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“The New Leone Is Dead On Arrival” Prince Macauley Was Right…

By Abubakarr Harding

One of Sierra Leone’s shrewd, seasoned and prolific Economists, Prince Jacob Macauley, prior to the introduction of the redenomination of the Leone, cautioned the Bank Governor and the Government that such a policy, if implemented, will be counter-productive, adding that the “new currency is dead on arrival”, mainly because the conditions for the redenomination of the Leone were not available. However, the Governor did not heed to his caution and today the Leone continues to plummet in value to the dollar with the redenomination boomeranging creating a situation where currently the Old and the New Leones are in circulation.

In an exclusive interview with this medium, Prince Macauley noted that one of the conditions that must exist for a redenomination of the currency to be effective is that there should be a low inflation rate, with the tendency of it decreasing. In other words, the inflation rate in the country must be low and there must be the possibility of it reducing further.

Macauley argued vehemently that one of the prevailing conditions during which the Bank Governor proposed the redenomination was such that there was high inflation, heavy taxation and failure of several economic policies to revamp the economy.

It must be recalled that the Bank Governor had, prior to the redenomination, embarked on the printing of the old notes some three time, auctioned the dollar some three time, placed ban on the amount of foreign exchange one could have in on one’s possession or the banks could give out etc. All those were signs, he pointed out at that time, to reaffirm that the economy was not growing and inflation was rising, and that as such it was not the best time for a redenomination of the Leone to take place.

The erudite Economist maintained how the Bank Governor failed to look at the determining factors that give values to a country’s currency  which are the factors that  influence the successful outcome of any currency redenomination and these must involve affordable prices of goods and services, living wages, salaries, pensions, debts, reasonable rents, low exchange rates and taxes. He furthered that in times of inflation the purchasing power of a country’s currency is weak reiterating that inflation adversely affects purchasing power and daily transactions. Macauley intimated that the Bank Governor failed to look at the challenges and impact on the Economy that the redenomination will cause.

Macauley maintained that it is not a surprise that the redenomination has faced difficulties, which has led people to go for the dollar, adding that as the value of the Leone continues to depreciate on a daily basis, many people are changing their Leones for dollar. He made mention of a scenario, where a customer has some Le200 million in his account when the dollar rate was at Leone 1,000,000 (one million); his account in dollars will be $20,000, but now, with the recent increase in the dollar to about Leone 2 million, the customer’s account will deteriorate to $10,000. This situation, Macauley argued that such will lead people to lose confidence in the Leone, hence the current rise in the rate of the dollar against the Leone.

NP’s Contribution to Socio-Economic Development is Immense & Impactful

National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL-Ltd)

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

NP-SL Ltd, it has been confirmed, is a successful enterprise that is hugely contributing to the socio-economic development of this nation.

This assertion could be justified when cognizance is taken of the company’s serious deepening of the country’s Local Content Policy as vividly evident in giving exceptional preference to employing indigenes contrary to bringing in foreign expatriates to execute certain tasks. This laid down policy that is strictly implemented has created room for the employment of Sierra Leoneans who have the requisite qualifications and skills giving them the opportunity to take care of personal responsibilities.

This admirable quality that NP-SL Ltd has been exhibiting throughout the years by the proper implementation of the country’s Local Content Policy is geared towards giving preferential treatment to indigenes or making use of local ingredients, in the form of human and material resources, instead of depending on those that are acquired through importation.

The company has deepened the laid down policy of giving preferential employment consideration to indigenes instead of relying on expatriates.  As long as Sierra Leoneans have the requisite qualifications and skills they are first considered for various vacant positions in the company. The greatest advantage is that the policy has made it possible for indigenes to be gainfully employed and live improved standards of living.

“I cannot find words to express how delighted I am as I can proudly say that NP-SL has changed my life completely since the company employed me,” one of the workers at NP Cotton Tree joyfully intimated The Calabash when this medium went out on a fact finding mission.

“As far as I have assessed in this country it is only NP-SL Ltd that has such a pragmatic policy of maintaining a policy that gives job preferential treatments to Sierra Leoneans and I have great respect for the indigenous company,” Raymond Cole, a Social Commentator eulogized.

With the introduction of NP Smart Card, which has gone viral, the Card can be credited with money and the amount of money utilized to buy fuel is debited after every transaction. With the use of NP Smart Card, customers are saved the hassle of having to always move with physical cash in their possession in order to purchase fuel and indeed there are times when one may not have time to rush to the bank to make withdrawals. Customers, who are holders and users of NP Smart Card, are at the vantage position to properly budget, through the amount that is contained in the card to buy fuel, during a considerable period of time, say a week or a month. Indeed, NP Smart Card has become trending.

In order to ensure that their customers derive value for money, it was thought prudent on the part of Shareholders and Management to make use of state of the art and highly modernized calibrated pumping machines which were installed at the company’s different Filling Stations capable of pumping the exact quantity of fuel, be it petrol or diesel, that a particular customer requested for.

This fine move by the company has helped to instill confidence among customers that they are really dealing with a very transparent business entity and getting what they are paying for. This singular business strategy has got many glued to a petroleum company that is considered to be marketing the best of petroleum products which include petrol, diesel, gas and high grade lubricants, one of which is the most sought out Castrol oil, said to be very good for the proper functioning of engines.

The company also markets NP Gas which is a cooking device that is manufactured in different cylinder sizes and sold at the company’s Filling Stations across the country. It can be easily refilled with gas, is said to be non-hazardous to the health of individuals and easy to operate. Its performance has been rated high and many are indeed going for it.

One yardstick that could be used to assess the potency and vibrancy of a company is how well it is entrenched or established. With regards NP-SL Ltd, one can actually see that the company, over the years, has grown by leaps and bounds as seen in its opening of branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. All these NP branches, within the sub-region, are functioning very efficiently and contributing immensely towards the socio-economic development of those host countries.

From all that have been said so far, it could be argued with all amount of certainty that NP-SL Ltd is indeed a highly successful and very competitive petroleum company that continues to stand tall within the business landscape of this country. And from the look of things it is poised to reach higher heights.

CODE Takes Students on Recreational Outing to No 2 River after Exams

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

It was all fun throughout on the 11th March, 2022 at the No. 2 beach at the Western Rural Peninsula as Management, Staff and Students of one top notch educational entities in the country, the College of Digital Excellence (CODE), situated on 36 Main Motor Road, Congo Cross in Freetown where warmly interacting and socializing in an outing that they organized in order to foster more understanding, make new friends and above provide an opportunity for them to relax away from their normal life routines.

Speaking to the Press, the Founder and Director of CODE, Niaharika Agnani, intimated that she strongly believes that acquisition of education should not only be limited to routine academic work but should also include social interaction, teamwork and networking.

“The students have been studying very hard for their exams and were excited about the outing,” she disclosed adding that it is an event that was deemed necessary to organize as it availed them ,especially the students to have fun after working so hard in the pursuit of their various courses.

Alhaji Abdullah Kamara, an IT student at CODE, informed this medium that he and his companions have been eagerly looking forward to such an activity that would foster networking amongst students. At the beach Alhaji revealed that they will be playing football and other games adding those who are adept in swimming will do so but said he will advise those who do not have the ability not to venture as it could be risky.

He also noted that the outing will serve as an outreach event to showcase the college and what it has to offer to the public.

Kadiatu Sesay, a Bachelor of Computer Application student, explained that the college has lined up a series of activities for the event, including sporting and traditional fun activities and a dancing competition for all of the college students who are divided into various categories.

She said there are several prizes for the winners.

This medium reliably learnt that the event has been added to CODE’s event calendar and is expected to become an annual occurrence.

The college believes that social interaction is an important part of education and that events like such can help students to build lasting relationships with each other.

According to research, social interaction is essential for mental health and well-being. Studies have shown that people who have strong social connections are happier, healthier and more resilient to stress.

Social interaction also helps to improve academic performance by reducing stress levels and promoting positive attitudes towards learning.

The CODE outing was a great opportunity for students to take a break away from their academic work and have some fun. It was also an opportunity for them to meet new people and build lasting relationships.

Management of the college believes that events like this can help to create a positive and supportive learning environment for students.

VP Juldeh Assures of Resolving the Yenga Issue is a Top Government Priority

Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has assured the people of Koindu and Yenga that, resolving the Yenga saga remains a top priority to the Government of President Julius Maada Bio.

Visiting Yenga over the weekend, Vice President Juldeh said that the Yenga issue will be amicably resolved in a way that will not affect the cordial relationship between Guinea and Sierra Leone.

“Guinea and Sierra Leone are two countries but one people. We are the same people with the same tradition and culture. We will solve this problem in a way that will not affect the two countries and their people. Even though we were divided by our colonial masters, we will not allow that division to continue,” Dr. Jalloh assured.

Emphasizing the mutual relationship between Guinea and Sierra Leone, the Vice President said that there is a serious engagement between the Government of Guinea and Sierra Leone aiming to plan a better development structure for both countries.

On the road network, he said that Kailahun will be connected with Koindu pretty soon as the Government is hoping to secure more funding for the road.

“We want to restore Koindu as an international market where traders from Guinea and Liberia will come to buy goods,” he said.

Vice President also engaged Paramount Chiefs, the security sector and stakeholders in seeking a lasting solution to the problem.

In another engagement, the Honourable Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh has ended four days tour to the provincial districts of Moyamba, Kenema, Kailahun, Bo, and Tonkolili. The tour started on Thursday and ended on Monday. The purpose of the tour was to engage the people in the provinces on the achievements of President Julius Maada Bio Administration. In his address, the Honourable Vice President assured the provincial people of President Bio’s determination to develop every community in Sierra Leone. He stated that development programmes such as road, electricity, hospital and school are fundamental needs every Sierra Leonean must enjoy. One critical sector the Vice President described as a vehicle for development is road construction, adding that road construction brings development such as market, school, electricity, healthcare facilities, and improve on food production. He catalogued the achievements of President Bio including education, health, agriculture, electricity and food production.

Vice President Jalloh disclosed that the New Direction Government has increased energy supply from 16-34% from 2018 to 2022, stressing that in few months energy supply will increase beyond 50%. He said that the Bio Presidency has allocated 22% of the national budget to education, and has increased school enrolment of pupils to over two million. He again informed about the progressive increase of health budget from 6-11.7% from 2018 to present.

In Moyamba, Vice President Jalloh launched the 3rd National Nutrition Trade Fair meant for farmers to display their agricultural nutritional products locally grown. He described nutrition as something that is good and important which support and prevent women and children from malnutrition. He encouraged Sierra Leoneans to adopt very good eating habit of nutritious food.

He informed the people about the commencement of the Kailahun-Buedu road construction, and the approval of fund for the construction of the remaining Buedu-Koindu road project as well as the completion of the Moa (Makona) River Bridge linking Sierra Leone and Guinea from the Yenga axis by the Africa Development Bank. He maintained that the completion of the Kailahun-Koindu road project and the Makona River Bridge will increase the movement of people between the two countries.

In Yele, Gbonkolenken Chiefdom, Tonkolili District Vice President Jalloh expressed the New Direction Government desire to construct the Bo-Yele Road and the Yele-Matotoka Road, adding that the road is very strategic linking the south and the north. He called on the people of Gbonkolenken to work with him and bring development to the chiefdom.

He admonished the residents to collect their voter ID cards and vote wisely in the coming June 24, 2023 Presidential and General elections.

Vice President Jalloh held meetings with stakeholders and the public in Koindu, Kenema, Bo, Monghere, Yele, Mayopoh, and Magburaka where he briefed people on the successes of President Bio’s New Direction Government.

Neneh Bah Jalloh, Coordinator of Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Secretariat told the gathering that Sierra Leone is among the first five countries selected to pilot the food system programme out of sixty-one countries.

Paramount Chief Emmanuel Nyuma Ganawa III of Kissi Teng Chiefdom explained that the main means of survival by the people in the chiefdom is farming. He informed the Vice President that the present Yenga issue is affecting the residents who are migrating to other communities as a result of the presence of the Guinean soldiers. He appealed to Vice President Jalloh to engage President Bio on their behalf so that the Yenga issue is resolved.

Hon. Bai Conteh, former Member of Parliament of Constituency 051 and former Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Coalition for Change Party in the 2018 Presidential election appealed to Vice President Jalloh to use his good office for the construction of the Bo-Yele, Yele-Matotoka Road, and the Mile 91-Magburaka road. He noted that Yele is at the center of Sierra Leone; therefore, the chiefdom should stand out.

WANEP-SL Discloses Plan & Strategies ahead of 2023 Elections

As Sierra Leone prepares for the 24th June 2023 elections and based on the role played by the media in promoting peace and democracy in the country, the West Africa Network for Peace Building –Sierra Leone (WANEP-SL) on Friday 10th March 2023 organized a press conference at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Aberdeen in Freetown at which event, the National Network Coordinator, Dr. Isata Mahoi, who also chaired the event, enlightened that their mission is to enable and facilitate the development of mechanisms for cooperation among civil society-based peacebuilding practitioners and organizations in Sierra Leone to promote cooperative responses  to violent conflicts.

She disclosed WANEP-SL’s plan for the June 2023 elections which according to her involves “Operationalizing the National Election Response Group (NERG) and Insider Mediation and Negotiation Council during the 2023 Electioneering process in Sierra Leone”, further underscoring that WANEP is also providing the structure through which these practitioners and institutions would regularly exchange experiences and information on issues of peacebuilding, conflict transformation, social, religious and political reconciliation and promote  Sierra Leone’s social cultural values as resources for peacebuilding and that they are exploring ways of replicating the training.

According to Dr. Mahoi, together with the efforts of other actors within and outside Sierra Leone, WANEP-SL is proud to be part of the process that has resulted in the ongoing relative peace prevailing in the country disclosing that it has been actively instrumental in working with other partners to manage pre-election conflicts in order to maintain and build the peace.

She informed that the Network has made significant contributions to building peace in the country through capacity enhancement of its member organizations underlining that its primary strategy is advocacy to push initiatives or influence policies that would consolidate the peace attained in the country and that since the war was officially declared ended on 18th January 2002, prominent initiatives undertaken include coordinating civil society initiatives and creating linkages with international partners, developing an effective National Early Warning System (NEWS) including training of peace monitors in early warning, early response and early action as part of its preventive peacebuilding approach.

Dr. Mahoi continued that WANEP is also working with Government line ministries and other women’s groups towards the development of a National Action Plan on 1325 in partnership with the Mano River Women’s Peace Network and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, promoting women’s empowerment for protection, preventing abuses and violations and promoting women’s rights, promoting Peace Education programs in schools and colleges and the Peace and Development Forum which brings together peace building organizations to provide update on activities, share experiences and exchange knowledge as a learning platform and agree on common peace building actions.

Highlighting WANEP’s six strategic objectives, she articulated that it is to ensure that the network is well-capacitated, organized, stronger and functional demonstrated by building a common front in its advocacy work for a peaceful Sierra Leone, enhance the use of early warning and conflict prevention to promote violence free communities in the country and in support of response initiatives that remain a challenge to the network, the women in peacebuilding network aimed at building the capacity of women to enhance their roles in peacebuilding and transformation in Sierra Leone.

Other strategic objectives are to broaden the youth and peace education programs and support youth participation and voice issues of governance, peace and security, increase WANEP’s research capacity towards supporting policy advocacy, providing knowledge products for effective decision-making, leveraging partnerships and strengthening WANEP’s institutional capacity and that of its member organizations to deliver on their mandate.

She further informed that it is in these peace and human security deficits that WANEP is using the oppo0rtunity to inform the public about current challenges that lie ahead of the electioneering processes for citizens, partners and peacebuilding practitioners to reflect on and how to address those challenges and reminded all that three months to the elections and the process of consolidation of the Sierra Leone democratic process, it is fraught with constraints and challenges, especially with regards to the conduct of the elections .

The press conference was preceded by a five-day training of 22 participants on election mediation and dialogue with Mr. PerBajalkander, Peace Mediation Specialist from the Folke Bernedetta Academy in Sweden as one of the facilitators.

Mr. PerBajalkander disclosed that his organization works on peace, development and security issues to prevent conflicts worldwide, revealed that the training on election mediation and dialogue is for peaceful conduct of the June 2023 elections and pledged their continued support to WANEP.

In his statement, the United Nations Development Program Resident Representative, Pa Lamin Beyai asserted that the 22 participants would utilize the training many years after the June 2023 elections and commended the funders for the training, the UN Peacebuilding Fund. He encouraged them to settle disputes justly maintaining that the history of the country is not good in terms of conflicts, warning that countries that have emerged from war can easily slip back into war and expressed hope that the training would be utilized for credible and successful June 2023 elections.

Highlights of the event were presentation of certificates to participants and the question and answer session.

Sierra Leone Joins other Countries to Observe Commonwealth Day

President Dr Julius Maada Bio on Monday 13th March, 2023   raised the Flag for Peace at 8:00 am Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), marking Commonwealth Day 2023, urging a sustainable and peaceful future among member nations.

The Day, an annual celebration observed by people all over the Commonwealth in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe, combines the active commitment of member states to support the promotion of peace, prosperity and sustainability to secure a better future for young people and improve the lives of all Commonwealth citizens.

“We celebrate Commonwealth Day this year by raising the peace flag in order to demonstrate our collective solidarity and commitment to peace as a central tenet of the Commonwealth Charter that we signed 10 years ago.

“Sierra Leone joins over 2.4 billion citizens of our beautifully diverse Commonwealth to reflect on our shared history and celebrate our shared values and principles that have kept us connected and strengthened through the challenges of our time.

“This year’s theme, ‘Forging a sustainable and peaceful common future’ calls on us, Commonwealth nations, to deepen cooperation not only in solving our shared challenges, but also in supporting individual nations to build and promote just, peaceful, and progressive societies,” he said.

The President also encouraged individual nations, even as they grappled with the crippling socio-economic effects of COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, climate change, and other global structural imbalances, to continue to work together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the collective vision of Commonwealth.

“Additionally, in this Commonwealth Year of Youth, we must commit to galvanizing concrete actions across the Commonwealth to invest in improving the lives and futures of young people.

“Let me close by commending us all, especially my colleague Commonwealth Heads of State and Government, for safeguarding the Commonwealth vision which offers hope and inspires us to find ways of protecting our planet and our people,” he said.

On 28 February 2023, President Dr Julius Maada Bio was presented with the Flag for Peace by Professor Luis G. Franceschi, the Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General for Governance and Peace Directorate.

He was accompanied by Dr. Michelle Scobie, Head of Commonwealth Good Offices, and Abubakar Abdullahi, Peace and Development Officer in the Good Offices, Governance, and Peace Directorate.

Hon. Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah Emerges as APC Running Mate

By Fatmata Jengbe

At a jam parked head office of the APC Party in Freetown on Monday 13th March 2023 Hon. Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah was revealed to be the running mate to Dr. Samura Kamara, the party’s flag bearer for the 2023 polls. The announcement was made by Dr Samura after a NAC meeting.

Also, Hon. Komboh Kamara was approved as the National Campaign Chairman for June 24th 2023 General Elections.

It must be noted that out of 5 women and 6 men who wanted to be Running Mates of APC, Dr. Samura Kamara choose Chericoco while endorsing Hon. Komboh Kamara as the National Campaign Chairman for the June 24 Elections.

Hon. Bah is a seasoned politician who has served fifteen years in the legislature. He was also the running mate to Samura in the 2018 elections that saw his party relegated to the opposition.

LAJ’s Fate to be Decided this Coning Friday

Justice Fisher on the 13th March 2023 pronounced that the accused person, Alhaji Amadu Bah (alias LAJ), is guilty on four counts of robbery and assault. According to the Judiciary Communications Unit, the judge has suspended the sentencing of LAJ till Friday 17th March 2023 when the convict is expected to make a plea mitigation.

LAJ is a Sierra Leonean musician who was accused of Robbery and other related offences and he is providing background to the case.

LAJ was arraigned on a four Counts indictment, amended on October, 2022 as repealed and replaced by Section 2 of the Imperial Statutes, No. 16 of 1971.

The Judiciary Communications Unit reported that the accused could face up to fifteen years imprisonment or less depending on his plea mitigation.

Our New Lungi, Our New Airport: The People of Lungi Blubber

An Analysis By Alimamy Lahai Kamara

The crowd was unimaginably massive! A confluence of indigenes from all direction sewn in hysteria – those in Masoila and Tintafor, who for years had dreamt of the resurrection of Lungi; those in Rutifunk, Kambia, and Lungi town, who for similar years had fought for an un-separated Lungi from its historic image; and those in Kingsway, Banda Wharf and Malokoh, who had advocated the retention of ‘Lungi’ in Lungi so that Lungi lives and lives a flourishing life – thronged onto the airport to cheer commissioning of an edifice that holds the livelihood of a people domiciled in a district impoverished by acute unemployment and a pleasant political inattention.

I saw them; I read their faces; I understood the meaning they communicated: despair excusing hope, anguish excusing joy, and diffidence excusing pride for a township that mirrors the hospitality of a Sierra Leonean people unique in the world.

A school teacher said this to me: “this is all what we have. It is our symbol of hope, a symbol of development, and a symbol of beauty. The airport is not only of economic importance to us, it is part of the history of the people of Port Loko that defines our unique identity of being borne in an area that carries the image of the country, which stands as an emblem of peace, unity and freedom.”

This however suggests a deeper connection overriding social and economic relations rooted in the tradition of the people of Lungi, who might have ritualized the airport over fifty years ago or so and would offer traditional sacrifices annually as part of the broader ceremonies held for the township. This might be why the airport refused to go to Mamamah. The gods disallowed it! Runway of the existing airport terminal was last expanded in 1967, presupposing that Lungi and the airport have come a long way.

Paramount Chief, Bai Shebora Sheba Gbereh III of Kaffu Bullom was happy, extremely pleased that the airport stayed. At the launch of the commencement of work of the new terminal two years ago he said they were overwhelmed with joy for the project. That was the Paramount Chief speaking! He upholds the solemnity of tradition in the chiefdom; he is the symbol of honour and the fountain for all ceremonies held in daytime and in the twilight; and he speaks for the people including deities and ancestors, communicating that the gods are equally happy for the retention of the airport and construction of an ultra modern terminal.

One commentator by the name of Peter Beckley narrated his experience as he witnessed opening of the airport: “it was an experience close to hysteria. A joy that makes you want to scream and shed tears. Its mere appearance takes your breath away, an experience I believe every visitor that passes through our airport in the future will feel.”

What you see, as what Beckley saw, is a masterpiece outlay of interlocking emblazoning components of spacious accommodations craft-worked with the finest artistry known to man to reflect a unique sparkling attraction of an infrastructure holding spellbound the eyes of visitors at every visit and spiraling pride in the minds of the locals for their effervescent edifice.

This is why President Bio said he has delivered; he has served Port Loko; he has rekindled a lost glory for the people of Kaffu Bullom; and he has injected a sense of pride in the people of Sierra Leone, since this is the first time in the history of Sierra Leone a completely new airport terminal has been constructed.

The President sounds bold; he is audacious; and he is gallant. His words are tough, firm and spirited. This communicates his character, indicates his desire, and shows his impression about the airport. He said: “I have done the work; feel free to look at the work I have done and tell other Sierra Leoneans whether you have seen such an airport in Sierra Leone [before]. It is simply one of the best and the most modern in the entire sub-region.” The President is pointing to his legacy upon which he is to be evaluated and graded at a time when hardly any similar investment is taking place or has taken place in Africa in the face of a pandemic that has enchained the world in a cataclysmic debacle. I so join other commentators who share the view that Sierra Leone has become an investment destination. It has made itself worthy, credible, and reliable. Investor confidence is guaranteed. The Summa Group is a reminding example.

At no time than now that the notion of infrastructural development has dominated discussions of development partners, dominated academic presentations across Africa, and dominated government assemblies. In his address at the pre-summit luncheon of the Fifth United Nations conference on Least Developed Countries (LDC) in Doha, President Bio had this to say: “we should therefore be unrelenting in our drive to provide unprecedented leadership and political will, mobilize resources, strengthen our efforts and collaborate closely at regional and inter-regional levels to strengthen global governance, make trade regimes fairer, boost productivity, and invest in infrastructure to foster economic growth.

What is clear in the minds of economists and in fact clearer in the minds of politicians is that infrastructural development is the foundation for the growth and development of any society with the potential to stimulate economic activities and facilitate social harmony through the provision of employment. A well fed man, is a well tamed man!

This underscores the approach of government functionaries at the highest level to continue to make calls at international platforms for investment and for infrastructural investment. President Bio understands this and continues to make incessant calls for economic growth through investment. In his statement delivered during the general debates at the Fifth United Nations conference on LCDs in Doha he said: “we therefore renew calls for debt relief and investment in connectivity and infrastructure that support economic diversification.”

To my mind, the continuous calls made by the government of Sierra Leone for foreign direct investment are being heard. This presupposes that the country has gained respectability among its peers and has restored investor confidence which we have lost long ago. I must restate here that countries in Africa and in the West now treat Sierra Leone as an equal, as a democracy, and as a vital player in the world community of civilized nations. It was on Thursday 9th March 2023 the United Kingdom Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly signed a memorandum of understanding for trade and investment with his Sierra Leonean counterpart in Freetown, not even in the UK. Powers, big or small, will now come to Freetown to approve economic and social relations. Sierra Leone is being taken seriously. This is the extent of the advocacy mounted by government about a rebranded Sierra Leone has blossomed. I am so proud of my country. I am, indeed!

Music for Girls Celebrates Icon Women on International Women’s Day

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In commemorating International Women’s Day 2023 in the country, Music for Girls Initiative Africa and partners with support from Orange Foundation Sierra Leone has on Saturday 11th March, 2023 celebrated Icon Women during their one-day International Women’s Day Conference on the theme: “Dear Girl, Dare to Dream”. The conference was held at the New Freetown City Hall on Wallace Johnson Street in Freetown.

Speaking to this medium, the Founder/Executive Director of Music for Girls Initiative Africa, Esther Michael, said that the organization is a registered non-governmental entity that is geared towards equipping and empowering girls and women, giving them a voice, hope and support, adding that the organization over the years strived to reduce gender-based violence to the barest minimum in the country

She revealed that in 2014 Sierra Leone experienced an Ebola Outbreak of which she said during that period the country recorded the highest rate of teenage pregnancy, adding that this and many other issues triggered her to establish Music for Girls Initiative Africa.

Esther Michael furthered that since inception the organization has inspired, supported and empowered girls through the Arts in order to fight against illiteracy, child marriage, rape, teenage pregnancy, mental abuse and gender inequality in the country.

She said organizing the International Women’s Day Conference with the theme: “Dear Girl, Dare to Dream” is a motivation to girls present in order for them to know how unique and wonderful they are as girls. She added that the conference was also part of their continuous support towards addressing issues faced by women and girls in the country.

Esther Michael encouraged girls to believe in themselves underscoring that they should Dare to Dream, adding that as girls no matter what, they can live their dreams and that they have all what it takes for them to become whoever they want to become in life.

The Director of Orange Sierra Leone Foundation, Jestina Betts, commended the move by Music for Girls Initiative Africa for the laudable initiative which she further described as very important towards  motivating girls in order for them to believe in themselves and also address the underlying issues faced by women and girls in the country.

She emphasized that she will continue to encourage girls present during the International Women’s Day Conference that they should dare to dream no matter the challenges they are faced with as girls.

Girls present at the ceremony applauded Music for Girls Africa Initiative for staging the International Women’s Day Conference which according to them has positively impacted them as girls.

The event was climaxed with performances demonstrated by girls from different schools.

 

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