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Sierra Leone News: Fanta Kuyateh to Represent Salone at 2019 World Heritage Beauty Pageant

Sierra Leone’s Miss Heritage for 2018, Fanta Kuyateh,

Sierra Leone’s Miss Heritage for 2018, Fanta Kuyateh, is poised to fly the country’s flag at the World Heritage Beauty Pageant slated for 11 to 20 August, 2019 in Accra, Ghana.
Speaking to this medium, Mrs. Kuyateh explained that her determination is not only to emerge victorious in the competition but to see the flag of Sierra Leone raised high.
The 2018 Miss Sierra Leone Heritage therefore appealed for support from Sierra Leoneans at home and abroad to see her emerge as the winner of the pageant.

In her contribution, one of Miss Kuyateh’s Managers, Serah V. Koroma disclosed that 50 countries including Sierra Leone will be locking horns for the prestigious award of the 2019 World Heritage Pageant for which she expressed optimism that her contender would emerge victorious. She also urged Sierra Leoneans to support her morally and financially in their own little way towards the competition.

Sierra Leone News: 30 Investigators Benefit from IPCB Training

The Independent Police Complaint Board (IPCB), has on Tuesday, 11th June, 2019, started a four-day training for 30 investigators.

Participants for the training in basic investigation, which ends today Friday, 14th June, 2019, are drawn from the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), Sierra Leone Correctional Service, Office of the Ombudsman, Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL), among others.

Modules for the training include-interviewing, arrests, evidence gathering and preservations, human rights and policing, policing and politics, inter-agency relationships, etc.

The funding for the above training came from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Earlier this year, IPCB held community engagements in all regions of Sierra Leone for 560 participants on the guidelines on the conditions of arrests, police custody and pre-trial detention in Africa-dubbed the Luanda Guidelines.

Currently, IPCB’s regulations are under review.

After which, the regulations would be sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which will be subsequently laid in cabinet and parliament.

 

 

 

Sierra Leone News: Brewery Bags Impressive Profit in 2018

The country’s leading brewer of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, Sierra Leone Brewery Limited (SLBL) held its 56th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 13th June 2019 at the Staff Canteen Hall of the entity, after prior notice was put out by the institution’s Company Secretary, Albert Ojo Ulric Collier.

Collier informed members of the date of the meeting, the venue and time, highlighting that the purpose is to receive the Report of the Directors, the Balance Sheet as at 31st December 2018 together with the Profit and Loss Account for the year ended on that date and the report of the Auditors. He also pointed out that it is geared towards re-appointing a Director since the last AGM Meeting, to re-elect Directors retiring by motion, to fix remuneration of the Directors and to re-open the Auditors and authorize the Directors to fix their remuneration.

“A member of the company entitled to vote at the meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and to vote in his stead,” he further said.

Chairman of the AGM, Jan-Kees Nieman, welcomed all to the 56th AGM noting that as it is the custom he will be presenting to members the Annual Report and Financial Statements of the company for the year ending 31st December, 2019.

Jan-Kees maintained that it is important to throw light on few socio-economic issues that impacted on SLBL in 2018 as well as to give a report on the operations and performance of the company in the year under review.

“The business environment was very challenging in terms of currency depreciation, inflation and high cost of doing business. Both the depreciation of the Leone and inflation affected main input costs of our company,” the Chairman further said.

He underscored that taxes on imported alcoholic beverages were significantly lowered in 2018 which negatively impacted the competitiveness of their locally produced products, their performance and business case for their large investments.

However, Jan-Kees stated how SLBL delivered a positive business performance in 2018 with a net value growth by 35% from Le104.4 billion to Le 139.4 billion in 2018.

According to him the revenue growth was as a result of, among others, strong marketing campaigns, the introduction of the canned portfolio and Trenk, strong sales execution and investment in outlets and the Hawker channel.

“The operating result improved significantly from a loss of Le2.6 billion in 2017 to a profit of Le208m in 2018,”the Chairman revealed.

He said the net financing cost increased from Le14.7 billion in 2017 to Le19.5 billion in 2018 primarily driven by the exchange losses as the Leone continued to depreciate. As a result, he continued, the net loss increased slightly from a loss of Le17.1 Billion in 2017 to a loss of Le18.9 billion in 2018.

“It is worth noting that the 2017 results were restated following a review of the excise calculation,” he stated.

The AGM Chairman continued to say that in 2018 transformation and modernization of the Brewery took place with a total cost of Le85 billion. He pointed out that the investments include installation of a brand new canning line, upgrading electricity supply and the brew house. “Total investment in the Brewery and our company now amounts to Le293 billion in the last four years,” he shed light.

He stated how they also invested in a large scale training and development programs for their supply chain team to better equip them with critical skills to match the new technology they are now using in their brewing and production processes.

The Chairman said through the CREATE programme they work with local farmers to grow sorghum for use as a raw material in their production. He said last year they were able to increase the sorghum supplied and used in their recipes hence supporting the local content policy.

“We further increase sorghum availability through use of higher yielding seed variety, increase of acreage planned and through large semi commercial farms,” he disclosed.

The audited report was read by Agnes N. Sawyerr from Baker Tilly SL. The company’s auditors Baker Tilly SL also indicated their willingness to continue in office.

The following Directors of SLBL were elected after Daaf Van Tilburg – Managing Director (SLBL) called a motion for election or re-election:

Jan-Kees Nieman- Chairman (Appointed 5 October 2018)

IDA Carrol, LJT Pratt.

It happened that in accordance with Article 106 of the Articles of association Mr IDA Carrol and Mr. IJT Pratt retire by rotation and being eligible in accordance with Article 108 of the same offered themselves for re-election.

The meeting was adjourned to the next Annual General Meeting.

 

 

Sierra Leone News: China Ansun Angel Group Donates $100,000 to Support Free Quality Education

A delegation from the China, Ansun Angel Group, led by its Chairman, Zhan Fan, has met with His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio to present a cheque of USD 100,000 as support to Government’s free quality education programme.

In a meeting held at the State Lodge, Hill Station in Freetown, Sierra Leone Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Ernest Baimba Ndomahina, said the donation was to show how pleased they were that Government had prioritized human capital development.

He recalled that the donation was also in continuation to earlier donations already made to the Office of the First Lady in its “Hands of our Girls Campaign” and also financial and material support to a disabled football team in Freetown. He said the Group believes in the transformative vision of President Bio and was pleased to continue to support the New Direction Government.

Chairman of the Ansun Group, Zhan Fan, said that they were grateful to the President for welcoming them and for providing the environment to contribute to the free quality education programme. He noted that investing in education is the right step to boost development in the country.

Receiving the donation, President Bio thanked the Group for their continued support to the country. He said despite the huge cost involved, his Government had placed premium on education because of its importance to the development of the country.

He disclosed that the money would be handed over to a special basket fund that was created to support the free quality education and assured that it would be used for the intended purpose.

 

 

 

Sierra Leone News: Use your God-given talents to promote our country -Deputy Youth Minister Appeals

Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs and a few musicians at the Legal Aid Board Office

Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs, Hon. Lusine Kallon, on the 11th June 2019 at the Legal Aid Board Secretariat on Wilberforce Street, Freetown called on all Sierra Leonean musicians to be united and put politics aside.

“I am calling on you all to use your God-given talents to promote our country and continue to be more united for the growth of the music industry,” the Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs admonished.

He called on T. Man Wahid and Arkman to summon all musicians to a meeting that would focus on the development of the music industry, adding that President Julius Maada Bio is a unifier and believes in a talented youth population.

The Minister noted that the forthcoming national Human Rights and Peace Festival is a novelty and commended the work of all members including the Executive Director of Legal Aid Board, Madam Fatmata Claire Carlton Hanciles.

He said, “let us put aside our ugly past. Some of those mistakes were not deliberate and we must not allow them to haunt us.”

He appealed that all Sierra Leoneans must come together to support the New Direction administration.

Executive Director of Legal Aid Board, Madam Fatmata Claire Carlton Hanciles, observed that there will be no peace without justice and therefore encouraged all sectors to support the forthcoming festival at the National Stadium.

She said all secondary schools, tertiary institutions, traders and youth groups will be adequately represented to strengthen the national peace and cohesion.

T-Man Wahid assured that Sierra Leone Association of Musicians, All Stars, East End Artists Union, Sierra Leone Female Artistes Union, Reggae Artiste Union, Artistes for Peace and Union of Gospel Music Ministers will be invited to discuss the growth of the industry and the forthcoming festival.

 

 

Sierra Leone News: Bonthe Residents Urged to Support Measles Campaign

Chairman, Bonthe District Council Moses Probyn Making a Statement at the MR Campaign Launch

The District Council Chairman for Bonthe District, Moses Probyn has urged residents and stakeholders of his district to not only support but to also own the Measles Rubella Vaccination Campaign, as it is geared to the health of their children; thereby saving lives.

Chairman Probyn made the plea at the District Launch of the Integrated Measles Rubella Vaccination Campaign on Monday 10th June at the Bonthe District Council Hall Mattru Jonge.

While making his statement at the launch, Mr. Probyn reiterated that if their district was to actualize their target of reaching every children with the lifesaving interventions in the district, adding that the Ministry of Health and Sanitation would not succeed without their support for which he called on all stakeholders to fully support the campaign for the district to emerge as the best district in the entire campaign.

He further noted that the campaign is not only about the usual Measles, Polio, Vitamin A & Albendazole but it is also about a new disease known as Rubella for which their children were going to be vaccinated against.

He continued that if all their children were to be reached it counts on all their efforts and support, as 1 case of Measles or Rubella is a concern thus puts other children at high risk of contracting the diseases as it is caused by sneeze or cough in the air by an affected person.

He admonished stakeholders not to associate the campaign to any rumours, misconceptions that would otherwise hamper the success of the campaign and that they were now in the correct position to address issues of rumours, misconceptions and myths in their communities.

Mr. Probyn ended by thanking the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and Government and health partners for their efforts in ensuring that their children are prevented against these childhood diseases, which would otherwise claim their lives if they are not  prevented.

Sierra Leone News: NRA Collects Trillions… as Reforms Take Firm Root

Commissioner General for National Revenue Authority (NRA), Dr. Samuel Jibao

Commissioner General for National Revenue Authority (NRA), Dr. Samuel Jibao on 6 June, 2019 clocked one year in office. He believes that during this period several changes have been made in the way and manner revenue collection is being carried out that has led to huge success, despite there are still a few challenges.

He added that he met NRA in a state that he can describe as very challenging. Challenging in terms of even the financial position was not good. In the handing over which he got, it came out clearly that NRA even owed suppliers over eight billion Leones (Le8B) and the other one has to do with staffing. We had a lot of vacant positions at the senior management level; there was no Deputy Commissioner General and in terms of even the morale of the staff, it was so low when he came onboard. So that’s the state in which he actually inherited this organization.

In terms of integrity, he said he really met a situation where the perception about the organization in terms of integrity was really very low. That’s the kind of NRA he actually inherited.
According to Dr. Jibao, the first thing is that the Board was constituted, headed by a very eloquent and hardworking Chair in the person of Madam Tuma Adama Jabbie.

He went on to state that when he took over they had the discussion on how to fill the vacant positions and they were able to fill all the senior management positions including that of the Deputy Commissioner General who incidentally is also a very hardworking and very strong lady.

‘So I can say in terms of the governance we’ve now got almost the full complement when it comes to the senior management and we are almost close to getting the full complement for our middle management level. We have also hired more technical staff. So we are on track on that. And in terms of revenue; it is now relatively predictable. We can relatively predict our weekly revenue, that’s one thing we have achieved,’ he said.

He went on to state that in terms of the numbers – revenue has really jumped. ‘If we compare 2019 first quarter to 2018 first quarter, all categories – revenue overall increased by 51% and so far from January to May 2019, we have actually generated about Le2.20 trillion which is quite high when you compare to the whole of the first half of last year 2018 when we collected less than that – about two hundred and sixteen billion Leones less. We still have one month to go but yet we have collected more than the whole of 2018 first half. So that shows how in fact, the revenue is doing well. In terms of growth, I can say in 2018 when we came, revenue grew by 35% that is higher than inflation because some people say prices are going up but that has nothing to do with that. Inflation was about 17% now we are talking about revenue growth about 35%. So even if you take the inflation out, the revenue is still growing. Even in terms of the GDP, revenue grew by 1.5% which is really very impressive performance by any international standard. So far in terms of revenue generation it is now predictable like I said. We predict on weekly basis and if I tell you that next week I will get over hundred billion, I know I will get it. Why – because we have been able to at least seal blocks of leakages and we have gotten to understand our taxpayer base more realistically,’ the NRA CG boasted.
He added that with the help of the Board they are now having a more robust governance structure and by not only filling the vacant positions, but filling the positions with competent people and very determined people.

In addition to that he said the Board approved the issue of motivating the staff and that in terms of mindset of the staff, they are relatively there now – they pay salaries on time – on the 22 of every month, compared to previously when salary payment sometimes even rolled into another month – all that de-motivates staff.

Dr. Jibao spoke also on other administrative measures that have to do with intensifying NRA’s enforcement drive in its audit and they have also introduced a couple of reforms; ASYCUDA will move from the old ASYCUDA to ASYCUDA World which is actually helping with a lot of declarations, creating sanity within the Custom system and on the policy front, the Ministry of Finance is doing well to reduce exemptions.

 

Sierra Leone News: Fatima Bio Speaks to BBC on Women Empowerment

First Lady Fatima Bio

First Lady Fatima Bio was interviewed by the BBC on her unique and very direct approach to women empowerment. She was interviewed on both TV and Radio.

Her Excellency made it clear that the problems she decides to solve in her country are based on what the people need. She is on ground, interacting with the people, understanding their needs and designing result-based programmes.

Her HandsOffOurGirls campaign has been perceived as confrontational in some quarters, but she has always known that advocating for women empowerment was never going to be easy, but she is determined with a very supportive President.
Since the controversial interview on circumcision in The Gambia, the issue was raised. She made it clear, that she is fully in support of the government’s position; that girls should have the right to choose if they will be circumcised or not once they are 18. There are issues like rape and early marriage, her office has prioritized.

In Sierra Leone rape is a clear and present danger. The seriousness of the rape scourge, made the Office of the First Lady, working with the Ministry of Gender, submit a position note to the Attorney General , and they staged a peaceful protest march through the city of Freetown with First Lady’s from different African countries supporting on ground.

This led to the President of Sierra Leone declaring a state of emergency on rape in Feb 2019. She invited all the Paramount Chiefs and their wives to the HandsOffOurGirls campaign, because they are in a better position to put a stop to early marriage, than mere legislation.

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Continuing with the issue of circumcision, she says some activists have issues with her stating she is a circumcised woman, and some of these activists are more agitated when she says she has not experienced the negative complications associated with being circumcised.

Unfortunately she stated she cannot be “uncircumcised” to give a more objective analysis. She went on to say, both her daughters are not circumcised.

She concluded, some anti-circumcision activist should present more holistic, non-biased studies. In Sierra Leone they should engage more with the new administration in the Ministry of Gender.

First Lady Bio said Africa is making positive strides in women empowerment. It is also great to see women taking responsibility for the development of their community. The new government in Sierra Leone is fully in support of equality. This is reflected in the choice of cabinet ministers, and Sierra Leone also appointed the first female Attorney General in the person of Dr. Priscilla Schwartz, also Hon. Nabeela F. Tunis the Foreign Affairs Minister is also female.

 

Sierra Leone News: Fatima Bio Wows Vancouver Women Delivery Conference

First Lady, Fatima Bio

Women’s empowerment has always been the passion of First Lady, Fatima Bio since she was a teenager. She was a key speaker on the topic “Keeping Girls in School and Learning … Longer” at the Women Delivery Conference 2019 in Vancouver Canada.

Her Excellency said that the Sierra Leone government is championing Human Capital development in Africa and that the free Quality Education for Primary & Secondary school is impacting the lives of approximately 1.5 million children ibn the country. The holistic approach to education made the government include free school lunch & text books in the free quality education package.

This is the first time in the history of Sierra Leone where a political administration has declared free, quality education, with the highest budget allocation which was increased from 11% to 21%. The government is implementing policies that will make it more conducive for children Learn in every area, both formal and informal. “Sierra Leone is working towards building a great foundation because our most important resource is our human resource”. Mrs. Bio stated

First Lady Bio said she had discussions with other First Ladies and meetings with both Government and non-governmental organizations, to domesticate the issues, and get appropriate solutions. The discourse, led First Lady Bio to launch the home grown ‘hands off our girls campaign’ with very strong support from Sister First Ladies.

In addressing the issue of teenage pregnancy and the policy of excluding pregnant girls from school, First Lady Bio made it clear, that it is an issue for the Ministry of Education. She believes education is fundamental human rights, but every country faces its unique challenges, and it is the job of the Ministry to work out solutions based on their studies.

The issue of Female Circumcision was raised, this was not part of the topic for discussion, but in line with her stance, she said personally

“I have no issue with circumcision, I am a circumcised woman, and I have not experienced any of the negative impact some anti FGM proponents claim”. She has always maintained and she said she will not campaign against what she does not believe in.

She however said there is an MOU with the government of Sierra Leone, stating Female circumcision should only be done at the age of consent, which in Sierra Leone is 18. She agrees with this policy because it offers the freedom to choose, instead of a blanket ban being imposed which criminalizes its citizenry. She postulated, that the rite of passage ceremony continues, because of its cultural significance and advantage, but the “cutting” excluded for under-aged girls.

The issue of circumcision is being extensively studied at the grass-root level by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs and the new administration is improving on previous government by having high level discussions with the real stakeholders in Sierra Leone: the Paramount Chiefs, religious leaders and the “Soweis” are the leaders of an All-female Society that perform the rite-of-passage ceremonies that signify a girl’s transition to adulthood. They have operated in present day Sierra Leone for centuries. Together they will come up with a workable program as opposed to imposing sensitization programs imported from other countries that are grossly ineffective.

 

Sierra Leone News: NATCOM Initiates ‘One Area Network’ in Kambia & Kabala

Officials of the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM), on Saturday, 8th June, 2019, took sensitization drive to Kambia and Kabala on the ‘One Area Network.’

Kambia and Kabala in the Koinadugu District, which are in the northwest and north-eastern regions of Sierra Leone respectively, share border with Sierra Leone’s neighbor – Guinea, which is also one of the beneficiary countries of the ‘One Area Network’.

Dubbed ‘free international roaming’, the ‘One Area Network’ seeks to enhance regional integration among beneficiary countries.

Sierra Leoneans who travel to these countries will make and receive calls at the same cost of the tariff they use in Sierra Leone.

NATCOM’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, Sahr Sewa, said in December 2017, that ministers in charge of telecommunications met and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to have the free international roaming.

He said the objectives of free international roaming are to promote regional integration, enhance socio-economic development among member countries, among others.

“Telecommunication companies are key players to achieving these objectives. This free international roaming is not applicable to the telecommunications services provided by the military, police, and fire force. It comprises voice calls, text messages, and data services for social media,” he said.

He noted that the benefits include – no need to change SIM cards in the beneficiary countries, your contact numbers that people know will be reached if they call you from outside Sierra Leone, among other benefits.

However, he said the service will only last for 300 minutes or 30 days, adding that only callers will pay for services and not the receivers.

He said the free international roaming will come into effect in 90 days’ time, noting that that was why NATCOM has started to sensitize towns that are closer to neighboring countries because the people there travel very often than those that are far away.

“We have requested mobile network operators (MNOs) to present the tariff that they charge per minute to consumers. Francophone West Africa countries had already started the free international roaming and we are now bringing such service to Anglophone ones,” he noted.

Dr. Abdul Kamara, Manager of Regulatory Affairs, said the government has a responsibility to protect consumers and NATCOM has been very pivotal in that direction.

“NATCOM is encouraging all of you to register your SIM cards by 15th July, 2019 or else we can deactivate you. This is to ensure that we are able to minimize cybercrime. It will also help those who are travelling overseas to get visas from embassies that are requesting for call logs from the people they are going to meet in foreign countries. Many times, foreign embassies request call logs and the consumers always come to NATCOM for them,” he said.

He said they have a program called ‘know-your-customer’ so as to ensure that MNOs know who are carrying their sim cards.

Commissioner Madiana Samba of NATCOM, who doubles as chairperson of the program, said President Bio wants every Sierra Leonean to benefit from telecommunications services at a reduced cost.

Government put NATCOM in charge to issue licenses to all telecommunications companies, radio stations, etc., regulate them so as to ensure there are checks and balances, and to also generate revenue for government.

“Consumer protection is part of our mandates as well. In order to achieve this, we do lots of sensitization so as to ensure that consumers are not cheated,” he said.

Paramount Chief, Alimamy Lahai V of Masumgbala Chiefdom in Kambia district, who also doubles as the Deputy Chairman District Council of Paramount Chiefs, said there are some areas within Kambia District where they experience poor network services.

The traditional leader further noted that people have to climb trees to access good network, thereby urging NATCOM to salvage the problem for them.

Chairman, Kambia District Council, Mohamed Y. Bangura, said the free international roaming was an improvement in the area of communication in Sierra Leone.

“This will help us to come together with other West African nations. We always find it difficult to communicate with our relatives in those countries because of high tariff but this has given us a sigh of relief. It will also reduce crime and enhance national security,” he stated.

Member of Parliament of Constituency 060, Mohamed A. Sesay, said Orange is a bit better than Africell in Kambia District, noting that Bamoi Luma, the biggest international market center, has poor network services and there is no Africell network there.

NATCOM’s Quality of Service’s Spectrum Monitoring Technician, Magdalene Williams, said NATCOM will not implement the free international roaming with poor quality network, adding that they will ensure that poor quality network will be solved before the ‘One Area Network’ commences.

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