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ONS Issues Stern Warning to Miscreants

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Office of National Security (ONS) on Friday, 16th June, 2023 convened a Press conference at the Conference Room of the Office of National Security (ONS) on Tower Hill in Freetown geared towards revealing the level of preparedness of the Security Sector for the June 2023 Elections and to deliberate on critical issues being dealt with before and after the elections.

In attendance were the National Security Coordinator (NSCoord), Abdulai Caulker, respective Heads of the Police, Military and Fire Force including the Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu, AIG Operations Braima Jah, Head of National Joint Operations Centre, Major General Fred Alpha, ONS Chief of Staff, Francis Langumba Keili and a host of others. Also present were members of International Election Observer Teams.

The National Security Coordinator (NSCoord), Abdulai Caulker, in his statement said : “While we pledge to remain apolitical and professional, we will be emphatic that as a sector, we will not sit by and allow miscreants to subvert either our democracy or the State. We are poised to hunt them and impel them.”

He  noted that just recently the security architecture uncovered the activities of some groups with the aim of undermining national security revealing how some of their members have been arrested, and the security sector will continue to effect arrests.

According to him, the security sector has the constitutional responsibility to ensure the peace and security of Sierra Leone and to protect lives and property.

“In line with our activities, we have taken a number of activities in order to get ourselves adequately prepared for the June 24th 2023 elections, and I feel confident to state that we have reactivated the Integrated Election Security Planning Committee (IESPC) to ensure focused coordination of the efforts of Election Management Bodies (EMBs), support security sector planning and actions through development of appropriate strategies and mobilize requisite funding support for the Security Sector to cover the elections,” he stated.

With regards challenges encountered, he said, the first is Social Media which has become one of the greatest threats to  national security today adding that there is no denying of the fact that social media platforms have been largely misused to circulate misinformation, lies, tribal bigotry, hate speech, invectives and all manner of incendiary messages, especially the WhatsApp.

He maintained that divisive and ethnic messages expressed through the social media have proved very unhelpful for national unity ad cohesion.

According to him, the second threat is lawlessness and indiscipline saying such are mainly exhibited by acts of disobedience to the laws of the land and State institutions, wanton violence, drug peddling and abuse and other forms of criminality.

The National Coordinator disclosed that another key threat is political intolerance which has led to unnecessary tension in the country undermining national security and the integrity of the elections.

He said assessment indicates that most of the violent confrontations between political party supporters stem from their inability to accommodate one another.

Abdulai Caulker expressed his concern about the disturbing assertion by some members of the public and political parties that some security members are bias, impartial and vindictive in the discharge of their functions. “Whilst such assertions could be said to be based on perception and figments of the imagination, they can be de-motivating to sincere and hardworking members of the security sector,” he said, adding that he can assure all and sundry that the actions of the security sector are guided by prudence.

He ended up by encouraging all journalists to support the work of the Security Sector and the EMBs.

Other speakers at the Conference  made salient contributions with regards their respective actions and interventions including the Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu, AIG Operations Braima Jah, the Head of National Joint Operations Centre, Major General Fred Alpha, and ONS Chief of Staff Francis Langumba Keii who moderated the event assisted by Abdul Karim, Director of Communications at ONS.

President Bio Denounces Hate Speech & Calls on APC Hierarchy to Maintain Sanity

The Flagbearer of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) , Julius Maada Bio, has called on the presidential candidate of the All People’s Congress (APC) Dr. Samura Kamara, to behave like a true Catholic by denouncing all forms of hate speech and incitement, which have the potential of destabilizing the hard-won peace and national cohesion the country enjoys.

He was speaking at an engagement with voters in Koindu, Buedu, and Kailahun townships, in the Kailahun district, as part of his ongoing nationwide engagement with stakeholders and voters ahead of the June 24 elections.

The President called out former President Ernest Bai Koroma and Dr Samura Kamara, the Presidential candidate for the APC, to disassociate themselves from a certain Adebayor, who, in the past five years, had incited violence and used abusive language against decent Sierra Leoneans.

“For the past five years, I have kept the peace and stability of this country. But the former President and the entire APC Executive have never come out publicly to denounce Adebayor’s hate speeches and incitements that had led to the loss of lives and destruction of property. Samura Kamara, be your own man. You are a Catholic Christian, you have values, and you should stand by those values. We have a country to protect, and we will protect it from anybody.

“We will never allow anybody to bring war to Sierra Leone again. I am calling on all peaceful Sierra Leoneans to go about their normal business now and always. We are going to conduct the June elections peacefully, and nothing will stop us from doing so. I am, therefore, calling on all registered voters to go out on June 24 and cast their ballot,” the President reiterated.

President Bio warned Samura Kamara to be a true Catholic and embrace peace. “Samura Kamara should be his own man or else I will take to security level since peace and stability is of essence,” he noted and said he is waiting for the end of the ultimatum sanctioned by the APC leadership to elapse. He referred to the recent political statements made by Ernest Koroma and Samura Kamara as mere rubbish and nonsensical.

He added that the SLPP recognized the role that was played by women in the district and the country in general towards his election victory in 2018, noting that women and girls would always be his priorities.

“Kailahun district is significant to me and the SLPP as a party. You have never disappointed me because this district is the party’s root, and you have always remained strong for us.

“Five years ago, I made a lot of promises and pledges to you, and I kept them. This is the opportunity for me to come and say thank you for believing that I can deliver some of the promises I made. Today, I am switching on the power to supply electricity to Kailahun town. You deserve more than what I have given you in the last five years.

“Kailahun district was neglected and willfully denied the development you should have had eleven years ago by the former All People’s Congress Government. I am here to show you how different the SLPP is from the APC,” he stated.

Haja Jeneba Gobeh, a senior member of the Kailahun Sowei Group, expressed gratitude and happiness for the visit of President Bio to their district and, in particular, for thanking them for voting for him in the 2018 elections. She confirmed that, “Kailahun district is for President Bio, and we, the women of Kailahun, are going to ensure that he wins the June election at the first ballot.

AWOL Celebrates Day Of The African Child 2023 With Homeless Children In Makeni 

This year’s commemoration of the Day of the African Child (DAC) was overshadowed by the current electioneering fever that has gripped the nation. The Day was not vividly celebrated colorfully as it used to be countrywide. It is a day celebrated every year on the African Continent and around the world since 1991 when it was initiated by the Organization of African Unity- OAU (now African Union – AU).

The OAU dedicated June 16 to the honour of the brave actions of young people during the 1976 Soweto uprising, when over 1000 of Black school children took to the streets under the South African apartheid regime to protest against the inferior type of education they were receiving; and also wanted to be taught in their native language. This resulted in more than 700 of them being murdered as the protest continued for weeks. It’s a day which was perhaps amongst one of the darkest days in the history of the African continent.

In honour of those fallen angels, DAC is a day to fight for the cause of children in trouble: orphans, the disabled, street children and impoverished children who will inherit the continent. A day to remind the African Community, political leaders and organizations to efficiently address issues of child trafficking, teenage pregnancy, child marriage, child labour and protect the rights and dignity of children.

In homage to the day and in recognition of the importance of education to the overall development of children for the future of Sierra Leone, AWOL celebrated the Day of the African Child (DAC) 2023 with homeless children in the Northern district headquarter town of Makeni, Bombali District. AWOL offered rice and cash to the homeless children and inspired them to stay out of trouble and to give themselves up for apprenticeship in middle manpower jobs.

AWOL Chairman, Amb. Anthony Navo Jnr. says in Freetown that he hopes the small gesture will make the children feel that they are part of society and some people actually care about their situation.

“Many children find themselves on the streets homeless not by their own making. These children need to be rescued and given hope and opportunities so they do not become wasted talents,” says Amb. Navo Jnr., and commended all local and international organizations that are working to get children off the streets and give them meaningful lives.

AWOL further joins Save The Children, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and the Children Forum Network Sierra Leone (CFN-SL) to condemn the use of children in political campaigns, protests, events, or activities and to ensure their protection from any form of exploitation, manipulation, or harm during the electoral process.

AWOL introduced the school feeding and awards program in 2007 and has since been an important annual event in its calendar of activities. Over the years we have reached out to school children in many deprived communities across Sierra Leone, including Kroo Bay and Mabella in Freetown and Gondama in Bo District, Southern Sierra Leone.

AWOL joined other organizations as all celebrate the uniqueness and achievements of Sierra Leonean children and affirm  faith in the possibilities of their future; and the future of the country as a whole.

SLPP Strongman ‘BARANTA’ Issues Stern Warning to Opponents

Ambassador Foday Sheikh Sillah.jpg

By Foday Moriba Conteh

News reaching The Calabash Newspaper revealed that according a recent broadcast on Monday, June 26th, 2023 Ambassador Foday Sheikh Sillah, a prominent figure within the SLPP and known as ‘BARANTA’, delivered a strong message to opposition supporters in his constituency.

Described as a ‘no-nonsense man,’ Ambassador Sillah cautioned against any interference with SLPP supporters, labelling such actions as foolish and potentially dangerous.

According to reports, Ambassador Sillah warned individuals who are harassing SLPP campaigners to cease their activities immediately.

He claimed to possess a list of those engaging in violent confrontations with SLPP supporters and cautioned them against continuing their actions.

He suggested that they either vacate their homes voluntarily until after the elections or face unspecified consequences.

Witnesses and sources have confirmed to this medium that Ambassador Sillah’s significant influence over supporters and youths in his constituency, noting their ability to intimidate opponents and detractors covertly.

Despite multiple attempts by this medium to contact Ambassador Sillah for an interview over the past months prove futile.

As of press time, he has yet to respond to the allegations against him.

Helen Keller Intl SL Promotes Home-Grown Solutions to Combat Hunger & Malnutrition

In a nationwide campaign, Helen Keller Intl Sierra Leone has successfully reached 204 chiefdoms across 10 (of the 16) districts in Sierra Leone, spreading awareness among village development committee members about the invaluable nutritional and economic benefits of the orange-fleshed sweet potatoes (OFSP). This initiative is aimed to enhance self-sufficiency in food production, combat hunger and malnutrition, promote infection prevention control and water sanitation hygiene in rural communities.

To ensure the campaign’s success, seven representatives from each village comprising traditional and religious leaders, farmers, traders, bakers, youth groups, and dedicated health workers, were selected by their respective communities to participate in the engagement. Over the course of approximately 90 minutes in each engagement, these individuals, along with Helen Keller’s staff, district nutritionists, and monitoring and evaluation specialists from the District Health Management Team in all 10 districts, led the participatory engagement sessions. The sessions, supported by FOCUS 1000 district coordinators, began with an introduction to Helen Keller, fostering a deeper understanding of the organization’s impactful work in Sierra Leone and then went into the details of OFSP and its benefits.

FOCUS 1000 Coordinator in Kenema district, Emmanuel Musa, shared that participants were encouraged to cultivate sweet potatoes as a local solution to address acute hunger and malnutrition. “What we achieved in promoting sustainable food sources highlights the importance of collaborative efforts among communities, government entities, and non-governmental organization,” emphasized Musa.

Despite facing challenges in reaching remote areas, the campaign successfully raised awareness about the numerous benefits of OFSP. Helen Keller, together with its dedicated partners, remains optimistic that this awareness will translate into increased cultivation and consumption of the crop, ultimately leading to improved nutritional outcomes for vulnerable populations throughout Sierra Leone.

“The widespread impact of this campaign is a true testament to the relentless efforts of aid organizations and the unwavering commitment of communities to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of zero hunger and the government Human Capital Development good health and well-being,” said Rugiatu Lahai, a nutritionist from the District Health Management Teamin Kenema while educating the participants about the role of vitamin A (OFSP is a rich source of Vitamin A, an essential micronutrient for promoting healthy vision, immune function and growth and development, particularly in young children and pregnant women.

Mammie Brima, a forty-five-year-old Mamie Queen (queen mother) from BlamaTownship in Kenema District, was deeply touched by the message about the sweet potato. She made a pledge to spread the word to her community, encouraging households to pool their resources and buy the OFSP vines from the Extension Division in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in her district. “We will go door-to-door to inform people about this potato,” she said. “We will collect our resources and purchase the vines because we want this potato to thrive in our community.”

By focusing on home-grown solutions, such as the cultivation of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, this campaign showcases the transformative potential of local interventions in addressing prevalent issues including food insecurity and positively transforming the lives of those most in need.

“The significance of community engagement in combatting hunger and malnutrition cannot be overstated,” says Alpha Daramy Sesay, Communication Officer at Helen Keller in Sierra Leone. “Empowering communities to be at the center of their own food production to bolster food self-sufficiency, cultivates a sense of ownership and empowers them with knowledge and resources to create lasting impact,” he adds.

Helen Keller in Sierra Leone thanked their amazing partners and generous donors like Irish Aid, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Arab Gulf Program for Development that they have achieved such results – within a period of 30 days, 10 districts were visited with more than 47 engagements held across the 204 chiefdoms and 404 communities engaged –over 3,600 people participated.

As Helen Keller’s nationwide community engagement campaign draws to a close, its legacy is already apparent. The seeds of change have been sown in the hearts and minds of communities across the country. With increased awareness and the empowerment of local communities, the campaign has set the stage for a brighter and more nourished future for Sierra Leone. By continuing to prioritize community-driven solutions and building upon the momentum generated by this initiative, they can pave the way for a Sierra Leone where no one suffers from hunger or malnutrition—a country where the full potential of every individual can be realized – the dream Helen worked towards her whole life!

IMC Engages the Media on Elections Coverage & Reporting Media Regulations 2022

By Millicent Senava Mannah

The Independent Media Commission organized one day training for Print and Electronic Media Journalists on the 15th June, 2023 geared towards the popularization of the Independent Media Commission Elections Coverage and Reporting/Print and Electronic Media Regulations 2022. The training took place at the Right to Access Information Office on Kroo Town Road in Freetown.

According to the moderator of the programme, it is part of their project ‘’Expanding the Democratic Space in Sierra Leone- Media Capacity Enhancement to Promote Peaceful Elections, Women’s Participation, Public Interest and Conflict Mitigation’s in Sierra Leone”.

Giving the welcome remarks, the Independent Media Commission Chairman, Dr.Victor Massaquoi, intimated that they are grateful for the collaboration with the Media and how, they are also happy about the compliance level of majority of the Media houses in relation to the Commission’s activities.

He maintained that, even the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone commended the Media for the way they have been disseminating information. ‘’You are ordinary people, but you are doing an extra-ordinary work,’’ he commended.

The Chairman noted that Journalists must ensure to maintain the peace and stability of the country and how they should not be partisan, and how they must be balanced in their reporting.

He advised them to continue to adhere to rules and regulations of the IMC more especially at this crucial stage of the electioneering period. According to him, misinformation or disinformation can cause chaos in the country.

One of the Commissioners of IMC, Emmanuel Turay, in his presentation stated that the Independent Media Commission Elections Coverage and Reporting Regulations 2022 contain guidelines for media practitioners and institutions regarding their work during elections.

He furthered that, the regulations were developed in accordance with provisions of the Independent Media Commission Act 2020. According to him, the Regulations replaced the provisions on elections coverage in the IMC Code of Practice, 2007.

Another Commissioner of the IMC, JT Lebbie, noted that, Media Institutions should not censor or edit materials submitted by political parties or their agents, stating how, proper editorial judgment should be exercised in favor of good taste and respect for public safety, security and morality.

‘’A publication or broadcast can be refused if materials are hateful, ethnically offensive and likely to provide public disorder or threaten the security of the state. Where publication or broadcast of such materials is refused, the concerned political party or its agent should be given an opportunity to modify the material in order to conform to acceptable standards.’’

The event was climaxed with  plenary discussions, and a question and answer session.

SLPP Fires Back

By Alpha Good Kamara

At a Press Conference held by the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) held on Thursday, 15th June 2023, the National Secretary General of the  Party, Umaru Napoleon Koroma, stated that the SLPP is gravely concerned about the deliberate attempts by the All People’s Congress (APC) to disrupt the peaceful elections and reverse the democratic gains Sierra Leone has made since the return to multi-party democracy in the late 1990s.

He continued by saying the general public would recall that on 11th May 2023, the All People’s Congress released a press statement which contained a call for a nationwide protest furthering how the press statement was followed by various reckless threats bordering on national security by the leadership of the All People’s Congress, including the National Secretary General, Lansana Dumbuya Esq., and the former APC Chairman of the Western Area Rural District Council, Kasho Holland Cole, as evidenced by a Sierra Leone Police’s press statement dated 20th May 2023.

The SLPP National Secretary General revealed that  in recent weeks, the APC’s call for a nationwide protest was purposefully amplified by the notorious APC member, “ADEBAYO” (residing in Holland) and carefully orchestrated for the 12th and 13th June, 2023.

He pointed out that the botched nationwide protest prematurely precipitated into the APC Press Conference held on Wednesday 14th June 2023 as part of sustained efforts to undermine the electoral process and create instability in the country.

Umaru Napoleon Koroma lamented that the controvertible statement by the APC Presidential Candidate, Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara at the press conference is nothing more than a compendium of unsubstantiated claims, conjectures, blatant inaccuracies and preposterous allegations by a candidate who is apprehensive of an embarrassing defeat at the forthcoming polls.

Accordingly, the Sierra Leone People’s Party hereby states the following: Demand by the APC Presidential Candidate for the resignation of the Chief Electoral Commissioner and other Electoral Commissioners is an outrageous attempt to use the Board of Electoral Commissioners as scapegoats for the ill-preparedness of the APC for the 24th June 2023 multi-tier elections.

He said the suggestion by the APC Presidential Candidate to replace the Board of Electoral Commissioners with a so-called “independent internationally accredited team of electoral commissioners” to conduct Sierra Leone’s national elections is disrespectful to our collective consciousness, an attack on the sovereignty of Sierra Leone and a specter of his unfitness to be elected as President and sovereign Head of State.

The SLPP National Secretary General maintained that the appointment of the Chief Electoral Commissioner was approved by the Parliament of Sierra Leone following due parliamentary scrutiny by the ruling and opposition Members of Parliament including APC members adding that  the accusation of any political association against the Chief Electoral Commissioner re-echoes a smear campaign by the APC, which should be roundly rejected by every well-meaning Sierra Leonean.

He intimated that His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio and the ECSL made an announcement for the date of the multi-tier elections over a year ago to provide all political parties adequate time to plan and prepare for the 24th June 2023 multi-tier elections.

According to him, several engagements have taken place over the last 12 months involving all political parties and election management bodies through the Political Parties Liaison Committee (chaired by ECSL) and the Election Steering Committee (co-chaired by the Chief Minister and the United Nations Resident Coordinator) to promote free, fair and credible elections.

He added that the APC has participated in Political Parties Liaison Committee meetings, where concerns relating to the electoral process have been raised and the ECSL has addressed those concerns in the presence of other political parties and members of the civil society.

Napoleon said the bogus demands and unacceptable deadline by the APC Presidential Candidate are merely characteristic shenanigans by a political party desperately seeking a postponement of the 24th June 2023 multi-tier elections that has the tendency to create a constitutional crisis in the country.

He disclosed that the SLPP will stoutly reject any attempt to disrupt the 24th June 2023 multi-tier elections as a result of APC’s failure to prepare for the multi-tier elections.

According to him,  without doubt, there is no law that requires ECSL to give a national Register of Voters to political parties saying any attempt by ECSL to provide political parties the disaggregated data of voters, including voters’ identification numbers, voters’ addresses, dates and places of birth will not only be in contravention of the privacy and confidentiality of voters but also endanger the lives and security of voters adding that  the voter ID cards issued to all voters do have sufficient information about all registered voters in Sierra Leone.

The National Secretary General stated that the SLPP reaffirms its confidence in the Board of Electoral Commissioners and admonishes the ECSL to continue discharging its functions within the provisions of the law maintaining that any aggrieved political party must seek judicial or administrative redress, in line with the constitution of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

He said the APC Presidential Candidate’s repeated assertion that the only outcome of  free and fair elections the APC will accept is an ‘APC victory’ sets a dangerous tone for a premeditated post-election violence by APC adding that such unfounded assertion is akin to the narrative the APC Presidential Candidate created in 2018 when he realized the APC had lost the elections to the SLPP and subsequently refused to concede defeat.

He added that all well- meaning Sierra Leoneans must robustly condemn the APC Presidential Candidate for sowing the seed of post-election violence through peddling such assertion.

The SLPP National Secretary General stated that the Presidential Candidate, members and supporters of the SLPP, confident of a resounding victory in the 24th June 2023 multi-tier elections, hereby call on all and sundry, to continue their peaceful election campaigns across the country.

He expressed regrets that the SLPP is surprised by the silence of members of the diplomatic community and civil society organizations to condemn APC’s systematic pattern of inciting violence and threats to undo the country’s democracy, peace and national security especially through the APC’s mouthpiece, ‘ADEBAYO’, who is financed by senior members of the APC.

Napoleon said at the very least, they expect local and international election monitoring bodies to issue a statement on the validity or otherwise accuracy of the claims made by the APC Presidential Candidate. Failure to do so would undermine their role as moral guarantors of the country’s democratic governance.

SLAJ  Condemns Attack on Journalists Before, During & After Elections

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

In a Press Release dated 15th June, 2023 it was lamentably stated by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) that it vehemently condemns attacks on its former President, Umaru Fofana, by members and supporters of the All People’s Congress (APC) during the party Flagbearer’s address to the media on Wednesday, 14th June, 2022 at the New Brookfields Hotel on Jomo Kenyatta Road in Freetown.

The attack on Umaru Fofana came barely a few days after Adebayor incited APC members to go up against media houses, citing AYV and 98.1 as primary targets.

According to the Press Statement of SLAJ, Umaru Fofana, was officially invited by the APC to cover the event and was confronted just outside the hall as he was hurrying to file his report by a large group of APC supporters who directed offensive remarks towards his mother.

According to Umaru, their hostility persisted as they pursued him to the hotel carpark, where they continued to subject him to further indecent language and gestures, and was threatened physically but he was rescued by some onlookers and a fellow journalist who guided him to a secure location.

SLAJ bemoans that this is not the first time the BBC and Reuters broadcaster have encountered similar attacks from both members and supporters of the APC, with some originating from influential figures within the party.

According to SLAJ, Fofana had brought it to the attention of the APC leadership every time he was attacked by the party’s supporters and members, who have never publicly condemned the action of their members or took any other action.

“This (attack on Fofana) is so unfortunate and appalling, coming from a party that invited journalists to listen to their grievances and to help convey them to the wider public. Political parties must note that it is also their responsibility to ensure the safety and security of journalists in the course of their duty, especially during the elections period,” said SLAJ President, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla.

SLAJ says it is calling on the APC to publicly denounce the recent attack on Fofana unequivocally and take appropriate action and proactive measures to encourage their supporters to desist from attacking journalists verbally and physically.

“We also call on all political parties and candidates contesting the June 24 elections to ensure the safety and well-being of journalists and other citizens engaging in their democratic duties at all times, especially with elections approaching and the political tension rising between political parties,” the Association demanded.

Meanwhile, SLAJ also says it is privy to the fact that the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Sidi Yayah Tunis, confirmed receiving a complaint from Fofana, and he promised to take it up with the party’s leadership.

“It is unfortunate and something we do not condone. None of us was present when it happened, but we will investigate and try to identify who was involved so we take strong action,” he assured.

According to the Publisher of The Calabash Newspaper, Amin Kef Sesay, it must be hammered that in a democratic society, journalists play a crucial role in keeping the public informed about Government activities and holding those in power accountable.

He said, however, journalists often face harassment and intimidation from politicians who seek to control the narrative and in that respect, it is essential for politicians to respect the freedom of the Press and allow journalists to do their work without interference or molestation.

He also maintained that additionally measures should be put in place to protect journalists before, during and after elections, as they are especially vulnerable during these times. Protecting the Freedom of the Press is essential for maintaining a healthy democracy, he concluded.

 

Save the Children Urges an End to Exploitation of Children in Politics

By Abubakarr Harding

In a collaborative effort to safeguard the rights of children and put an end to their exploitation and abuse in politics, Save the Children, the Children’s Forum Network, and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists at a Press Conference held on Thursday 15th June, 2023 called for an End to the Abuse and Use of Children in Politics. The Press Conference was held at Save the Children’s Headquarters on Aberdeen in Freetown.

During the conference, Ramatu Jalloh, the Director of Advocacy and Communication Section at Save the Children, expressed deep concern over reports of children being exploited and abused, involved in political activities, during the 2023 General Elections campaigns in Sierra Leone. She strongly condemned such actions and urged all political parties and candidates to immediately cease using children in political campaigns or for conveying political messages.

Jalloh emphasized that Sierra Leone, as a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, has a clear framework for the protection and well-being of children adding that Article 3 of the Convention highlights that the best interest of the child should be the primary consideration in all actions concerning them.

Furthermore, she stated that Article 32 emphasizes the right of children to be protected from economic exploitation and any work that may interfere with their education, harm their health, or hinder their development.

She asserted that the exploitation of children for political purposes not only violates their fundamental rights but also jeopardizes their well-being and future prospects.

According to her,  Children should never be used as pawns or instruments in political campaigns or activities saying such actions undermine their rights, expose them to potential harm, manipulation, and psychological distress.

Jalloh expressed deep disappointment over recent developments that disrupted children’s education disclosing that a majority of over 220,000 pupils taking the West African Senior Secondary Education Examination (WASSCE), primary and secondary school children, were either too scared to attend their exams or did not go to school on Monday, June 12th, and Tuesday, June 13th, 2023 adding how the disruption not only impacts their academic progress but also compromises their safety and mental well-being.

In light of these issues, Jalloh called upon all political parties, candidates, and their supporters to uphold the principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The following urgent actions were proposed:

– Immediately cease the use of children in political campaigns, protests, events, or activities.

– Ensure the protection of children from any form of exploitation, manipulation, or harm during the electoral process.

– Raise awareness within respective party structures and among supporters about the importance of safeguarding children’s rights.

– Encourage the reporting of instances of child exploitation to the appropriate authorities.

Jalloh concluded by appealing to the media, civil society organizations, and citizens to remain vigilant and report any instance of child exploitation or involvement in political activities to the nearest police station.

The statement was endorsed by Mahmoud Barrie, President of the Children’s Forum Network; Boi Janneh Jalloh, Executive Director of Foundation for Urban and Rural Transformation (FORUT); and Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists. The collaboration among these organizations is aimed at protecting the rights and well-being of children during political campaigns in Sierra Leone.

Shout Climate Change Africa & Partners Launch Climate Change Manifesto

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their efforts towards tackling environmental degradation and the negative effects of climate change in the country, Shout Climate Change Africa (SCCA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environmental & Climate Change, has on Monday 12th June 2023 launched Sierra Leone’s 1st Climate Change Manifesto with the theme: “Leaders Must Lead the Safety of Our Environment.” The launching ceremony was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel on Aberdeen in Freetown.

Speaking during the launch, the Chief Executive Officer /Founder of Shout Climate Change Africa, Finnex John Asibor, said Climate Change increases the appearance of more violent weather phenomena such as drought, increased fires incidents/accidents, the death of animal and plant species, flooding from rivers and lakes, the creation of climate refugees and destruction of the food chain and economic resources, especially in developing countries like Sierra Leone.

He added that Climate Change has proven to negatively impact development gains as well as impeding planned development efforts, especially for women, children, the elderly and the physically challenged (UNFCCC LDCs 2015 Position paper) adding that fighting climate change is therefore vital for sustainable economic development.

Finnex John Asibor pointed out that the causes of Climate Change and related environmental challenges/disasters hinge on our actions, especially how the political leaders can tackle it through strong commitments and Climate Action.

Commenting on the rationale for the Citizen’s Manifesto on Climate Change, he said in 2021, before the UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow, Sierra Leone prepared her Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC2) in accordance with the Paris Agreement and SCCA was part of validating NGOs that were happy with the chains of wide varieties of issues proposed for addressing Sierra Leone’s Climate Change challenges.

The Chief Executive Officer maintained that SCCA has observed that some of the citizens have seen the link between addressing climate change challenges and accompanying opportunities from job creation to economic/national development.

It is against this backdrop that SCCA carried out the “Perception Survey of Citizen’s Manifesto on Climate Change”.

He noted that the result of the survey has been developed into the present document and been launched as Sierra Leone’s Climate Change Manifesto to guide the various aspirants of the coming June 24th 2023 General Election in the drafting of their Parties’ Manifestoes knowing what the people feel and expect their incoming leaders to do with respect to “Climate Change and the Environment”.

The Executive Director of Action aid-Sierra Leone, Foday Bassie Swarray, commended the Shout Climate Change Africa for carrying out this perception survey which has produced a manifesto, stating that he wants political parties to consider this document in implementing environment and climate change related issues in their plans of activities for the next five years.

He informed that this is the first time he is witnessing an organization developing a climate change manifesto for political leaders to incorporate it into their manifestos.

Foday Bassie Swarray called on everyone to take climate change issues seriously as we are seeing the impact of climate change in our daily lives. Adding that the media should take this message to relevant authorities for them to take necessary action in tackling environmental degradation and the negative effects of climate change.

In his presentation on the Manifesto, the Environmental Officer, Shout Climate Change Africa, Samuel Jumah Kamara, said as Sierra Leone drawing to the close of its present political phase for the drawing board for either a renewal of a fresh mandate to the present regime or a transfer of same the mandate to another system, Shout Climate Change Africa conducted the citizen’s perception survey on climate change on what they know about the issue and what they think should be done to address climate change challenges.

He noted that the result of the survey is the reflection of this document that SCCA has titled : “Citizen’s Perception Manifesto on Climate Change for Consideration/Inclusion in the Political Parties’ Manifestos for the coming June 2023 General Election”.

Samuel Jumah Kamara stated that it is prescriptive for the political parties, but as a listening Government or a Government in waiting, each political party is reminded of the people’s expectation in addressing climate change and expressed hopes that the document will provide the necessary guidance as they are in the process of developing their political manifestos of what they will be doing in addressing the country’s development challenges.

He said that SCCA is with the strong conviction that this is the best time to “Shout Now or Never” for Political Parties to increase their commitment for the necessary Climate Action (SDG13) for the June 2023 General Election so that citizens can audit them in the 2028 election campaign.

The Environmental Officer, however, said the Manifesto recommended a commitment statement in the manifesto to address the contributing factors to climate change from National to Community action, adding that it also outline general actions that the party will do to address present national/global Climate Change challenges including accompanying budgetary allocation for necessary Climate Action.

He maintained that to support/encourage investment in organic manure and other non-environment depleting practices/production for the growth of the Sierra Leone economy a ban must be placed on the exportation of timbers and logs to enhance the country’s national climate actions that is being threatened by the timber and logging markets.

Representatives from different institutions including Rokel Commercial Bank, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance expressed appreciation to Shout Climate Change Africa for the laudable initiative in launching the Climate Change Manifesto.

They further made commitments towards tackling environmental degradation and the negative effects of climate change in the country.

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