Even before the first hearing of a Commission of Inquiry probing alleged corruption of former Sierra Leone government officials, two of their successors in the current administration are accused of misusing funds meant to popularize the work of the Commission. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) announced on Friday that it had indicted two top officials in the Ministry of Information and Communication over the alleged misuse of monies meant to be used to sensitize the public about the Ccommission.
Mr Edward King, Director of Information and Sorieba Kamara, Senior Accountant at the Ministry, were indicted on three count charges.
According to the Commission, the two men connived to receive Le206million (US$23, 000) requested by Mr King in his capacity as Director of Information with the intention of embarking on a public sensitization and awareness raising on the need for such an anti-graft body.
The ACC said after cashing the money, Mr King became unavailable until an alarm was raised by officials of the Ministry.
His alleged accomplice, Mr Kamara, who prepared the cheque, later allegedly received the sum of Le115 million (US$13, 000) from Mr King.
The two are expected to make their first appearance in the High Court of Freetown this Monday.
Rumors of the missing fund and the subsequent detention of Mr King began early last month amidst the political debate over the legality of the Commissions of Inquiry which was formally launched on Tuesday and is expected to make its first hearing on Monday.
President Julius Maada Bio has waged a war on graft as part of his campaign against indiscipline in governance.
He has vowed to prosecute any member of his administration found wanting to demonstrate his determination to achieve that goal.

From what emerged after interviews were conducted by this medium it came out clearly was that the Big Brother TV reality show, which is going to first in the country’s history, is gaining high momentum .It could be recalled that the organizers are both the African Young Voices alongside Africell telecommunications company the first in. Currently, it is undoubtable that Big Brother 2019 is going to turn out to be an intriguing social event . What is notable is that free voting is steadily ongoing that will determine the successful and deserving competitors who will emerge to move to the final stage. Already 40 of these competitors have been shortlisted but after the ongoing public voting, 20 comprising 10 male and 10 female will qualify to enter the House on Valentine’s Day,14 February 2019.

It is indeed worthy to note that for transparency sake, the organisers of this Big Brother TV Reality Show decided to avail the general public the opportunity to participate in the selection of the 20 contestants who should enter the House by voting through the Africell Sierra Leone TOLL FREE LINE – 5500.

It is important to note that voting, via 5500, is absolutely free.

Interestingly, despite the name, Big Brother,, there is going to be a combination of ten male and ten female contestants in the House who are expected to display their talents on a variety of issues.
Each housemate will receive Le100, 000 for every day he or she stays in the House with the exception of the winner but the criterion for staying in the House depends on the amount of votes a housemate bags.

For now housemates are encouraged to convince their fans and supporters to be in readiness to cast their votes for them if they fall in the number of the 20 housemates selected to be in the House.

The competition is going to be very captivating and interesting especially after Sierra Leoneans have enjoyed a successful Big Sister Salone and saw the handing over of the star prize to the eventual winner.

The show is another opportunity for the Africa Young Voices Media Empire (AYV), one of the organisers, to not only entertain, but to empower young people to showcase their talents and at the same time create new millionaires among Sierra Leoneans.

After the just concluded auditions, the Judges of the Housemates Salone 2019 Television Reality Show released the list of Top 40 contestants.

Here are the names of the 40 contestants already shortlisted out of which 20 will be finally selected to enter the House:
1. Abu Turay
2. Affise Odubella
3. Alusine Kamara
4. Amina Konneh
5. Aruna Lamin
6. Bintu Kaba
7. Derick Kelvin
8. Diana Decker
9. Dwight Smith
10. Dyllis George
11. Emmanuel Coker
12. Enid Boston-Jones
13. Fatmata Sankoh
14. George Wyndham
15. Habbi Jalloh
16. Hassan Hallowell
17. Henry Fonah
18. Monica Yeani Ghaliwa
19. Ibrahim Shuhab
20. Ibrahim Sorie Barrie
21. Isata Marion Musa
22. Ishmael Mauzi
23. Jalikatu Conteh
24. Jennifer Jabba
25. Jonathan Fitz John
26. Kenchine Palmer
27. Kariatu Mansaray
28. Magdalene T Williams
29. Marvina MK Davies
30. Mohamed Alie Jalloh
31. Moriana Walker
32. Precious Kamara
33. RaIford Rollings-Bull
34. Rashid Dyfan
35. Regina B Jombo
36. Saheed Komkanda Bangura
37. Salamatu Kargbo
38. Salim Sahid Kamara
39. Sebatu Bright
40. Suad Koroma

The Sierra Leone Institution of Engineers, SLIE, and the Professional Engineers Registration Council, PERC, have met with His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio at State House to update him on their activities.

Professor Jonas Redmond-Sawyer of SLIE said the institution was a body aimed at fostering the practice of engineering in Sierra Leone, saying that they were delighted about the President’s pronouncement, during his State Opening address in Parliament, to partner with professional bodies like SLIE in addressing issues of development in the country.

He mentioned that that was a brilliant step because it would create a forum for dialogue and interaction between the government and professional bodies, which in turn would create a more efficient pathway to development in the country under the New Direction.

President of PERC, Engineer Tani Pratt, said they were a body empowered by an Act of Parliament of 1990 to regulate and control the practice of engineering in the country. He said they were beginning to fulfill some of their wider regulatory mandates, adding that they had started providing certification services to the Mining Industry by introducing a scheme for Mine Manager’s certificate of competency for surface.

He noted that despite the successes, PERC was concerned that its 1990 Act was unable to adequately provide them with the mandate to address all of today’s challenges, disclosing that they had started discussions with the Ministry of Works on ways to strengthen PERC and the engineering profession for greater impact on the ground as well as to facilitate the body’s increased involvement in national development.

“Failure to implement the improved regulations is one of the greater risks to the safety of our citizens as multi storey buildings continue to be built without adequate regulations. These are incidents waiting to happen as have been demonstrated in similar situations in Sierra Leone and the sub region,” he said.

On his part, President Bio thanked the two bodies for updating him on their various activities, saying that that had given him an insight on the ways they could help in developing the nation. He said different nations chose different pathways to development but noted that whatever ways a nation chose, engineers would form an important component. He added that the experiences already gained by members of the two bodies would be vital for the development of the country.

President Bio also said that he had always grumbled about engineers when considering the level of experienced engineers in the country as opposed to the kinds of poorly constructed buildings around, especially in the capital city, which was becoming a perennial problem.

On the proposed new Act, he said: “The Act itself must be made current and as soon as you present us with the reviewed Act, we will quickly move it through the natural stages of governance and get it back to you so that you have a new document that will empower you and also bring you to date.”

The governments of Sierra Leone and China have signed an agreement geared towards developing the fisheries sector in the West African country. The Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the two governments is meant specifically for the construction of fishing harbors across Sierra Leone, according to officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sierra Leone’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation minister, Dr. Alie Kabba, signed on behalf of his government while the Chinese ambassador in Freetown, Wu Peng, signed on behalf of the Chinese government.
Dr Kabba, told a press conference marking the official signing of the $29 million deal, recalled that Sierra Leone has strong, cordial and strategic bilateral relationship with China that began on 29th July 1971, when diplomatic relations were established between Freetown and Beijing.
He noted that China has remained a major player in Sierra Leone’s growth effort, citing its role in the areas of infrastructure, health, human resource development, mining and agriculture.
“The growth in bilateral ties between the two countries witnessed a huge surge in 2016 when both countries decided to upgrade relations on a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in line with the implementation of the outcome of the Johannesburg Summit Forum on the China-Africa forum (FOCAC), which both countries saw as an opportunity to comprehensively expand and deepen bilateral, friendly as well as mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields so as to better benefit the two peoples” Dr. Kabba said, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry.
“The signing of the Agreement on the Economic and Technical Cooperation between the government of the People’s Republic of China and the government of Sierra Leone is to demonstrate another level of friendship between our two countries,” he added.
Ambassador Wu Peng, for in his part, said the signing of the agreement was meant to further develop the friendly relations, economic and technical cooperation between the two countries, in response to the needs of Sierra Leone.
He said the deal is in line with Sierra Leone government’s development plan which prioritizes development of fisheries as means of diversification of the economy, noting that the project will bring substantial social economic benefits to the country.
Wu Peng explained that China was investing in the fishing sector because Sierra Leone was losing a lot of money through lack of capacity.
“The Chinese government has decided to support Sierra Leone in the development of fishery industry, as a result of request of President Bio,” he disclosed.

It is Joe Biden, former United States Vice President, who once said (and I entirely agree with him) that “fighting corruption is not just good governance. It is self-defence. It is patriotism”. Sierra Leone is presently at a crossroads of development where corruption is the only bridge that is still linking it to the unbearable odds of poverty and underdevelopment.
Yes, there is no doubt that Sierra Leone is a beautiful country that is enjoying the tranquility of religious tolerance. There is also no doubt that the intermarriages, interconnectedness and solidarity that bind our ethnic groups together are far greater than the politically motivated tribal propaganda that tend to divide them. Colonialism tested our unity and yet we emerged as an independent Sierra Leone; the decade civil conflict descended on us with ferocious and unforgettable destruction and yet we survived as one nation; the dreadful ebola raged at us with unprecedentedly contagious deaths and yet we still emerged victorious; even FIFA could not make us bow. And so unlike what any political faction may say, I strongly believe that Sierra Leone is a uniquely united nation that has gone against mighty tides and survived. But now is a time for us not just to survive; now is the time for us to burn the bridge of corruption and develop.
The wealth in our ground and riches in our seas are clear indication that Sierra Leone is indeed supposed to be a paradise. Our land is a true epitome of the Biblical description in Deuteronomy 8:7-9 that says: “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you will eat food without scarcity, in which you will not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper.” But if Sierra Leone was made so rich then why is it that our brothers are risking their lives in the perilous journey of temple run; why is it that we are battling with scarcity of water and importing rice from China?; why is it that we lack so much in a land of abundance? The answer is simple; we are yet to burn the bridge of corruption. If Sierra Leone can be metaphorically said to be a woman then she is a 57 (fifty-seven) years old woman who has given birth to children who have failed to utilise their inheritance for their own good.
For over 57 years since independence our leaders have failed to make good of our inheritance because the effects of corruption are more real than the effects of their intentions. I condemn violence in all its forms, but the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission clearly show that corruption is one major reason why members of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) resorted to the barrel of the gun in 1991. The United Nations in General Assembly Resolution 58/4 of 31st October 2003 noted with great concern the “seriousness of problems and threats posed by corruption to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions and values of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardizing sustainable development and the rule of law”. The African Union, in its Convention on the Prevention and Combatting of Corruption, has similarly expressed serious concern about the “… negative effects of corruption … on the political, economic, social and cultural stability of African States and its devastating effects on the economic and social development of the African peoples”.
In a time of unprecedented technological advancement, human development and scientific exploration; a time when other African countries such as Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa, Bostwana and others are making steady progress, we are still romancing with the chameleon of corruption coming in the guise of party politics, nepotism and regionalism and posing as if it is good – it is not. It is the only reason why Sierra Leone is where it is today; it is the only bridge that is linking us to poverty, increased infant mortality, gross inequality, unequal distribution of state resources, massive youth unemployment, poor health care and service delivery, lack of proper education and all its other vices. This is not the paradise that Sierra Leone ought to be. I therefore applaud the new zest of the Anti-Corruption Commission and the genuineness in the fight against corruption; it is a fight that we all must join. Every Sierra Leonean must join this fight because corruption is more than stealing public funds and property, it is the stealing of our destiny and the destiny of our children; corruption is the unsympathetic conduct of opportunistic zombies parading in fine clothing. As the Commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Francis Ben Kaifala, has stated, “[F]ighting Corruption is the biggest emergency issue for Sierra Leone”.
Those who watch the corrupt and do nothing are the reason why Sierra Leone as a 57 years old independent state is still depending on donor funding and still borrowing from the International Monetary Fund. Hence, I choose to stand with the fight against corruption and encourage all Sierra Leoneans to make this same choice. Let the Lungi Bridge be built and let the bridge of corruption be burnt. Corruption is indeed the ‘biggest emergency issue for Sierra Leone’ and we must burn its bridge and anyone caught in it. The time is now!
Joel Tejan Deen-Tarawally Esq.
Legal Practitioner
LL.M, BL, LL.B, BA.

Commissioner Mariam Samu who is heading the Southern Regional Office of the National Commission for Democracy has commissioned a platform and flagpole Project at the Methodist Girls High School along Gerihun Road, Bo.
Making a statement, Commissioner Mariam Samu said in the past, schools across the country used to mount the National flag while observing their daily devotions adding that the practice had died down decades ago.
Reiterating reasons for selecting the Methodist Girls High School for the donation, Commissioner Samu said during one of their numerous visits to schools together with their Regional Programme Manager, Andrew George, they realized that the school hasn’t a flagpole platform and the country’ s prestigious national flag noting that they cannot afford having a school without the National Flag.
She underscored the relevance of the national flag, National Pledge and the National Anthem describing them as symbols that bind national cohesion.
She noticed among plethora of issues that most pupils can’t read the National Anthem and Pledge effectively citing a prominent Sierra Leonean who did the same thing in the Well of Parliament and therefore craved the indulgence of the school authorities to make it a point of duty daily to allow their pupils to recite the National Anthem and Pledge adding that they should also know the lines and appreciate the relevance attached to each line, verse and stanza.
“We at the National Commission for Democracy are preaching national unity and national cohesion; it is only the Green, White, and Blue that will relate our citizenship. It is a vital form of identity which every Sierra Leonean must endeavor to embrace,” Commissioner Mariam Samu pointed out.
Principal, Methodist Girls High School, Madam Lucy Ann Mansaray thanked the NCD staff for the donation describing it as timely. She said the school was established on September 24th, 2007 with just 22 pupils; today she went on amid the challenges, they are proud of having an enrolment strength of over 800 girls.
Head Girl of the School, Marie P. Foday commended the NCD Staff for their kind gesture and promised on behalf of her colleagues to learn and appreciate the words, lines, verses, and stanzas in both the National Anthem and Pledge.
Donation of a Roll Up Stand and Civic Education Materials to the administration of the School climaxed the ceremony.

In her quest to celebrating a modest birthday, the Resident Magistrate, Court No:2 in Bo, Magistrate Isata Sellu Tucker has on recently dined with children at the St Paul School for the Blind and Physically Challenged Persons at the Sir Milton Margai Cheshire Home in Bo.

Making a statement, Magistrate Isata Sellu Tucker said she chose to celebrate her birthday with these children in order to rekindle the message of Hope.

She said being blind or disabled does not mean all hope is lost adding that disability does not mean inability.

Commenting on reasons for the donation of food and learning materials, Magistrate Isata Sellu Tucker opined that the learning materials including bags, books, pens, is a way of complementing Government’s efforts in the promotion of Free Quality Education in the country. She further promised to provide two bags of rice and five gallons of vegetable oil for children at the St Paul School for the Blind.

Principal, St Paul School for the Blind, Mr. Conteh showered profuse thanks on Magistrate Tucker for her kind consideration adding that for the past months they are battling with lack of food which he said is causing lots of inconveniences for the children and management.

Principal Conteh also craved the indulgence of the Magistrate to help protect the dignity of blind girls whom according to him are often abused and impregnated by those he described as being foolish.

He begged government through the officials present to relay their cries of food shortage to Government and Humanitarians.

Head Boy, St Paul School for the Blind, Alpha Bob Katta on behalf of inmates thanked Magistrate Tucker noting that in the history of their school, she is recorded as the First Magistrate in Bo City to accord them such a motherly Love. She prayed for God to replenish her needs and to further consider them in light of their plights and special needs.

Similar gesture was done to Children at the Sir Milton Margai Cheshire Home in Bo.

Financial Secretary for the Sir Milton Margai Cheshire Home, Prince Momoh said they are grateful to the Magistrate for her show of magnanimity adding that in the midst of their disability, nothing can limit them. He also disclosed the issue of government’s support which he said is not forthcoming since they reopened.

Among the donated items include, School bags, books, pens, sanitary pads to name but a few

Chairman, Bo District Council, Joseph Munda Bindi has in a recently held press conference on EU grants and own source revenues generated by his Council in 2018 granted a week long open amnesty to tax defaulters in all 16 Chiefdoms in Bo District.
While also commending the present Government for the disbursement of last quarterly transfers amid delayed controversies, he said, furthering how as a Council, they were able to generate revenue streamlines from taxes and royalties to the tune of Le: 727,499,000( Seven Hundred and Twenty Seven Million, Four Hundred and Ninety Nine Leones) which he rebuffed as small.
Chairman Joseph Munda Bindi noted with dismay the attitude of some tax payers whom he said refused to honour the payment of their local taxes in 2018.
Going forward, he went on, they will press legal charges on all defaulters pending expiration of the week long amnesty period and therefore urged legible taxpayers to honour their fiduciary commitments to his Council for the growth of Bo District.
“Developments cannot happen overnight if people refuse to pay their taxes”, he opined.
He lauded the strides made by the European Union to the Bo District Council for the additional grants leveraging the Free Quality Education by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio.
Meanwhile, the Bo District Council Chairman in his New Year address to his constituents vowed to embark on a sporadic revenue generation drive which he said is the bedrock for development under his last tenure as the People’s Chairman.

In addition to the 757,052.80 Euros grant received for the “Beteh Lan Bok Project” in 2018, the European Union has again disbursed 777,573 EUROS grant transfers to the Administration of the Bo District Council for the year 2019.
This was disclosed to a cross section of the media practitiomers in Bo by the Chairman, Bo District Council during a press conference conveyed at the Council Hall, Falaba Section, Bo.
Chairman, Bo District Council, Joseph Munda Bindi said in his quest to ensuring fulfillment and mandates of accountability and transparency, he together with staff of the Council decided to invite members of the Press, Partners and Civil Society Organizations to update them about progress, successes and challenges faced under his leadership.
Chairman, Joseph Munda Bindi said immediately after his inauguration, knowing fully the demand driven drive of the electorates for change, they developed a theme: “Navigating Change through performance” with a result based management strategy which they are using as a model to propel the work of the Bo District Council.
He said the Bo District Council (BoDC) in partnership with Peoples Development Organization (PDO) secured another grant from the European Union to implement the project titled: “Strengthening and Consolidating Education Service Delivery and Local Governance Process in Bo District”.
The overall objective of the project is to improve local governance processes, access to education and service delivery for overall local development in Bo District.
The 777,573 Euros total cost for the Education and Service Delivery Project courtesy of the European Union he went on, is geared towards promoting education in Bo District.
Chairman, Joseph Munda Bindi averred that amid the untimely transfers of government funds, they as a Council were able to generate revenues collected for 2018 by revenue streams totaling Le 727, 499,866.00.
Chairman Bindi noted major successes scored under the activities undertaken for the “Betteh Lan Bok” which he said included award of prizes to best performing pupils in NPSE, developed a supervision inceptions and monitoring plan for the District Education Office, supported 300 vulnerable pupils in 50 project targeted schools (30 Primary and 20 JSS), on-going construction of Ansarul Islamic Primary among others.
Tracking progress under the Education and Good Governance Project in Bo District, Chairman, Joseph Munda Bindi underscored that after the kick off and official launch of the project, they are pleased to report the following: Actualization of the Baseline survey, revenue mobilization strategy popularization at District and Chiefdom levels, identification, mapping out of the revenue sources and setting up of revenue data base in Bo District, establishment and strengthening of mothers clubs in 50 school communities, support to the training of 25 untrained and unqualified teachers in project targeted schools in Bo District, weekly radio discussions and regular field monitoring of project activities.
He used the opportunity to catalogue major challenges and impediments for development which among others include: poor revenue generation, late and untimely disbursement of funds by Government, poor conditions of service for local council staff, Chairmen and Mayors.
Regional Chairman SLAJ South, Richard Lahai Ngevao lauded the move of the Bo District Council for their timely and prompt disclosure of funds received and cash expended describing it as plausible.
Parliamentary Representative for Constituency 088 in Bo City, Hon. Keikura C. Vandy lauded the Council for their open data and transparent leadership adding that he believes in the uprightness and fortitude of Chairman Joseph Munda Bindi
Similar sentiments were shared by the ACC Regional Manager, PRO Civil Society Forum, Manager, Action Aid, South among others.

PRESS RELEASE:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wellington, Freetown; 1st February, 2019 – Sierra Leone Brewery Limited today announced another major step in the improvement of its facilities, in the journey of reaching state of the art status. SLBL will conduct a massive overhaul and extensive maintenance of their machines based on planned schedule, manufacturers’ recommendations and international standards. The company has employed the services of Krones, a German firm that specializes in the supply and modernization of plants, together with a large team of SLBL’s locally trained Sierra Leonean engineers, to conduct the process which aims to be completed in the first week of February.
“Maintenance and high standards are an important part of our company’s culture. The objective is to renew the packaging equipment based upon international best practice and manufacturing excellence principles. With this, the upgraded bottling line will be able to be more efficient and capable of producing more of our products with the same high international standards in the upcoming years which our revered consumers will continue to be proud of,” Daaf van Tilburg, Managing Director of Sierra Leone Brewery Limited, said.
Earlier, the brewery has been on a large scale investment programmme which started since 2015 to expand capacity, maintain high quality and ensure environmental safety which saw the investments in brand new massive Fermentation Storage Tanks (FST), waste water treatment plant, mash filter equipment, CO2 and Cooling plants and the most recent canning line introduction which is the first in Sierra Leone. These are investments into the future of Sierra Leone.
It is noted however that the temporal halt in bottled drinks production as a result of the overhaul might create a slight shortage of our bottled products in a few areas for a few days. Consequently we wish to assure you that our brand new canning packaging line that was recently commissioned is in perfect working order and stocks from the canning line will fill any shortage that may arise during this period. SLBL would like to ensure all, that both its portfolio of bottled and canned products will be freely available shortly after this overhaul.
Once the overhaul is fully completed, our bottling plant will have the refreshed capacity and efficiency to produce high quality products for the upcoming years. We will continue to distribute all of our award-winning quality products to satisfy current and future consumer demand in the country and contribute to government efforts to support and boost local investments and manufacturing, said van Tilburg, SLBL Managing Director.
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ABOUT THE COMPANY
Sierra Leone Brewery Limited planted its roots in the field of manufacturing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to consumers over 57 years ago. Our establishment has continuously expanded its product range through innovation to meet customer satisfaction at all levels. Our endeavour is to establish not just a contractual relationship with our stakeholders but to build relationships which are lasting and rewarding to the country and to contribute to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product GDP.
All our products are certified and following all the regulations as per approved local and international standards. We manufacture Star Beer, Mutzig Premium Beer, Guinness Foreign Extra Stout, Salone beer, Trenk Energy Drink and Maltina Non-Alcoholic. We also market Heineken Beer, Strong Bow Cider, Fayrouz malt none alcoholic drink, Royal Club range of soft drinks and Climax Energy Drink.
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For In-depth information kindly contact:
The Corporate Affairs Department
Sierra Leone Brewery Limited
Wellington Industrial Estate
+23276 603 185 / +23278 920 214
albert.collier@heineken.com
unisa.conteh@heineken.com