalkeeper of Leone Stars.

Commenting on the outcome of the match, many Sierra Leoneans, who watched what came to be known as the Mano River Union Derby through SLBC TV and other local channels, blamed the country’s defeat on poor refereeing and terrible defending on the part of Leone Stars.

The Leone Stars’ technical side is called upon to fix the problem before the return leg at the Siaka Stevens National Stadium in Freetown on Sunday, September 8, 2019.

Others commentators said it was the better side that won, whilst also expressing patriotic optimism that Leone Stars could win on their home tuft to return the compliment, as they play host to the Liberian side whose first-leg victory was watched by their President – George O. M. Weah, one time Player of the Year Award-Winning Footballer.

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