The Chief Administration Human Resource Officer of Africell-Sierra Leone, Andrew S. Fatorma, has disclosed how most of the company’s members of staff are really challenged with housing problems saying such has been a perennial constraint affecting most of their employees.
He continued that as a company that seeks the welfare of its staff, Africell wants their long serving staff to own their own houses maintaining how their first target is to secure the land which will eventually be developed as long as the company stays in business.
“It’s a loyalty program and employees that have been providing dedicative service to the company for couples of years will be the beneficiaries,” he affirmed.
He continued that during the launch of the project they were able to identify fifty one (51) members of staff that were qualified in terms of years of service spent.
Andrew S. Fatorma also disclosed that the land for the Afri-city is located at the York Village in the Freetown Peninsula adding that the land has been acquired by the company and very soon the staff will be assigned their plots of land disclosing how they will meet all necessary conditions the Government and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) require.
“We’re basically looking at large plots by dividing it into various portions and so far we have about seventy four and staff will benefit from these portions,”’ he also revealed.
He reiterated that they will reserve some plots for basic amenities such as a playground, sports club, kids playing ground etc.
According to him, it’s too early to name a price tag adding that the initiative has just started and it’s an ongoing expense with a huge capital that will be beneficial to their employees.
He concluded that the staff of Africell Sierra Leone will be the beneficiaries, adding that it will only be a brand for the company as the employees will be the owners of Afri-city.
The Chief Administration Human Resource Officer noted that the engagement process with the beneficiaries made it quite clear as to how they will be maintaining the Afri-city saying such will be communicated to them as time goes on further adding that as a company one of their goals is to strive to meet their Corporate Social Responsibility.
NP (SL) Ltd is more resolute to step up its operations in order to continue to give the best in terms of making available qualitative petroleum products for optimal performance of engines powered by diesel or petrol. Besides, the lubricants it markets have been classed as being among the best and could even be accessed in shops across the country.
The company’s shareholders and Management are working assiduously round the clock to ensure that all the necessary arrangements are sealed on time in order to facilitate business transactions for timely shipment, off loading and distribution of petroleum products to avoid any form of hiccup in the supply chain that could lead to dire consequences.
One area that the company will continue to put more emphasis on is maximizing customer care for which it has proudly bagged the accolade 1st For Customer Care. Just like how the hen cares for its offspring the motherly NP-SL Ltd do cares about its numerous customers and even those who have not out of the passion that collectively much could be achieved.
The Shareholders, Board members and Management strongly believe that the concerns and recommendations from its customers and the public are so important that they must be taken into consideration for the mapping out of solid policies that will enhance the service delivering strides it undertakes. This wisdom on the part of the key players of the company continues to pay positive dividends and gives rise to a win-win situation.
The company has etched a name for itself as being the leading petroleum marketing company by installing latest calibrated pumping machines at all its Filling Stations in the country. These are transparent machines that do display the quantity of fuel requested for as well as the price. Satisfied with the quantity that is pumped as requested for which determines the amount of money to pay has definitely instilled trust in the company.
Still within the domain of 1st for Customer Care, the company is always in a position to enter into payment plans with its reliable and dependable customers including Ministries, Departments and Agencies for supplied fuel and lubricants as long as all the necessary modalities have been put in place.
When cognizance is taken of the fact that some of these institutions receive intermittent budgetary allocations then such an arrangement is very significant. Its significance in real terms borders on functional continuity of those institutions as they will be assured of supplies of petroleum products in as much as they keep honoring their obligations.
In implementing the Local Content Policy the company from the onset made it a policy to employ Sierra Leoneans as long as they have the requisite skills and expertise and such has helped to alleviate poverty by putting monies into pockets which could be utilized to take care of responsibilities.
For those who have not tried NP Gas for the first time it is now time to give it a try. Designed in sizable varying cylinders and sold at various NP Filling Stations, this cooking device has been rated as one of the best that is on offer for sale. NP Gas is safe, user friendly and portable. Trying it will spur you to recommend it to others.
NP Smart Card is now in vogue and is one of the latest technological devices used to purchase petroleum products. Using it has attendant advantages as evident in procuring fuel at any time of the day even during times when monies could not be accessed from banks. It is secured, easy to use and very quick. It is now trending.
To crystallize proposed projects into tangible realities on the ground, Government needs the required financial resources to effectively do so and one sure way is from collection of taxes which is the mandate of the National Revenue Authority (NRA). The company is one of the big time tax payers in the country and it is very compliant in that direction.
The company is a source of pride for many Sierra Leoneans simply because it has successfully established functional and vibrant branches in Guinea, Liberia Ivory Coast and The Gambia. In all those countries NP(SL)Ltd is conspicuous and vibrantly doing well.
The Independent Media Commission (IMC), the regulatory institution of the media in Sierra Leone, was one of the institutions that copiously observed and monitored not only the conduct of the June 24, 2023 multi-tier elections but more especially the way and manner in which various Media Houses were reporting election related activities.
According to the IMC, on elections day, media houses and practitioners were monitored throughout the country on their activities around polling centers, reporting of the voting process and general conduct during counting and announcement of provisional results from polling centers. Media coverage and reporting on polling day was assessed by the provisions of the IMC Elections Coverage and Reporting Regulations 2022.
In its report, the IMC stated that the electronic media conducted itself very well to promote democracy, peace, by encouraging voters to go out and cast their votes and how they could conduct themselves after voting and counting of ballots.
It furthered how all community radios and a host of independent radio stations across the country were tuned to the Independent Radio Network (IRN), relaying programmes from its studios in Freetown adding that the programmes relayed included reports from regional, districts, chiefdoms and constituencies correspondents who gave firsthand information on events around polling centers and the voting process generally across the country.
The IMC also reported that other radio stations broadcast their independent programmes of the voting process in line with set standards of reporting on elections day.
With special references to radio and television stations, the IMC said that the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), radio and television simulcast election special programme across their regional stations and their various reporters/correspondents in the field sent in reports on the polling process.
It also pointed out that the SLBC Regional Stations, from time to time, linked up local programmes in their respective regions and districts.
With regards the African Young Voices (AYV) television and radio stations, on polling day it broadcast their “Sierra Leone Decides” Programmes, which hosted elections management bodies, observer missions, civil society and the media. The AYV radio/television from time to time broadcast programmes update on the voting and tallying processes from the Electoral Commission.
For SLIK Television and Epic Radio it noted how they did simulcast programmes from their studios around the voting process and Star Television on the other hand only covered the polling process at the early hours of the voting process.
Classic Television in Bo and Karima Television in Kenema also aired programmes on polling day. Karima TV from time to time linked up live programmes from Freetown to bring their viewers closer to the voting process in the capital city.
The IMC revealed that its Situation Room observed that there was no newspaper publication on polling day, 24th June 2023, given the fact that it was a weekend.
Mentioning in its report, Media Coverage and Reporting on Post Elections the IMC divulged that at the initial period of post-elections, the media was largely focused on dissemination of provisional results from polling centers across the country.
The regulatory institution pointed out that the Independent Radio Network (IRN) members and non-member radio stations simulcast provisional elections results from reporters deployed across polling stations in different parts of the country.
It observed that coupled with Social Media misgivings through online platforms, some newspapers anticipated the outcome of the polling process, suggesting victory for various candidates across the political divide (APC & SLPP).
For the IMC, media houses/journalists to a large extent conducted themselves in a professional manner with the exception of Justice Radio FM98.5 which continued to flout the IMC Elections Regulations, even though sanctions were placed on their live phone-in programmes and a ban on the “Justice Breakfast Show”.
It said the SLBC and AYV Television and Radio Stations ,through simulcast, provided coverage of all elections related press conferences from elections management bodies including the Electoral Commission, Observer Missions, the media, civil society organizations and the Peace Commission.
With regards Live Phone-in Programmes, the Commission observed that to a large extent live phone-in programmes were managed on different electronic media platforms in such a way that they were not used to incite violence or public disorder.
It, however, that there were potential threats with Live Phone-in Programmes on three radio stations in the East End of Freetown namely Justice Radio FM 98.5, Tumac Radio FM 89.3 and Citizen Radio FM 103.7).
The IMC reported that they were suspended from all live phone-in programmes since a number of warnings were issued for proper management of said programmes.
It said the fact that those institutions lacked delay equipment to screen in-coming calls before putting callers on air the Commission resolved of suspension of their live phone-in broadcast.
In the estimation of the IMC,Media houses/journalists took necessary steps to provide adequate airtime to political parties and candidates across the political divide in all districts across the country. Community radios particularly, it continued, ensured proper allocation of airtime to political parties, especially the two leading political parties (SLPP & APC). It stated how in all districts, community radios allocated equal and free airtime to political parties as part of their public service responsibilities; but because some political parties considered themselves as being in minority in certain districts they did not use the allocated time slots on the radios for reasons best known to them.
In Bonthe and Koinadugu Districts the Commission encouraged opposition parties to use their allocated time slots on the community radios. It is however worthy to note that while the media was obliged to give free airtime/space to political parties and candidates as part of their public service responsibilities, they were also free to sell their prime airtimes/spaces to political parties or candidates on a fixed fee applicable to all political parties without discrimination.
Some newspapers allied themselves with political parties putting out stories and allocating more spaces to interest political parties; while majority of newspaper publications were balanced in their coverage and reporting of political parties’ activities.
Actions taken by the Commission through its Rapid Response:
The Commission through its elections monitoring activities—situation room and deployment of five rapid response teams, took the following actions in line with the IMC Act 2020, Elections Coverage and Reporting and Print and Electronic Media Regulations 2022:
Firstly, the Commission requested the Board of Bintumani Radio 107.3 FM in Kabala to set aside the then Acting Station Manager pending investigations into an allegation that the said Ag. Manager was an active politician.
Secondly, following reports from managements of community radio stations that political parties and candidates were not making use of airtimes allocated to them, the Commission encouraged political parties at districts level to make full use of their assigned airtime to promote their political agenda.
Following persistence reports from media monitors against three radio stations in the Eastern part of Freetown, the Commission resolved after several warnings to suspend live phone-in programmes on Justice, Tumac and Citizen Radio Stations until further notice.
The Commission has to intervene during various radio programmes in order to correct anomalies made by both community and commercial media houses.
Conclusively, through its pro-activeness in training and popularizing its activities across the country the IMC was able, to a large extent, to positively contribute towards the enhancement of peaceful and professional media coverage and reporting of the June 24, 2023 multitier elections.
One among diehard political supporters of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) Party, Amadu Anthony Bangura, must now be thanking his stars for narrowly escaping death on the 21st June, 2023 at the party’s headquarters in the capital of Freetown during an aborted protest.
As tensions keep rising across the country ahead of Presidential and general elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, 24th June, 2023, the incumbent ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the opposition APC are locking horns in a political race that has been considered to be very close.
Embolden by the call of the APC Presidential Candidate, Dr Samura Kamara, for supporters to assemble at the Party’s main office in Freetown from where they will proceed to the office of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) in order to protest their grievances, APC supporters came out in large numbers on the 21st June,2023. However, they met a heavy police presence within the vicinity of the Party Office, whose mission was to forestall the protest based on the lack of a police clearance on the part of the protesters.
Before it was even 8:00 am, Amadu Anthony Bangura, was seen among other overzealous youthful supporters of the party, clad in the party T-Shirts dominantly bearing red and white party colours with various slogans engraved on them as well as caps bearing the red and white colours of the APC party. They were seen chanting very provocative opposition catchphrases against the incumbent SLPP Party, whose Presidential Candidate is the current seating President, Julius Maada Bio.
Energetically, mobilizing party supporters , offering them party T-Shirts to put on before advancing to the ECSL Office, Amadu Anthony Bangura, by then a very influential personality among the youth wing of the party, was very determined, from his body language, to register their utter dissatisfaction against the electoral management body’s handling of the electoral process accusing it of impartiality.
APC supporters like Amadu were heard firmly expressing the view that the incumbent President Julius Maada Bio has, in the last five years, not competent enough to judiciously handled the country’s economy which they claimed is evident in soaring prices .They stoutly oppose the SLPP claims of the prevailing crisis on external forces such as the Coronavirus and the war in Ukraine.
According to them his shortcomings therefore calls for him to be voted against. The APC supporters, also demanded the resignation of the ECSL’s Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Konneh, that the elections should be postponed in order to make time for their demands to be satisfactorily addressed.
As the number of APC protesters swelled and persistent attempts made to proceed from the Party office to ECSL, the Police and Military started firing teargas canisters with the aim of dispersing them. However, when it became apparent that they were obdurate to disperse, some even saying they will sacrifice their lives, the Military and Police started firing live bullets.
One of the flying teargas canisters narrowly missed Amadu Anthony Bangura’s head and he was lucky to dodge from the forefront escaping the scene to a nearby neighbourhood.
Despite the mounting political tension, the Presidential, Parliamentary and Municipal Elections went on relatively peaceful on the 24th June, 2023. The outcome of the Presidential election saw the re-election of President Julius Maada Bio to the chagrin of the main opposition APC, accusing the ECSL of not fairly conducting the election.
Amadu Anthony Bangura, worst nightmare came in the wake of the multi-tier elections since long before the election he has been identified and seen as one of the over zealot disciples of the APC Presidential aspirant, Dr Samura Kamara in particular and the party in general who have vowed that by all means necessary they will not allow the SLPP to emerge victorious. He started receiving threatening remarks and calls mainly stressing that his life will never be peaceful again, especially the role he played in opposing the SLPP. On a particular night irate SLPP supporters living in his community attacked his residence with threats to manhandle him but fortunately for him he was not in at that time.
As if his political persecution has just begun, he lost his job for no justifiable reason only to be interpreted along the lines of political marginalization as a result of his political activism and radicalism. Because of the persistent threats, his family members were forced to move away from the community to reside with other relatives.
To escape the ordeal he has been going through, Amadu decided to relocate to his village and undertake farming. However, with no solid support, he again decided to return to Freetown in order to see how he could eke a living. To his utter surprise and greatest fear he again faced the persistent death threats. Seeing that things were becoming desperate he decided to leave Sierra Leone for neighbouring Guinea, according to close relatives.
After sometime the whereabouts of Amadu Anthony Bangura was not known until a relative intimated this medium that he secured a visa and has left the country.
According to the relative it will be safe for him if he continues to live out of the country otherwise from the look of things he will certainly face a long jail sentence or mob justice.
The relative continued by stating that now that the SLPP has formed a Government and the main opposition has decided to participate in State Governance with the occurrence of military coups in the West African sub-region his safety cannot be guaranteed.
The multi-tier elections of June 24, 2023 have come and gone. But it appears that there is still an atmosphere of uneasy calm with the main opposition APC party still reluctant to accept the results and threatening not to participate in the new Government formed by re-elected Julius Maada Bio of the ruling Sierra Leone people’s Party (SLPP).
While most people would readily appreciate the main opposition APC if it were to put all differences aside and concentrate on working amicably with the ruling party, they are calling on the APC to put their grievances aside for the sake of peace and for the development of Sierra Leone.
A political analyst speaking on a favorite TV talk show, stated that if Dr. Samura Kamara and the other APC candidates that took part in the June 24 elections really had this country at heart, they would be more patriotic and less selfish by accepting the results for the sake of peace, embrace their rivals and work together for the overall development of Sierra Leone.
By so doing, they would have demonstrated their love and loyalty for Sierra Leone which is bigger than any individual or political party.
At this juncture, this press is joining millions of Sierra Leoneans calling on the APC to give peace a chance by disallowing ego to take prominence over love for country. The APC, by doing this ,will be seen by many as a patriotic, law-abiding party which seeks to first satisfy and pacify the people of this country first before countenancing or imposing its will on the majority.
We pray that common sense will prevail in these trying times as the country struggles to surmount its political differences whilst ensuring that development takes place in all sectors.
It is no gainsaying the fact that the United Nations is committed to supporting national institutions and the people of Sierra Leone before, during and after the just-concluded peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections. Therefore, as Sierra Leoneans if the UN is ready, willing and capable of supporting our development and political aspirations, we should not be the ones to disappoint ourselves.
Not many Sierra Leoneans had heard or paid attention to the acronym PVT until the 27th of June 2023. The National Elections Watch (NEW), a network of Civil Society Organizations, through two press statements, reported that going by the data from its Process and Result Verification for Transparency (PRVT), candidate Rtd Brig. Julius Maada Bio would poll between 47% and 53% and therefore would be wrong to call an outright winner of the 2023 presidential election on the first ballot. However, this is not the first time the exercise has been undertaken in Sierra Leone. It was implemented in each of the elections since 2007.
But what is Parallel Voting Tabulation (PVT) or Quick Count? A quick count is an elections monitoring mechanism done through surveying a sample of polling stations on elections day. Elections observers monitor the voting and counting processes at selected polling stations, record key information including polling results and report their findings to a tally center which aggregates and analyses these results. Generalizations are then made based on the findings. The system has been used around the world since 1986 as a mechanism by civil society to enhance the integrity of electoral processes. There are many positives as well as negatives of implementing PVTs which I will not delve into in this piece.
Unlike in other types of surveys, sampling and consequently announcing elections results has serious implications on governance and the citizenry. In politically charged and fiercely contested elections like the just concluded multi-tiered 2023 elections, quick count results can become a flashpoint for controversy and subsequently tensions. For these reasons, it is essential that PVTs be implemented with uncompromisingly high standards, statistically valid methodologies, and highest levels of transparency.
Why should we question the results published by NEW? We should base first on the statistical methodologies used, and the highest levels of opaqueness surrounding the process.
The consequences of inaccurate PVT results can be damning. As a result, the statistical methods used (sample size, sample selection, margins of errors and confidence levels) must be strictly conservative. The standard practice in election observations is to design the sample with parameters that capture the heterogeneity of the voters, the tightest of margins of error, and the highest of confidence levels.
The most important decision in the PVT implementation revolves around the sample size and sample selection. Getting either wrong would result in a bias outcome leading to misleading or outright erroneous conclusions. For PVT purposes, the standard formula used to calculate sample size is:
𝑛 = 𝑁𝑧 ! (1 − 𝑃)
𝑁𝑒 ! + 𝑧 ! (1 − 𝑃)
Where: n = sample size; N = number of registered voters; z is confidence level; P = degree of heterogeneity; and e = margin of error.
Therefore, constructing a quick count sample involves making judgements on heterogeneity of the population, and determining the margin of error and confidence levels.
The NDI, a pioneer of quick counts recommends very conservative parameters be used in determining the sample size because of the importance of elections and the ramifications of wrongly predicting election results. The NDI recommends, in very tight elections, heterogeneity score of 0.5 (the most competitive suggesting that either candidate has a 50% chance of winning), a confidence level of 99%, and a tight design margin of error (ME) of less than 0.5 percent. In practice, most quick counts around the world use ME’s of less than 0.1%.
With these recommended and generally used parameters, let us calculate the ideal sample size for a PVT exercise for the just concluded elections.
A very popular formula for calculation of sample size is:
𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑧𝑒 = 𝑁𝑥𝑧 ! (1 − 𝑃)
𝑁𝑥𝐸 ! + 𝑧 ! 𝑥 (1 − 𝑃)
Where,
N = Total registered voters (3,374,258)
P = Heterogeneity score: (0.5, most conservative)
E = Margin of error (0.1%, higher than the usual but still tight enough)
The ideal sample size should have been 1,114,471 voters, and if there are 300 voters per polling station, then the PVT should have surveyed 3,715 polling stations. However, resource limitations would not easily allow polling such large number of stations. It is acceptable to increase the ME to 0.2%. This should result in 1,235 polling stations. NEW sampled only 750 stations. By polling only this number of stations, under sampling may have occurred which could have led to unreliable results. New needs to explain to the people of Sierra Leone what parameters were used in deciding the sample size and why were these parameters used.
The second source of doubt should be the margin of error published by NEW. Let’s assume for arguments sake that NEW used the most conservative parameters in arriving at their 750-sample size. That is, they used 99% confidence level and a heterogeneity score of about 0.5 (the most competitive). The formula for calculating the Margin of Error is:
𝑀𝐸 = ?(1 − 𝑃) √𝑛
Where P = 0.5 (degree of heterogeneity); n = 750 (sample size); z = 2.58 (z-score of 99% confidence level)
𝑀𝐸 = 2.58 ?0.5(1 − 0.5)
√750 = 0.047 𝑜𝑟 4.71%
NEW’s point score for the SLPP candidate is 50.4. With this margin of error, the president’s 99% confidence interval would be 45.69 – 55.11 putting the president in an outright winning range. By reducing the margin of error to 2.7 (which must be explained by NEW), outright winning was unachievable for the president. The people of Sierra Leone have the right to know how NEW arrived at 1.7 or 2.7 margin of error for their analyses.
Third source of doubt is the selection of the 750 polling selections. A major decision is determining the most appropriate type of random sample during the PVT process. A NEW executive was forced to announce the distribution of stations polled on air on Monday July 3rd. Looking at the numbers, the stations were distributed perfectly by share of registered voters. Way too perfectly! The issue of distribution remains, however. Take for instance Kenema district and Kenema town. Results from a
poll from Nyandeyama will be a lot different from another random poll from GorahunTunkia. The urban settlements are more diverse and the rural settlements more homogenous. This can be settled with a disclosure of the exact polling stations sampled. In other words, providing the people of Sierra Leone the raw data with polling station identifiers. Another issue is the heterogeneity of the districts. The districts are not equally competitive. To have an accurate data, a competitive district must have higher number of stations compared less competitive district even if both districts have equal number of registered voters. For example, whereas 10 polling stations in Bombali can capture the sentiments of the entire district, more polling stations will be needed to fully capture the diverse opinions of the people of Kambia district. This Limits generalization of the NEW results.
A fourth source of doubt is the voter turnout rate of 77.3% announced by NEW. Sierra Leoneans love their votes. They love their democracy, and they fully participate in it. Historically, turnout rate hovers around 85%. There was no significant incident which would have suppressed turnout by up to 7%. Clearly, there was enthusiasm gap between strongholds of the SLPP and that of the APC. The turnout rate was lower in APC strongholds. Many districts in the South-East recorded turnout levels in the north of 90%. Maybe the difference in turnout rate may have been missed by NEW and to some degree explains the difference vis the ECSL results. If you take the vote tallies that were announced for 60% of the polling stations which NEW confirmed that were correct, calculate the percentage share for each candidate and divide up the remaining votes at NEW’s turnout rate of 77% for each district, President Bio gets 45.98% and Dr. Samura gets 50.50% of the remaining votes. Cumulatively, this would result in final vote tally for President Bio at 51.16%. However, when the turnout rate is changed to 90% for the south-east, (less than most polling stations in that region), President Bio’s share of the total votes increases to 56.25%, mirroring the ECSL tally. NEW probably got the turnout rate wrong for the South-East. And this is because of bad sampling where I believe most of the sample was collected in Urban areas especially in the South-East.
The fifth source of doubt is the secrecy with which the quick count was done and the refusal to make the data public. In all other countries quick counts are implemented, enough publicity about its merit and methodology is done. In Ghana for instance, videos and audios were made and played over TVs and radio multiple times prior to the elections. Ivory Coast did the same, so was Chile and Cambodia recently. NEW did not only fail to educate the public, but they also kept their methodology away from even those that should be considered partners to NEW or stakeholders in the election process. PVT requires complete knowledge, buy-in, and acceptance by all the stakeholders in the elections. The stakeholders according to NDI are the political parties and the ECSL. Post elections, NEW has so far refused to publish their data even after incessant calls from other CSOs.
And finally, who are the people behind NEW? Are they truly independent? Has anyone of them made a public pronouncement that the president must be a one term president? Or a candidate is a personal project? Is anyone of them a son/daughter of a renowned opposition politician? Has anyone of the executives been fired by the current government from their previous positions? The answers to these questions will water down the apprehensions of most Sierra Leoneans about the NEW results that has the potential to throw the entire country in chaos.
In summary, the international community should look beyond these numbers published by NEW. They must look behind and determine all the moving parts that made up these numbers. Was the sampling size right? Are the calculations consistent with grounded statistical methodologies? Where the correct numbers transmitted from the polling centers? The international community must, together with the people of Sierra Leone ask for the entire raw data and a cross reference made to the elections data from ECSL. Together, we all should question accuracy of NEW’s PVT result because there are unknown unknowns about their methods, about the data, and about the people behind exercise. This election should not be about the ambitions of individual politicians of any color. Nor should it be about any preferences of non-Sierra Leoneans. It is about 8.4 million people who would suffer subsequently any negative consequence of the actions of greedy politicians.
For over two decades now, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) has been supporting the conduct of multi-tier elections that has immensely contributed to the growth of the country’s democratic governance in Sierra Leone. The foundation for RSLAF support in the conduct of multi-tier elections in Sierra Leone was established by the late Ex-President Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Tejan Kabba who was overthrown by disgruntled junior non-commissioned officers.
Upon his reinstatement to governance, he established many democratic pillars that enhance peace, stability and the conduct of peaceful multi-tier elections in Sierra Leone. Among the many democratic pillars was the establishment of the Office of National Security (ONS).
As the ONS is the hub for coordinating security apparatuses in the country, the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) takes primacy for internal security. Therefore, RSLAF support in the conduct of elections comes through the evocation of Military Aid to Civil Power (MACP). MACP is the document that authorizes the RSLAF’s support to the SLP in all internal security matters as and when required by the civil authority due to the current security situation.
Supporting the conduct of multi-tier elections came to effect during the conduct of the 2002 multi-tier elections when the late Ex-President His Excellency Alhaji Dr Ahmed Tejan Kabba was re-elected as President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Commander-in-Chief of the RSLAF. The RSLAF supported the SLP to jointly provide security prior to elections, during and after the polls, security for election observers, the electoral management body, political parties and the voters throughout the elections all over the country. The elections then were conducted peacefully with high commendation for the RSLAF personnel and other security agencies.
The same support was given to the SLP for the conduct of the 2007 multi-tier elections in which Ex-President Dr Earnest Bai Koroma won the elections and a smooth transition was observed. In 2012 again the RSLAF supported the SLP for the conduct of peaceful elections which was achieved followed by the conduct of the 2018 multi-tier elections in which Brigadier General Retired Dr Julius Maada Bio won the election and a smooth transition was again observed.
Similarly in 2023, the general elections were conducted with the support of RSLAF to the SLP. During the conduct of the elections, RSLAF and SLP with other security agencies jointly policed electoral sensitive materials from one place to the other throughout the country, provide security for the electoral body, political parties, election observers, presidential candidates and voters. RSLAF involvement in the conduct of elections is to ensure the conduct of a peaceful election before, during and after the polls. Hence, RSLAF remains a Force that is law abiding, professional, loyal to the people and Government of Sierra Leone. The RSLAF will continue to uphold and maintain the democratic tenets and respect the will of the people.
Regardless of the challenges associated with events leading to the 24th June, 2023 Elections, President Julius Maada Bio has assured that he will continue to undertake development programmes that will positively impact the lives of the vast majority of Sierra Leoneans. Through the interventions of meaningful development partners, one of which is Pavi Fort Road Construction Company, the President’s development aspirations are being rolled out and actualized.
Prior to the 2018 Presidential Election, a promise was made by Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio to the citizens of Sierra Leone with the primary intension of supporting him in his election bid and ultimately woo their votes.
In his “People’s Manifesto”, which he presented at that material time, the then ambitious Presidential aspirant promised that: “The New Direction will ensure that all towns and villages are connected by well-designed and safe roads to spur economic development and create linkages to markets.”
He added that the SLPP Government will plan, develop and implement infrastructure in Sierra Leone on an integrated, holistic and cross-sectoral development basis.
He furthered by maintaining how the Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) will work more symbiotically with SLRA to ensure the death traps in the country’s roads and sidewalks are eliminated, while improving on traffic flows at major intersections.
Indeed, after successfully emerging as the President elect of Sierra Leone, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio, after spending a considerable tenure in office, in 2022 proudly informed elected representatives of the people, during the State Opening of Parliament, that successfully his Government has implemented major road and bridge construction and rehabilitation projects in various parts of the country.
He succinctly intimated how with the help of partners, major road projects were completed and that his Government has also undertaken expansion and re-graveling works and culvert bridges on 1,800km of roads across the country.
The President also informed that his Government had embarked on the maintenance of major township roads in Freetown, Kono, Kabala, Bo, Kenema, Bonthe, Makeni, Magburaka, and Mattru among other major works completed.
Indeed, commendably, as a School of thought maintained, President Bio, to a large extent, translated that aspect of his Manifesto Promise, which has to do with road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance into reality that brought in its wake various advantages in terms of enhancing socio-economic development.
Entering into a contractual agreement with one of the country’s strong development partners, Pavi Fort Road & Engineering Company, which is a well entrenched indigenous business entity, the President’s road manifesto promise was excellently translated into a tangible reality on different fronts that today are providing advantages in terms of enhancing the smooth movement of people, vehicles as well as goods and services. Under the dynamic leadership of the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Alimu Barrie, much has been realized in actualizing the President’s road agenda.
As we go to Press, Pavi Fort is at this material moment seriously engrossed with the maintenance of township roads across the country, specifically in Freetown, Lungi, Port Loko, Kenema and Kabala among other major works undertaken and completed.
After successfully winning the road maintenance contract from the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) , Pavi Fort, has for some time now being involved in the maintenance of roads in Freetown which include the Kissy By Pass -Old road, City Road – Old Road, Main Motor Road -Old Road, Bai Bureh Road (P.M.B Junction), Bai Bureh road (Portee Junction to Rokupa Junction, Bai Bureh Road (Texaco Junction), Bai Bureh (Texaco Junction to Old road Texaco, Bai Bureh Upgun Junction, Jenner Wright Road (Upgun Junction), Cline Town Round About, Fourah Bay Road (Kennedy St Junction), Kennedy Street, Fourah Bay Road (Bombay Junction), Fourah Bay Road (Clock Tower Junction), Circular Road (Model School Junction), Rokel Street -Model Junction to Parliament, Sani Abacha Street and the Regent-Jui Road.
As at present, concrete work is now in progress on the Regent Road by the Police Checkpoint.
It is important to note that the company is doing priming and overlaying of tar or asphalt on these roads and in some cases doing patching. Significantly, since it commenced work some of the targeted roads have been successfully primed and overlaying work completed whereas work is ongoing on some of them. Also, some of the drainages are sometimes worked on or cleared as is the case with the Regent Road where concrete work is done instead of using tar because of technical advantages.
Lamentably, the long neglect and dilapidated state of the aforementioned roads really reduced them into becoming death traps and led various unsuspecting individuals to incur serious bone fractures or injuries as a result of mistakenly falling into gutters with broken slabs.
The good news is that due to the foresight and development ambition on the part of President Bio and the professional civil engineering works that is being done by Pavi Fort Road Construction Company the risks posed by the bad state of these roads are now becoming things of the past.
Cognizance must be taken that prior to undertaking the maintenance of major township roads, Pavi Fort, was engrossed with the implementation of a World Bank funded programme known as the Integrated Resilient Urban Mobility Project (IRUMP).
The Ministry of Transport and Aviation on the 23rd July, 2020 signed an 11 Million Dollar World Bank funded Contract Agreement with Pavi Fort Construction company for the implementation of an aspect of the project.
As learnt, the project is geared towards improving the quality of public transport, address climate resilience, improve road safety in selected areas and enhance institutional capacity in the transport sector.
Pavi Fort undertook the implementation of the project in three areas or corridors namely: Kissy Ferry Junction, Congo Cross and Lumley and the works involved comprehensive corridor improvements that covered complete traffic management measures including intersection improvements, coordinated traffic lights, improvement of sidewalks for pedestrian movement, drainage, etc.
Pavi Fort commenced work at Ferry Junction on the 15th May, 2022 and within a short period of intense work, the company completed re-graveling works, covering a 400-metre stretch from J Matter, around the Dockyard axis to reach as far as the Bomeh axis, in the East End of Freetown.
Next that followed was the laying of asphalt on the surface of the road, said to have been constructed forty years back, to bring it up to 10 cm from the previous 5cm and that involved three layers.
The company expanded the road from two lanes, on both sides, to three lanes, fixed a new drainage system to replace the old small clogged ones which will curtail or drastically reduce flooding on the road during the rains, and made provision for a traffic light to be fixed at the Ferry Junction intersection to control the traffic flow, fixed street lights, guard rails as well as convenient bus stops or parking spaces.
Similar construction and engineering works were also done by the company at Cong Cross and Lumley under the same project, IRUMP, and as it now stands, works in the three areas has reached 85% completion stage. What now remains for the company to do in these three locations, which the company has assured it will embark on in the shortest possible time from now, is the installation of traffic lights , a work that was delayed because the company is waiting for the experts to jet in and provide the service.
Also, the road signs or furniture will also be rolled out and it is expected that by the end of July, 2023 that aspect of the IRUMP will be done with.
Pavi Fort also undertook and completed the rehabilitation or maintenance of some streets in Lungi including the Maada Bio Street which is mainly used by Sea Bird passengers and Sea Coach officials. In that locality the company was involved in stone basing and tarring of damaged roads with the aim of minimizing the number of pot holes which by extension is greatly helping in minimizing the occurrence of accidents.
In Port Loko, the company is engrossed with landscaping, roofing and fixing of pillars on a one hundred bed hospital which was once used by NaCOVERC during the COVID-19 and transformed into a hospital. The company has successfully constructed 2 Kilometre of the projected 2.2km road according to our reporter who conducted an inspection and an interview, completed 100% the perimeter fence, the car park and has completed tiling of the hospital facility as well as the laying of asphalt in demarcated areas within the facility . It was stated that the work done on road has passed the hospital leading to a village and had it not been for the rains it should have been completed. As of now the hospital is 99% completed only awaiting commissioning which will take place at any time from now.
When this medium caught up with Ing Momodu Jalloh, who is a Project Engineer of Pavi Fort Construction Company in Kenema, Eastern Sierra Leone, he warmly revealed that the entire project involves the rehabilitation and maintenance of 30 Kilometre stretch of roads within the Kenema township. He further disclosed how as a company they are currently involved with asphalt work adding that work is expeditiously ongoing as there are no plans of them shutting down maintaining that recently they just took one day break to give workers the opportunity to vote in the June 24, 2023 elections after which they resumed work.
Ing Jalloh also intimated that drainage work is also ongoing furthering how the work is divided into three phases.
“We have completed phase one which is a 10 kilometre of roads that we completed work on and as of now we are on phase two with almost completing 5 kilometre out of 10 kilometres of that phase,” he stated adding that hopefully, all things being equal, during this same period of 2024 the entire targeted 30 kilometres will be completed. He pointed out that though the company is an indigenous entity their work output matches match international standards further assuring how their qualitative works always stand the test of time.
It could be recalled that on the 19th May, 2023 in Dogoloyia Town, Koinadugu district, a 261-kilometer road project linking Koinadugu with Falaba and Kono Districts was re-awarded to Pavi Fort with a view to reduce travel time and cost, improve service delivery time and promote the health condition of residents in that part of the country. The road is also known as the 261km Kabala-Krobola-Kono Road.
Interestingly, Pavi Fort Road Construction Company was first awarded the contract of constructing that road during the tenure of the erstwhile APC Government under the leadership of former President Ernest Bai Koroma but work came to a halt when there was a change of Government and funds were not forthcoming despite the fact that the contractor (Pavi Fort) had pre-financed the project. Construction work was around 40% to 50% when the halt took place as a result of a change of Government and it negatively impinged on the company. According to CEO Alimu Barrie, if there is one thing for which he will remain grateful to President Bio is re-awarding him the contract more so as he had already spent hugely in pre-financing the project.
As we go to Press , work is earnestly in progress and according to Public Relations Officer of Pavi Fort, only known as Dabor, culvert work is ongoing further revealing that priming and tarring work are being done. He debunked the false information that the company has terminated work saying they only stopped work for three days because of the elections also divulging how they recommenced work immediately.
Dabor disclosed that because of heavy rains they will have to stop work in August and resume work on the 15th September, 2023 adding that for now stone pitching is taking place and the quarry is operating as well as the asphalt plant is also functioning.
“90% of the culvert work has been completed,” he confidently reiterated.
Worthy of note is that a commitment was made by the CEO of Pavi Fort, Alimu Barrie, that if the road project is not completed within the stipulated timeframe then residents should not blame President Bio but rather him, an assurance which he confidently reiterated.
Indeed, true to his words, Pavi Fort has gone well ahead with the construction work to the admiration of many with the expectation that, if the rains do not impede works, the project will be completed within record time.
In an engagement with Pavi Fort’s Director of Operations, Juel Bernard Lawson, he frankly informed that the secret behind the successes of the company hinges on the fact that though Pavi Fort is an indigenous company that employs local staff yet sometimes they hire the services of experts if the expertise could not be secured nationally furthering that when it comes to equipment the company has fleet of machines at its disposal to undertake various tasks.
Lawson also mentioned that they have asphalt plants at different locations as part of their decentralization strategy also disclosing how they have the best paver which is an electronic device with an expert controlling it and Sierra Leoneans understudying him.
Random interviews conducted by this medium, targeting residents within the different project sites where Pavi Fort is involved in the implementation, they complimentarily and roundly commended the company for delivering qualitative road works maintaining that the initiative taken by the Government, under the leadership of President Bio was indeed a right step taken in the right direction..
They further expressed delight that the works, after completion, will greatly improve vehicular movement, lead to the longevity of vehicles and minimize flooding from taking place on major roads due to poor drainages. They extended gratitude to President Bio and Pavi Fort Construction Company for improving road networks right across the country as such will enhance national development at all levels.
Some maintained that their rolling out is very timely more especially as President Bio has declared that during this his second tenure in office greater priority will be placed on revamping agriculture in order for Sierra Leone to feed itself.
In conversations held with Pump Attendants at various NP Filling or Gas Stations in Freetown and upcountry, it was conclusively discerned that the vast majority of them have at one point in time benefited from a training facilitated by the company. What were also evidently displayed relate to professional skills used in the handling of customers’ concerns and in applying them in the discharge of their respective duties.
NP (SL) Ltd is a petroleum importing and marketing company that has been at the forefront of conducting transactions in petroleum products right across the nation.
When making reference to privately owned business entities in this country that have demonstrated attributes such as efficiency and effectiveness in timely service delivery then NP (SL)Ltd stands out tall.
The company is renowned for its pro-active stance in always trying to optimize customer care, which the Shareholders, Board and Management hold in high esteem with the view that in the absence of its numerous customers then the company’s existence could become redundant.
Giving or actualizing customer satisfaction is very key which is why the company does everything within its ambit to give customers high grade petroleum products. Through its pro-activeness and the ultimate desire to give out the best, latest innovative and technological pumping machines were installed at the company’s various Filling Stations, one of which are calibrated pumping machines that pump the appropriate quantity of petroleum products paid for. As they are very transparent, these calibrated pumping machines continue to instill confidence in customers that they are dealing with a very transparent company as well as feeling that they are getting their money’s worth.
Within the same ambit of bringing technology closer to its customers for enhanced transactions, the idea of availing its customers the use of NP Smart Card was borne. Today we hear of “fuel on your smart card” which figuratively could be interpreted within the context of using a financially loaded NP Smart Card to purchase the right number of petroleum products one intends to utilize without any physical monetary transactions. Using NP Smart Card guarantees safety, saves time and gives air of importance to the holders, some considering them as the crème-de la crème of society, when in actual fact anyone can make use of it. It creates a situation where a customer will intermittently know the balance of finance on his card and use such information to make informed decisions as to further top up or utilize, for example, the quantity of fuel that the balance amount could procure.
With a view to make people gain easy access to a device that could be suitable for various cooking purposes, NP Gas was introduced and since gas is one of the petroleum products that is up for sale then it just falls in place that it will be prudent to make it convenient for people to access them at their filling stations and from authorized dealers, going at affordable prices. It had been undoubtedly proven that they are environmentally friendly and safe to use as well as refill.
When job opportunities are created from time to time, the negative impacts of poverty subside with a corresponding upsurge in peace and tranquillity. Instead of tempers rising, daggers drawn out there will be joy and harmonious co-existence. Through its expansionist drive and to match up with modern trends, NP-SL has been providing various jobs for many who were hitherto at the lower ends of society. Family lives have been transformed for the better and there is room for future positive outcomes.
As a matter of fact, NP-SL-Ltd has been recognized for being a company that has doggedly insisted on maintaining its indigenous posture. Its shareholders are all Sierra Leoneans and they put premium on maintaining an indigenous stance with majority of its staff being indigenes. The company is very mindful that with the implementation of the Local Content Policy it is positively contributing to the socio-economic development of the country. NP is committed to serve the people of this country.
Having branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia shows that indeed NP-SL Ltd is striving to become a multinational company, a big achievement worthy of commendation as it depicts seriousness and progress.
The Judiciary of Sierra Leone has said, in a Press Release dated 4th July, 2023, that its attention has been drawn, with keen interest, to an unsubstantiated and discourteous Press Statement dated 3rd July, 2023, issued by the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) Party aimed at intimidating the Judiciary and ipso facto interfere with the Judiciary’s independence as provided for in Section 120 (3) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, Act No. 6 of 1991.
According to the third arm of Government, that cynical attempt by the APC leadership to remotely dictate to the Judiciary and to politicize its operations is stoutly resisted and should be roundly condemned by right thinking people, as it is a feeble attempt to undermine democracy and the Rule of Law.
The Judiciary stated that it would first wish to inform the general public that there is no political case for trial or judgement in any of their Courts emanating from the 2018 multi-tier elections in the country.
It continued that after the 2018 General Elections that was keenly contested between the then ruling APC presidential candidate and the main opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) presidential candidate, three (3) registered political parties filed election petitions nationwide and the High Court adjudicated and determined thirty-one (31) of those election cases.
In tables provided, the Judiciary said they indicated that thirty-one (31) cases were filed by three political parties – APC, SLPP and NGC; the APC filed three (3) and won 18, SLPP filed twenty-three (23) and won Twelve (12) and NGC filed five (05) and didn’t win any adding that the re-run election at Goderich was later won by APC.
The Judiciary also disclosed that all the ten (10) election petition cases that APC won in the North against the SLPP and the NGC were appealed against and accordingly, the Court of Appeal, upheld the High Court decisions in favour of the APC by majority decision.
Similarly, it said the APC appealed against the ten (10) cases won by the SLPP in Freetown and those cases were later abandoned by the Appellants, the APC.
In the APC’s deceitful Press Statement, the third arm of Government maintained, they claimed to have filed thirty-three (33) petitions but pointed out how it wish to further affirm that they were not election petition cases because the filing processes were never completed for them to be assigned to a judge for adjudication and final determination emphasizing that incidentally those cases all came up at the time of the erstwhile Chief Justice, Abdulai Hamid Charm, appointed by President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma.
The Judiciary also said the APC also claimed that the current Chief Justice delayed to assign the APC petition by Dr. Samura Kamara and Dr. Sylvia Blyden regarding the 2018 presidential election. In that regard the Judiciary said that statement is not only false and misleading but also a campaign of calumny to impugn the reputation of the current Honourable Chief Justice.
It was categorically stated that the truth is, he was not the Chief Justice at the time the petitions were filed as the Chief Justice was His Lordship Justice Abdulai Hamid Charm who was appointed by President Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma.
The Judiciary maintained that when the current Chief Justice was appointed in December, 2018 by President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, the APC didn’t make any attempt to prosecute the presidential petitions in accordance with the Rules of Court until it became apparent that they were using their case as a ‘talkshop,’ claiming that it has not been heard as a way of blaming the Judiciary and the Hon. Chief Justice.
In addition it was pointed out that the current Hon. Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards was the one who re-opened the case in December, 2020 and gave directions for the case to begin in February, 2021 and in April, 2021 the case was resoundingly brought to conclusion within three (3) weeks after conclusion of hearings, which was commended by both local and international partners including one of the petitioners (Dr. Sylvia Blyden).
According to the Judiciary, other vexatious claims are those APC referred to as “high profile political cases,” that were not assigned but claimed that the cases were simply abandoned.
Quoting Paragraph 7, the Judiciary said the APC stated that their National Secretary General- Lansana Dumbuya Esq filed a case against the Electoral Commission (ECSL) and the Electoral Commissioner seeking to produce “the disaggregated voter register” and yet the matter has not been assigned. It stoutly debunked such as a bogus claim since the matter as per the Rules of Court could not have been assigned before the general elections when it was not yet ripe for assignment.
The Judiciary said the matter has since been assigned by the Hon, Chief Justice and will be heard by the High Court on the 5th July 2023.
Again, the Judiciary said in Paragraph 8, the APC claimed that Mr. Patrick John and the PMDC filed an application on “the qualification of Mohamed Konneh” as Chief Electoral Commissioner but “it was never assigned.”
The third arm of Government claimed that such demonstrates the celebrated dishonesty peddled by the APC leadership to incite the public against the Judiciary adding how the said matter had long been assigned and will come up on Thursday, 6th July, 2023 – the date as per the Application it should be heard 21 days after service of the Originating Notice of Motion stressing how in fact, action of APC commenting on action that is ‘sub judice’ is simply contemptuous.
It furthered that with respect to the matter involving Alhaji Kemoh Sesay, contrary to the APC press statement, the matter was not assigned as the matter was heard and determined by the High Court on the 11 September 2022.
The Judiciary said finally, as stated in their press statement, “the Chief Justice only assigns cases involving the APC to “special judges” that are in cahoots with him to deliver “captured judgments”, such a thought is not only fictitious but an affront on the integrity of the justice system in the country.
It stressed how the APC has nursed such venom because all attempts to influence and remotely dictate to the Judiciary to assign cases to their recommended or preferred Judges has been met with stiff resistance also maintaining how His Lordship the Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards reaffirms his unwavering commitment to provide the enabling environment for all players involved in the electioneering process without prejudice, which is why he assigned twenty-six (26) judges across the country to preside over cases at the Elections Offences and Petitions Court to do so impartially and expeditiously.
It said sadly, the APC didn’t commend the Judiciary on the recent case brought by Paul Kamara and Rev. Alimamy Coleson Turay against their 2023 Presidential Candidate, Dr. Samura M.W Kamara to prevent him from contesting the elections.
The Judiciary maintained that the APC did not castigate it, when it was as a result of a judicial decision the party was able to proceed to the Makeni convention, which ushered in democracy in their party for the first time.
It stated that the APC was at pains to commend the Judiciary when Dr. Samura M.W Kamara won his case after his candidature was challenged by the SLPP in the Supreme Court and it also did not commend the Judiciary when Dr. Samura M.W Kamara was allowed to travel to UK to proceed with his political campaign against his bail conditions in the ongoing corruption allegation case brought against him by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
“The APC did not castigate the Judiciary when it was magnanimous to overlook the disobedience of Dr Samura Kamara to attend the locus in quo visit in New York in breach of the court order which required him to do so,” the Judiciary pointed out adding how the APC did not commend the Judiciary after winning a case against Haja Aminata Conteh for their party office at No. 27 Pultney Street in Freetown saying the matter was appealed and judgment was sustained again in APC’s favour.
It stated that contrary to the APC statement that they lack confidence in the Judiciary, the Judiciary is comfortable in the knowledge that the general public has confidence in its work as demonstrated by the high number of cases instituted in the courts by the general public.
The Judiciary claimed that the Judges’ Master is the Law and they will stick by same further encouraging the general public to continually trust the Judiciary as an independent arm of Government and to dismiss the APC Press Statement.
It said, notwithstanding the APC press statement, the Judiciary has been rated with admiration on international indexes including the World Justice Project Report because of the unprecedented reforms and an increased access to justice saying they will continue to dispense justice impartially without fear of favour.
Elections Are Over; Let Us Allow Peace to Prevail
By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The multi-tier elections of June 24, 2023 have come and gone. But it appears that there is still an atmosphere of uneasy calm with the main opposition APC party still reluctant to accept the results and threatening not to participate in the new Government formed by re-elected Julius Maada Bio of the ruling Sierra Leone people’s Party (SLPP).
While most people would readily appreciate the main opposition APC if it were to put all differences aside and concentrate on working amicably with the ruling party, they are calling on the APC to put their grievances aside for the sake of peace and for the development of Sierra Leone.
A political analyst speaking on a favorite TV talk show, stated that if Dr. Samura Kamara and the other APC candidates that took part in the June 24 elections really had this country at heart, they would be more patriotic and less selfish by accepting the results for the sake of peace, embrace their rivals and work together for the overall development of Sierra Leone.
By so doing, they would have demonstrated their love and loyalty for Sierra Leone which is bigger than any individual or political party.
At this juncture, this press is joining millions of Sierra Leoneans calling on the APC to give peace a chance by disallowing ego to take prominence over love for country. The APC, by doing this ,will be seen by many as a patriotic, law-abiding party which seeks to first satisfy and pacify the people of this country first before countenancing or imposing its will on the majority.
We pray that common sense will prevail in these trying times as the country struggles to surmount its political differences whilst ensuring that development takes place in all sectors.
It is no gainsaying the fact that the United Nations is committed to supporting national institutions and the people of Sierra Leone before, during and after the just-concluded peaceful, inclusive, and credible elections. Therefore, as Sierra Leoneans if the UN is ready, willing and capable of supporting our development and political aspirations, we should not be the ones to disappoint ourselves.