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Sierra Leone News: ACC Exonerates SLP of Procurement Fraud

Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone, Francis Ben Kaifala

Following referral by the Independent Police Complaints Board (IPCB) based on a report by the Proprietor of Door to Door Enterprise (DDE) to them, on alleged procurement fraud by the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) management, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) carried out investigations into the procurement of Accoutrements for the Sierra Leone Police from 2014 to 2017, recent findings confirmed that the procurement of accoutrements by the Sierra Leone Police was contained in their procurement plan for the year prior to the said procurement, and that the Procurement Unit of the SLP conducted the procurement process accordingly.

Furthermore, their investigations also confirmed that DDE was one of the most responsive bidders after the technical and financial evaluations, for which a letter of notification of award was written to DDE, but no contract was signed by SLP and DDE. However, the Police put on hold the actual contract due to the outbreak of the Ebola Viral Disease in 2014. This made them revert to the use of Request for Quotation (RFQ) procurement during that period to keep the Police procuring goods.

It further was established that sometime in 2017, DDE through the Request for Quotation (RFQ) procurement process supplied one thousand, six hundred (1,600) pairs of boots to the SLP instead of one thousand, three hundred (1,300) pairs, with an excess supply of three hundred (300) pairs of boots which were all distributed by the SLP Stores Department.

It was also established that contrary to the claim by the Police, the unit cost for a pair of boots was three hundred and fifty thousand Leones (Le 350,000), and not three hundred thousand Leones (Le300,000). The excess supplies, plus the deficit in the cost per unit was also concluded by the investigations to be one hundred and seventy million Leones (Le 170M).

In conclusion, our findings confirmed that, the claims by DDE were largely true; albeit there were misunderstandings as to the reasons for the suspension of the DDE’s contract which was because of the outbreak of the Ebola. However, the supplier (DDE) was not properly informed about the reason and he felt that the process was corrupt. It was finally concluded that the police owe him, on a purely contractual basis, the sum of one hundred and seventy million Leones (Le 170M) for the supply of various accoutrements for the SLP which he is entitled to recover.

Apart from that, the process was found to be corrupt free though a few systems and processes lapses need to be put in place by the police–in respect of which they have been accordingly advised.

Sierra Leone News: IOM Doles Equipment to Fight Human Trafficking

Last week, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs (MSWGCA) in Sierra Leone, held a handing over ceremony of equipment to the Sierra Leone Trafficking in Persons (TIPs) Task Force Secretariat at the MSWGCA.

The Secretariat was established in 2005 following the enactment of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, to coordinate activities, and provide administrative assistance to combatting human trafficking in a country where each year, thousands of girls and boys are trafficked for forced labor or sexual exploitation. However, the lack of ICT equipment has been a major challenge to the Secretariat’ operations.

Through the Africa Regional Migration Programme implemented by IOM in Sierra Leone with funding from the U.S. Bureau of Populations, Refugees and Migration (PRM), IOM supports the Secretariat through capacity building, materials and equipment to improve assistance to survivors of human trafficking, and improved capacities to undertake awareness raising activities.

The equipment donated includes office furniture, three laptop computers, a printer, cartridges and an internet modem.

“These materials will not only support data collection, reporting and information exchange but also facilitate the work of the task force in identification, screening, referral and provision of protection assistance to victims of trafficking”, said Alhaji Sanusi Tejan Savage, Head of Office, IOM Sierra Leone.

“Although significant progress has been made, we should not relent in our efforts, as Sierra Leone remains a source, transit, and destination country for children and women being trafficked for forced labor, commercial sexual exploitation”, Mr. Savage stated.

The Honorable Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, Mohamed Haji Kella in his statement emphasized the need for equipment and capacity for the effective operations of the secretariat. “We did not have enough equipment, so the donated items will greatly help the TIPs Task Force to deliver their mandates”.

In March this year, IOM organized a training of trainers for 33 officials of the TIPs National Task Force to strengthen their technical capacity to efficiently provide assistance to victims of trafficking, enhance the prevention of trafficking through the adoption and encouragement of local initiatives to improve the well-being and opportunity for potential victims.

Sierra Leone News: Ports Management Hailed for Benefits Payment to Ex-Workers

The Executives of the Sierra Leone Labor Congress and other stakeholders including the Sierra Leone Ports Authority Senior Staff Association and the Dock Workers Union have showered praises on the management of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority for the first phase of payment of benefits to ex- employees of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority which commenced on Tuesday 16th July at the Sierra Leone Labor Congress headquarters.

The SLPA management few months back vowed to pay all benefits (monies) due former employees of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority and this was a demonstration of the commitment to its vow, said the Vice President of the Sierra Leone Labor Congress, Alhaji Muctarr Williams, adding that the first phase of payment has brought hope to other ex-employees whose payment will be effected soon. Alhaji Williams commended the ex-SLPA employees for their patience.

The Presidents of the Ports Authority Senior Staff Association and the Dock Workers Union, Idrissa Mango Tarawally and Alpha Bundu, expressed similar sentiments on SLPA management and other stakeholders including the former Chairman of the National Commission for Privatization (NCP), the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Transport and Aviation.

Addressing former employees, the General Manager of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority, Dr. Abdulai Fofana reiterated his management’s commitment to pay all benefits due ex-SLPA employees.  He said his administration inherited a bad economy and urged ex-employees who are yet to receive their benefits to exercise patience as Management is working on their payments.

SLPA Deputy General Manager, Yankuba Askia Bio said it is a tough moment for management as they inherited plethora of cases of non-payments of ex-workers benefits from the past management. He assured stakeholders that the new management will put the records straight.

Sierra Leone News: Customer Care is Key to NP-SL Viability & Sustainability in a Highly Competitive Market

National Petroleum (NP) SL Limited

Customer care is key to the National Petroleum Sierra Leone (NP-SL) Limited viability and sustainability in a highly competitive market.

This is according to recent research done on the viability and sustainability on the operations of Sierra Leone’s most viable and sustainable international service deliverer – the National Petroleum Sierra Leone. The research included tests on the standard and quality of the National Petroleum products which customers say they have never had cause to grumble.

Being Sierra Leone’s leading and longest serving oil marketing company, the National Petroleum (NP) SL Limited continues to weather the storm gallantly as it endeavours to give optimum satisfaction to its esteemed customers across the country as well as in neighbouring Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast and The Gambia where it also operates as a truly multinational Sierra Leone company.

Since its establishment, NP has been meaningfully contributing to economic growth through payment of taxes and rolling out meaningful interventions in the discharge of Corporate Social Responsibility that are transforming lives and improving communities.

The company always ensures that petroleum products are always available, thereby preventing shortages that could create shocks in many quarters. The level of confidence which overseas business partners have reposed in the company has made it possible for it to enter into payment agreements thereby keeping the demand and supply chain open and running.

The company has gained reputation for offering a variety of managerial and technical jobs to Sierra Leoneans and other individuals throughout the countries it operates; thereby helping in improving standard of living in the respective countries NP operates.

NP-SL by giving preference to employing Sierra Leoneans is a clear indication that it adheres to the country’s Local Content Policy. Utilizing local talents make it possible for indigenes to acquire useful knowledge and skills through training courses that could be applicable in other places.

In addition, the company sells the best cooking gas that is available in hundreds of outlets across the country, thereby contributing to creating cleaner environments, thus aiding the work of EPA.

In this digital age, moving away from the traditional way of transacting business has now become the norm. As such, NP introduced the use of smart cards with which customers can procure any quantity of petroleum products easily.

“Using NP smart card makes transactions very easy and convenient for me,” Kottor Gibril Koroma, an engineer informed this press.

The public’s recognition of the invaluable contributions of NP both to its numerous esteemed customers across the country and to national development has seen it bag meritorious awards from different organisations.

NP is a company worth its salt and the company has received many awards; the latest being: “Best Company of the Year” that was received on 6th July 2019 during the National Business Award 2018/2019 held in Sierra Leone at the prestigious Bintumani Hotel.

 

Sierra Leone News: ‘UBA Marketplace’ Africa’s Largest Entrepreneurial Event Enhances TEF Youth Entrepreneurship Programme

UBA Marketplace, Africa’s biggest trade fair will be hosting some  20,000 visitors and over 100 small and medium enterprises, plus top private and public sector players in Abuja on the 26th & 27th July 2019. Top artists like Wizkid, Niniola, Dj Cuppy, Dj Neptune performing as Cynthia Nassardine, RMD will also be gracing the 2-Day event. The event seeks to promote young entrepreneurs and business people across Africa and create the enabling environment for interaction among business owners and the mentorship of youths.

Kenneth Uzoka, Group Manager of UBA Plc had this to say about the event “I think everyone realises the fact that we need to prioritise the private sector. We need to encourage entrepreneurship and the youths. This is the driving factor and the major reason why we are organising an event of this magnitude’.

At the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Business Forum, a partnership agreement was signed between the UNDP and the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) to financially support 100,000 young entrepreneurs in Africa over 10 years. The partnership is dubbed TEF-UNDP Sahel Youth Entrepreneurship Programme. The President of Niger, H.E Mahamadou Issoufou joined UNDP and TEF to launch the programme.

The partnership was announced at the 12th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU), where TEF Founder, Tony Elumelu and UNDP Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa joined African Presidents at that forum.

The TEF Youth Entrepreneurship Programme has benefited 7,520 local entrepreneurs across 54 African countries in five years of existence. Selected applicants will each receive a maximum of $5,000 non-refundable seed capital, access to mentors, a 12-week business training and networking opportunities and will join the previously announced 3,051 beneficiaries of the 2019 cohort of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.

The applications will be run on TEFConnect and forms will be available in any of the branches of the United Bank for Africa (UBA). Following the end of the application window, an initial longlist of 5,500 applicants will be selected to undergo the 12-week business training. After the training, the final shortlist of 2,000 applicants will be announced to join the previous 2019 TEF cohort.

More Sierra Leoneans entrepreneurs were captured this year and were selected in this year’s TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.

Below is the hyperlink to be accessed.

https://www.ubagroup.com/nigeria/market-place-africa/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz-vH90nhKe/?igshid=1dt4s1ic1qg1o

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz96T5znmn9/?igshid=5x5sdkbwlp61

Sierra Leone News: Africa’s Largest Entrepreneurial Event; ‘UBA Marketplace’ Poise To Host 20,000 Visitors

Kennedy Uzoka

According to the Group Managing Director of UBA Plc, Kennedy Uzoka, 20,000 visitors and over 100 small and medium enterprises, plus top private and public sector players will be gracing Africa’s biggest trade fair at Abuja on the 26th & 27th July 2019. Top artists like Wizkid, Niniola, Dj Cuppy, Dj Neptune performing as Cynthia Nassardine, RMD will also be gracing the 2-Day event.

This entrepreneurial fair dubbed ‘UBA Marketplace 2019’ will be held on the sideline of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Forum and is expected to host the largest number of entrepreneurs in Africa. Business owners in various industries including food, beauty, fashion, home/interior gadgets will have the opportunity to interact with each other and hold discussions on matters of interests to their respective businesses.

According to Kennedy Uzoka, the epic event will offer plenary sessions and discussions on the small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) sector and the relevance of financing. The plenary sessions will highlight entertainment and music industries. Likewise, fashion, a big cultural and revenue attraction on the continent, will be showcased with the designs of 10 leading African labels. With this event, UBA seeks to touch base with small business owners while positively affecting the lives of entrepreneurs doing business in its countries of operations and beyond’.

The birth of the UBAmarketplace and this entrepreneurial fair is a testament to our commitment to African SMEs”

At this epic gathering master-class sessions will be held during the UBAmarketplace2019, small and medium scale businesses will have opportunity to network and get solutions to some of the challenges they face in running their businesses. Uzoka stressed that the gathering will foster entrepreneurship among the private sector and serve as a forum for the encouragement of youths. “I think everyone realises the fact that we need to prioritise the private sector. We need to encourage entrepreneurship and the youths. This is the driving factor and the major reason why we are organising an event of this magnitude’ he said.

Also, entrepreneurs who are beneficiaries of the Tony Elumelu Foundation will be presented a platform to pitch their businesses with a grand prize of a grant.

Below is the hyperlink to be accessed.

https://www.ubagroup.com/nigeria/market-place-africa/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz-vH90nhKe/?igshid=1dt4s1ic1qg1o

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz96T5znmn9/?igshid=5x5sdkbwlp61

Sierra Leone News: $50M IPAM Bureh Town Campus Set to Kick-Off 

In a non-partisan debate and parliamentary ratification of the IPAM Bureh Town Campus Members of Sierra Leone Parliament on Tuesday 16th July, 2019 expressed their gratitude over the professionalism of the Investment Model IPAM presented to the House and have unanimously approved an agreement related to an “Amendment Contract Between FEMAB Sierra Leone Limited (“the developer”) and the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM)” for the building of a new campus at Bureh Town in the Western Rural community.

The Deputy Minister of Finance appreciated Dr. Ezekiel Duramany-Lakkoh and the IPAM Administration, including the Deputy Vice Chancellor of IPAM Prof. Edmond Nonie and the Minister of Tertiary and Higher Education, Professor Aiah Kpakima for presenting a case to Parliament which was unanimously approved.

Chief Bikur also appreciated former University Administrator Prof. Ekundayor Thompson, Prof. Allyson Sesay and Miss Mayilla Deen-Turay for  having dedicated their time to making this investment a possibility.

In a brief engagement with Dr. Ezekiel Duramany-Lakkoh who is currently acting as Dean of the Faculty of Management Sciences and Financial Management Consultant of the project, he noted that IPAM has developed a sound financial discipline that will enable the repayment of the $50 million project within eight years. Dr. Duramany-Lakkoh noted that the College’s financial projections are designed to address shocks like foreign exchange and interest rate issues.

Presenting the contract agreement, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Patricia Laverly said the agreement was related to the construction of new residential campus for IPAM. “This investment will provide accommodation for 400 students and 100 staff”, she informed the Honourable House.

To buttress the point made by the Deputy Minister of Finance, a student from IPAM, Kadiatu Sesay delivered a motivational speech in order for Parliament to see reason for the contract agreement to be approved. The eloquent student humbly told Parliament that the growing population of students in relation to a variety of modern courses, the need for the decentralization of the university, coupled with rental cost for lecture rooms, was advanced as arguable factors that should be considered by Parliament in light of approving the said contract agreement.

The Chairman of Tertiary Education Committee in Parliament, Hon. Alimamy O. Kamara of SLPP described education as a flagship project of President Bio’s Government, adding that “IPAM deserves the project”. He also lauded the Management of IPAM for being outstanding by coming up with innovative initiatives aimed at improving education in the country.

Members of Parliament who contributed immensely to the debate which resulted to a unanimous approval included Hon. Hassan Sesay of APC who said the project would bring development to Bureh Town; Hon. Rebecca Y. Kamara of C4C who urged for monitoring and evaluation of the project in order to have a standard structure with value for the money; Leader of C4C, Hon. Saa Emerson Lamina who heaped praises on IPAM for their initiative; Chairman of the Finance Committee, Hon. Francis A. Kaisamba; Paramount Chief Bai Kurr Kanagbaro Sanka III of Tonkolili District who informed the House that he was a key player in the transformation of IPAM when he served as Deputy Chairman of the University; Hon. Aaron A. Koroma of APC who encouraged other universities to emulate IPAM; Acting Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Alhaji I .B Kargbo who acknowledged the contributions made by IPAM to the nation; Acting Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew S. Nyuma who said his Government is giving preference to human capital development; among other important contributions.

 

Sierra Leone News: Thieves Attack Guru NANAK

In the early hours of Friday 12th July 2019, thieves broke into the headquarters of GURU NANAK, a business entity situated at 8 ECOWAS Street in Freetown.

According to reports, the thieves broke into the main gate, destroying two 6-ton locks and entered the building. They tried to break into a safe but eventually carted the safe away. The safe contained Le 25 million and five passports.

Some items costing Le 14 million were also stolen from the shop.

The owner of the business establishment, Mr. Dev, said the safe that was stolen cost Le 10 million- all items stolen amounting to Le49 million, adding that the damage done to the fence would cost Le 3 million to repair.

According to the owner, the matter has been reported to the Central Police Station; and the police in their investigations, have questioned the GURU NANAK watchman, who said he slept elsewhere because of a heavy downpour. Another boy, who slept somewhere outside the crime scene, was also questioned; but both have been released.

Police investigations into the theft matter continue.

 

Sierra Leone News: Sierra Leone Pioneers Pre-Service Disease Detection

Sierra Leone is on track to become a model in Africa to meet the challenge of health emergency response by preparing its health workforce to detect, prevent, control and effectively respond to public health emergencies in the country.

The country has seen a huge transformation and improvement in its public health surveillance capacity following the devastating Ebola outbreak in 2014. Core capacities and infrastructure have been developed and strengthened. In June this year the country became the first in Africa to have a fully functional electronic disease surveillance and response system that allows health workers to collect and immediately report priority health information to the national level from every public health facilities nationwide.

Now the country is set to introduce Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) and the International Health Regulations into health personnel training curricula. The initiative, which is being piloted with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Sierra Leone and Tanzania, aims to strengthen local institutions to contribute to the sustainability of national public health surveillance and response.

Health authorities and experts from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, universities, colleges and other health training institutions in collaboration with WHO have developed and validated the pre-service and in-service curricula to help facilitate the process. These experts are also providing technical guidance on implementation modalities of the initiative.

With everything now fully set in motion, Sierra Leone hopes to commence implementation of the initiative at the beginning of the next academic year in October 2019.

“Highly skilled human resources for health are critical for improving health security. However, the traditional in-service training for surveillance alone is not effective enough to build and sustain national IDSR-IHR capabilities. This is why WHO is supporting the country to institutionalize pre-service training and continuous professional education,” says Mr Evans Liyosi, WHO Country Representative in Sierra Leone.

This is the first time such initiative is being introduced into the curricula of tertiary institutions which also offer students the opportunity to take courses in IDSR and International Health Regulations (IHR) at different levels. The curricula have been developed to meet the needs of medical, nursing, veterinary, laboratory, environmental health, para-medical, public health, epidemiology, health information, health management, and health education skills as well as faculty and course content developers and administrators.

The International Health Regulations 2005 require State Parties to develop minimum core public health capacities to detect, assess, notify and respond to public health events and hence strengthening national and global health security.

“Essentially, improved surveillance infrastructure and competent frontline personnel is important in disease prevention and control and in enhancing health security,” says Dr. Charles Njuguna, Lead for Health Security and Emergencies at the WHO Country Office in Sierra Leone.

Current health training curricula focus mainly on clinical and technical skills even though the personnel would eventually be deployed in districts to assume roles for disease prevention and control, usually with little public health knowledge, priority disease detection and response skills competencies. However, with this initiative Sierra Leone is set to become a pioneer in Africa where health workers would be familiar with what to expect in public health surveillance even before deployment.

 

Sierra Leone News: Yamakai Action for Children Holds Annual Graduation

On Sunday 14th July, 2019, the Yamakai Action for Children Nursery and Preparatory School held its 18th & 21st Annual Graduation Ceremony at Obama City, Lower Savage Square, Freetown.

Buya Nabie Bangura Founder & National Coordinator Patriotic Empowerment Network Sierra Leone (PEN-SL) in his opening remarks expressed his warmest congratulations to the young graduants for having gone through a successful and important phase of study that lays the foundation of life-long learning.

He thanked the parents and teachers for giving them the unfailing support and an enabling environment in which children’s potential are nurtured and developed through a wide variety of excellent learning experience.

“Our New Generation will face a much faster changing world than we did decades ago, Globalization, the advent of information technology, and the development of a knowledge-based economy is leading to changes at an unprecedented rate and scale. The knowledge children learnt at schools will soon lag behind the development of our society,” he maintained.

He said that to prepare children for the future, they need to provide them with the opportunities to develop the generic skills that are needed for them to become life-long learners. He empathizes that apart from knowledge children need to develop their skills to acquire, construct and communicate knowledge.

He ended by saying that the vision for education for the 21st Century is to enable all children to develop their potentials to the fullest extent and said this can be achieved by concerted effort by the government, frontline educators, parents and the community as a whole which will translate the vision to reality.

Alhaji A.B. Kamara proprietor Yamakai Action for Children Nursery and Preparatory school disclosed that graduation ceremony is always such a special occasion, the culmination of years of hard work; the actualization of goals attained and the acknowledgement of successes achieved.

“It has been a journey that started with tentative steps perhaps, but one that has taken us to remarkable heights. We have encountered some trials and tribulations along the way; we have experienced exceptional moments, some magical moments and created memories that will be fondly remembered in the years ahead”. He noted.

He said that they are proud as an institution about the success they have made with opportunities that they were offered. He said they hope they are ready, willing and more than able to grasp the torch that have been bestowed upon them and said that they are the future and the world will come to depend.

He concluded by appreciating the parents for their cooperation even though with some challenges and also thanked the entire administration and staff for their tireless effort towards the development of the children and the institution.

 

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