The fact that no meaningful development can be attained in an atmosphere of chaos is indisputable. A society with turmoil is likely to experience retardation and stagnation rather than progress and sustainable development.
Growth and development especially in a multi-ethnic and diverse nation like Sierra Leone can only be attained when the people co-exist peacefully irrespective of their political views.
Sierra Leone was a British colony and shared boundaries with both Guinea and Liberia. None of the ethnic, cultural, religious and occupational groups that inhabit both sides of the border are anxious to destroy the other. Rather, what they want is a conducive atmosphere to carry out their businesses. The desire for peaceful existence is part of humanity and has dominated and continued to dominate international, national and local/community efforts at promoting the well-being of the people. The notion of peaceful co-existence is very crucial and relevant to international development efforts. Peaceful Co-existence can be a Tool for Sustainable Development in our country
It is as if our political leaders have not learnt anything from the brutal war that this country has gone through. We are still experiencing selective justice by the judiciary as the cases petitioned by the opposition party, the All People’s Congress has not been handled by the judiciary. We have seen the police firing teargas at supporters of the opposition and also heard about what happened in Port Loko involving the former Vice President, Dr. Samuel Sam Sumana.
The new government has the responsibility to create a platform for a peaceful environment for its citizens. They should address the ethnic and regional divide along political lines across the country as well as to strengthen peace and national inclusion. By organizing a round table discussion with the main opposition party and other political parties, aimed at discussing how to bring about lasting peace.
Bintumani III Conference was a laudable venture by the government to bring the whole country together under one roof. But you cannot put the cart before the horse or you build a house without a foundation. As a country, we must start by bringing peace within the aggrieved political parties
It must be noted that without peaceful political co-existence there will be no economic prosperity and sustainable development, for it is only when there is peace that a nation can grow.
Without a doubt, we all see whenever there is no fuel in the petrol stations how quickly the whole economy gradually grinds to a halt. People no longer travel easily and cheaply from one place to another. The cost of transportation goes up. Food prices go up. 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, at the same time it must keep in mind that its very survival 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’s prioritizing of foreign exchange to the oil companies at official exchange rate because fuel has a very huge multiplier effect on the rest of the economy, as well as on investor confidence.
What the oil companies say is that they are exposed to a lot of visible and invisible taxes that greatly hamper their profitability in what is a highly volatile market subject to ups and down in the international market. 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.
National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL) that has been doing extremely well in terms of timely service delivery of petroleum products and customer care reports that it is 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).
It attributes this nerve-wracking financial loss to the huge difference between the actual price of PLATTS and the average purchase price of US Dollar to the Leone when matched against that of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency Pricing Formula.
NP-SL says it 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 honour.
Research done shows that in the past, when the industry was faced with challenges and in order to avoid fuel crisis, the Government always stepped in to subsidize the prices of petroleum products to ensure that the pump prices are at affordable level, which is now that is not the case.
Realistically, if the government cannot subsidize, then it should allow market forces to prevail so that the industry does not collapse.
As it is right now, Oil marketing companies are subsidising virtually all sectors in the industry to 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.
Reports reaching this medium from Central Freetown, in the Mount Aureol area, revealed that a young man by the name of Safuneh Idrissa Kanu of 39B Bethem Lane, narrowly escaped death at the hands of his assailants, who were determined to lynch him for being an homosexual. His whereabouts, as we go to Press is unknown.
According to a close friend of Safuneh, who spoke to this writer on condition of anonymity, Police had earlier arrested Safuneh for practicing homosexuality and when released, he was under surveillance by the Police and members in the community. His friend further explained that during his arrest, Safuneh debunked all allegations that he was gay and was only released as no tangible evidence was discovered.
It was also disclosed that Safuneh was in the comp-any of some youths believed to be practicing gay and was seen hanging out most times with them. This led to more suspicion that he is practicing gay under cover. The community and other anti-gay activists then mounted secret investigations into his activities with those youths and when it was clear that he was actually a gay, they ambushed him on the way to his house up the hill, armed with sticks and other weapons. He managed to escape from them and went into hiding.
Safuneh was caught between two evils, making a statement to the Police about the attack will eventually land him in prison, or staying at home will mean death as his assailants kept coming to his house and issuing threats against his family if he is harboured there. Since his disappearance on 21st June 2019, his whereabouts are not known and according to Police sources, he has been declared wanted.
It should be noted that in Sierra Leone, same sex relationship is frowned upon and is illegal, according to the laws of the land. Whilst various moves had been taken to get the various Governments to recognise same sex relationship; both religious and traditional beliefs have prevented any Government from taking that step. It is therefore a taboo to talk about it let alone engage in such acts. Anyone engaged in such an act is disowned by their families and society and are hunted down. They could not report any case of harassment or threat to their lives to the Police as they will be arrested or left in the hands of their assailants.
Meanwhile, all efforts by family members to locate the missing young man proved futile. They are still being harassed by the community residents and threatened to tell their son whenever they see him that he will face the wrath of the people.
(L-R) UNFPA Rep, Mr. Dereje Wordofa, Mr. Mabingue Ngom & UNFPA Regional Director, West Central Africa at the press conference
To observe 50 years of operations and 25 years of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), Mr. Dereje Wordofa, the United Nations Assistant Secretary General United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) Deputy Executive Director, Program on Friday 21st June 2019 at UNFPA Signal Hill Road, Congo Cross headquarters in Freetown informed the media that his organization wants universal access to sexual and reproductive health for women underlining that his visit to Sierra Leone is a success as it gave him the opportunity to interact with staff as well as implementing partners of its programs in the country.
He gave as example the Women in Crisis Movement that is working with disadvantaged women like girls who have dropped out of school, pregnant and lactating mothers, prostitutes and former fighters during the country’s civil war as well as the Aberdeen Women’s Center that is treating women affected by fistula.
Mr. Dereje Wordofa disclosed that he visited the Rokupa Government Hospital and observed that millions of women and girls in the country have been left behind in health, education, nutrition and sanitation for which their future is at stake revealing that he held productive discussions with President Julius Maada Bio at State House, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mrs. Nabilla Tunis, UN Agencies and observed that the President is passionate about the human development and improving the lives of his people in addition to discussions with other stakeholders on how to end violence against women, the First Lady’s campaign to end child marriage and teenage pregnancy as well as for girls to stay and complete school.
Sierra Leone has made remarkable gains in the last few decades: the maternal mortality rate reduced from 2,630 (1990) to 1,360 (2015). Furthermore, the total fertility rate has decreased from 5.1 (2008) to 4.9 (2013). Adolescent fertility rate decreased from 146/1000 women aged 15-19 years to 125/1000. Adolescent child bearing has decreased from 34 % in women aged 15-19 years. The modern contraceptive prevalence rate has gone up from 7% (2008) to 15% (2013). Unmet need for family planning has dropped from 28% (2003) to 25% (2013).
Furthermore, millions of Sierra Leonean women have gained the power to make decisions about their own bodies, including whether, when, how often and with whom to become pregnant. This has been instrumental to moving the country to greater gender equality.
According to the UN Deputy Executive Director, “it is now 25 years since the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). Remarkable progress has been achieved but there are still millions of women and girls who have not benefitted from the promise of the IPCD. After 25 years, IPCD will be critical for the work we do serving women and girls around the world. We need to reenergize the movement, reconfirm our commitment and forge new partnerships to fulfill the promise of Cairo.”
The ICPD meeting in Cairo, Egypt was when 179 governments adopted a revolutionary Program of Action and called for women’s reproductive health and rights to take center stage in national and global development efforts. ICPD marked a revolution in thinking about sexual and reproductive health and rights.
The ICPD agenda for sexual and reproductive rights for all is now being challenged as never before. At the same time, the landmark agenda garners staunch support, including at the highest political levels due in part to its important contribution to accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals within the framework of Agenda 2030.
Mr. Dereje Wordofa further pointed out that a lot of gaps remain as some girls, 15 years and below, get pregnant that is not the norm, that 1 in 3 adolescents get pregnant that must stop, that UNFPA is advocating for zero preventable deaths, zero gender violence and Female Genital Mutilation lamenting that Sierra Leone has the highest infant mortality rate i.e. 1,360 per 100,000 with the latest figure being 2,630 while the global average is 2016 per every 100,000 and affirmed that this would require a lot of sensitization.
He enlightened that to actualize UNFPA objectives in the coming years, they would employ best practices, innovation and government’s commitment and informed that the unmet needs for family planning for women is 25% adding that this could imply that this proportion of women of reproductive age, who would like to control their own fertility, still do not use modern contraceptives for various reasons and informed that without access, women and girls lack the power to make decisions about their own bodies, including whether or not to become pregnant affirming that the lack of this power-which influences so many other facets of life: education, income, safety-leaves women and girls unable to shape their own future.
Child marriage is still prevalent in Sierra Leone. The 2013 Demographic and Health Survey states that 28% of adolescents between the ages of 15 and 39 had already begun childbearing and that 24% of those who are married had their first birth during the first year of marriage. To fulfill the promise of the ICPD in Sierra Leone, concrete commitments are needed by the government, donors and NGOs as the ICPD tells us all that now is the time to reenergize the movement to complete the unfinished business in Cairo.
On Thursday 20th June 2019, UNFPA Sierra Leone screened the award-winning documentary titled, the City of Joy directed by Madeleine Gavin.
The City of Joy follows the first class of female students at the leadership center located in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a region often referred to as the “worst place in the world to be a woman.”
The students have suffered abuse, including sexual and gender-based violence, during the 20-year war, and by attending the leadership center, they heal and become powerful voices of change for their country.
In the film, the women join the three founders of the center, Dr. Dennis Mukwege, 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, play write and activist Eve Ensler and human rights activist, Christine Schuler-Deschryver, who creates a safe haven in the place they call City of Joy.
Screening of the film at the Lagoonda Entertainment Complex, Aberdeen in Freetown on Thursday 20th June 2019 was followed by a panel discussion on the topic “ICPD 25: What has Changed” moderated by Dr. Kim Eva Dickson, the UNFPA Country Representative in Sierra Leone with Mr. Dereje Wordofa, Ms. Diaka Koroma, Director and Founder, Girlz Empowered Sierra Leone and Dr. Kim Eva Dickson also as panelists.
Other contributors to the discussion included Dr. Joan Shepherd, Principal of the Midwifery School in Freetown, Patricia Bah, Head of the Teenage Pregnancy Secretariat in Freetown, Mr. Alpha Timbo, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and Alhaji Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, Executive Director of FOCUS 1000, a renowned local NGO. This was followed by the launch of the UNFPA State of the World Population Report 2019.
SL Mining Limited (“SL Mining“, a wholly owned subsidiary of Gerald Group, has announced that its first shipment of iron ore concentrate, branded ‘Marampa Blue’ set sail on MV Cooper from Freetown Port (Queen Elizabeth II).
The loading of over 55,000 tonnes of high grade 65 percent iron ore concentrate was completed on June 16, 2019, sailing the same day.
This maiden shipment will be delivered to customers in China, with a second shipment expected to leave soon on MV Ultralaz carrying approximately 62,000 tonnes of iron ore concentrate.
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Mines and Minerals, Rado Yokie said that iron ore exports had been dormant for four years: “Today is a historic day,” said Mr. Yokie. “As Marampa Blue is a very high-grade ore, and coming from Sierra Leone, it sends a good signal to the world that this Country is ready for business. It is a feather to Sierra Leone’s mining cap,” he added.
Craig Dean, Chairman of Gerald Group and SL Mining said: “SL Mining’s first shipment departed from Freetown Port safe and sound. This is a proud day and a key milestone for SL Mining, and for our employees and contractors who have been working on this complex project to restore production of iron ore at the Marampa mine, alongside local communities and the Government of Sierra Leone. I would like to thank everyone involved.”
“SL Mining forms an important strategic asset in Gerald Group’s global portfolio. Our goal is to make ‘Marampa Blue’ an internationally recognised premium grade iron ore brand. As we continue to build on our progress so far, to deliver sustainable and responsible mining in Marampa, we intend to expand the delivery of high-grade 65 percent iron ore concentrate to markets in Europe and Africa,” Mr. Dean added.
Located in the Port Loko District, in the northern province of Sierra Leone, SL Mining is engaged in the exploration, development and production of ‘Marampa Blue’, a high-grade iron ore concentrate with 65 percent Fe content. SL Mining was awarded a renewable Large-Scale Mining License granted under the Mines and Minerals Act, 2009 In March 2017 for a term of 25 years, emphasizing the strong support for the Marampa project locally, and reflecting its significant importance to the national economy. Together with Gerald Group’s international expertise in metals, finance, strategic investments and experienced management teams and employees, SL Mining aims to build a resilient and long-life iron ore mine in Sierra Leone and to expand operations by integrating mining, processing and rail and port logistics, alongside playing a responsible role in the economic and social stability of the Lunsar region.
This trip is not a trade fair that normally runs with distribution and exhibition of tourism promotional materials but rather this time, it has taken a penetrative and smart approach of meeting the industry tactful and ideal professionals to change our story lines with their shared experience and coherent partnerships with a stronger and better but healthy leverage on our side as a nation.
Arriving at the most prestigious Tourism and Hospitality School in Quebec City, Canada ITHQ, the Minister of Tourism, Dr. Memunatu Pratt and her team was given a hospitality touch which assured her and her team that indeed ITHQ was ready for Business and close partnership.
A well conducted tour was undertaken with the recruitment secretary of ITHQ, this tour was to look at the hospitality installation and modern equipment that have stood the test of time and serve high-end personalities from around the world.
From visible evidence one could attest that indeed Sierra Leone needs to step up with the right training and presentation to vim the Tourism and Hospitality sector for a strong positioning in matching with or even out-pass other destination in the sub-region.
The pivot essence of this visit is harness a firsthand practical knowledge on how and where it is done when it’s comes to Tourism School Management, structure, curriculum Development, placement of the right kitchen and culinary modifications when installations are considered for the case of Sierra Leone.
As the educational tour continues, the team realized that truly the trip worth the purpose, from the showcases done by ITHQ Management.
This University has a record of producing highly motivated and qualified students who are meeting the necessary requisite for the tourism sector in Quebec and the surrounding cities. Their students have displayed mastery of their arts in many competitions and have stood out strong.
It is against this background, the Minister and the Global Economic Institute thought it fit and wise to partnership with such University that possesses the technical know-how in what they are specialized to do.
The Minister in correct senses engaged them in what she desired most from this strong University that could be transferred to Sierra Leone with partnership and absolute cooperation to help develop what Sierra Leone has.
Many issues were placed on the table for consideration by both parties but as usual, the Minister always wanted more leverage on her side.
On the menus the Minister placed her orders on these cuisines:
Healthy partnership among the institutions
Exchanges within professionals
Curriculum Development
Fun-Fing for the Tourism School project in Sierra Leone
Technical support and advise
The steps to follow to achieve these, the Director of ITHQ advised that one:
1. The two parties should establish and general MOU for a better understanding
2. Sierra Leone to extend invitation of interest
3. Invitation to visit for fact finding on the tourism School
4. Fully engaged government on both sides
5. Set a rendezvous with Canada Global Affairs with a straight forward proposal for funding and support in future.
On Friday 21st June, 2019 Mohamed Fornah Chief Executive Officer of Blue Line Construction and Investment Limited situated at 94 Bai Bureh Road, in the East end of Freetown launched 10 buses in the Freetown Municipality.
The ten (10) buses will start to ply the routes, five (5) from/to the East and five (5) from and to the West.
From East it will be Jui to Regent Road and from Lumley to Regent Road in the West end.
The project is rolling out a commendable initiative that will ease the transport constraints which school going pupils have been facing to and fro school.
According to Sulayman Condeh the Managing Director of Blue Line Limited Sierra Leone, he said that the Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Fornah is a Sierra Leonean based in the United States of America who saw the need to give back to his country through humanitarian gestures.
He said he decided to make free bus services to school going pupils free of cost.
‘The forty buses will convey school going children to and from school in the morning hours onto the evening hours every school day as long as a school pupil is in uniform; he or she will definitely benefit and it is open to both public and private school going pupils,’ he maintained.
He noted that the drive is geared towards complementing the Government Free Education initiative, adding that the buses are not only meant for Freetown but will be rolled out to other parts of the country.
Hassan Turay a pupil of Prince of Wales Junior Secondary School thanked Blue Line Limited for this gesture. He said this gesture is not only important to them as pupils but timely.
‘This is the first time in the history of this country for us to have free transportation and I believe with this gesture we will no longer suffer from transportation as we used to do in the past,’ he noted.
He encouraged his colleagues to make good use of this opportunity in order for it to be sustainable.
Fatmata Bangura a pupil of the Annie Walsh Junior Secondary School said the facility is good and thanked the Blue Line Construction and Investment Company for providing free school buses.
She further stated that transportation has been a big challenge for school going pupils especially those living in the East part of Freetown as in most cases they will be late for school due to transportation problem.
She said that schools hours start as 7: 30am in the morning and sometimes they will be waiting for transportation till 9:00am when classes will already be in sessions.
Mohamed Bangura a parent of one of the beneficiaries expressed his profound gratitude to the providers underscoring that it is not only timely but a humane gesture that should be well embraced.
He said transportation has been a challenge for their children as in most cases they have to give excess money to their children because they have to pay excess transport as most drivers could prefer to stop half way.
He also admonished school going pupils to behave themselves well and ensure that they must refrain from doing things that will destroy the free buses.
He ended by calling on the government of Sierra Leone to support the blue line construction and investment company Sierra Leone limited as they have shown great patriotic towards the country. He also called on other Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora to follow the foot step of Mohamed Fornah in contributing towards the development of the country.
In a related development Blue Line Construction Company and Investment Limited is currently constructing eight bus stops in different locations meant for school going pupils to wait for the buses with the consideration that we are now in the rainy season.
The company is also undertaking construction of a school in Kabala and is also facilitating cleaning exercises in Koinadugu District.
Sulayman Condeh is the Managing Director of the company and he also made very salient points about the gesture.
The Chief Executive Officer Blue Line Construction Company and Investment Limited Mohamed Fornah is poised to do more in terms of development for future generations.
Hon. VP Juldeh Jalloh has reportedly visited the former President Koroma of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma at his Makeni residence.
Reliable sources say, VP Juldeh’s visit to Ernest Koroma may not be unconnected with the reinstatement of the former president’s state security personnel and could have been initiated by President Julius Maada Bio, but we are yet to confirm this.
However, this move has been described by majority Sierra Leoneans as a step in the right direction by the SLPP New Direction Government of President Julius Maada Bio.
Many people view the VP’s visit to Ernest Koroma as an instruction coming from President Julius Maada Bio. The VP was reportedly accompanied by the Resident Minister, North. Former 2018 flag bearer of the APC, Dr. Samura Kamara, was in attendance.
The two men reportedly had a one hour tête à tête in a closed-door meeting. Although the nature of their discussions have not been made public but it was evident from their dispositions that both men were happy to meet and discuss. It must be recalled that since President Bio assumed office last year, his Vice President has been at the fore front of his peace and mediation missions of his New Direction Government.
This is what Sierra Leone needs at this point in time if we are to move forward as a nation. We have come way from civil strife to conquering Ebola, mudslides and political misunderstanding and the people generally are calling on the government to exploit all avenues to ensure peace and national cohesion and therefore they are commending the government for going the extra mile to amend fences with the main opposition and other political players.
Mrs. Fatima Jabbi Bio, Sierra Leone’s First Lady, has called on women of Africa to work as a team to educate the men about the dangers associated with rape, to end violence meted against women and girls over the years.
Mrs. Bio made the remarks in Monrovia during the official launch of the “She’s You Movement”, the flagship program of Liberia’s First Lady, Clar Marie Weah.
The She’s You Movement aims to promote gender equality, women empowerment and to eliminate gender-based violence and other conditions that inhibit the potential of women and girls to be active participants in community and national decision-making.
Mrs. Bio said the First Ladies of the African continent are not ready to be silenced by any man on the issue of rape and other forms of violence against women and girls, adding, “We cannot tolerate rape in our society anymore.”
Mrs. Bio recounted how Liberia and Sierra Leone shared something in common by defeating the deadly Ebola Virus Disease and will work together to defeat domestic violence on women and girls. “We need to stop protecting rapists and say enough is enough,” Mrs. Bio stressed. She said it is easy to become a first lady, but more difficult if you do not have the support of your husband.
She said until Africa can work together as a team and makes the men understand through education about abusing the women, the men will not stop. “Let’s start educating our men, and the continent about ending the violence against women.”
Mrs. Bio said she believes that Mrs. Weah is prepared to add her voice to the many voices to help change the African Continent case, especially on rape and domestic violence.
“I’m not willing to be silent on rape. Mrs. Weah’s voice will be louder if everyone in Liberia stands by her and believes that ‘She’s You’ and one will not say such if you don’t believe it,” Mrs. Bio said.
The program was witnessed by thousands, led by the First Lady Mrs. Weah and Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, as a demonstration of their condemnation of all forms of violence against women and girls in Liberia and Africa.
The program was attended Mrs. Fatima Jebbeh Bio of Sierra Leone, First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo of Ghana, representative of the First Lady of Niger, as well as ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia, Baba Tunde Ajisomo, UN representatives and ambassadors.
President George M. Weah, who officially launched the campaign, pledged his government’s commitment in addressing issues affecting women and girls.
President Weah said development cannot succeed if violence continues to exist in the society, especially against women and girls. “Liberia will not be developed if the girls and women are left out,” he noted.
President Weah, who continuously praised Mrs. Weah for her kindness over the years, said the She’s You movement is perfectly aligned with the Pro-poor movement and appreciate the Liberian First Lady for the initiative.
Theodosia Slewion Kolee, chairperson of the National Aids Commission of Liberia said Liberia and other African countries have made commitment to end HIV/AIDS. Madam Kolee said Liberia has 39,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, which comprises 22,000 women, 14,000 men and 3,000 children.
“Liberia has shown tremendous progress in ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS, but stigma and discrimination remain the major challenges,” Kolee said.
First Lady Weah said the national advocacy program aims to ensure the improvement of women’s lives for a prosperous and better Liberia. The launch is a new movement introduced in Liberia, a nation that is so dear to her life.
Mrs. Weah said she feels the pains and trauma that abused women go through and it is time she sparked the conscience of society to remain awake and responsive to the plights of women and girls in the country.
“We cannot or will not boast of a democratic society until the issue of inclusiveness in society is achieved, where the rights of all are respected and the opportunity for one to develop oneself; also the opportunity for women to develop themselves by giving the most valuable skills, protection and place to develop,” Mrs. Weah said.
She said the pride of women has improved, citing former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and now Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor.
“As these distinguished Liberian women are trade blazers in the advocacy of the rights of women, not just in Liberia but in Africa as a whole, I stand to support their worthy efforts and all women of Liberia, especially the market women,” she said.
Mrs. Weah said: “I rise to bring forth a revolutionary idea of She’s You movement. Additionally, we launched the free to shine campaign that hold as the bedrock the eradication of the HIV/AIDS for mother to child, a campaign whose time has surely come. The campaign is possible but depends on what the people of Liberia will do.”
Mrs. Weah went on to state that over the last several months, she has travelled to rural towns and villages interacting with women from all walks of life, including women, girls, men and boys and has been “inspired and moved to do something, which is now the She’s You movement,” she stated. She said the She’s You Movement maybe a dream of hers, but requires collective efforts.
According to her, this program seems to redefine the way Liberian men treat women and girls — with respect, unhindered access to education, political, social, economic, and access to equal opportunity for leadership for all levels.
“Pushing for the adoption for sound policy and enforceable legislation that will be keen on women and girls’ issues, and looking keenly on harmful practices such as child marriage and teenage pregnancy, which will be high on the She’s You Movement,” Mrs. Weah said.
Marie-Goreth Nizigama, UNWomen Country Representative said of the five (5) UN Women Liberia programmatic areas, the First Lady’s Flagship: “SHE’s YOU MOVEMENT”, is closely aligned with two (2) programmatic areas which include Women’s Economic Empowerment; and Ending Violence against Women.
She said building synergies with the First Lady’s flagship program is key to ensuring a harmonized approach to maximizing program impact at the national and sub-national levels.
The Sierra Leone Judo Association marked the International Day of the African Child celebrations by staging the latest leg of their school and community tour on Sunday at the Rokuph Bay Side Community School.
Hundreds of children were in attendance as the SLJA President Mr. Idrissa Massaquoi and Alusine Mansaray joined their top Judoka for a Judo demonstration and to teach the group the rules and history of the sport as well as the fundamental skills.
The children stepped onto the mat for a practical and theory section and a quiz which offered prizes to the winners.
Rokuph Bay Side Community School Headmaster Mr. Alusine Kamara thanked the Association for giving the school and the community the opportunity to learn about judo and expressed his desire for a continued collaboration with the national governing body.
SLJA President Mr. Massaquoi aims to continue the project to develop the next generation of judoka in Sierra Leone.
