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Health Alert & TAAC End Roundtable Conference with CSOs & Media Practitioners

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Health Alert ,a local civil society development advocacy and accountability programming organization in the country, in collaboration with RMNCHAH+H (TAAC) through the Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) USAID programme has on Thursday 23rd February 2023 concluded a one-day regional media, CSOs and Youths Advocacy Roundtable Conference on Teenage Pregnancy, SRH/ Family Planning District Priorities. The roundtable conference was held at the Campaign for Good Governance Office at Waterloo.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Executive Director of Health Alert, Victor Lansana Koroma, disclosed that the one-day regional media, CSOs and Youths Advocacy Roundtable Conference on Teenage Pregnancy, SRH/ Family Planning District Priorities is geared towards creating an opportunity for the representatives from the 3 districts that Health Alert is operating in through the Momentum Country and Global Leadership (MCGL) USAID to provide their report to the media and CSOs on the priorities which they agreed on during their engagement with young people in February 2022, adding that during the engagement in February the issues of Teenage Pregnancy and Early Marriage were very topical at the engagement of which these districts representative committed themselves through pledge signing as part of their committment towards the reduction of Teenage Pregnancy and Early Marriage in their various districts.

He said that after listening to the reports from the various districts, Health Alert and partners commended them for their work towards the reduction of Teenage Pregnancy and Early Marriage in their various districts, stating that they have made some progress and that they also underscore the challenges faced in their districts of which they said that they are fighting to reduce those challenges.

Victor Lansana Koroma said that as an organization having heard from them, they will now make use of such messages in order to see how they can mount robust advocacy towards addressing those issues highlighted.

Making his presentation, the Program Manager of Health Alert, Darlton John said that Health Alert is a local civil society organization specialised in heath development advocacy and accountability programming in the country.

He stated that the organization’s overall goal is to promote the interest and rights of vulnerable and marginalized citizens, with a special focus on women, youth, adolescents and children at both national and sub-national level towards increased access to right-based quality and affordable health care services.

In her address, the Matron for Pujehun District Hospital who also doubles as the Representative for the District, Fatmata M. Kamara said that the issue of Teenage Pregnancy is really a challenge and is in the increase in the district.

She said that the issue of compromise remains to be a challenge in the fight against Teenage Pregnancy in the district, adding that they have been embarking on advocacy in order to discourage the issue of compromise when it comes to sexual and gender based violence issues.

Fatmata M. Kamara said that due to their robust advocacy on the subject matter they have been able to convince residents and stakeholders within the district to report cases of such in the district.

The District Medical Officer, Western Area Rural District, Sylvia Fasuluku, commended Health Alert and partners for their strides towards the reduction of Teenage Pregnancy in the country.

Underscoring what they have achieved as a district she said that the district has been able to set up a secretariat desk in order to reduce Teenage Pregnancy within the district.

Sylvia Fasuluku said that they have been also been able to reactivate their youth friendly Centres in most of their Centres which has given young people the access to family planning information and other health related issues.

She said that advocacy continue to be the center pillar of their approach towards the reduction of Teenage Pregnancy in the Western Area Rural District.

Other representatives from other districts also made statements and held plenary discussions which was followed by comments, questions by the media, CSOs and the youths present.

Rise Radio to Amplify Women’s Voices in Sierra Leone

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Rise Radio FM 96.3, a community service media organization in the country, is set to amplify the voices of women, girls and young people in addressing critical and emerging issues affecting them and to promote human rights, a just and inclusive society, democracy and progressive governance through radio broadcast.

Rise Radio, with the slogan “Voice of Many Voices”, will be offering space and opportunities to diverse groups to share their experiences, views, concerns and perspectives.

Speaking to this medium, the Station Manager, Rise Radio, Mariama Bah, stated that the radio being owned and managed by women speaks volumes of women not only presenting themselves in a male dominated world but with evidences to show their strides.

“We aren’t there yet, but so far, I am proud to be part of this generation of inspiring women who are intentionally creating a positive impact for a safe and better world and at RISE radio 96.3 FM, we remain committed,” she stated.

The Station Manager said that as a community service media organization, they will continue to ensure that women, girls and young people use their radio platform as an advocacy tool to strengthen and build an inclusive and just society!

She said that the core values of Rise Radio include promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, to always strive to serve the audience better, to engage their community in authentic and meaningful ways and to always respect their audience.

Mariama Bah noted that the objectives of the radio are to operate as a public and community service media organization, dedicated to promoting an agenda of issues, produce and disseminate empowering and motivating messages and products relating to girls, women and young people across Sierra Leone, to promote good governance, democracy and human rights, awareness raising about education, health, environment, and sport of all kinds, to engage in online news, event management, public relations, media advertisement, media advocacy, effective monitoring to support and protect the status and interest of the citizens of Sierra Leone etc.

The Manager said that the vision of the Radio is for it to be known for its high-quality, relevant and vibrant programming and will serve as a model for diversity, equity and inclusion, while maintaining professional standards and ethical values.

She concluded by stating that Rise Radio complied with all the rules and regulations governing the registration and operation of media institutions in Sierra Leone. It abides by the Independent Media Commission (IMC) Code of Practice, the rules and regulations of the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Code of Ethics.

Mariama Bah concluded by informing all that the Radio, which is located at 20 Hall Street, Brookfields, Freetown will commence its first broadcast today Wednesday 1st March 2023, adding that all who want to do business with the radio should contact them on email: riseradiosl@gmail.com or call +232 33 963 963 / 76 959 207.

 

Cowbell Celebrates Family Day with Modern Elementary School

By Foday Moriba Conteh

One of the brands marketed by Premium Divine Trading Company Limited, a food distribution company that operates as an agent for Promasidor Holdings, a leading distributor of quality food products in Sierra Leone, Cowbell, has supported a social event known as Family Day with Yung Sal, organized by the Modern Elementary School. The Modern Elementary School Family Day with Yung Sal, which was held on Saturday 25th February 2023 at Radisson Blu Garden in Freetown was geared towards celebrating families.

The Administrator of Modern Elementary School, Mrs. Kailie stated that the objectives of the event were to create a platform where pupils can showcase their talents and also to mobilize funds for the construction of a sports complex at the school.

She said the project idea is to create a good atmosphere for students to feel more entertained and feel the luxury through education in order to make them enjoy their time through education.

The Administrator further revealed that the school has since its inception grown into being a reputable primary school providing quality education for children meeting its admission requirements, without discrimination.

She expressed appreciation to Premium Divine Trading through its Cowbell brand for supporting their Family Day. She encouraged all parents and guardians to support the school’s sports complex project which is geared towards creating a conducive environment for their children.

Premium Divine Trading Company Limited’s partnership support to the Modern Elementary School Family Day, was to enable the company continue on its massive education on healthy eating habits by availing their products to actual and potential consumers, the Cowbell nutritious package, to enable them and their families to enjoy good nutrition through the consumption of assorted Cowbell products and Miksi Chocolate Drink that was also sampled during the event. The move by the company was seen as a laudable venture in the expressive appreciation of its valuable, actual and potential customers.

Speaking to the audience, the Institutional Sales Lead at Premium Divine Trading Limited, Ruth Kamara commended the school for their sports complex project which she described as very important towards keeping pupils physically fit.

She said that Premium Divine Trading Limited deemed it fit to support the Modern Elementary School Family Day as part of their educational campaigns on the essence of milk consumption in the country and to support healthy living among children.

Ruth Kamara said that Premium Divine is a quality food company and they are committed to ensuring that everybody enjoys good food and that the company has been embarking on supporting various activities in the country in order for the company to continue on its massive education on healthy eating habits in the country.

Cowbell milk, she said, is a rich source of protein, calcium and vitamins A, B9, C, D E and K otherwise referred to as Vitarich.
She revealed that Cowbell products come in 14g sachet, 20g sachet, 360g sachet and 400g tins for the milk.

Also, she maintains that cowbell food drinks package sizes are 40gs for the Coffee, Strawberry, Coconut, Choco-Malt and Cowbell Mocha.They are all produced in Ghana by Promasidor Ghana Limited for export sales to some West African countries including Sierra Leone.

The Institutional Sales Lead used the opportunity to inform all that the Company also distributes and markets, Onga, Miksi Chocolate and coffee drinks, Kremela, and Yumvita, the latter being an infant cereal with milk also containing wheat, rice, and maize.

She appealed to parents to always buy the quality food products of Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd especially Cowbell milk because it is enrich with all the necessary nutrients needed for growth in the family.

The session was climaxed by questions and answers relating to the company and their brand by the company which pupils who answered to the questions had an opportunity to win attractive prizes from the company.

Parents and Guardians who witnessed the event commended the partnership by the company saying it was a laudable move.

 

IOM, Tourism Ministry Engages 300 Returnee Migrants

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The International Migration Organization (IOM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, on Tuesday 28th February, 2023 launched the “Keep the Beach Clean” Campaign designed to be undertaken by three hundred (300) Sierra Leoneans who attempted to seek greener pastures abroad but were either forced to return or were deported back to Sierra Leone. The event took place at Kallon Car Park, Lumley Beach, Freetown.

Explaining the rationale behind the launch of the programme, IOM Head of Office, Christos Christodoulides informed his audience which included the three hundred returnees, government ministers, journalists and other distinguished guests that it had become a norm over the years for Sierra Leonean victims of irregular migration to suffer extremely after returning home.

He said the IOM and its partners this time round decided to launch the “Keep the Beach Clean” Campaign for migrant returnees to be engaged in cleaning the beaches for a period of four months after which they would receive a package which they can use to develop themselves. He further stated that, after the stipulated four months, the participants would then have the opportunity to be absorbed by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture into mainstream sectors as long as there is a vacancy and the participant has the relevant qualification or skills.

According to him, the programme also provides for cleaner environments and cleaner beaches, adding that clean beaches attract tourists. He maintained that Sierra Leone is among countries with the highest rate of irregular migrants seeking greener pastures abroad but that, he believes that with the “Keep the Beach Clean” Campaign, returnees would engage themselves meaningfully and after recouping from their experiences, serve as ambassadors to sensitize other potential irregular immigrants about the dangers of irregular immigration.

Delivering her Keynote address, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt, thanked IOM and the other partners including government ministries and the UN system for believing in the programme and for playing leading roles in its establishment/. She informed her audience that it all started in December last year with a batch of returnees who had nothing to do after returning home. She said that after consultation with IOM and other players, they agreed to embark on a programme which would engage returnees and at the same time, serve as a platform for them to reflect on the fact that irregular migration is more problematic than a solution. She admonished them not to lose hope or faith but to always consider the fact that staying at home and keeping themselves busy could reap more dividends that trying to migrate to another country the improper way.

She reiterated that the campaign would last for four months after which, the participants will receive a package, adding that her ministry will consider absorbing those that are well-behaved and competent enough into mainstream employment in the Tourism sector.

Other speakers at the historic event were Minister of Social Welfare Baindu Dassama, Deputy Minister of Youth Affairs Lusine Kallon and the Minister of Environment Prof. Foday Jaward. They all  shared similar sentiments and admonished the returnees to grasp reality now, serve as ambassadors instructing other potential irregular migrants to not venture but rather to do what they can to engage themselves internally and help in the development of Sierra Leone.

The climax of the event was a brief explanation by two returnees, Isata Sesay and Mohamed Lamin Kamara. They spoke of the horrors and dangers they and colleagues suffered at the hands of human traffickers while en-route to countries abroad. They both used the opportunity to call on other young Sierra Leoneans that would be thinking of risking their lives to make such a journey to desist because it is a painful and uncompromising journey.

The audience was later thrilled by a Sierra Leonean musician residing in France who in one of his songs, recounted his own irregular journey abroad but at the same time, admonished his colleagues not to try such a journey because it could be fatal.

Towards June 24: Citizens’ Expectation of the SLP

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

It is a fact that the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) is the body created by the country’s constitution with the extraordinary mandate of protecting the lives and properties of all people living throughout Sierra Leone, (not just the citizens, as most people erroneously believe).

However, much water has flowed under the bridge as far as the conduct and professionalism of the SLP is concerned. There have been more than a few coincidences, consequences of police brutality with some of these resulting to deaths of innocent civilians.

At the same time, there have been occasions when the SLP acted professionally and were commended for their action. In fact, just this past weekend, no less a person than Mohamed Kamara aka Pope, Deputy Publicity Secretary of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party stated over the AYV on Sunday TV discussion programme that, he was impressed with the SLP on the day their party’s flag bearer Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara and his newly-elected Executive members marched through the streets of Freetown. Pope said the SLP provided adequate security for their large crowd of members but then, he was disappointed about the attack on the new APC Secretary General, Lansana Dumbuya which allegedly occurred in the vicinity of the Presidential Lodge, Hill Station in Freetown.

That notwithstanding, the SLP before now has had its own fair share of woes and joy. There was a time when SLP personnel tore their uniforms in exchange for civilian clothes when rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) overrun Freetown, targeting police officers. Any police officer caught in uniform died a miserable death at the hands of the RUF.

That was then.

It can safely be stated that down the line, the SLP has evolved within the last ten years. Much has been done and achieved in training and providing logistics in the form of uniforms, regular rice supply, regular salary, vehicles for operations and for transportation of personnel to and from work, regular refresher training courses, medical allowance, participation in international peacekeeping ventures among other internal arrangements such as study leave, leave allowance, NASSIT contributions among other benefits for SLP personnel. Indeed, the current administration of President Julius Maada Bio is on record for doing much for the SLP in terms of improving the lot of our police personnel and recruiting several hundreds in the last four years.

In the midst of all this, Sierra Leone will go to the polls on 24th June, 2023, wherein citizens will vote in a multi-tier election. From what is being observed before the actual elections and even before campaign whistle has been blown, safety and security issues are already erupting and are therefore bound to erupt in the coming months. The SLP must at this point in time be readying itself to face and quell any eventuality before it becomes a major incident.

Much is expected of the SLP by the people of this country before, during and after the elections. From the look of things, there is not much in terms of security being adequately provided round the clock by the SLP as should be the case. This is not to say the SLP is not trying. They are, but the reality is, they cannot be everywhere at the same time.

However, as the clock slowly ticks towards Election Day – Sierra Leoneans in every nook and cranny are looking up to the SLP to provide adequate safety and security for voters as well as for election staff and materials. The SLP must be very alert and on the lookout for potential trouble-makers from all the political parties; but more especially from the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the main opposition APC party.

At the end of the day, citizens expect the SLP to be on top of things on Election Day. Anything short of this would simply not be acceptable!

NP-SL: Well Managed to Take Enhance Customer Care & Satisfaction

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

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

There is no doubt that NP-SL Limited is highly known for taking customer care to the highest pedestal in the country. Indeed such is indisputable when cognizance is taken of how Management is very keen in optimizing customer satisfaction in its service delivery on different fronts.

Members of staff of the company are very mindful of the fact that it is the customer that comes first and therefore needs the utmost attention, always ensuring that transactions are conducted under a congenial atmosphere that result into a win-win situation. For this brilliant and managerial initiative the company has been making positive headways positioning itself to stand tall among other business entities in this part of the world.

With a capable and result-oriented ‘Team NP’, working collaboratively and assiduously, where even the cleaner is regarded as highly relevant there is bound to be positive outcomes and the company has mastered this by ensuring that synergy is enhanced.
One admirable quality that NP-SL Ltd possesses is working tirelessly and effectively using its contacts with oil producing countries in order to ensure that there is timely purchase and delivery of petroleum products to avoid shortages.

It goes without saying that fuel, for example, could be a political commodity in the sense that fluctuation in its price would make a Government likeable or unpopular. When the price goes up then people blame the Government for that but if it goes down it is kudos for the political administration.

Its timely importation of petroleum products has earned NP high commendations from various quarters simply because it helps to cushion unrest and other forms of disadvantageous effects, one of which is increase in transport fares, increase in the prices of certain commodities. The pro-activeness of the company invariably has a direct impact on poverty reduction in variable ways.

Some who may not be aware of the fact that NP-SL Ltd is wholly owned by Sierra Leoneans vis-à-vis the visibility of the company and how it is remarkably striving could find it hard to believe that it a truly indigenous company.

However, that remains the plain truth when it is learnt that it was Sierra Leonean 35 workers formerly working for British Petroleum (BP) who pulled together their end of service benefits to purchase shares which were used to establish NP, which today is a success story of an indigenous company, having branches in various parts of the country and in other four West African countries namely Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast and The Gambia. The company’s operations right across the spectrum is contributing towards revenue generation and job creation for many.

With gas as one its marketable products it was thought wise to be producing gas cookers, popularly known as NP Gas, which could be access at their different filling stations. According to investigation conducted NP Gas is cooking-friendly, safe and long lasting. It is going at an affordable price and many are going for it.

When reference is made to Local Content then NP-SL Ltd stands tall within that realm as nearly all its members of staff are Sierra Leoneans thereby making use of local talents everywhere they are operating. The Local Content Policy is indeed an engine of growth and NP is making full use of it.
Without any iota of doubt NP-SL Ltd is growing taller and taller as time goes by.

Tourism Ministry Validates Reviewed Tourism Act 1990

During a two-day stakeholder consultative meeting, held on the 23rd February, 2023 and 24th February, 2023, the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, with support from the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), validated the review of the development of the Tourism Act 1990. Bringing together all the relevant stakeholders, the meeting was held at Njala Venue, Lumley Beach Road, Freetown.

The cardinal objectives of the review were to empower the Ministry and its constituent bodies, to create employment opportunities, seek the well-being of Sierra Leoneans, ensure that all natural, cultural and historical heritage, national parks, monuments and relics sites are responsive to tourism growth, support the establishment of Tourism Circuit Zones and maintain international standards of excellence.

In the amendment document, the bill emphasizes strong public private partnership with the Hotel Association, gender mainstreaming, agriculture, transport and the creation of functional institutions with clearly defined roles and responsibilities among others.  The validated document when enacted into law will become a holistic National Tourism Act 2023.

Giving the opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Edward Kwame Yankson noted that in revitalizing the tourism sector they are to take deliberate actions to improve the international image of Sierra Leone, diversify its marketing and most importantly improve the policy and legal framework. He said the two-day consultative meeting sought to review the three decades long National Tourism Development Act, 1990 and transform it into a holistic document that meets the demands of contemporary global tourism architecture that is tailored for the people of Sierra Leone.

In his statement, the Director of Tourism, Mohamed Jalloh maintained that the current Act ,which will be 33 years old this year, does not make mention of words like E. Tourism, digital platforms, climate change, gender mainstreaming, sustainability, roots tourism and crisis management, issues, he said, will be captured in the new Act.

He stated that the development of the Tourism Act 1990 was formulated and enacted to establish the National Tourist Board. Key institutions pertaining to the tourism and hospitality industry were left out with detrimental impact resulting to confusion, overlap of functions and weakening of the sector to strategically position itself. He said the review of the development of the Tourism Act focuses on achieving increased opportunity for Sierra Leoneans, provision of attractive support for SMEs, digitalization of the sector, mainstreaming of gender and youth among others.

In her closing courtesy, the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt thanked stakeholders and participants for being part of the validation process saying that they will form part of their data base going forward. She appreciated the EIF for supporting the process. She emphasized that the Act will be the national legal framework for tourism in Sierra Leone that puts tourism at the center of national development. She said with the new Act, they would no longer struggle to make a case for access to roads to the beaches, water supply to their facilities, and other bottlenecks they are facing. She stated that the validation process was the semi-final product of their stewardship to President Bio in making tourism a growth sector.

She maintained that the aim of the Bill is about consolidating their work and ensuring that they have an Act that speaks to itself. Before getting to this stage, Dr. Pratt said that they conducted extensive research work on all the relevant laws in Sierra Leone that have connection to tourism, undertook a tourism census with Statistic Sierra Leone, hence the exercise was driven by data, expert reports and international perception. She noted that they upheld the relevant issues in the 1990 Act and brought forward those that require changes.

Representatives from MDAs, private sector development partners, civil society, the media, traditional institutions, women associations and tourism educational institutions made valuable inputs that were incorporated in the documents before it was validated.

Minister of Tourism Launches Black Excellence Celebration

The African Heritage Leadership Centre-Sierra Leone (AHLEC-SL) organized a Public Lecture on the 23rd February, 2023, at Sierra Leone’s premier institution of learning and the first western-styled university in Africa, Fourah Bay College (FBC). This institution is one of the country’s most valued heritages. The Public Lecture was themed “Amplification of Black Excellence: Africa and Beyond.” This theme is a localization of the global theme for the celebration of the Black History Month, 2023 which is “Black Resistance”.

The Public Lecture formed part of the institution’s activities for the celebration of the Black History Month. The lecture was graciously delivered by the Hon. Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt. In what could best be expected of a true academic and a distinctive professional, her lecture traversed a background of our pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial history as Blacks to a sound recognition of the outstanding contributions made by Blacks in various spheres of life across the world.

Other guests that graced the occasion who made thrilling statements included: The Ambassador at large and Adviser to His Excellency, Rtd. Brigadier Julius Maada Bio on heritage issues Raymond De’souza George, the Deputy Country Director, CDC, United States Embassy, Madam Chinyere Ekezie, Dr. Fatu Taqui, Representative of the Students’ Union President, Juana J. Samu and others.

The lecture was climaxed by the official launch of the Black Excellence Celebration by the Hon. Minister. This program is slated for the 28th April 2023 at Murray Town Field. It shall be a day and night filled with recognition of fellow Sierra Leoneans for their outstanding contributions and a number of activities ranging from cultural displays, indigenous games, arts and crafts, poetry, to name but a few.

 

 

Entertainment Journalist Narrates his Journey to Pademba Road Prison

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

One of the young people who were arrested while trying to visit LAJ, while he was detained at a detention centre known as Benghazi, Ibrahim Koroma, popularly known as Prezo Koroma who is the Secretary General of the DJs Union, intimated this medium in an exclusive interview that they were finally freed from Pademba Road Prison, thanking God Almighty for keeping him alive and healthy for the past eight months and 9 days behind bars.

According to Prezo Koroma, the rationale behind his imprisonment is yet to be figured but it doesn’t come as a surprise to him maintaining that the reason put forward by the authorities for his incarceration does not make sense to anyone.

“How would unarmed civilians converge at the Headquarters of the paramilitary wing of the police and pelted them with rubber bottles?” “How would a responsible individual like me cause mayhem to armed personnel?” he again asked maintaining that if they did such a thing then their names should be in the Guinness Book of World Records.

He stated that the only crime they committed was visiting a friend and a brother who was held at Benghazi with information that was going around that his dreadlocks had been cut off and he had been injected with a substance.

Prezo Koroma narrated that, however, as an Entertainment Journalist, he went there to have first-hand information about the news that was making the rounds on social media.

“I have always been a credible source of information for the past decade when it comes to Entertainment related activities,” he revealed adding that going to Benghazi to seek information about the detention of King Boss La should not be an exception.

He explained that they got apprehended during the process of asking to see LAJ pointing out how they were beaten up like thieves, stripped off naked, hair shaven, and slept on an empty floor in a tiny smell cell that has more than 12 suspects adding that the two days spent in Benghazi were the worst days of his entire life.

According to him, the barbaric treatment at Benghazi was not enough as they were charged to court for Disorderly Behavior and Riotous Conduct on the 17th of June 2022. The said day, he stated, was his first day at the Pademba road prison disclosing that after ten days of trial, they were found guilty of the offence for which they were charged and given the second maximum sentence of 36 months for the two counts of the charge and it should run concurrently.

He expressed the view that Sierra Leoneans both at home and abroad were vexed about what happened to them. He said the inmates at the prison expressed a similar sentiment. Prezo Koroma revealed how they received them as Kings and Queens and ever since they lived as one family for the past eight months.

Moreover, he said, within the 21 days of their sentence, their Lawyers filed an appeal because of the unfair judgment they had at the Magistrate Court. He said the appeal case came up at the High Court in late August 2022 and they were again denied bail just like in the Magistrate Court and the Judge ordered a speedy trial.

The proposed speedy trial, he informed, ran from August to December 19th when their appeal judgment was delivered saying the oral argument between the Defense Counsel and the Prosecutor clearly showed that they won the appeal but said asked can they win over the power above.

Prezo Koroma stated that gratefully the US Embassy in Freetown was following up with the case maintaining that they know the gospel truth revealing how the learned Judge dismissed all the grounds of appeal put forward by their lawyers and ended up reducing their sentences.

He said life at the Pademba Road Prison was not easy at all but he was fortunate to have everything he needed to keep him going while in prison and it was enough so he was sharing with the less privileged.

The entertainment journalist revealed that hundreds of their compatriots are suffering for no good reason. He said just like them there are a lot of people being locked up for crimes they did not commit maintaining that injustice is real in the country and  Sierra Leoneans should stand firm to stop it.

He said as he has seen it all in prison, he is calling on all and sundry to come together with resources to support their brothers and sisters in prison as they are faced with a lot of difficulties. “We can make a great change if we come together as united citizens,” he affirmed.

Prezo Koroma said to those who jailed him unjustly, he leaves everything to God, He will surely pay them all if they did the right thing or not.

He extended thanks and appreciation to his family, friends, and comrades for standing up for him throughout the journey adding that their financial, moral, and physical support made it easier for him. He also thanked the Prison officers for their professionalism saying even though some of them were sometimes annoying but overall 70% of them are good officers.

“I will still standing with LAJ and the Bah Family,” he concluded.

Peace Commission Urges Political Parties Supporters to Desist from Violent Conducts

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

In a Press Release dated 27th February, 2023 by the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion, the institution stated how it expresses its deep appreciation to the leadership of the All People’s Congress (APC) Party for extending an invitation to the Commission to make a statement at their recently concluded National Delegates Conference held in Makeni from the 17th to 19th February, 2023.

It continued that while the Commission is pleased with the generally peaceful conduct demonstrated by the APC leadership and its general membership, it is concerned about the violent incidents between supporters of opposing factions and aspirants after the convention.

The Peace Commission stated how some APC supporters engaged in hate speech and hurled invectives and provocative comments against individuals, including His Excellency the President and his wife, which, it maintained, is unacceptable and has the potential to incite violent conflicts.

The Peace Commission noted that it acknowledges that the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) has taken punitive measures against the APC Party for the same conduct but urged all political parties’ leadership to discourage their supporters from engaging in any such conduct that may disturb public peace and threaten national security.

During their respective party conventions, the Commission stated, the flagbearers of both the SLPP and the APC pledged to promote peace and social cohesion. It therefore expressed hopes that political leaders and leaders of all other political parties will encourage their supporters to behave peacefully in line with their commitments, as such will foster a peaceful society for a peaceful election process.

The Peace Commission underscored that the stability of Sierra Leone depends largely on how peaceful and socially cohesive we are as a nation admonishing all work together to build a better and
more peaceful country.

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