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President Bio Identifies Opportunities for Member States to Engage on the Doha Programme of Action

President Julius Maada Bio on the 4th March, 2023 addressed the pre-summit luncheon of the Fifth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) on the opportunities for member countries to engage and identify actions and partnerships at the highest possible level.

After acknowledging the sterling leadership of His Excellency Lazarus Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, at a very difficult period for the world and in particular for low-income countries, he expressed optimism that the engagement from the 5th to the 9th March would be the best possible ways to implement the Doha Programme of Action (DPoA).

“It is a comprehensive and ambitious agenda that will get us on track to achieving the SDGs [Sustainable Development Goals], especially at a time when Africa and other countries in special situations face a myriad of interlocking challenges including food and energy insecurity, the climate crisis, and shrinking development finance. We believe that the effective implementation of the DPoA will bring about transformative changes in the lives of millions of people in the LDCs,” he noted.

He called on members of the global south to explore the possibilities of leveraging expertise and resources through South-South Cooperation for the timely implementation of the DPoA.

“Sierra Leone remains committed to implementing the 2030 Agenda. It informs our national development agenda through the key accelerator Goals: SDG4 (Education) and SDG16 (Justice). Sierra Leone will continue to implement policies that ensure basic, accessible, and inclusive quality education for all children.

“Sierra Leone will further continue to provide leadership for the g7+ Countries as we work on transitioning from fragility to inclusive sustainable development,” he assured.

President Bio also congratulated the incoming Chair of the LDC Group, the Government of Nepal, assured of his cooperation and support and used the occasion to thank His Highness Tamin Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar, the host, for being a strategic development partner.

“Our world faces multiple vulnerabilities, including growing inequality and poverty, hunger, armed conflicts and terrorism, climate change, and pandemics. These vulnerabilities continue to impede the capacities and thus progress of LDCs toward the SDGs.

“As decision-makers, we should generate the political momentum needed to support the implementation of the six priority areas outlined in the DPoA and other development frameworks.

“As we engage in the days ahead, we must intensify the call on our development partners to bridge the financing divide, increase access to affordable long-term financing and investments, and also proffer alternatives for debt relief and borrowing terms. All this can be done with a view to enhancing recovery and achieving sustainable development,” he said.

President Julius Maada Bio further recalled that the target for the Istanbul Programme of Action, which was meant to graduate half of the LDCs by 2020, could not be achieved due to multifaceted global challenges that continue to adversely affect LDCs.

“We should, therefore, be unrelenting in our drive to provide unprecedented leadership and political will, mobilise 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 that foster economic growth. My delegation looks forward to engaging constructively on the foregoing and more in the coming days,” he concluded.

The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to accelerate sustainable development in the places where international assistance is needed the most – and to tap the full potential of the Least Developed Countries helping them make progress on the road to prosperity.

 

The ‘Brand New’ or ‘Extended’ Airport & Its Benefits

A Commentary By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The political argument about whether the Freetown International Airport in Lungi which was officially commissioned by President Julius Maada Bio on Friday 3rd March, 2023 is a ‘brand new’ airport or ‘an appendage’ or ‘extension’ of the existing airport should not be the issue.

The real issue Sierra Leoneans must be thinking of is: How will this airport with state-of-the-art technology and facilities benefit Sierra Leone going forward?

Sierra Leone’s politicians have a very bad habit. They have a way of making something which is good for the general good of the public and for generations to come seem inferior, unimportant, useless, fake, needless or bogus, simply because they are not the ones to have initiated the project, building or what-have-you they are criticizing. This is very unpatriotic to say the least.

That said, it is no longer news that last Friday 3rd March, 2023, President Julius Maada Bio officially commissioned what he described as a brand-new international airport built with all necessary state-of-the-art technology and facilities that would greatly enhance passenger influx, airport and aviation management, boost tourism among other progressives for the country, and not for the SLPP alone.

What Sierra Leoneans need to understand is that the new airport project is a $270million ‘Build Operate Transfer (BOT)’ project between the SUMMA Group (a Turkish company) and the Government of Sierra Leone. The project was conceived, planned, and developed by the Office of Presidential Infrastructure Initiative as one of the strategic flagship projects of the Government.

The newly-completed Freetown International Airport has a new passenger terminal, a new VIP/ Presidential terminal, a new air traffic control tower, a new parallel runway, a new cargo terminal, a new search and rescue/fire-fighting facility and a new car park among many other new technological and state-of-the-art facilities.

As stated earlier, it matters not how our politicians see or describe this project, the reality is that at the end of it all, Sierra Leone will have a brand-new airport with modern international facilities and services that would change the dynamics of passenger travel to Sierra Leone, boost tourism and add value to the standard or our airport and our country.

While we hold no brief for President Julius Maada Bio, his Government or the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority (SLCAA), it should be noted that the purpose of the new airport in Sierra Leone is to attract more airlines so that it can be a transit hub. It is hoped that the new management will market the airport internationally to attract more airlines to Freetown.

According to the SUMMA Group of Turkey which constructed the airport, it is a ” brand new airport” constructed in a different location in Lungi from scratch. The entrance to the new airport is from the Port Loko Road away from where the old one is. It has the capability, space and personnel to host up to ten (10) planes at every given point in time with a capacity of 50,000 passengers monthly compared to 10,000 monthly using the old airport.

The above are just part of the overall benefits the new airport will bring for Sierra Leone in the short and long term. Another benefit is that the new airport is constructed on the ‘green model’ which emphasizes on the construction of solar panels to supply energy to the terminal building and runway on twenty-four hours basis, seven days a week.

It is little wonder that the Chairman of the official commissioning ceremony of the new airport, Alhaji Alpha Kanu who doubles as Presidential Spokesman mentioned that the new airport on completion symbolizes a new beginning for Sierra Leone, adding that, it is the forerunner to a new smart city in the near future.

Indeed, as stated earlier, we should be talking benefits, not politics when it comes to national development. Any political party could have done this with Sierra Leone being the focal point and benefactor.

50/50 Group Calls for Popularization of the GEWE Act 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

With the aim of bringing together women leaders and other stakeholders to deliberate on the existing policies and laws that seek to address inequality and discrimination against women and girls in the country, Fifty-Fifty Group Sierra Leone, in partnership with Social Enterprise Development (SEND),with support from the European Union and Irish Aid on Friday 3rd February 2023 concluded its 3rd annual two-day National Women’s Conference on the theme: “Beyond Broken Promises: Making 2023 the Year of Accountability for Women in Sierra Leone.”

The two days conference which brought together women representatives from the 16 districts across the country was held at the Fifty-Fifty Group headquarters on Tower Hill in Freetown.

Giving the purpose of the conference, the Past President of Fifty-Fifty Group Sierra Leone, Haja Mariama Fofanah, stated that the two days conference seeks to discuss the limitations and barriers to women’s increased participation especially at the political decision-making levels.

She disclosed that during the two days conference presenters and those who will be discussing (both male and female) drawn from diverse fields will present a contextual analysis of the various topics such as the status of the recommendations of the constitutional review process and the advantages and disadvantages of the Proportional Representation System for women, amongst others.

She stated that participants enriched the discussion and contributed to the development of a national action plan, which at the end of the two-day deliberations they handed over to political parties for their review and commitment to the full implementation of the plan.

Haja Mariama Fofanah reiterated that the rationale behind the engagement was to bring together women leaders and other stakeholders to deliberate on the existing policies and laws that seek to address inequality and discrimination against women and girls with the theme “Beyond Broken Promises: Making 2023 the Year of Accountability for Women in Sierra Leone.”

In her keynote address, Basita Michael Esq expressed appreciation for the conference’s theme, “Beyond Broken Promises: Making 2023 the year of Accountability for Women in Sierra Leone” which she said holds a critical significance.

Basita Michael Esq also stated that Sierra Leone has made some progress and significant strides in recognizing and protecting women’s rights through the adoption of various legal and policy frameworks. Some of the key laws and policies that address women’s rights in Sierra Leone include: the Sierra Leone Constitution, of which, she said the constitution guarantees the right to equality before the law and prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex.

She added that the 1991 Constitution also promised that every citizen shall have equality of rights, obligations and the State shall ensure equal rights and access to all opportunities and benefits. It also promised protection from discrimination.

Basita Michael Esq maintained that the promises made by political parties in and outside their manifestos have promised that women will be empowered and discrimination against them will not be tolerated and that an examination of their manifestoes will illustrate that.

She said that despite those promises and the efforts, both nationally and internationally, there are still overwhelming challenges and shortcomings in turning these commitments into reality and women in Sierra Leone continue to face various challenges, including gender-based violence.

“An estimated 62 per cent of women age 15–49 report having experienced physical or sexual violence, according to the 2019 Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey (SLDHS), inadequate access to education. World Bank data shows that the gap in adult literacy between men and women, is 15.2, larger than the gap of the Sub-Saharan Africa aggregate,” she added.

Basita Michael Esq noted that despite women making up 51% of the population in Sierra Leone under customary law, women in rural Sierra Leone have few safeguards against discrimination and other violations and abuses of human rights.

“I can talk all day about the real and challenging obstacles that women face. However, my intention is not to make you feel powerless or hopeless but to emphasize the need for us to fight harder and more passionately than ever before for a more inclusive and just society, not just for ourselves but for generations to come. While the adversities we face as women are many, we can draw inspiration from the quotes of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who reminds us that adversity is not a cause for despair but a call to action,” she energized.

Giving the declaration tag “The Tower Hill Year of Accountability Declaration 2023” at the end of the conference, the Chairperson of the conference, Yasmin Jusu Sheriff, said that the declaration reflect the recommendations put together by women representatives from the 16 districts across the country.

She said that during the conference women presents were educated on various topics which included the status of the recommendations of the constitutional review process, the implementation of the GEWE Act 2022, the Proportional Representation System for women, the Women Manifesto 2023 and the Public Elections Act 2022 among others.

Yasmin Jusu Sheriff said that while they acknowledge and appreciate years of advocacy, mobilization and struggle by the women of Sierra Leone, the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment legislation has finally been passed, and while they thank the President His Excellency Julius Maada Bio and the Parliament of Sierra Leone  for the bold step taken towards the passage of the GEWE Act 2022 they cannot deny that the current law is less than they hoped for and expected.

She said the women of Sierra Leone are therefore calling for additional realistic and urgent legislation amendment of the current Act and other laws or policies on women in line with their recommendations below.

On the Proportional Representation System, she said the women therefore recommended that political parties must ensure that among their three candidates women aspirants must be set at number 1 or 2 of their parties’ nomination lists.

The Chairperson said in addition they also recommended that ECSL and other electoral bodies should embark on more robust sensitization on the Proportional Representation System, adding that organizations should engage political parties in order to ensure that if the candidate for President, Mayor or Chairperson is a male the Deputy must be a woman.

On the GEWE Act 2022, she said that women urged for the popularization of the Act across the country through mass media engagement, training etc. adding that they further called on international organizations and others to fund the participation of female candidates in the forthcoming elections.

These and many other recommendations were made they these women during their group discussions at the conference.

 

Honouring Invitation by United Sisters… APC’s Money Jagaban Storms Wellington

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Responding to an invitation  by the United Sisters Organization, based at Old Wharf Community, Sheik Alhaji Mohamed Kamara alias Money-Jagaban who was born in Blama, Kenema District, Eastern Sierra Leone on Thursday 2nd March, 2023 stormed Old Wharf Community in Wellington, East End of Freetown.

Sheik Alhaji Mohamed Kamara alias Money-Jagaban, who is  said to be among those publicly shortlisted to be the running mate of the Flagbearer of the main opposition All People’s Congress Party is a businessman based in the United State of America, founder and Executive Director of Our Care Inc. 4500 Forbes Blvd, Lanham, MD, 20706-6316, USA. a non-profit agency dedicated to supporting individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Chairman of the occasion, Lamrana Alieu Jalloh, in his address stated that if the All People’s Congress party is ready to emerge successful in the forthcoming elections then, in terms of resources, tribal bias etc. they must select Sheik Alhaji Mohamed Kamara alias Money-Jagaban as the running mate to Dr. Samura Kamara.

He said he is of the strong conviction that he is the most competent person to be selected as running mate of the All People’s Congress party, of which he, on behalf of all, endorsed Sheik Alhaji Mohamed Kamara as the running mate to Dr. Samura Kamara.

Welcoming the gathering, the Ceremonial Chief of Old Wharf New Site Community, Chief Pa Alitame A. Kargbo expressed appreciation to Sheik Alhaji Mohamed Kamara for visiting his community.

He said that the Old Wharf New Site community is very pleased to welcome him and his entourage, adding that the community is faced with several challenges of which he called on Sheik Alhaji Mohamed Kamara to help the community in addressing some of the challenges faced by residents.

Chief Pa Alimamy A. Kargbo said ,on behalf of the community, he is endorsing Sheik Alhaji Mohamed Kamara alias Money-Jagaban as the All-People’s Congress Presidential running mate.

The Chairlady of United Sisters Organization, Hawanatu expressed appreciation to Sheik Alhaji Mohamed Kamara alias Money-Jagaban for honoring their invitation, adding that the organization is a women empowerment movement based at the Old Wharf community.

She disclosed how the organization currently has membership across the Freetown Municipality and beyond, stating that since its inception the organization has supported so many women in communities they operate.

The Chairlady appealed ,on behalf of her fellow women, for Sheik Alhaji Mohamed Kamarain to support the progressive efforts of women not only within the communities they operate but in the country as a whole.

Addressing the gathering, Sheik Alhaji Mohamed Kamara alias Money-Jagaban appreciated the amazing welcome he got from the people of Wellington.

He said that he was born in Blama, Kenema District, Eastern Sierra Leone to the late Alhaji Amara Kamara and late Haja Hawanatu Kamara, adding that he obtained his primary and early secondary education in Blama Town and progressed to the Prince Of Wales Secondary School (POW) in Freetown.

Sheik Alhaji Mohamed Kamara said his father was a farmer of which he also started as a farmer and later travelled to England after completing high school and later to the United States of America where he has investments. He obtained his undergraduate and postgraduate education in the US.

He stated that while in the US he established a company which currently has a staff strength of close to 500 with 70% of them being Sierra Leonean economic migrants and the rest of the 30% are nationals of African descent, Latinos, Hispanics and Native Americans.

Sheik Mohamed Kamara intimated that he is interested to be the running mate to the APC flagbearer, Dr Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara for the simple reason of believing that one of the penalties of refusing to participate in Politics is that one ends up being governed by one’s inferiors and that is why he decided to come.

He said he strongly has confidence in Dr Samura Kamara whose main attribute  he said is not about the leader himself but about the people he serves further maintaining that a true leader is the one who helps his people to become successful.

Sheik Mohamed Kamara disclosed that he is in the race for the running mate to help transform Sierra Leone from the brink of despair adding that he wants to help Dr Samura Kamara to win the bread-and butter-battle also underscoring how he wants to participate in the fight for better education, more jobs and health care everyone will feel comfortable to be part of and work towards rebuilding our divided nation.

Climaxing the ceremony was when the United Sisters Organization presented a photo plaque to Sheik Mohamed Kamara alias Money-Jagaban as a sign of support and appreciation.

US Embassy Funds Five-Day Symposium on Sustainable Agricultural & Business Development  

The U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone, through its Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program funded a five-day Sustainable Agriculture and Business Development Symposium for fifty-six (56) women farmers and held a one-day workshop for twenty five (25) market sellers in February, 2023.

Implemented by Healey International Relief Foundation (HIRF), in partnership with Caritas and Njala University, Bo the symposium was a great success.

According to Benjamin Parra, HIRF’s Executive Director, based in the United States, the grant had 3 priority areas, and HIRF selected the Green Economy and Entrepreneurship track which focused on strengthening connections between U.S. and Sierra Leonean businesses, expand economic opportunities, entrepreneurship and financial independence among women, youth, and underserved populations, particularly programs that promote innovation and economic opportunity related to climate change. The project’s focus was also on demonstrating how America and Sierra Leone can work together to achieve climate goals.

Ms. Omega Tawonezvi, one of the symposium facilitators, and an American based in the US working extensively on women’s entrepreneurial skills building, explained that the symposium curriculum covered sharing of best practices in green and sustainable farming, teaching of business development skills such as basic financial literacy, how to recognize business opportunities, identifying and understanding market demand.

She also explained that some of the key highlights of the symposium was having US based participants be part of the cultural exchange, sharing best practices and engaging in great discussions, questions, and answers on how to keep cooperatives thriving, climate change and eco-friendly farming practices, high yielding crops, biodiversity, and a lot more.

US-based speakers who joined the symposium virtually

included Ms.Spandhla, a woman farmer practicing green and organic subsistence farming in Montgomery County Maryland, Douglas Weisberger, Senior Planning Specialist, Sustainability Programs at the Department of Environmental Protection, Montgomery County Maryland, Brian Higgins, a clinical social worker, beekeeper and sustainable living farmer in Gaithersburg, Maryland and Ms. Bridget Mbeng, a mushroom farmer from the state of Delaware, and who has trained over 1500 women on the process of mushroom cultivation.

Professor Roland Soluku  the Head of Department of Animal Health Sciences at Njala University, who was also one of the lead trainers, thanked the donors, the United States Embassy, the people of America, and the HIRF Team,  for working in partnership with Njala University and including him and his team in the opportunity to exchange ideas with US based experts and farmers. He expressed his excitement on the opportunity to discuss sustainable agricultural practices and entrepreneurship with the women farmers and market sellers.

Dr. Suluku reiterated his advice to participants to stop burning charcoal which is contributing to deforestation, a growing crisis, describing it as frustrating because all those have an impact on the productivity of agriculture initiatives and on livelihoods.

Training co-facilitator, Alfred Halim Navo, explained that the growing of healthy and sufficient crops in Sierra Leone is not only the key challenge farmers face but also the inability to make reasonable profits to cover basic needs.

A participant from Waiima Village, Memuna Kaloko, described the training as educational and timely. She relayed how grateful she was for the many simple techniques she could immediately start implementing in her farm, such as lowering the height of the soil beds for certain crops she planted and the direction she should plan her irrigation for better absorption and conservation of water. Similarly, Hawa Wanga of Sewa River Agricultural Women’s Group spoke about being more aware of how some of her previous farming practices are contributing factors in compromising the soil, and environment but with the knowledge gained from the symposium she assured all she will implement better practices and educate other farmers on same.

The symposium successfully closed with each registered participant receiving a certificate of completion, a smartphone, and a solar lamp. Joining the HIRF training team and visiting board members in the closing ceremony and congratulating participants were Professor Bashiru Koroma, Vice Chancellor and Principal of Njala University, Dr. Rashid Ansumana, Dean of the School of Community Health Sciences and two local chiefs.

MCC’s CEO Visits Guma’s Water Kiosk at Spain Area in Kroo Bay

One of the Guma Valley Water Company water kiosks at Spain Area, Kroo Bay that were constructed under the MCC funded Threshold Program that ended in March 2021 was visited on the 28th Febrauary, 2023 by the Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Alice Albright.

The rationale behind her visit was to meet with community residents that are benefitting from the project.  It must be noted that the Threshold program grant was designed to improve clean water access and electricity services within Freetown.

During the visit, the Managing Director of Guma Valley Water Company, Maada S. Kpenge thanked the Government and People of the United States of America for the tremendous support that Guma received under the Threshold Program.

MD Kpenge informed the MCC CEO Madam Albright that a total number of 10 water kiosks were constructed during the program to improve water service delivery in the Kingtom and Aberdeen District Metering Areas (MDAs).

He said the implementation of the innovative pilot intervention in Kingtom and Aberdeen benefitted over 40,000 people who have been struggling to access pipe borne water from the Guma network for more than 10 years.

Ing. Kpenge added that the DMA intervention helped to build an understanding of the operations of the distribution network, reduced Non-Revenue Water and laid the foundation for the improved commercial and financial viability of Guma Valley Water Company.

The Guma MD said the intervention has increased access to water service delivery for low-income households in the selected communities.

Fatu Kamara, a resident of Spain area at Kroo Bay praised the Government of the United States of America for constructing the water kiosks and public toilets for them and called on Madam Albright to give more support in terms of social amenities to the Kroo Bay Community.

 

Gambian Parliamentary Caucus Understudies Human Rights Issues from HRCSL

The Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone (HRCSL) received a delegation from the Parliamentary Caucus on Freedom of Religion and Believe (FORB) in The Gambia on Thursday 2nd March, 2023

Purpose of the visit was to understudy from the Commission certain human rights issues in the country and more especially the successes and challenges in the implementation of the HRCSL’s Act of 2004.

Chairman of the Caucus, Hon. Amadu Camara, expressed delight for visiting the Commission to know more about their work.

“Human rights issues are very central to Parliament and parliamentary work and we do almost everything together. We are delighted to be here,” he said and disclosed that the caucus was established in 2019, but was officially launched in December 2022.

He said they are interested in minor issues around violations of rights, and religious and ethnic tolerance in Sierra Leone.

On behalf of the HRCSL, Commissioner, Hassan Samba Yarjah, welcomed the delegation and informed them that the Commission was established by an Act of Parliament in 2004 to protect and promote the human rights of all in Sierra Leone.

He said the HRCSL is an independent national human rights institution and that over the years it has been enjoining independence as there has never been a situation where the Commission has been subjected to any interference in its work.

He spoke about the Commission’s complaints handling mechanisms, publication of the annual State of Human Rights Reports and the accreditation of HRCSL as a Grade ‘A’ national human rights institution in 2011 and subsequent reaccreditations in 2016 and 2022.

He added that Sierra Leone enjoys religious tolerance as Muslims and Christians cohabit, compared to other countries in Africa, where there has been religious intolerance.

 

 

 

Magistrate Wilbreen John Sentences one Abdulai Jalloh to 18 Months Jail

One Abdulai Jalloh was on the 24th February, 2023 sentenced to 18 months imprisonment by Magistrate Wilbreen John of Pademba Road Court No. 7 after being found guilty of maliciously damaging a Baylan Water Meter at Hill Street.

Abdulai Jalloh was charged on one count charge for malicious damage contrary to Section 51 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861.

According to the particulars of offence, it was alleged that on Wednesday 15th February 2023 at Hill Street in the Western Area in Freetown, the accused person Abdulai Jalloh damaged one blue and white colored Baylan Water Meter valued at Three Thousand Leones (Le 3,000.00) being property of Guma Valley Water Company.

The charges were read and explained to the accused person and he pleaded guilty as charged.

Abdulai Jalloh happens to be the second individual to be jailed in connection with Guma Valley Water Company water meter. In August 2022, Morlai Kargbo was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment by Magistrate Peter Gogra of the Pademba Road Court No. 1 for stealing a water meter at Guma Valley Water Company Office at Tower Hill.

Speaking after the judgement, the Director of Commercial Services at Guma Valley Water Company, Eunice Tejan admonished members of the public to protect the water meters that are currently being installed from theft or damage saying the installation is done for the benefit of both the company and its customers.

She added that the water meter helps in the conservation of water supply and allows the customer pays for just the amount of water he or she uses, thereby less disputes over bills.

Guma Valley Water Company started the installation of water meters at its customers’ premises in September 2022 as part of its universal metering process over the next three years.

 

 

Chozen Generation-SL Unveils Nominations for the Ten Most Outstanding Award

In order to recognize Sierra Leoneans who have made extraordinary contributions to their community, country, or the world at large in 2022, Chozen Generation Sierra Leone (CGSL) has opened nominations for the Ten Most Outstanding Sierra Leoneans Award        .

The award, which has been running since 2017, aims to celebrate individuals who have excelled in any domain, whether in academics, entrepreneurship, medicine, engineering, teaching, social work, journalism, carpentry, welding, masonry, construction, politics, business, or any other field.

“At CGSL, we believe in celebrating excellence. There are a lot of Sierra Leoneans who are making remarkable strides in contributing to community, national, or world development, we believe that these individuals should be recognized for their contributions. This is why we came up with the 10 most outstanding Sierra Leoneans award,” the CGSL National Coordinator, Harry Henry Kargbo informed.

The CGSL Ten Most Outstanding Sierra Leoneans Award is geared towards recognizing individuals who have made tremendous and tangible impact at the national, regional, or community level, and who have demonstrated excellence, patriotism, and leadership in their various fields. The Awards Committee is looking for compelling stories of passionate, influential and impactful leaders, regardless of their age, gender or status.

Previous winners of the award have included men and women from diverse backgrounds who excelled in fields such as education, healthcare, entrepreneurship, sports, and entertainment. The award has become an important platform for recognizing and celebrating the achievements of Sierra Leoneans who are working tirelessly to make a difference in their communities and the country as a whole.

Nominations for the Ten Most Outstanding Sierra Leoneans Award are now open and individuals can nominate any Sierra Leonean who has created or achieved great things in 2022. The award ceremony is set to take place later in the year, and the winners will be announced after a thorough review and background check by the Awards Committee.

In an era where Sierra Leone is in dire need of quality leaders, mentors, and role models, the CGSL Ten Most Outstanding Sierra Leoneans Award serves as an important recognition scheme to award those hardworking Sierra Leoneans who consistently demonstrate excellence, patriotism and leadership in their respective fields.

Fill the form on the CGSL Website to nominate you candidate. See link below.

https://chozengenerationsl.org/nomination-form-for-the-2022-ten-most-outstanding-sierra-leoneans/

Parliament Readmits Three MPs that Express Remorse

The Report of the Committee of Privileges & Ethics and Ruling of the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu on the riotous conduct of the three Honourable Members in the Chamber of Parliament on the 23rd November, 2022 has been adopted by Parliament on the 28th February, 2023.

Prior to laying the Report of the Privileges and Ethics Committee, the Chairman of the said Committee, Hon. PC Alhaji Alie Badara Sheriff III said the incident took place on the 23rd of November 2022 and the subsequent Ruling by the Hon. Speaker on 30th November, 2022 involved the three Members of Parliament.

The Chairman of the Committee also informed Parliament that, the Committee received letters of remorse from the three Members of Parliament expressing regrets for that unfortunate incident on that fateful day in Parliament.

The Chairman of the Committee confirmed that, the Committee met and discussed the issue and after consultations with the Hon. Clerk of Parliament, the latter confirmed that the former had forfeited their salaries and allowances for the months of December 2022 and January 2023. He went on to say, the Committee had recommended for their two months salaries to be forfeited instead of three months judging from the fact that they had already expressed regrets over their actions on the 23rd November, 2023 in the Chamber of Parliament.

According to the Chairman of the Committee, the Committee is established mainly to ensure that, discipline and decorum are maintained for the dignity and image  of Parliament.

The motion was moved by the Chairman of the Committee of Privileges and Ethics Committee and seconded by Hon. PC Haja Fatmata Bintu Koroma, Meama-Kajue and was carried by the House.

As soon as the motion was carried, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu graciously ordered the three Members of Parliament to take their seats respectively in the Chamber of Parliament.

 

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