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Sierra Leone News: Govt. Invites Bids for $2bn Lungi-Freetown Bridge

In its ongoing attempt to make its main airport more accessible, the Government of Sierra Leone will this week begin taking privately-financed bids for a $2bn bridge linking the capital Freetown to the international airport at Lungi; in what would be the largest infrastructure project in the country.

The 8km-long bridge is intended to end the “logistical nightmare” facing travelers arriving at Lungi, formerly a British air base located on the opposite side of the Freetown estuary, requiring visitors who land there to travel by boat to Freetown.

Last year newly-elected President Julius Maada Bio scrapped a Chinese plan to build a whole new airport on the Freetown side of the estuary, arguing that Lungi is operating well below capacity.

The idea of a bridge was settled on, but the government has been deterred from starting because of its capital cost, which is equal to about half of its GDP. President Julius Maada Bio now believes it will be feasible using a public–private mode,

He told an investors’ conference last week: “We believe infrastructural investments should not burden the country with huge debt. They should be financed in a way that the public and future generations are not liable for that debt. So, we are not going to build a bridge or an airport for which the people of Sierra Leone are going to pay back a high-interest loan for 10, 20, or 30 years. That simply does not make economic sense.”

Last year, President Bio held talks with Power China over a deal to finance and construct the bridge, but the two sides were unable to agree terms.

According to sources in the Sierra Leone government, five European and Asian companies have already expressed an interest in the scheme.

Work on the bridge, which will span the 5km of Tagrin Bay, and is expected to take up to five years.

 

Sierra Leone News: Plan International Brings Hope for Young Girls

Brand Ambassador, Simon Laurent

On Monday 24th June 2019, Plan International’s Disaster, Risk and Youth Management Specialist, Timothy Sam, during a press conference convened at the organization’s Brookfields offices, said that the visit of its Brand Ambassador is geared towards a global campaign dubbed Girls Get Equal (GGE), which will be officially launched soon.

Welcoming the Brand Ambassador, Simon Laurent, and the press, Timothy Sam said that the purpose of his visit is to set the stage for the launching of the GGE campaign. Laurent, he went on is a French national and a cyclist, who has been cycling the world and for the past 10 months and in Africa. Simon’s passion for cycling and the development of young people, especially girls resonates well with the organization and it is this consideration that has brought him to the fold of the organization.

Dilating on the work of Plan International, Timothy Sam said that his organization has been in Sierra Leone for the past 42 years and has stood by the country in thick and thin. Whilst others left during the Ebola, Plan stayed the course. They are a transparent organization focusing of diverse issues dealing with youths, girls, boys and women. He further disclosed that they strive to make a lasting impact on the various communities they operate in and can be seen across the various regions in the country.

Plan International is embarking on a 3 year strategic program, which includes girls, boys and youths in inclusive education (complementing government’s education drive) youth participation in decision making processes and strengthening gender transformation and protection within the legal framework like their involvement in the Child Marriage Act, which seeks to prevent girls below the age of consent to be married off to men, rendering their desire for academic pursuit a near impossible venture. President of the Cycling Association in Sierra Leone, Winston Crowther, praised Simon Laurent for taking that brave journey from France to Africa on a bicycle. He stated that his association gave him a fitting welcome with some 58 cyclists joining him at Ferry Junction to his hotel at Country Lodge at Hill Station. Among the cyclists were 12 female riders, drawn from various parts of the country. Crowther further disclosed that they are presently encouraging female cyclist to come on board and in a recent competition held in Makeni.

The African Child Day Championship ride; some 9 females participated in the race. To encourage them, the association gave them bigger prizes than their male counterparts.

Speaking to the press, Simon Laurent, Plan International’s Global Ambassador and a cyclist, said that after riding across countries in the Americas and Europe, he decided to come to Africa, revealing that his love for Africa began when he was 19 years. This passion has today materialized. Starting in Morocco, Simon said he rode through rough terrain, deserts, mountainous areas through deprived communities and cities. On all these tours, he interacted with girls, boys, youths, community leaders and local authorities on the improvement of the lives of the marginalized. His journey to Africa started in August 2018 and for the past 10 months he has been riding his bicycle, which weighs 75 kilos, due to the various items in his back pack and a tent on which he sleeps.

Simon described his journey as exciting and full of revelations about the plight of the African girl and boy, especially those in underprivileged situations. He said that the poverty situation in Africa is alarming, 3 times those in the west and Europe that he had visited. He further disclosed that as an ambassador of Plan International, he writes his report after every completed visit to any region about his findings for further action by Plan. He however noted that his tour in the Americas has yielded positive results, as philanthropists, humanitarian organizations and governments have pledged support to the course of Plan. These supports are then directed to the affected communities highlighted in his report. He admonished Sierra Leoneans not to focus on the past but to look at it only as a means to construct the future. His travels have not all been rosy, as on one occasion, he said he was attacked by a bear whilst sleeping in his tent at night way out in the jungle, but was able to scare it off. He stated that what gives him the greatest satisfaction after every tour is the action/assistance provided to the deprived communities he had reported about. He is hopeful that after visiting Africa, his report will bring about similar response. He called on Sierra Leoneans to have a dream of changing the lives of others. This they can do with just Le1, 000, which can buy a pen. It is a beginning that will ensure people know about the plight of others.

The meeting was climaxed by a question and answer session.

Sierra Leone News: Japan Ambassador Engages Rt. Hon. Speaker

The Ambassador of Japan to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Tsutomu Himeno on Monday 24th June 2019 paid a courtesy call on the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, in his Office at Parliament Building, Tower Hill, Freetown.

They exchanged diplomatic pleasantries and spoke on the need to continue the process of strengthening the bilateral relationships between the two countries.

Welcoming the Japanese Ambassador, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu said he ‘is gratified to see the Japanese Ambassador visit Parliament” and acknowledged the good bilateral relationships that exists between the two countries.

The Hon. Speaker spoke on the need to empower the youth through vocational skills and training through the establishment of Vocational Training Centers in all district headquarter towns in the country.

He also applauded the Government for putting sound polices in place that are geared towards the improvement and development of the country’s economy. The Speaker informed the Ambassador that Sierra Leone is open to foreign direct investment.

In his statement, the Japanese Ambassador, H.E. Tsutomu Himeno appreciated the Speaker of Parliament for the warm welcome accorded him and said his visit is to prepare the road map for the visit of His Excellency the President, Julius Maada Bio to Japan to attend the “Tokyo International Conference on African Development” at the end of August 2019 where over 50 African Presidents will be in attendance through an invitation by the Japanese Government. The Ambassador also said that the visit of the President to Japan will open a lot of private partnership investments, whilst acknowledging the role and support the Government of Japan is contributing to the African Continent.

Ambassador H.E. Tsutomu Himeno informed the Speaker that the Japanese Government is partnering with IOM for training migrants in Sierra Leone on vocational training skills around the country and that recently Parliament ratified an Agreement on Sierra Tropical Limited Company, a Company owned by Japanese Investors to plant and produce pineapple juice in Sierra Leone.

The Ambassador also engaged the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Sidie M. Tunis on the need for stronger bilateral relationships for both countries and pleaded for support to Parliament in the area of capacity building for MPs and staff of Parliament.

 

 

 

Sierra Leone News: NGC Backtracks on Election Boycott

The National Grand Coalition (NGC) in a statement has decided to review its position in participating in bye-elections in the country.

It will be recalled that the NGC suspended its participation in elections due to the alleged blatant irregularities that occurred during the Tonko Limba Bye elections in which the NGC accused the National Electoral Commission of high level of stark incompetence in the conduct of the election to the extent that, contrary to electoral rules and procedure, the results were announced by the Chief Electoral Commissioner without even completing the public tallying process. Furthermore, the NGC press stated the NGC’s unwillingness to contest further elections if the current leadership of NEC does not resign.

However, according to the press release, the NGC now says that a committee was set up to steer implementation of the recommendations of the 2018 Elections Observer Missions (EOM) in which a significant number of reforms pertaining to electoral laws and practices are proposed. It added that the NGC is a member of that committee and will use that opportunity to press for those reforms at NEC and in the laws that will prevent a recurrence of the Tonko Limba Bye Election disaster.

The release that ‘Therefore, the general membership is of the view that the party should resume participation in the electoral process not only for them to exercise their franchise but to further acquaint itself with all the flaws in the system that must be eradicated and brought up for consideration at the EOM recommendations implementation committee.’

According to the release: ‘Consequently, it (NGC) is hereby announcing that the NGC will be contesting the Parliamentary Bye Elections in Constituency 110 slated for 24th August 2019 in the Western Area Rural District and Constituency 043 in the Koinadugu District on 21st September 2019. Our membership is therefore informed that the first public engagement in this regard will be the nomination of Ibrahim Kabba a.k.a. Small Borbor on Thursday 27th June 2019 at the NEC District Office, Chukuma Johnson Drive, Waterloo.’

The press release was signed by Chairman of NGC, Dr. Dennis Bright.

 

 

Sierra Leone News: Chief Minister Wins Hearts of Russians

A delegation of Government officials led by the Chief Minister ‘Professor David John Francis, have attended a three days Afreximbank Annual conference in Moscow, Russian Federation which started on 20th June 2019.

The conference with theme ‘ Harnessing Emerging Partnership in an Era of Rising Protectionism’ enabled businesses, regional experts and policymakers to connect, explore trade and investment opportunities and develop important business links.

The conference reflected on the strategic initiatives that Afreximbank is implementing to support Africa’s strategy for economic development and structural transformation as embodied in the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

The Chief Minister addressed the conference on ‘ Strengthening Economic Cooperation with Emerging Partners’ at the Congress Park, Radisson Collection Hotel in Moscow.

This year’s conference was hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation under the auspices of President Vladimir Putin and engaged a major gathering of African leaders, including Ministers of Finance, Trade and Investments, Senior Government Officials from Africa and beyond, corporate leaders, bankers, academics and other experts.

The Sierra Leone delegation led by the Chief Minister, ‘Professor David John Francis comprised of the Minister of Finance, Jacob Jusu Saffa, Minister of Mines Hon. Foday Rado Yokie, and Mr. Mohamed Bailley.

 

Sierra Leone News: Sierra Leone Peace Ambassador Excels in Cairo

Ambassador Oseh John

On 7th June 2019 Ambassador Oseh John a Sierra Leonean Global Peace Ambassador and community activist and President of The Step Youth Organization, Founder of Children and Youth Development Initiative (CYDI SL) left for Cairo, Egypt to represent Sierra Leone in the 100 Most Influential Youth in Africa through the Jamal Abdel Nasser Fellowship Training Program.

His presentation has drawn the attention of many Sierra Leoneans at home and in the Diaspora for his outstanding performance during the two weeks Fellowship Training Program.

During the fellowship program he made key recommendations as to how the goal of the Nasser Fellowship could be actualized, adding that Agriculture should be a priority, underscoring how we should create free trade among African countries instead of depending on foreign nations or on importation of goods from overseas. He also suggested that young entrepreneurs should have access to loans that will empower them as young people as it has been a big challenge for young entrepreneurs in Sierra Leone and Africa as a whole to access such funds. He concluded by calling on Africa countries to unite as that will help build synergy.

The Nasser Fellowship is the first (African-to-African) fellowship to target young African executive leaders offering diverse operational disciplines within their communities, as well as one of the critical mechanisms of empowerment of the African transformational leadership endorsed by the African Union’s Agenda in order to stimulate and promote African values through self-reliance, solidarity, hard work, collective prosperity, building on the African successes, experiences and best practices for the formulation of the African model of transformation and development.

Speaking to this medium in an interview, Ambassador Oseh John disclosed that he is proud to be called a Nasser Fellow leadership character with reference attributes and accomplishment of Jamal Abdel Nasser and other African icons. However, he maintained that on his return, he is working in partnership with other youth groups to empower children and youth for them to serve as positive change agents in society.

Other delegates at the fellowship included young African executive leaders, decision-makers in the Government Sector, Executive Leaders in the Private Sector – Civil Society Activists – Heads of National Councils for Youth – Faculty members at Universities – Researchers in Strategic Research Centres – Members of Trade Unions – Journalists and Media Professionals.

 

Sierra Leone News: SLAJ’s Presidency and the avoidance of clear conflict of interest

Ahmed Sahid Nasralla

The Sierra Leone Association of Journalists is on the verge of electing a new executive, marking an end to the presidency of Kelvin Lewis. Lewis’ presidency has, in my view, been a tremendous success. He is ending his presidency on the note of quiet diplomacy, not believing in “burning our bridges before we cross them. I believe in negotiation”, Lewis had said in 2016.

As president, Lewis has come a long way and has made his mark. Indeed, it has been no regret standing by him. I remain proud of his stewardship. He was committed to building on the foundation laid prior to him assuming the presidency. He started off by unifying the Association’s membership, ensuring training opportunities as well as pursuing the welfare of members. Today, the Association is being administered along proper financial management.

There has been a clear commitment on his part to transform SLAJ with a promise of giving back to the Association what he had taken from journalism.

“I have benefitted a lot from journalism although it is through hard work. The respect I have in this country, outside of this country, it is through journalism. So I said I would give back,” he had told Politico newspaper during a 2016 interview.

Whatever success attributed to the outgoing president must have come as a result of the tremendous support he got from his executive. Team work is crucial to bringing success and we’ve seen this in SLAJ. It is also worthy to note, that Lewis must have got the Secretary-General needed for better output, in the person of Ahmed Sahid Nasralla who, rightfully is now contesting for the presidency.

Nasralla, a respected and prolific cartoonist and feature writer of long standing, in 2016 went unopposed when he contested to be the Association’s Secretary- General. He has spent the better part of his life in journalism, having dedicatedly served the Association with outstanding productivity.

If SLAJ should be seeking a non-confrontational leader, one that now has a better understanding of the workings of the Association, knows the media landscape and can relate well with media colleagues at all levels, then the best choice should be Nasralla. I hold the view that he can make a great and successful president, after Kelvin Lewis.

Mustapha Sesay has also made public his intention to run for the presidency. This comes in as brilliant idea more so as he too had served the Association and knows it well as ex Secretary-General and has contested twice for the SLAJ presidency without success.

However, his decision to run is being undermined by a clear conflict of interest since Sesay is at the Independent Media Commission (IMC) Board to which he was appointed by Government based on the recommendation of SLAJ. It sounds frankly strange to want to manage the affairs of SLAJ and at the same time serving the government (and SLAJ) as member of the IMC Board.

The IMC has an unsympathetically vital role in supervising and monitoring the media especially in making sure it (media) moves in line with its Media Code of Practice. Not only that, when government wants to appoint members to the Board, the president is required by law to do so “acting on the advice of SLAJ…” You cannot be within the IMC Board and serving as president of SLAJ at the same time when you are the one to be advising government on appointments to the Board.

Should government take a position that is not favorable to the practice of journalism, what would a president of SLAJ do when he is also a member of the IMC Board? Take calls for a repeal of the obnoxious Public Order Act. You cannot be directly serving government by way of being in a Board to which you were appointed by the president and at the same time wanting to present a confrontational approach when pushing for a repeal of the POA.

What would have been appropriate was for Sesay to have resigned his Board membership at IMC, therefore avoiding a clear case of conflict of interest.

We need a dedicated leadership, not one with divided loyalty. We should avoid those things that may end up undermining the standing, impartiality and integrity of the Association at this crucial time when this government, like the previous, has made another bold commitment to repealing the Criminal Libel Law.

We should seek a president for SLAJ who should be able to enjoy the confidence of the membership and that of the public. We are not suggesting a frosty relationship with government. However, we are also not seeking one that presents us as bedfellows. SLAJ should at least be seen as an independent body that can take government to task on issues of public interest.

 

Sierra Leone News: President Bio Should Pay Attention to Oil Companies

President Julius Maada Bio

The state of oil companies operating in Sierra Leone will remain stagnant and headstrong if nothing is done by the relevant authorities to change the manner in which the government supports these vital assets which the whole country relies on if we are progress and develop in the real sense of the words.

What the oil companies say is that they are exposed to a lot of visible and invisible taxes that greatly hamper their profitability and running costs in what is a highly volatile market that is subject to ups and down in the international market.

Without a 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. Machines do not run. Industries would quickly fold up. Jobs are lost. The unemployment rate climbs steeply, etc.

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

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 on investor confidence.

Even as this article is being written, Donald Trump and Iran’s palaver that threatens to flare up into open war has affected negatively the price of oil in the international market.

However, reports state that the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL) that has been doing extremely well in terms of timely supply and delivery of petroleum products and customer is currently 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).

This can be attributed to nerve-racking financial loss to the huge difference between the actual price of PLATTS and the average purchase price of the US Dollar to the Leone when matched against that of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency Pricing Formula.

It is understood that NP-SL is currently paying an average of Le9, 000 to $1 (USD) as compared to Le8, 600 to $1 (USD) in the PRA Pricing Formula. Another challenge facing NP-SL Limited is volatility and unavailability of US Dollars to effect transactions.

It is so serious that NP-SL Limited currently owes its suppliers over $42 million which it is challenged to honor.

Research done by media houses show that in the past, when the industry was faced with challenges and in order to avoid fuel crisis, the Government would step in to subsidize the prices of petroleum products to ensure that the pump prices are kept at affordable level.

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 as things now stand virtually all sectors in the industry are suffering at the detriment of its own survival.

“If the current fiscal regime is not reviewed many companies including NP will go down such a painful and dreadful route,” stated Steven Williams, a Development Consultant.

He added that sound policies must be urgently rolled out to ensure stability.

It was also discovered that the nature of NP-SL’s business is such that it imports petroleum products in US Dollars, sells in Leones and has to convert the Leones into US Dollars to repurchase on the international market.

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

Over the years, NP-SL received tacit support from the Central Bank even though the amounts normally received were inadequate.

It is recommended that the Central Bank develops 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 we learnt in our investigations was that the method of implementation of the ASYCUDA system has been negative on NP-SL, which is it is recommended that the relevant authorities put in place measures to ensure seamless flow of products free of interruption and long delay.

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 Company, commercial banks and Bank of Sierra Leone) cause 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.

NP-SL is 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, etc.

 

 

 

Sierra Leone News: SOS Children’s Villages Country Director Pays Courtesy Call on President Bio at State Lodge

The Country Director for the SOS Children’s Villages in Sierra Leone, Sophie Ndong, has on Tuesday, 25 June 2019 paid a courtesy visit on His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio at State Lodge, Hill Station in Freetown.

SOS Children’s Villages is an international children’s charity that offers safe and nurturing family homes to over 80,000 orphaned and abandoned children in 134 countries around the world. It also keeps families together through skills training and community development to ensure self-sufficiency and prevent child abandonment.

In her presentation, the SOS Chief said she was pleased to meet and update the President on their activities for the first time since her appointment to the country. She said they had three operating villages in Sierra Leone with kindergarten homes, international schools and youth facilities and they concentrate on providing care for children who had lost parental care or were at risk of losing it.

She said as part of their work, they had gone around discussing with other key partners in the country on how to support government programmes, especially in the field of child protection and alternative care. She said apart from providing education and health care support for children, they had also encouraged them to be active members of society.

“We also have a strong focus on working with teenagers and youth on how we can provide them with education with soft skills so that they can also be part of society. We want to support the children in the communities while we also partner with other NGOs so that they can concentrate on the family, provide support to the family and we concentrate on the children so together we create a greater impact to prevent family separation,” she said.

In his response, President Bio said he was pleased with the work of the SOS Children’s Villages in the country. He said his Government had decided to prioritise human capacity development because he was concerned about the future of the country, which rested on the children. He noted that it was important to use education as a piece of equipment for children to be able to face the competition in a highly interconnected world.

He also commended the charity organisation for the enormous support they had given to kids who could have fallen along the lane if not for their support, adding that their activities were in line with his government’s programmes. He also assured of his support to complement the work of SOS in the country.

 

Sierra Leone News: Orange SL Notice

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