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Sierra Leone News: HRCSL Engages Gold Tree on Compliance, Rights Issues

The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) on Thursday 27th June 2019 engaged the management of Gold Tree Company in Daru, Kailahun District to ascertain the level of compliance with Business and Human Rights (BHR) standards.

Part of the work of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone is to address business and human rights issues in the country. A guideline document titled: “Guidelines for Monitoring Business and Human Rights in Sierra Leone” was developed in 2013 in partnership with the Irish Human Rights Commission and the Danish Institute for Human Rights to provide a clear and consistent roadmap for monitoring the operations of business enterprises in Sierra Leone.

The ‘Guidelines’ lay emphasis on the ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework’ of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, other international and regional human rights standards to which Sierra Leone is a party, as well as domestic policies and laws relevant to the operations of businesses in the country.

As a business entity, the operations of Gold Tree Company continues to have extensive impacts on the enjoyment of human rights of members of host communities and its workers – directly impacting on such rights like protection of the environment, rights of workers and other employment practices, rights to property relating to access and use of land (affecting food security), right to health and access to clean and safe drinking water (relating to application of chemicals and management/disposal of wastes), freedom from discrimination, rights of women and children.

The impacts can however be negative or positive.

The Oversight Commissioner for the Directorate of Monitoring and Research at the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, Dr. Gassan Abess explained that the endorsement of the Guiding Principles on BHR by the UN Human Rights Council on 16th June 2011, provided the platform for implementing the UN “Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework, which – for the first time – serves as a global standard for preventing and addressing the risk of adverse impacts on human rights linked to business activities.

Commissioner Abess also stated that in Sierra Leone, business activities have affected human rights through labour exploitation, discriminatory and other forms of employment practices, corruption, environmental degradation, unlawful acquisition of land, forced eviction of communities from their lands and related negative consequences.

He pointed out that protests and demonstrations by communities and workers have led to conflicts, damage to property, injuries, and sometimes death.

All of these, he went on, are encapsulated to abuse or violations of various forms of human rights. “These trends led to increase in the number of complaints to the HRCSL, relevant government institutions and other rights based organizations”. Dr. Abess mentioned.

The Deputy Director and Head of the Business and Human Rights Unit at the HRCSL, Abdulai Yolla Bangura explained in an interview that Gold Tree is one of the agri-business multinational companies operating in Sierra Leone with an oil palm plantation and a processing plant in Daru.

He said the monitoring will provide the Commission with the opportunity to engage with the company management identify gaps and proffer recommendations for remedial action.

The Acting Deputy Director and Head of the Eastern Region office of the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, Sylvester Kallon was also part of the monitoring team.

Sierra Leone News: “Government will leave no stone unturned on the road to compact eligibility” -VP Juldeh Jalloh

Vice President of Sierra Leone Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh

The Vice President of Sierra Leone Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh who is also the Board Chairman of the Millennium Challenge Coordinating Unit (MCCU) has told Ministers and other Senior Government officials that in the quest to improve on the country’s performance on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Scorecard; Government “will leave no stone unturned on the road to compact eligibility”.

The Vice President who was accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of MCCU, Ndeye Fatu Koroma in June 2019, visited   Ministries whose roles are considered critical to the MCC Scorecard and the Sierra Leone Threshold Program (THP) Implementation.

This strategic move by the Vice President led to fruitful engagements with key Ministries such as Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Lands Housing and the Environment.

In his address to Ministers and senior officials, the Vice President relayed that these visits to the Ministries were intended to send a very strong message that: 1) the Presidency takes the MCC Scorecard  and the  current Threshold Program implementation extremely seriously 2) there is a renewed vigour and commitment from the   highest  office on  developing sustainable data management eco-systems  and 3) a decentralized approach is essential to conveying collective responsibility to ensure that Sierra Leone passes the scorecard. He conveyed that the scorecard is a “national agenda,” and stakeholders across the spectrum should take responsibility to improve performance because it will be one of the measures of the gains that have been made under the New Direction.

The Vice President noted the pervasive challenges with data collection and storage and acknowledged that data is indispensable in the journey to promote meaningful development in Sierra Leone. To this end, he conveyed his desire to establish strategic data partnerships between the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation, MCCU and MDAs to find workable solutions to improve data collection in Sierra Leone.

The MCCU, CEO, Ndeye Fatu Koroma explained to each of the Ministries the performance of Sierra Leone over the years on key indicators on the MCC Scorecard.  She also disclosed some projected scores on the country’s performance in this year’s MCC Scorecard that will be released in November 2019.  She relayed some optimism about Sierra Leone improving its performance on the scorecard that is slated to be released in November, but noted that critical to this is timely data capture and submission.

The Ministers applauded the move by the Vice President to engage them and key staff of the Ministries on the MCC Scorecard and the Threshold Program implementation. They pledged to take prompt action to ensure that Sierra Leone is selected for a Compact this year.

 

Sierra Leone News: British High Commissioner Bids Farwell to President Bio

The outgoing British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Guy Warrington, has bid farewell to President Julius Maada Bio at State House.

While presenting the High Commissioner, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Kanja Sesay said that after years of hard work, Mr. Warrington was leaving Freetown to prepare for another assignment. He said over the years, the outgoing High Commissioner had served the country in a diligent manner.

Mr. Warrington, who is preparing for another assignment in Mali, said it had been an interesting three years working in Sierra Leone. He recalled taking up duties in the country during the post Ebola period during which the British Government undertook many post Ebola reconstructions, adding that that was a period in which British assistance to the country reached its highest level for a long time.

He stated that they were glad to have contributed in the electoral process that was peaceful, fair, credible and transparent and the subsequent peaceful transfer of power. He said the United Kingdom remained the biggest bilateral donor to Sierra Leone and that had been a long commitment through which the UK Government had been able to support the West African nation.

“We have been able to support the security sector in the country, particularly the RSLAF and now through the support of DfID, we are focusing on the education sector. I hope my successor will be able to continue the good job I have been doing and to further strengthen the relationship between the two countries. It was a pleasure to work with you,” he ended.

In his response, President Bio thanked the outgoing High Commissioner for his service to Sierra Leone and for further strengthening the relationship between the two countries. He said Mr. Warrington had been a great partner who had represented the UK very well in Sierra Leone during which the two countries had widened their relationship.

“We want to thank you particularly for the role you played in the aftermath of the Ebola outbreak and the elections which were very difficult moments. The British military assistance has also been another area of cooperation in which the UK has done quite a lot and we want you to continue to support the military establishment here because we have so much in common. We hope to have a similar and better relationship with your successor as we have always hoped to keep a very good relationship with the UK,” he said.

 

 

Sierra Leone News: Shekito Fires COI: ‘I Will Not Attend; But Send You My Book’

Sheka Tarawallie aka Shekito

Erstwhile Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Internal Affairs in the former APC-led administration of President Ernest Bai Koroma, Sheka Tarawallie aka Shekito says he will not honour a Commission of Inquiry (COI) invitation for him to testify before the Commission.

In the article below, Shekito explains why he will not attend the COI as invited but rather, he would send the COI his book which is now internationally acclaimed and about to be launched in Sierra Leone.

Shekito writes: What a great coincidence that it is now (after your Commission has been in operation for several months) – at a time just when my autobiographical book has been published by Troubador (UK) and is gaining popularity both inside and outside Sierra Leone and is about to be launched in-country – that you have written to me with regards testimonies “on issues pertaining to the Ministry of Information during your tenure”.  A striking coincidence indeed!

But that was a digression, which normally does not come at the beginning. But these are not normal times!

I received a call on 24 June 2019 at about 15:43 from Mr. Morie Lenghor (a man I found very amiable and diligent when I was Deputy Minister of Internal affairs and he was a senior police officer) saying there were issues to be addressed at your Commission with regards the Ministry of Information (where I was previously Deputy Minister) and that he would need my address for a correspondence to be sent to me to that effect. I supplied him with the information.

At about 17:44 on the same day, a friend sent me a WhatsApp message with a letter purportedly from the Commission, bearing the letter-head of same plus my name and address. Before long, I saw the same letter in several WhatsApp groups. I only actually received your letter (signed by the Secretary to the Commission but without his or her name) at about 14:00 on 25 June 2019 and found out that indeed it was a true replica (or vice versa) of the one circulating on social media.

I found this strange and astonishing – for an institution of this nature. At least, they should have waited for me, and the others addressed, to have received the correspondence before circulating it to the public (as I would do shortly). Running the Commission of Inquiry in a town-crier fashion is not fashionable at all. An institution of this magnitude of national seriousness should be operated with some office decorum and etiquette. It can clearly be seen that the WhatsApp circulation of the letter emanated from the Commission, as all the letters were from the same file which had ‘Notice of Hearing’ written on it in ink.

However, be that as it may, and coming to your secretariat’s alerting me about this development of a hearing, I appreciate the effort at reaching me. However, since there is no specific allegation against me, I would say I find it unnecessary to attend the session or even send a representative. If indeed there were, I am sure I would have been notified with the details which would be used by my legal representative to make any submission or cross-examination – even as I know that witnesses often make written statements first before their oral testimonies. Representation can therefore not be made in a vacuum, as the present scenario is.

I would like to categorically state that my position has nothing to do with the no-attendance stance of the All Peoples Congress (APC), the now Opposition which was in power within your jurisdictional timeframe. After all, many former officials have had representations made on their behalf at your Commission. I just basically do not see the necessity when there is no particular case to answer – as per your correspondence.

The fact that the substantive Minister at the time I served as Deputy Minister is around further erodes the necessity for my attendance. This is because, as Deputy (even when Acting while the Minister could be away), you do not have the capacity or authority to make any major decision without the prior approval of the Minister – as per ‘civil service protocol’ which especially Permanent Secretaries would always strictly adhere to.

To this end, I would say the letter written to me is a waste of resources. Calling someone to attend or send a representative when he or she is neither a witness nor has any specific allegation to respond to is a most unwelcome drumbeat bordering on scaremongering, as far as I am concerned. Therefore, I would crave your indulgence not to write to me if there is nothing specific to respond to in future – a future I definitely believe would not come because I am confident of the way I conducted myself in office.

Meanwhile, I am taking liberties to send you a complimentary copy of my just-published book in which I have highlighted some of my activities in Government, which I left in March 2016. Sincerely, I already had the intention of sending a copy to the Commission, but – to be sincere still – I had planned to send it to Justice Biobele Georgewill (who perhaps due to his Nigerian background – I am sure you know the links with Sierra Leone especially in contemporary times and particularly during the war period – has been more publicly trumpeted). However, as someone with a firm belief in God’s interventions in the affairs of men, I take the correspondence from your Commission as a direction to send it to you instead (and your being a Sierra Leonean makes it really better, I admit) – while I would be happy that it is shared within the three commissions.

Please forgive the fact that I have written this letter from a layman’s point of view. Perhaps, in the process, I am speaking the minds of many more laymen, who normally are in the majority.

Thank you very much for your understanding.

Yours faithfully,

Sheka Tarawalie

(Editor’s Note: published unedited)

Sierra Leone News: OMCs Want Stable Foreign Currency for Better Service Delivery

It has been learnt that it is very challenging for Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in Sierra Leone unlike other African countries like Liberia, Gambia etc.that are selling their petroleum products above 9,000 Leones but for Sierra Leone the price still remains at Le7, 000 for petrol and Le 7,500 for diesel. This is why foreign exchange dealers are really challenged and for that reason foreign currency is not freely available to OMCs for them to continue the process of purchasing and selling.

Oil marketing companies in Sierra Leone that have been doing extremely well in terms of timely service delivery of petroleum products and customer care, are reportedly going through trying times, having recorded a massive loss from January to May 2019 to the tune of over Le 96 billion (ninety six billion Leones).

Kobi Walker, General Manager NP-Sierra Leone, speaking recently on Radio Democracy in an interview disclosed that one of the major factors that has been responsible for the present status quo antebellum is the fact that there has been a huge difference between the actual price of PLATTS and the average purchase price of USD $ to the Leone when matched against that of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency Pricing Formula.

According to him this is a big challenge that NP and the Government cannot handle. He said that it is very challenging for OMCs as other African countries like Liberia, Gambia etc. are selling their petroleum products above 9,000 Leones but he said for Sierra Leone the price still remains at Le7, 000 for patrol and Le 7,500 for diesel.

He also said foreign exchange owners are really challenged and for that reason foreign currency is not freely available for them to continue the process of purchasing and selling.

He also said looking at the current prices of petroleum products within the context that NP is subsidizing has further compounded the situation which he said is a contributory reason why they are encumbered with such huge losses highlighting how that is not their sole responsibility as a company.

He said that it is not their business to give subsidies and sell below what they are buying pinpointing how they will continue to supply their products regardless of the fact that they are making so many losses.

The GM disclosed that Sierra Leone is consuming over 400 million litres of fuel every year.

He added that if the price for fuel remains like this it will pose serious difficulties for the survival of OMCs but expressed optimism that they are sure to address the issues with the relevant stakeholders.

He went further to say the company cannot determine the increase in price of fuel as there is the Petroleum Regulatory Agency which is the regulator of OMCs.

“They have the onus to determine increase of prices having looked at the PLATTS, foreign exchange rates and other variables,” Kobi Walker posited, adding that they as a company cannot continue in the present manner but that the relevant stakeholders are seriously looking into the situation.

Against this background, it should be noted that for any government anywhere in the world to successfully govern and manage its economy well, it can only do so by actively engaging oil producing companies and giving them the necessary attention because as the saying goes: without energy, no development.

Needless to say, in Sierra Leone, the state of oil companies is such that oil companies operating in Sierra Leone will remain challenged if nothing is quickly done by the relevant authorities to address the quagmire in which these companies currently find themselves.

It is understandable that the whole country relies on petroleum products for progress and development to transpire. But what the oil companies are saying is that they are exposed to a lot of bottlenecks that greatly hamper their profitability and running costs in what is considered to be a highly volatile market that is subject to the vicissitudes of international economic forces.

Without any doubt, we all see how quickly the whole economy grinds to a halt whenever there is no fuel in petrol stations. People can no longer travel easily and cheaply from one place to another. The cost of transportation goes up and food prices shoot up as well affecting the smooth operations of industries, sometimes causing job loss.

As such, whilst we understand the financial stress that the government is going through, but at the same time, the government must keep in mind that it is a fact that survival of society depends on the availability of petroleum products in the market at all times.

The depreciation in the value of the Leone should not be a factor in the Central Bank prioritizing foreign exchange to oil companies at official exchange rate because fuel has a very huge multiplying effect on the rest of the economy, as well as vital for investor confidence.

Realistically, if the government cannot subsidize, then it should allow market forces to prevail so that the industry does not collapse.

As things now stand, oil marketing companies are suffering at the detriment of its own survival.

“If the current fiscal regime is not reviewed many companies including Sierra Leone’s fully indigenous National Petroleum Company will go down a painful and dreadful route,” stated Steven Williams, a Development Consultant. He added that sound policies must be urgently rolled out to ensure stability.

Williams maintained that it is regrettable that the company finds it extremely difficult to purchase US Dollars in the marketplace currently.

It is recommended therefore that the Central Bank develop a mechanism wherein foreign currency is provided for the oil marketing companies to enable them pay for badly-needed petroleum products.

Of course to promote transparency of goods that are brought into the country and required taxes that must be paid to Government the ASYCUDA digital software was introduced at the Port.

However, what was gathered from the conducted research was that the method of implementation of the ASYCUDA system has been negatively impacting Oil Marketing Companies for which it was recommended that the relevant authorities put in place measures to ensure seamless flow of products free of interruption and long delay at the Quay.

The current pricing formula dictates that the pump price of petroleum products be adjusted upwards or downwards periodically as and when the combined effect of the changes in world market prices (quoted in PLATTS) and the exchange rate (measured by the average selling rates quoted by the Oil Marketing Companies, commercial banks and Bank of Sierra Leone) causing a +/- 5% change in the Leone-based landed cost of the product (s).

It was noted that prices should be changed upwards or downwards in small increments that will not create panic in the market place. The way it is currently, allows for a big jump at any time which makes it difficult for Government to effect change at the right time.

It may interest readers to note that while a litre of fuel is sold at Le7, 000.00 here, in Guinea it is sold at Le9, 120.00, in Liberia it is Le9, 321.00, Ivory Coast sells at Le9, 244.20 and Ghana at Le 9,136.44.

Oil marketing companies are further encumbered with other charges that are not provided for in the price build up formula, and these include: Toll Gate fees, ASYCUDA processing fees, Environmental Protection Agency fees, storage fees and other fees imposed by the Petroleum Regulatory Agency.

Thus, the government to help the oil companies must review some of its policies especially those affecting vibrant companies in the country as well as ensuring that economic measures are rolled out in order for the value of the Leone to appreciate.

Failure to take drastic steps to protect locally owned companies will definitely lead to closure or restructuring with dire consequences that could take the form of labour downsizing, no-payment of taxes to government among other salient issues.

 

Sierra Leone News: Hon. Alpha Bah Heightens Development in Const.115

Honourable Alpha Amadu Bah

It was all smiles, laughter and joy on that sunny day when the young ,dynamic and result oriented Honourable Alpha Amadu Bah, popular known as Lawyer Bah of Constituency 115 in Wellington  on Wednesday 26th June 2019 commissioned a hand pump well at United Mission (UM) School, Upper Mellon Street in Ward 406 being part of a 79 Million Leones project. The project is funded by Heineken Africa Foundation through Sierra Leone Brewery Limited under a Water and Sanitation Support to the Education Sector targeting deprived schools across the constituency.
The project also includes the construction of 3 Compartment VIP Toilet at Koya Academy Secondary School, Koya Town, Wellington, Ward 405 in the same Constituency and the turning of the sod for the toilet was done earlier today.
The Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Amb. Alimamy Coleson-Turay and the Councillor and Youth Leader respectively excelled in their functions and unreservedly expressed their gratitude to Brewery and Honourable Bah for the laudable venture.

In his statement, the Corporate Affairs Manager of Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, Albert O. Collier, rained tremendous praises and commendations on the Honourable Member of Parliament of Constituency 115, Lawyer Alpha Amadu Bah, for exhibiting and demonstrating transparency and credibility throughout the successful implementation of the said projects adding that they were more than pleased and satisfied with it all as both projects were expected to benefit not only the pupils and staff of these various schools but also the various communities at large. “Our support today does not end here; it is the extension of the already existing relationship with Mellon Street community with more sustainable projects which will be intended to improve the livelihoods of our people,”he asserted.

However, beneficiaries of these projects who include teachers, pupils and residents of the community expressed overwhelming joy and appreciation beyond words that their struggle for water facility is now over thereby immensely applauding both the Member of Parliament, Sierra Leone Brewery Limited and Heineken Africa Foundation for bringing such a timely development to their doorsteps. They abundantly promised to maintain and keep it sustainable going forward. “My children will start enjoying safe drinking water and toilet facilities without resorting to go at a distance for them as it sadly used to happen,” Head Teachers of both schools appreciatively noted.

The projects were well appreciated by all and sundry.  David Adams Jusu, an SLPP stalwart, stoutly glorified Lawyer Bah Sierra Leone Brewery for such a marvellous and wonderful development in both communities adding that everybody must embrace development as the time for politics is long over saying it is time now to move the constituency forward.

“Development does not choose or want to know which political party you belong. Once there are developments as in the case of these toilet and water facilities, everybody within the community is bound to enjoy them devoid of political party affiliation or inclination,” he averred.

Also in attendance to grace the occasion was his Constituency Executive including the Chairman, Chairlady, Secretary, Youth Leader, Councillor Luckyn Mansaray of Ward 406, Councillor Mohamed J. Tholley of Ward 406 and Ward/Area Development Committee members demonstrating party camaraderie and constituency solidarity.

 

Sierra Leone News: NPPA Makes Public 1st Quarter Price Norm

On Friday 28th June, 2019 the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA) launched the 1st Quarter of  Price Norm at the Ministry of Finance Conference Hall in the presence of media practitioners and other relevant stakeholders .

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Public Procurement Authority, Ibrahim Brima Swarray, said when he was appointed as Head of that institution he noticed that the state of national procurement was in a total mess. “The status quo was rotten to the core,” he bemoaned adding how the country has highly qualified procurement practitioners but such was not reflective in the way and manner procurement procedures were done.

He highlighted that under his jurisdiction he will ensure that the era of corrupt procurement practices, as contained in various past audit reports, will become a thing of the past.

The NPPA CEO informed that the Price Norm encompasses prices of various goods or commodities used in the country and should serve as a reference whenever procurement is to be made by Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

He appealed to procurement officers to always comport themselves professionally in order for transparency to be seen at play.

Swarray disclosed that very soon this country will commence the use of electronics procurement which he assured will come to fruition by 2020. He further revealed that an e-procurement Directorate has been established.

The CEO averred that if countries like Rwanda and Zambia are better off today it is simply because they have good procurement procedures intact. “We have resources which can make us become economically stronger more than Rwanda but that cannot happen if we do not put right procurement procedures in place,” he argued.

Swarray stated that in their decentralization drive, in order to make their presence felt countrywide and enhance efficiency, they recently opened an office in Bo, saying they have one in Makeni and pretty soon they will open another in the Eastern Province.

Earlier, the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mathew Dinge,  representing his boss, Sahr Jusu, who was unavoidably absent posited that technical and forensic audits revealed that for quite a considerable period of time there had been lapses in the way procurement were done. “This kind of situation has the tendency of eroding donor trust in the country which will seriously affect us,” he furthered.

He urged relevant stakeholders to make wise use of the Price Norm to guide their procurement decisions stressing how it should be a reference document.

Deputy Director of Public Procurement in the Ministry of Finance, Fodie Konneh, said the underlying aspect of procurement practices borders on value for money going further to maintain that the Price Norm is very important to achieve that.

He noted that it will promote transparency and accountability. He added that corruption always rear its ugly head in situations where procurement is not done correctly.

Konneh stated that the Price Norm gives credibility to the national budget. He then congratulated the NPPA CEO for his commitment, handwork and high sense of professionalism.

 

Sierra Leone News: Orange Launches Pro Bundle Package to Boost Businesses & Institutions

GSM operator in Sierra Leone, Orange SL on Thursday 27th June 2019 launched its Orange Pro- Bundle Package with Voice, Data and SMS that will enable customers to enjoy one month talk time.

Patrick Kamara Marketing Manager Enterprises Business Orange SL said the Pro Bundle is a non-binding monthly prepaid offer providing abundant Voice Call On-net, SMS and Data, adding that with its cost effective offer that meets the need for mobility and performance of business people. He added that there are three bundles which customers can choose and instantly benefit from.

Patrick Kamara Marketing Manager Enterprises Business Orange SL said business people and customers can choose and instantly benefit from the huge discount and bonus of over 400% from their payment.

He stated that to qualify for the service, customers must complete and sign a subscription form and provide proof of business activity such as City Council Certificate Business Registration, etc. He added that to qualify for this service, customers can send message to 420 and agents will do follow up and make sure you are connected or customers can visit any of Orange shop countrywide, and subscribers can dial *420 and select the specific offer you want which enables customers to recharge Le29, 990 and have 200 minutes talk time, 200 MB and 250 SMS, Le49,990, 300 minutes talk time, 600MB and 1,000 SMS.

Patrick Kamara maintained that subscribers may purchase as many as they wish within the month as each bundle purchase is valid for one month.

In the last six month, Orange has launched the Digital Revaluation and the Rial 4G Service bringing internet speed to the doorstep of Sierra Leoneans.

The Pro Bundle is also meant to extend large benefits with abundant Voice, SMS and Data for less. Orange remains committed to providing good telecom services in the country, he said.

He added that there is discount and bonus of over 400% on payment.

Djiak Aram Ndaw Head of Communication Department Orange SL said in the last six month, Orange launched the Digital Revaluation and the Rial 4G Service bringing internet speed to the door step of Sierra Leoneans

The launching of the Orange Pro Bundle for Business and Institutions is also bringing an exceptional support to the professional sector regardless of size or sector or activity.

Mohamed Kallon Marketing Communication Managing Orange SL said this Pro bundle is a professional offer which helps to make communication easy for professionals and also helps to develop their businesses which is a major development in Sierra Leone.

He stated that Orange always thinks ahead of its customers and that is what makes it a favourite.

 

 

Sierra Leone News: Africell Celebrates American Independence Anniversary

Exif_JPEG_420

Sierra Leone’s leading mobile operator, Africell, on Friday 28th June 2019, commenced the 243rd Independence Anniversary of the United States of America with a bang at its head offices in Wilberforce. Present at the celebration were officials of the US Embassy in Sierra Leone, Ministers of Government, Members of Parliament, Brand Ambassadors of the company, staff of Africell, subscribers and members of the Press.

During the celebration, which was held under a huge canopy, guests interacted with staff and officials of the Embassy in a family manner. Afri Radio’s Manager, John Konte, disclosed that a raffle draw will be held at exactly 18.00 hours and all present should send a blank SMS to 7474 and stand a chance to win 2 Airline tickets to the USA plus other attractive prizes. Abdul Aziz Gabisi of Africell welcomed all the guests, informing them that the gathering is in celebration of the 243rd Anniversary of the American Independence Day, which is on the 4th July 2019.

 

Speaking to the visibly party-ready guests, Joe Abass Bangura, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Africell, gave a brief history about the origin and growth of the USA. He disclosed that from humble beginnings and with a population of 2.5 million people in 1776, the USA has grown to over 300 million embracing all nationals in its wake. Presently the USA has 43 million foreign nationals from every continent in the world. Significant to note is the presence of some 38,257 Sierra Leoneans in the country (According to US State Bureau figures 2017) Remittances from these is estimated at US$12.1 million in 2017, second to remittances from Guinea.

Joe Abass Bangura further disclosed that Africell is an American company, owned by its citizens and relationship with the US Embassy dates way back to the inception of the company. Today Africell has an enviable space in Sierra Leone, offering relevant services to Sierra Leoneans in every sector and enhancing the right to communicate as well as providing the relevant space for the development of youths and complementing the development of the country’s human capacity. Africell, he said, is proud to partner with the US Embassy in Sierra Leone to celebrate this year’s Independence Anniversary, which will fall on the 4th July 2019. In respect of this celebration, Africell will Launch on Monday 1st July 2019, a new promotion to last for one week. Subscribers will be able from the 1st – 7th July to make calls to the USA for just Le3, 000 and can talk for 30 minutes. This amount is valid only for 24 hours and can be replicated the next day till the 7th July for the same amount.

The high point of the celebration came with the cutting of the cake which was designed with the American flag. Africell’s CEO and the representative of the US Embassy in Sierra Leone then did the cutting of the cake, which was later served to all the guests present.

Excitement grew when the raffle draw began as guests prayed fervently to win the 2 tickets to travel to the USA. Several prizes were won including 1 Samsung sound bar, 1 water dispenser, 1 Panasonic Home Theatre, 1 Ultr Turbo Vacuum Cleaner, 1 Techno 43’’ LED TV, 1 4 Bonner Gas Cooker and 1 refriferator. Winners of the 2 tickets to the USA were Mohamed Barrie, a sales rider and Mariama Turay a staff of Africell in a transparent electronically controlled digital mixing. The event was climaxed with a party session.

 

Sierra Leone News: President Julius Maada Bio urges actions on ECOWAS’s forensic Audit Report

Abuja, Nigeria – On Saturday 29 June 2019, His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has urged colleagues at the 55th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Governments to take action on corruption.

“Public probity and accountability are not optional to good governance. We cannot afford to continue to see corruption as a minor inconvenience to ignore just because the thieves may be our own countrymen. As leaders, an adequate response to corruption on such a massive scale is not just perfunctory expression of discomfort at seeing our own nationals named and shamed,” he said, adding that ECOWAS must be alarmed that corruption at that level could undermine the integrity, vision, and efficiency of the Commission and the union.

In a 16 December 2018 press release the report of the Auditor General of ECOWAS Institutions, which was presented to the Council, recommended that the Commission’s Management should oversee a transparent, comprehensive and rigorous forensic audit.

In that regards the President submitted that the Commission re-engaged the external auditors for a further 90-day period to undertake deeper investigations into inconclusive matters and provide a comprehensive report with solid, incontrovertible evidence.

“All persons named in the report stand down from their positions to allow for unfettered investigations. May I remind Your Excellences that at the commencement of investigations, the Sierra Leonean ECOWAS Commissioner for Finance was asked to step down in hopes that Commission would launch a full-scale investigation into the alleged financial impropriety and hold those responsible fully accountable for their actions,” he said.

He also called on the Commission to act with urgency to not only fully investigate the matter but to also act precipitously to avert future occurrences, adding that that could be achieved with comprehensive institutional reforms.

“Corruption is a threat to the governance of the Commission and we must confront it resolutely,” he urged.

On behalf of his colleague Heads of State and Government present at the meeting, President Bio closed by expressing a deep appreciation of His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his people for the warm hospitality extended to them in the truly African fashion and for the success of the summit.

“We equally wish to thank him for his commitment to peace, security and good governance and for his remarkable leadership in steering the affairs of our community. We pay him a well-deserved tribute for his contributions as chairman of the Authority, to deepening the integration process in West Africa,” he said.

 

 

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