A Sierra Rutile Special Taskforce, set up by Government to investigate the disparities between the Sierra Rutile Mining Company and the Workers Union, has called at State House to present its findings and recommendations to His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio.

Chairman of the Taskforce, Julius Partai, said it was a pleasure to serve the government and the people of Sierra Leone through the independent taskforce that investigated the incident that occurred at Sierra Rutile a few months ago. He said the investigation was a collective responsibility and noted the he was happy with the support he received from the community people, the police and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces.

Mr Partai said their meeting with the President was to present the report, which had cost them sleepless nights, adding that the findings and recommendations in it were well detailed and done with all levels of fairness and integrity. He stated that they were aware of how important the mining sector was, especially in boosting the local economy through payment of taxes and creation of jobs for citizens.

“There are a lot of issues in the report which need the urgent attention of government and we are ready to work with the government to ensure that government benefits from its natural resources. We know that since minerals were discovered in the country our communities have been plagued by a series of issues and sometimes the expectations, in terms of what we should be getting as communities from the mining companies, have not been met.

“Like you know, there are a lot of issues in these communities that needed urgent attention from government and it is our pleasure, based on all those evidence collected and based on all the inputs we have collected from all stakeholders, that this report has been conducted to the best of our knowledge and ability. The next stage, we look forward to the leadership to ensure that the vision of the New Direction is accomplished,” he urged.

On his part, President Bio thanked the team for taking their time to perform to the best of their abilities. He said the nation was trying to regularise a lot of things and that as a government, they were bound to strike the balance to ensure that there was a conducive environment that encouraged investors to operate as well as making sure that the rights of citizens were protected.

He recalled that the issues were creating insecurity in the country and that was why government had decided to intervene. He said he would look into the findings and recommendations of the report to know the different expectations from the company and the community and would continue to engage and dialogue with the various stakeholders to reach a common ground.

He said that: “We want to get this resolved as quickly as possible because we want to move on and do not want this to drag into the momentum that we want for the economy. We will honestly look at what is possible and try to find a middle ground and make sure that the issues are quickly resolved.”

It could be recalled that following the workers’ unrest and strike action at the Sierra Rutile, government held meetings with all the critical stakeholders and a special taskforce was formed to do an independent investigation on the outstanding issues that precipitated the union workers’ strike. The taskforce was facilitated by the Office of the Chief Minister.

• Thousands of children and young girls were raped last year in Sierra Leone — a silent epidemic of suffering in one of the world’s poorest countries.
• According to police statistics, recorded cases of sexual and gender-based violence almost doubled last year, reaching 8,505 in a population of 7.5 million, up from 4,750 a year earlier.
• Reports of rape and the sexual penetration of minors, as child rape is legally termed, have steadily increased, according to the Freetown-based Rainbo Initiative.
• Those looking for an explanation of Sierra Leone’s rape crisis often turn to the country’s violent recent past.

“Mary” was nine years old when her childhood abruptly ended.
Three men fed her sedatives then raped her.
Her mother, who had been washing clothes in a stream near their home in Freetown, Sierra Leone’s capital, got home to find her child lying on the ground distraught, her legs and dress stained with blood.
“They put dirty clothes in my mouth and raped me,” the girl told AFP, without giving her real name.
The family reported the attack to the police and identified the rapists, but no charges were ever brought.
Thousands of children and young girls were raped last year in Sierra Leone — a silent epidemic of suffering in one of the world’s poorest countries.
According to police statistics, recorded cases of sexual and gender-based violence almost doubled last year, reaching 8,505 in a population of 7.5 million, up from 4,750 a year earlier.
And of that number, 2,579 cases — around a third — involved the rape of a minor.
But, as with the incidence of rape in almost every country, this shocking tally is almost certainly an understatement. “Mary” and her family plucked up the courage to report the crime: many do not.
“We have a culture of rape in Sierra Leone,” admitted Chernor Bah of the UN’s Global Education First Initiative at a demonstration in Freetown last month where more than 500 black-clad protesters took to the streets over violence against women.
“The rape of minors is a national problem,” rally organiser Asma James said.
“The situation is sad, selfish, barbaric and inhuman and requires all of us, women and men, to speak up.”
OUTRAGE
Just weeks before, the country had been shaken by the rape of a five-year-old girl by her 28-year-old relative.
Her attacker raped her anally, crippling her spine.
Doctors at the Aberdeen Women’s Centre in Freetown, which helps women and girls who have suffered from sexual violence and rape, said it was unlikely the child would ever be able to walk again.
The attack sparked outrage, with many people demanding that child rapists face a lifetime behind bars — calls echoed by President Julius Maada Bio himself.
“Let me be very clear: men who rape girls deserve to be jailed for life,” Bio said as his wife launched a campaign called “Hands off Our Girls”.
CHILDREN
Reports of rape and the sexual penetration of minors, as child rape is legally termed, have steadily increased, according to the Freetown-based Rainbo Initiative, which provides free medical services and counselling to victims of sexual and gender-based violence.
Figures collated by the centre show that in 2018, 76 percent of rape victims were aged 15 years or younger — including babies.
The rest of the victims were aged between 16 and 20.
And every month, an average of 149 victims fell pregnant as a result of rape.
“Children are brought to our centres in tattered clothes covered with blood stains,” executive director Daniel Kettor told reporters’.
In Freetown alone, there were 1,491 cases of sexual abuse reported between January and October 2018, with the youngest victim just seven months old and the oldest aged 85.
“Amongst the survivors, six were HIV-positive and 484 fell pregnant after being raped,” Kettor said.
Doctors at the centre examine the victims, looking for evidence of sperm specimens and blood stains around the genital area before providing them with a medical certificate which is necessary for police to open an investigation.
VIOLENT PAST
Those looking for an explanation of Sierra Leone’s rape crisis often turn to the country’s violent recent past.
During a 10-year civil war (1991-2001), thousands of women and girls were subjected to widespread and systematic sexual violence and rape, a 2003 Human Rights Watch report found.
In this pervasive environment, there has been little headway toward rooting out attitudes of sexual predation and prosecuting rapists.
“Sexual violence against women and girls is a prevalent and destructive practice that still has deep roots in the country, despite various initiatives to eliminate it,” Commissioner of Sierra Leone’s Law Reform Commission Rhoda Suffian-Kargbo Nuni told reporters’.
Many attacks go unpunished, and those that are reported often fail to end in indictments or make it through Sierra Leone’s judicial system, rights groups and police say.
Court records show that in 2018, only 26 rape cases were successfully prosecuted and led to a conviction.
COURT CASES
Some cases fail to make it to court due to a lack of adequate facilities to carry out DNA tests to secure the necessary evidence.
Others never get off the ground because the victims simply cannot afford the legal costs.
“The police have limited resources to investigate sexual and gender abuse,” says Superintendent Fatmata Daboh, who heads the Family Support Unit.
“Many cases are settled out of court or without going to trial due to the lack of a forensic science lab to prove evidence.
Sierra Leone’s Human Rights Commission in 2017 highlighted systemic failures, including “inefficiencies and corruption in the judicial system” for many cases being settled out of court or never going to trial.
TOUGHENED LAW
Legally, rape is a criminal offence which carries a jail term of between five and 15 years, according to the Sexual Offences Act of 2012 — a law that Sierra Leone reworked and toughened specifically to combat sexual predators.
But such sentences are rare.
In a high-profile case last year, a court in Freetown convicted a 56-year-old man of raping a six-year-old girl.
He got one year in jail.
The many failings have stirred anger and frustration — but also a desire for change.
“We are working on our law for strict punishment,” said Justice Minister Priscilla Schwartz. Appointed to the post in mid-2018, she too attended the protest marches.

Working in collaboration with project house Paradigm Project Management, DebTech is supplying its X-ray diamond recovery technology to the Tongo diamond mining project in Sierra Leone, currently being developed by Newfield Resources.
DebTech’s mature sorting technology is a dependable solution for high efficiency recovery of diamonds from a wide variety of kimberlite, marine and alluvial sources, capable of treating a material size range from 1 mm to 32 mm.
In this case, the dry unit – the CDX118CD – was specified for the West African project, featuring an eight-channel photo multiplier detection system capable of identifying all types of diamonds including low luminescence, yellow and boart.
“The appeal of the technology is its efficient diamond recovery with minimum gangue material, even at high feed rates,” says Gavin Alexander, products manager at DebTech.
“These rates can range from 825 kilograms per hour with material sized between 1 mm and 2 mm, to 4,5 tonnes per hour with material of 16 mm to 32 mm in size.”
Among the benefits of the system are its unique “dual wavelength” detection system and small installed footprint. It is capable of self-testing, while calibration can be conducted on-line.
“Designed to be operator-friendly and straightforward to maintain, the unit offers complete operator safety due to its improved features,” he says.
“It is specifically designed to enhance diamond security, and the compact sorting modules can be configured for higher throughput or for a double-pass process, as required.”
There are manual and automated inlet chute gate options available, with a robust air ejector system that ensures no loss of valuable stones.
Design is modular, compact and ergonomic, with left and right-hand variants available to suit.
The split cabinet design features a heat exchanger-cooled X-ray generator and power supply compartment with separate control and service panel configurations.
There is a single network interface for control and information, and DebTech ensures there is full maintenance support for customers, wherever they are on the globe.

Hawa Bangura, a Sierra Leonean woman who was on trial for human trafficking, was seen weeping after the court brought down a guilty ruling against her on Monday, January, 14, 2019.
Prison guards tried to console Bangura from weeping after the ruling by Judge Roosevelt Willie of the Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice, but their effort yield no result.

Bangura, a mother of five children, was escorted back to the Monrovia Central Prison, where she has been in detention since her arrest on November 30, 2o17.

Reporters struggled to photograph Defendant Bangura while the two female officers escorting her shield her from the lenses of cameras.

Prior to Judge Willie’s judgment, prosecution and defense lawyers held a final argument on Monday morning followed by the ruling in the afternoon at 2:00 pm local time.

Prosecution lead lawyer Assistant Justice Minister for Litigation, Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh asked the court to take judicial notice of its witnesses and the evidence provided to render its judgment as the prosecution proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
While defense counsel and Public Defense Lawyer Cllr. Joseph Debbley counter-argued and prayed the court that the Defendant was impoverished who has come to Liberia from Sierra Leone in search of greener pasture and was innocent of the charge, and that the state was only relying on speculation and did not prove its case.

Judge Wille later said: “The testimonies of the prosecution witnesses coupled with the evidence adduced by the prosecution showed that they proved their case beyond reasonable doubt, the fact that the Defendant refused to testify and exonerate herself of the charge shows that she was guilty.”

But defense lawyer Cllr. Debbley took exception to the judgment.
Judge Willie continued by ordering the Probation Office of the Ministry of Justice to investigate and furnish the court on the character of Bangura Thursday, January 17, 2019 the date that the court has scheduled to sentence the Defendant.

Defendant Bangura was indicted by the Grand Jury of Montserrado County during the February 2018 Term of Court for human trafficking but denied the charged and joined issue with the state to prove its charge against her.

The indictment states that on November 30, 2017 she planned to sell two other Sierra Leoneans, Famata Kanu 37 and her daughter Kadiatu Kromah. She had brought them to Liberia under the guise that they were here to buy used clothes take back to Sierra Leone.

Football fans in Sierra Leone are now breathing a sigh of relief as news of the reawakening of the country’s national league kick starts on 27th January after some 4 year lull. This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Premier League Board, Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai Esq. in an exclusive interview with this medium.

Though the ban on the participation of Sierra Leone in any international competition is still in force, the Chairman believes that this is the time to tap the resources and talents of its youths playing in the various football clubs.

The Chairman maintained that in a bid to create jobs for the youths, especially those involve in football and other aspiring young talents, they have engaged the various teams and have arrived at a decision that the players should be held on contract basis like their counterparts in the other countries including those seen in the international clubs.

Modalities were worked out for each player to be paid on a monthly basis. This he said will help to motivate the players to give their best.

Speaking to the Board Member and Communications Director of the Sierra Leone Premier League, Alhaji Komba, he reiterated the stance of Chairman Saffa Abdulai that the players need to be cared for. He also disclosed that since the ban is still in force effectively preventing Sierra Leone from taking part in any international competition, it is the view of the Board that this league, which is scheduled to kick start on the 27th of January, will present the much needed opportunity to assess the players and get a very good squad for any football engagement after the ban is lifted. It will further create jobs for them as they will be paid on a monthly basis.

Chairman Saffa Abdulai earlier maintained that the Board has been engaged in the reformation of football in the country and during this process they were able to impress on the clubs that each player should be on contract as it will motivate them and will provide a source of income for them unlike the had-hock situation that existed before. In this regard the seed money provided for the clubs can be used as a start to pay the players. Players will now be properly cared for by their respective clubs.

Alhaji Komba further disclosed that this is a reawakening of football in the country. Following the dismal performances of the national team in the international scene before the ban, many citizens have been calling on the association to go back to the drawing board and restructure the football in the country. This, he stressed, the board through its Chairman, has been able to do. It was also disclosed that certain football promoters are willing to spot out talents which could be improved for international signings.

The Premier League, he maintained, will follow the calendar of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) which ends in June/July.

Enthused by this revelation, football loving Sierra Leoneans say that this is a welcome development and lauded the Chairman for taking the initiative to ensure that the players benefit from their associations with any club. This, they maintain, will be create the requisite atmosphere for football to thrive in the country, as seen in international clubs across the world.

They praised Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai for bringing back the premier League and creating the opportunity for youths to grow.

They expressed hope for the development of a better football family in the country devoid of all sentiments but that of the progress of the game in the country and the ability of the national team to win International laurels.

It has been confirmed that the former Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration ,Dr. Sarah Bendu and her husband Dr. Dante Bendu were arrested detained by the Anti-Corruption Commission on Friday 11 January 2019.

It will be recalled that Dr. Sarah Finda Bendu was granted bail since December 22nd, 2018 following investigations into massive corruption at the SLMA during her brief tenure. Besides, it was alleged that her husband, had been directly interfering with ACC investigations, manipulating witnesses, attempting to mislead the Commission through interferences with known witnesses and suspects of the Commission and other related obstruction actions.

It was highlighted that the arrests were made to protect the integrity of the investigation going forward.

As part of enhancing its credibility the ACC thrives on integrity of investigations within the public domain and so will not tolerate any tampering of witnesses or investigations by any individual under any circumstances.

In an engagement with the Commission it was maintained that the institution is committed to protect government property, revenue and resources.

Sierra Leoneans are generally known to have a quip sense of humor. And so it is when First Lady Fatima Bio launched her “Hands off our girls!” national campaign, young and older men on whom many girls, from poor homes without any means of finding their livelihood, depend wholly and solely on for their livelihood and sustenance quickly came up with the counter: “Hands Off Our Pockets!” I could not help but laugh merrily at that.

It is mind-boggling that in this modern day and age, where it seems the drawbacks of teen pregnancy are well disseminated, the teenage pregnancy rate is not getting better in the country. Why?

With due respect to First Lady Madam Bio’s concern to eradicate the complex problem of teenage marriage and pregnancy in our society, what we first need to do is to know and understand the causes of the problem.

Everybody complains that with our children focusing on the wrong things, too many girls are getting pregnant. So what must be done to curb the incidences of teen pregnancy in Sierra Leone?

The best place to start is to understand what fuels it! Teen moms are shred to bits and pieces for getting pregnant. People forget that these girls do not magically get pregnant. Boys must be educated about the consequences of sex just as much as girls. And men, who engage in such acts, should be heavily fined.

Generally, research shows that teenage pregnancy is fuelled by six main factors in Sierra Leone:

1. Attitude
If we want to see a reduction in teen pregnancies, we have to be willing to do what is necessary to make that change occur. It requires a collective effort from all Sierra Leoneans. And it first starts with a positive shift in our attitudes. It is easy to shift blame. It is easy to make excuses. It is easy to just expect others to do the necessary work.

But combating teen pregnancy starts at the home. As a parent, it is your duty to show love, care and attention to your daughter. It is your duty to speak to your daughter about sex and what it entails. In Sierra Leone, it is seen as a taboo to discuss sex with your children. But gone are the days in which heart to heart discussions about such matters are not important. It is a bit naive to expect to raise children now in the same manner children were raised 40-50 years ago. Times have changed. Parents need to accept that. And equip themselves with the skills to raise these kids. Kids are more inquisitive now. If you do not arm them with necessary information, they go out there to get answers. And eventually, unwanted pregnancies happen.

2. Perception
In Sierra Leone, it is not uncommon to find men, even parents, judge the physical and sexual maturity of a child by the fullness of her breasts, size of her hips and the start of the menstrual cycle. It is seen as the status quo. And why mess up a good thing, uh?

3. Poverty
According to World Vision, Sierra Leone is one of the world’s poorest countries. Around 70 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. And men take advantage of girls in need.

A lot of parents who are broken, tired and out of options choose to encourage their daughters to have boyfriends – Whether they be their age group or not) just to receive money. And thus, in just a matter of time, these girls with very little or no sexual education wind up pregnant.

4. Lack of Quality Education and Job Opportunities
Every year, new schools are opening. Is it about the quantity of schools or the quality? Everybody is complaining that there is a shortage of teachers in the country. So where are these new schools getting their teachers? And to top it off, teachers are frustrated and frequently strike. Teachers are unqualified.

Teachers exploit students – so many cases of teachers having love affairs and sex with their female students. Outlaw this.
Standard quality education is what is needed in Sierra Leone.

With that, girls would be more properly motivated to concentrate on school work. Job opportunities need to be increased with matching salaries. You cannot expect the average Sierra Leonean parent to put all his blood, sweat and tears into educating his children when the employment rate after gaining a bachelor’s degree is so miserably low! What incentive is there?

5. Peer Pressure

Peer group influence is and reason for teenage pregnancy. Girls now want to have the most expensive phone, clothes, etc, which their friends have but can’t not afford. They go the extra mile to have what their friends have.

6. Environment/society

Society has a great role in the upbringing and moral and ethical outlook of children. If there are no good role models to look up to, the children will not copy any good thing but only the negative things.

The Inspector General of Police, Richard Moigbe has been summoned by the Clerk of Parliament to justify why security personnel were withdrawn the from former Vice President Sam Sumana’s residence. He is to do so to the Committee of Internal Affairs. It was the Presiding Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Solomon Segepoh Thomas, who instructed the Clerk to summon the Inspector General of Police.

It could be recalled that on Tuesday 8th January 2019, a team of Police personnel stormed the home of the former VP to withdraw the security personnel that were deployed to the former VP. However, Sumana was totally against the move. Nonetheless, the following day On Wednesday three of the State security personnel were removed from Sumana’s protection leaving only two officers.

Leader of the Coalition for Change (C4C) in Parliament, Hon. Sahr Emerson Lamina raised the issue in the House arguing that the matter has security implications. He therefore called on the Speaker to liaise with the Office of the Attorney General and also the IGP for the reinstatement of the security personnel of the former Vice President.

Referencing Standing Order 23, Hon. Sahr Charles (C4C) intimated Parliament that he was personally not pleased with the removal of protective security as it threatens the security of the State. He reaffirmed that Chief Sam Sumana is a former Vice President. Citing Standing Order 25 he moved a motion for the immediate restoration of the security personnel of the former Vice President.

Eventually, the Deputy Speaker, however, instructed the Clerk to summon the IGP Moigbe to go and explain to the Committee of Internal Affairs the reasons for his action. The Deputy requested an immediate report from the Chair of the Committee.

One of Sierra Leone’s best striker Mohamed Buya Turay has vowed that he will never play again in Belgium after after Sint-Truidense loaned him to Swedish club Djurgadens.

Turay who is 24-year old joined Sint-Truidense on a three year deal for a then club-record fee just five months ago from Dalkurd FF in Sweden.

He only played 163 minutes in six appearances in Belgium scoring on his debut against Lokeren in August.

“Based on what I have experienced at Sint-Truidense for the five months I have decided not to play again in Belgium,” Turay informed..

“I feel disappointed because things didn’t go the way I was expecting for reasons I can’t talk about.”

“Things changed after I scored my first goal for the club on my debut. Since then it was either I was on the bench or not on list for matches.”

Turay’s comments come despite his contract with the Belgian side running until 2021.

He had been hoping that Belgium would be a chance for him to further showcase his talent.

“I was expecting to be given the chance to do great things and move to bigger leagues but it wasn’t meant to be,” he explained.
“But God does things for reasons and I believe I have a brighter future,” he added.

The forward is hoping he can replicate the good form he showed during his previous spell in Sweden with Dalkurd.

“I’m happy to join Durgaden. I decided to come back to Sweden to re-start my career with the aim of moving to bigger European clubs in Europe,” he explained.

“But let me repeat I’ll never again play in Belgium.”

Turay netted nine goals in 13 appearances for Dalkurd in the first half of the Swedish season last year.

Before that he played for AFC Eskilstuna for three seasons helping them to promote to the top league in 2017 as well as Vasteras in the third tier.

He has only made just one appearance for Sierra Leone so far, against Ethiopia in the 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifiers, a match that has since been cancelled by the Confederation of African Football.

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alie Kabba was warmly welcomed by the State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yion on Friday 11 January 2019 .The State Councilor hailed the joint course of justice between China and Africa on Friday. Alie Kabba happens to be, the first foreign envoy China has received this year.
The two met at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing.
State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang maintained that China and Africa have a connected future and shared destiny, and both are devoted to a course of justice that has won the support of people from developing countries.
It was highlighted that conditions are favorable for positive China-Africa relations, with the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative. “But relations face headwinds in the form of unilateralism and protectionism,” he said.
Wang added that pushing the development of the global governance system in a more fair and reasonable direction is the joint responsibility of China, Africa and developing countries.
“We need to demonstrate to the International Community the strength of unity and jointly push forward the development of China-Africa relations,” he said.
Wang wrapped up his five-day visit to Africa a few days ago－a continuation of a tradition established in 1991 of Chinese foreign ministers choosing the continent for their first overseas trip of the year. He noted that Kabba choose China for his first foreign visit this year.
“It shows the close friendship between our two countries and between China and Africa. It also indicated that we both make each other a priority in diplomatic relations,” he said.
Wang pointed out that China extended a helping hand to the West African country after it was struck by Ebola, and the two countries conquered the raging epidemic hand in hand, which cemented the brotherhood between the two nations.
He furthered that no matter how the international landscape changes, China and Sierra Leone have remained sincere friends, offering each other equal treatment and support since the two sides established diplomatic ties half a century ago.
Wang called on the two sides to ensure the implementation of the consensuses reached between State leaders, to maintain high level exchanges, enhance mutual political trust and continue to offer mutual understanding and trust on issues related to each other’s core interests and major concerns.
The two sides should work together to ensure the implementation of cooperative programs in areas including infrastructure, medical care, agriculture, fisheries and education, he said.
He also called on the two sides to step up strategic coordination on international affairs, safeguard the joint interests of both nations and developing countries and enable the international order to develop in a more fair and reasonable direction.
Kabba characterized China as a trustworthy, long-term cooperative partner of Sierra Leone. He said Sierra Leone adheres to the one-China policy and has always made relations with China a priority.

The Foreign Affairs Minister expressed thanks for China’s assistance in the social and economic development of Sierra Leone, adding that the country is ready to learn from China’s experience in governance.
China’s Vice-President Wang Qishan also met with Alie Kabba on Friday.