Tourism Ministry Commended for Effectively Implementing EIF Projects

February 24, 2023

A team from the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) has on the 20^th February, 2023 during their courtesy call on the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt applauded the sector for the achievements and gains made in the implementation of the various projects under the EIF.

The EIF Regional Portfolio Manager, West and Central Africa, Desmond Tijinbun Ngochi and the Trust Fund Consultant, Bonaventure B. Traore were on a mission to assess what have been done in the various projects, look at gaps ahead of wrapping the projects in March.

The Admin and Human Resources Manager of the Implementing Agency, the National Tourist Board, Cyrillia Wilson said the EIF’s Sustainable Tourism Development and Promotion Project (STDPP) looks at capacity building, product development, sector governance and marketing. She pointed out that they have been implementing these activities over the years for which the team was there to assess what has been done before the project closes.

On her part, the Minister, Dr. Memunatu Pratt welcomed the team to Sierra Leone saying that it was a pleasure to receive officials from the EIF. She said the project is one that has changed the face of the sector as they have been able to implement all the activities.

She disclosed that with the support of the EIF they will be having the very first Sierra Leone Tourism Act which addresses the tangling issues regarding the sector. With regards the development of the eco-lodges and tourism facilities in Tiwai, Wara Wara and Banana Island, she had to get all players on their toes in getting the desired results, but notes challenges in the dynamic nature of the global crisis. She added that the Hotel and Tourism Training Centre (HTTC) at Milton Margai is almost done, the integrated tourism curriculum is completed and awaits popularization.

On the way forward, she suggested that they look at other infrastructural enhancement on the eco-lodges, construct eco-lodges in other areas, provision of boat services, skills development, management of waste, beach management and mainstreaming women and youth in their activities.

The Director of Tourism, Mohamed Jalloh recalled that the inception of the project was very challenging, until the Minister took office and integrated all the activities to have one focus to transform the tourism industry and achieve the vision of President Bio by repackaging the project and broadening the scope.

The Permanent Secretary, Edward Kwame Yankson told the mission team that from what he has seen during his short stay in the Ministry, it is clear that the EIF projects are doing very well. He made a case for added facilities in the various project sites to make it a complete package.

In his statements, the Regional Portfolio Manager for West and Central Africa, Desmond Tijinbun Ngochi stated that they were happy to work with the tourism team as they know their competencies and what they have done. He emphasized that Sierra Leone is one of the countries that has good performances with regards implementation of EIF projects. He commended the tourism industry for the early submission of the increase in fund proposal which he said will enable the sector to be one of the beneficiaries of additional funds.

The Ministry and the Board took the team on a conducted tour of the Hotel and Tourism Training Centre at Milton Margai Technical University, Brookfields Campus which is due to be commissioned in March, 2023. The EIF team was impressed at the level of work done on the edifice and encouraged the sector to continue the implementation of more EIF projects.

Dr. Samura Kamara Pledges Commitment to Peaceful & Credible Process

February 24, 2023

By Abubakarr Harding

Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara, the newly-elected presidential candidate of Sierra Leone’s main opposition party, All People’s Congress (APC), on Tuesday vowed that his party is committed to a peaceful and credible process in the general elections scheduled to take place on June 24.

Kamara was elected presidential candidate representing the APC in its national conference by a landslide. He beat off a contest from a crowded field of 18 aspirants to gain 85 percent of the votes.

In an exclusive interview, he called for party unity, saying “We do not have time, we must all come together.”

Kamara was APC’s presidential candidate in the 2018 election. It will be the second time that he has a face-off with incumbent President Julius Maada Bio.

Kamara used to serve as the country’s Foreign Minister, Finance Minister and Central Bank Governor.

SLAJ President Calls for Media Monitoring to Strengthen Female Political Participation

February 24, 2023

By Abubakarr Harding

During the launch of a Policy Brief and the 2023 Media Gender Scorecard on the Coverage of Women in Politics, Peace and Security Issues in Sierra Leone organized by the Initiatives for Media Development ( IMDEV) on Tuesday, 21st February 2023 at the Atlantic Hotel, Lumley in Freetown, President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla stated that the Association is a not-for-profit professional one that is advocating for the right to freedom of expression, free media, and democratic good governance.

He intimated all present that SLAJ recognizes that gender inequality is a major challenge in the media in Sierra Leone adding that while they acknowledge that discrimination, harassment and inequality on the basis of gender are not limited to the media, SLAJ has made it a priority to deal with those issues within the industry.

The SLAJ President underscored how the media in Sierra Leone is male-dominated, in terms of ownership and representation in leadership positions across individual media institutions as well as in SLAJ and its affiliate bodies.

He revealed that out of a total of 850 active SLAJ members only 170 are women. “We see significant changes in the electronic media, but the print media still has a long way to go,” he affirmed maintaining how Women in the media suffer unequal distribution of assignments in the newsroom stating that the male reporters are given assignments to cover hard news while female reporters are given soft beats.

Ahmed Sahid Nasralla also pointed out that Gender sensitive reporting in the media is also very low justifying that women journalists also say they face sexual harassment and intimidation in the media from their male colleagues and superiors saying they are only a few of the challenges female journalists face.

He suggested that to address those issues, SLAJ has set up a Gender Advisory Panel that comprise members and people from civil society to advise the Association on gender issues and conduct periodic gender audits that inform the way the Association formulate policies.

He said the Advisory Council when out-doored very soon will Review policies, processes and opportunities that engender bias and discrimination, and make sure SLAJ (and its sub-bodies) move towards a more gender equitable association which can be replicated in media houses owned by SLAJ members, will Develop gender-friendly policies which SLAJ can encourage media houses to adopt within management level and in their newsrooms, Work to conduct training that would help journalists cover women and girls better, Advise on the rebranding of the profession to be more inclusive and a friendly space for young females to aspire to and Encourage SLAJ to support affirmative action policies to increase the voices of females in the sector and to ensure that they thrive.

The SLAJ No 1 Man said currently the Advisory panel has completed a Draft Gender Policy that will be looked by the plenary as they source funds to take it nationwide.

He said meanwhile, strengthening the political participation of women in Sierra Leone through media monitoring of gender-sensitive reporting is important to the growth and development of the country.

The participation of women in politics is crucial for achieving sustainable development and good governance, he informed, expressing the view that women’s participation in politics ensures that the views, experiences and perspectives of half of the population are represented in decision-making processes.

He lamented that, however, in Sierra Leone, women’s participation in politics is low, and they face numerous challenges that hinder their full participation naming one of those challenges as the lack of gender-sensitive reporting by the media.

The SLAJ President emphasized that the media plays a vital role in shaping public opinion and its portrayal of women in political positions can influence the public’s perception of their abilities and legitimacy.

He said, in addition, studies have shown that women are often underrepresented in news media, and when they are featured, they are often portrayed in stereotypical roles or as victims of gender-based violence arguing how that negative portrayal can deter women from entering politics, leading to the perpetuation of male-dominated political systems.

“To address this issue, media monitoring of gender-sensitive reporting can be an effective tool to promote the political participation of women in Sierra Leone,” he recommended furthering that Media monitoring is the systematic collection and analysis of media content to identify gender biases, stereotypes, and inequalities. He said it can help to raise awareness among journalists, editors, and media owners about the importance of gender-sensitive reporting and promote good practices in news reporting.

According to him a study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on the media’s role in promoting gender equality in politics found that media monitoring can positively influence media coverage of women politicians. The study showed that media monitoring led to an increase in the number of articles featuring women politicians and a reduction in gender stereotypes and biases.

He said Sierra Leone has made significant progress in promoting gender equality and women’s rights, especially in the area of legal reforms: the three landmark laws passed in 2007- Registration of Customary Marriage And Divorce Act, Devolution of Estates/Intestate Succession Act and Domestic Violence Act; the recent Sexual Offences Act 2019, Public Elections Act 2022, PPRC Act 2022, and the GEWE Act 2023.

However, he maintained that there is still a long way to go. The country ranks 139 out of 190 countries in the Gender Inequality Index, with a Gender Development Index score of 0.507 out of 1. This score reflects the gender disparities in health, education, and political participation in the country.

The SLAJ President argued that the political participation of women in Sierra Leone is still low, with women occupying only 13.4% of parliamentary seats and 21% of ministerial positions adding that the country’s political system is dominated by men, and women face numerous challenges in accessing political power, including patriarchal attitudes, limited access to resources, and cultural barriers.

Ahmed Sahid Nasralla pointed out that Media monitoring can help to address some of those challenges by promoting gender-sensitive reporting and increasing the visibility of women politicians in the media.

He said by highlighting the achievements, experiences, and perspectives of women politicians, media monitoring can help to change public perceptions of women in politics and encourage more women to participate in the political process.

Furthermore, according to him, media monitoring of gender-sensitive reporting can be an effective tool for strengthening the political participation of women in Sierra Leone. It can help to promote gender equality in politics, raise awareness among journalists and media owners about the importance of gender-sensitive reporting, and change public perceptions of women in political positions.

He intimated that the launch of a policy brief on media gender scorecard in Sierra Leone comes at the right time as Parliament just enacted the GEWE Act 2023.

“I have not read the policy but I believe the Scorecard measures the extent of women’s participation in media coverage and decision-making and highlights the gender gap in media representation and its impact on women’s empowerment in Sierra Leone,” he said.

Nasralla suggested that the policy should, among other things, call for media organizations to adopt gender-sensitive policies and practices; advocate for increased funding for women-led media initiatives and training programs; and identify best practices and specific recommendations for media stakeholders, including journalists, editors, and media owners to promote gender-sensitive media coverage and decision-making.

He said as a country, we must prioritize the political participation of women, as it is crucial for achieving sustainable development and good governance.

Nasralla concluded by stating that SLAJ therefore calls on all stakeholders, including the media, civil society organizations, and the Government, to support media monitoring and promote gender-sensitive reporting to strengthen the political participation of women in Sierra Leone.

Peace Commission Gets New Chairman

February 24, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The under resourced Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC), an institution that should be well funded at this material time, as Presidential, Parliamentary and Municipal Elections are just few months away, has got a new Chairman in the person of Rev. Shodankeh Johnson, who was overwhelmingly approved by Members of Parliament in the Well replacing Sheka Mansaray who resigned last year due to health reasons.

As Members of Parliament they underpinned the fact that the work of the Commission is now crucial especially in ensuring that the electioneering period is devoid of violence and mayhem by making sure that there is tranquility and peace they also equally stated that the Commission must be provided with the much needed financial resources to give it the clout to be able to carry out its mandate effectively.

The Honourable Members of Parliament pointed out that allocating only One Billion Leones out of Eight Billion Leones requested by the Commission last year is a treatment not befitting a Commission that has so much to do countrywide in maintaining the peace and promoting national cohesion.

Members of Parliament in their submissions in the well prior to the approval, described Rev Johnson as a developmentally oriented national figure, a renowned man of God and a spiritual father to many.

They commended His Excellency the President for appointing such a visionary leader with the right pedigree for the job, noting that he has not only being complementing the efforts of the Government in the areas of education and health, but has also helped in transforming the lives of many Sierra Leoneans especially the youths across the country.

They have no doubt that with his wealth of experience in the area of peace building, he will live up to the expectations of the President and that the Commission as a whole will be able to achieve its objectives.

Speaker of Parliament while congratulating the new chairman, also reiterated the importance for the Commission to be empowered to able to achieve its goals

Prior to his appointment, Rev Johnson served as a Board Member in the Commission. He was born to a Creole father from Waterloo and a Sherbro mother from Bonthe.

He is also a church leader, a consultant leadership trainer/mentor working with churches and para-church organizations and leaders across the global. He is the Founder and Executive President of the New Harvest Global Ministries in Sierra Leone and other twenty African, Asian and Latin American Countries.

He is the Proprietor of the New Song Radio Stations in Bo, Koidu and Makeni, the Founder and Chancellor of Every Nation College Bo, Proprietor of 7 Nursery, 59 Primary, 20 Junior and 4 Senior Secondary Schools in the country and a Technical Institute.

He is the Chief Executive Officer of the New Harvest Development Office NEHADO, a local NGO complementing the efforts of Government in the areas of Primary Healthcare (4 Health centers in Bo, Falaba and Kailahun Districts), water and Sanitation, Agriculture, Child Protection, Right -Based Advocacy and livelihood development.

Rev Johnson holds a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Theology (Missions) and is currently a PHD Candidate. He was also conferred an honorary doctorate degree for his achievements and proficient Christian Leadership by the Christ Life Theological Seminary, Aba, Abia State, Nigeria.

He was also Founder and Chairman of the Makeni and Bo Council of Church Ministers and a Lecturer at Flaming Bible School.

Gento Not in the Political Race to Compete but to Facilitate Development

February 24, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

Mohamed Gento Kamara is now seen by many as the God sent personality who has come to liberate Freetonians from the deplorable condition in which the metropolis has been plunged with the vast majority of residents not adequately accessing basic necessities that would enhance high standards of living and improve qualities of life as should be the case in any advanced city.

Well known for his simplicity and sincerity in translating promises into reality many have now come to consider Gento, as he is popularly called, as a beacon of hope whom should be trusted for his innate ability to mobilize resources and people in order to ensure that tangible and sustainable projects positively and meaningfully impact lives and communities.

Gento is here not to compete but to better the livelihood of Freetonians with indelible developmental strides that will somehow be devoid of the petty squabbles that have held the Council back from efficiently translating policies into workable realities that should be benefitting many.

For those who are now comparing him to the APC Money Jagaban, said to be filthy rich, Gento did not throw his hat to the ring because he wants to display wealth but rather out of the passion to uplift many from the abyss of poverty and lack of facilities that would make life worth living.

It is against such a backdrop that many are now poised to not only profusely campaign for him, when it is campaign time, but to also cast their votes en masse in order for him to emerge as the next Mayor of the Freetown City Council come June, 24, 2023.

When cognizance is taken of the fact that the vast majority of residents of Freetown are finding it difficult to easily access clean drinking water, to live in improved sanitary conditions , to find suitable markets for trade purposes amidst the squalor that destitute live which constitutes an eye sore vis-à-vis the growing number of disable beggars, environmental degradation that leads to sporadic disasters to the high rate of petty robbers and other social delinquents seen openly abusing drugs and alcohol to high cost of house rents, it is seen that there is much in terms of surmounting, those life threatening challenges that are militating against having a befitting city, to be undertaken or done in order to bring Freetown to the status befitting a capital city.

If there is one institution in this country that has failed woefully with regards fulfilling its mandate then it is the Freetown City Council (FCC). When thought is given to the fact that in terms of revenue generation the Freetown City Council is better placed in mobilizing such in the forms of market dues , property rates and even city rates but lamentably little is being shown when it comes to development. As a matter of fact the issue of payment of taxes by residents in Freetown only became an issue when they stoutly refused to pay taxes simply because there is nothing developmental to show that will serve as a motivation to continue to honour such a statutory obligation.

The bottom line is that as a result of poor leadership laced with political tailored biases , the Freetown City Council became a battlefield where the Mayor and Chief Administrator were not seeing eye to eye at the peril of development sometimes evident in mounting piles of garbage on streets or in public places simply because administratively things were at standstill going to the extent of delay in paying the garbage collectors or certain municipal schools not getting the required support that they deserve.

Freetonians are ready to vote him overwhelmingly. His track record is topnotch and his zest to change Freetown from the deplorable state which has been in the hands of bad leadership for decades is high.

Residents of Freetown are loudly voicing it out loudly that they are sick and tired of bad leadership at the helm of affairs at the Council. They have rejected outright the obsolete belief that it is only a person of the Krio pedigree that should be a Mayor of FCC maintaining that such is tantamount to discrimination. There is no constitutional provision that it must be the preserve of the Krios as Freetown has become more cosmopolitan and is considered to be the melting pot of all tribes in the country. It therefore means that if democracy should have a foothold then all should be allowed unfettered access to the franchise.
Freetown also considered to once be a stronghold for the APC Party has gone through transformation as the leadership of Freetown is no longer dependent on party politics but an individual who is charged with the zest to develop Freetown with no flimsy excuses.

Chief Mohamed Gento Kamara is the only way out and Freetonians should make no mistake in electing him as the next Mayor of Freetown 2023. For now the writing is now clearly on the wall that Gento is the man of the moment and many have confidence in him as the next seating Mayor that will transform the city of Freetown in order to make it one of the improved cities in the West African sub-region.

NP-SL Rated as Premier Importer & Marketer of High Grade Petroleum Products

February 24, 2023

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

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

NP-SL Ltd deserves praise as a resilient business entity that had been rated as the country’s foremost importer and dealer in petroleum products, which includes petrol, diesel, gas as well as lubricants of various types and is always poised to give its ubiquitous and esteemed customers the best in terms of giving them value in return for money.

The company’s competent and result-oriented Managerial think tank, currently headed by its indefatigable Chief Executive Officer, Kobi Walker, in tandem with the Board of Directors, have always endeavored to be at the pinnacle of affairs within the petroleum landscape in this country, looking at best options, in order for effective service delivery to be executed timely, excellently, all geared towards enhancing good business relationships. If there is any outstanding feature for which the company is identified with then it is giving customers satisfaction to the fullest which is why it has earned the enviable reputation of ‘1^st for Customer Care’.

Prioritizing customer care is considered very paramount out of the strong conviction that the company will be nowhere without its cherished customers.

It is along that line that the company has a customer care unit that primarily interfaces with members of the public. Concerns and recommendations channeled through it are raised in certain management meetings, discussed and the way forward mapped out.

Regarding their customers as priceless jewels, NP-SL Ltd always ensures that to give them optimal satisfaction, value must be derived from their monies spent. It was thinking along that line that prompted the shareholders of the company to replace their old fashioned pumping machines to calibrated pumping machines of high standard which transparently pump the requisite quantity of petrol or diesel demanded for. Confidence is now high among its customers that they are getting exactly what they are paying for.

Still within the domain of 1^st for Customer Care, the company is always in position to enter into payment plans with its reliable and dependable customers including Ministries, Departments and Agencies for fuel and lubricants supplies as long as all the necessary modalities have been put in place. When cognizance is taken of the fact that some of these institutions receive intermittent budgetary allocations then such an arrangement is very significant. Its significance in real terms borders on functional continuity of those institutions as they will be assured of supplies of petroleum products in as much as they keep honouring their obligations.

In this country today, for one to see a successful business entity that is owned mainly by Sierra Leoneans and having a maximum number of indigenes as members of staff is like trying to find a lost needle on the beach, although there are some that could be identified.

For NP-SL Ltd this has been a big achievement as the company is strongly adhering to the country’s Local Content Policy. Making use of local brains has been identified as one of the conduits through which developing countries like Sierra Leone could attain economic empowerment. Correspondingly, if there is a continuation of the colonial mentality that it is only by importing foreign ideas and skills that we will get there then such could be a very sad mistake.

By providing job opportunities for hitherto jobless Sierra Leoneans, NP-SL Ltd continues to help in alleviating poverty by putting monies into pockets which could be utilized to take care of responsibilities.

For those who have not tried NP Gas for the first time it is now time to give it a try. Designed in sizable varying cylinders and sold at various NP Filling Stations, this cooking device has been rated as one of the best that is on offer for sale. NP Gas is safe, user friendly and portable. Trying it will spur you to recommend it to others.

NP Smart Card is now in vogue and is one of the latest technological devices used to purchase petroleum products. Using it has attendant advantages as evident in procuring fuel at any time of the day even during times when monies could not be accessed from banks. It is secured, easy to use and very quick. It is now trending.

To crystallize proposed projects into tangible realities on the ground, Government needs the requisite financial resources to effectively do so and one sure way is from the collection of taxes which is the mandate of the National Revenue Authority (NRA). NP is indeed one of the big time tax payers in the country and it is very compliant in that direction.

From all indications, it is crystal clear that NP-SL Ltd is here to stay in order to give the best and contribute tremendously to the socio-economic development of the country. Indeed the company is passionate and committed towards attaining those objectives.

Christian Aid Chairman & Chief Executive Officer Pay Courtesy Visit

February 24, 2023

By Millicent Senava Mannah

Christian Aid Sierra Leone, an International Non- Governmental Organization, focusing on service delivery and humanitarian assistance, engaged the media in a press conference on the 21^st February, 2023 geared towards giving highlights of the visit of the Chairman of the Christian Aid Board, the Chief Executive Officer and the Director of International Programs of Christian Aid. The engagement took place at the Organization’s office on 90 Sir Samuel Lewis Road, Aberdeen in Freetown.

Giving an overview of the engagement, the Country Director of Christian Aid SL, Mattia Koi Dimoh, stated that they decided to pay a courtesy visit to the country for them to see the work they have been doing as well as supporting over the years.

Speaking at the conference, the Chairman Christian Aid Board, Bishop Lord Sentamu, intimated that Christian Aid believes in life before death. He maintained that there is enough of what they have seen and experienced in their visit, and how that is what Christian Aid is trying to do.

‘’And to me that means raising the horizons of the people to look towards hope. To me, the meetings we have had actually persuaded me that Christian Aid is doing exactly what we stand for. ’’ He stated.

‘’That every man, woman, boy and girl, are created in God’s image and likeness, and they bare the very likeness of God, and therefore they must be treated with respect and dignity with justice and equality,’’ Bishop Lord Sentamu maintained.

Bishop Lord Sentamu commended the Christian Aid SL Board for the great work they have been doing and according to him, what they are doing is a real example of what Christian Aid is all about. He said when they go back they will like to see what have been accomplished in Sierra Leone replicated as a sort of a mirror in the 27 countries they are working.

He revealed how they had a chance to speak with the Inter-Religious Council, stating how they listened to what they have been doing and what their concerns were about his experience in Uganda and other African countries.

Bishop Lord Sentamu stated that elections are times for people to listen to those who are standing for offices and for eligible voters to be encouraged to vote. According to him, the larger the number of people who vote, the more likely they get a representative Government.

He disclosed how he told the leaders of the Inter-Religious Council that all Churches and all Mosques should encourage their members who are eligible to vote, to go out and vote on the day of election.

‘’A vote is one of the greatest gifts that democracy can give to individuals to express their opinions and their preferences for those whom they wish to be there.’’

The Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Watt, said they have had the opportunity to talk with Civil Society Organizations, and how they will be travelling to the provinces to see the work they have been doing. .

‘’Of course many things have changed for the better. When I was here in 2005, the country was in a post conflict phase. Nonetheless Sierra Leone is a country that has a lot of poverty as a lot of people in this country are unable to meet their most basic needs,’’ he stated.

‘’We are an organization that has always worked since we were founded 75 years ago, on both the effects of poverty and the causes, we have always carried out work through partnerships since 1988. When we start our work in Sierra Leone we worked alongside Civil Society partners. The instrument lies on our partnership, we actually work alongside our partners.’’ Patrick Watt asserted.

This Media engagement was climaxed with a Q and A session.

For Violation of its Act… PPRC Fines APC Le120M, Warns APC & SLPP

February 24, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

In a letter dated 23^rd February, 2023 signed by the Chairman of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) Abdulai M. Bangurah, to the Inspector General of Police captioned: Re: ALLEGED PHYSICAL ATTACKS ON MEMBERS/SUPPORTERS OF THE ALL PEOPLES CONGRESS PARTY INCLUDING ITS NATIONAL SECRETARY GENERAL BY SECURITY PERSONNEL it was stated that he is writing in relation to claims of physical attacks on members of the All Peoples Congress Party, allegedly by security personnel, that are abound on social media and to register the Commission’s concern, respecting those claims.

The PPRC Chairman furthered that whilst they continue to forage social media platforms for footages of the alleged attacks, they urge the Police to speedily investigate those claims and appropriate actions taken against the perpetrators if substantiated.

In another letter dated the 23rd February, 2023 written by the PPRC Chairman to the National Secretary General Elect of the All Peoples Congress Party,Lansana Dumbuya Esq captioned: Re: CONSISTENT BREACH OF SECTION OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES ACT NO.25 OF 2022.

In this letter he referred to the Commission’s letter of the 14th instant, addressed to the Secretary of the then Interim Transition Governance Committee of the APC.

He stated that by the said letter, the Commission issued a written warning to Party to desist from peddling public insults and provocation against its opponents, in the conduct of its activities.

Unfortunately, he continued, the warning was not heeded, as Supporters of the Party on the 20th February, 2023 and in the presence of its National Leader elect and Flagbearer designate Dr. Samura Kamara, again hauled public insults and provocative songs against His Excellency the President and his wife, the First Lady of the Republic.

The PPRC Chairman said as stated in the letter afore referred, His Excellency the President, as Flagbearer designate of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party, in the upcoming Presidential elections, is a political opponent of the APC Party, within the meaning of Section 39(1)(c&d) of the Act aforesaid.

He said the APC Party’s conduct in the foregoing behalf, is therefore in deliberate contravention of the said Section 39(1)(c&d) of the Political Parties Act 2022 adding that persistent infringement of that provision of the Act by his Party, is extremely concerning to the Commission, as it is not only a recipe for confrontation and a breach of the public peace, but it also corrupts public morals.

According to the PPRC chairman, In the light of the foregoing and in pursuance of Section 39(2)(b) of the Political Parties Act 2022 and WITHOUT PREJUDICE to Section 39(3&4) of same, that provides for further actions under the general law by the affected persons and the right of the Party to Appeal respectively, the Party, The All Peoples Congress Party, is hereby fined the sum of NLE120,OOO/OO (One Hundred and Twenty Thousand new Leones) payable into the Consolidated Fund, within two weeks from date herein and furnish the Commission with evidence of such payment.

In a letter dated 14th February, 2023 and directed to the Secretary of the

Interim Transition Governance Committee (lTGC) of the All Peoples Congress Party, Hon Abdul Kargbo, the PPRC Chairman stated that the attention of the Commission is drawn to a video that has gone viral on social media, the contents of which are a very profane and obscene song, with vulgarity and unprintable invectives, directed at His Excellency the President and his wife, the First Lady of the Republic, that was sung and danced to, during Dr. Samura Kamara’s declaration, for the flagbearership of the APC Party in Makeni, on Sunday 12th February 2023.

The Chairman said as he may be aware, aside from being the President of the Republic, His Excellency is also the Presidential Candidate designate, for the Sierra Leone Peoples Party, in the upcoming June 24th 2023 presidential elections and thus falls within the meaning of the word “opponent”, in Section 39(1)(c&d), of the Political Parties Act,No.25 of 2022.

He continued that in view of the above, his Party is in obvious contravention of Sections 39(1)(c&d) and 40(1) of the aforementioned Act as the song does not only contravene the said provisions of the Act, but it also corrupts public morals.

He said consequently and in pursuance of Sections 39(2)(a) and 40(2)(b) and WITHOUT PREJUDICE to Section 39(3) of The Political Parties Act 2022, his Party, The All Peoples Congress Party, its Members, Supporters and Candidates are hereby WARNED, to desist from such unwholesome conduct.

The PPRC Chairman also stated that he should be reminded of the other sanctions prescribed in the Act, against such proscribed conduct and which they shall not hesitate to invoke, in the event it persists, notwithstanding the warning.

“We certainly should not by our actions or inactions, bequeath such vices to our children,” he said adding that the Commission therefore wishes to encourage Candidates and aspiring Candidates of all Political Parties, to show leadership and respect for the offices they are aspiring to, by admonishing their Supporters, to desist from such indecent and unlawful conduct.

Writing another letter dated 23^rd February, 2023 to the National Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party captioned:

Re: CONTRAVENTION OF SECTION OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES ACT NO.25 OF 2022the PPRC Chairman said the attention of the Commission is drawn to the conduct of Supporters/Operatives of his Party, at an outlet called “Unity Ataya base”, Calabatown Freetown, on Wednesday 22nd February 2023.

He stated that he may recall that, the All Peoples Congress Party, had their National Delegates Conference in Makeni, from the 18th to the 20th February 2023, in which they inter alia, elected their National Leader and Flagbearer designate, for the 24th June 2023 presidential elections.

He said subsequent thereto, they applied for and obtained clearance from the Sierra Leone Police, to accompany their said Flagbearer designate to Freetown in a convoy.

According to the PPRC Chairman, cognizant of that, a number of his Party’s Supporters/Operatives, assembled at the said outlet, singing and dancing to songs complimentary to their own Party and thereby provoked skirmishes between them and the APC convoy, which culminated to a breach of the public peace.

He pointed out that their conduct amounts to a disruption of the activity of a Political opponent and thus contravenes Section 39(1)(e) of the Political Parties Act No 25 of 2023.

The PPRC Chairman stated that the institution is warning the Sierra Leone Peoples Party to refrain from such disorderly conduct forthwith and be reminded of the further sanctions prescribed in the Act, in the event of a repeat of such proscribed behaviour.

Policy Brief and 2023 Media Gender Scorecard Launched

February 24, 2023

By Foday Moriba Conteh

During an auspicious ceremony held on Tuesday 21^st February 2023 at Atlantic Hotel on Lumley Beach in Freetown, the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swarray officially launched a Policy Brief and the 2023 Media Gender Scorecard on the coverage of women in politics, peace, and security issues in Sierra Leone.

The Policy Brief and 2023 Media Gender Scorecard was developed by the Initiative for Media Development(IMDev) in collaboration with Independent Media Commission with support from Canada Fund for Local Initiative.

In his statement while launching the policy brief, the Minister commended the Initiative for Media Development and partners for putting together the Policy Brief and 2023 Media Gender Scorecard which he described as very important towards addressing issues related to the coverage of women in politics, peace and security issues in the country.

He said as Government they have started doing the things they ought to do of which he said they started with the Repeal of Part 5 of the 1965 Public Order Act and part of the argument they had at the time was that women will feel more comfortable to participate in the media or chose the media as a profession.

The Minister said that Government is committed towards the implementation of the provisions of Gender and Empowerment Bill, stating that directions have been given to Cabinet Ministers to work with Permanent Secretaries in order to establish gender offices in all Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The President of Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, said that SLAJ recognises that gender inequality is a major challenge in the media in the country, adding that while they acknowledge that discrimination, harassment and inequality on the basis of gender are not limited to the media, SLAJ has made it a priority to deal with these issues within the industry.

“The launch of a policy brief on media gender scorecard in Sierra Leone comes at the right time as our parliament just enacted the GEWE Act 2023. I have not read the policy but I believe the Scorecard measures the extent of women’s participation in media coverage and decision-making and highlights the gender gap in media representation and its impact on women’s empowerment in Sierra Leone,” he revealed.

The Honorary Consul for Canada, Kofie Macauley, said the tools have been developed as part of IMDev’s project under the auspices of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), adding that CFLI is a small grant programme that provides direct funding support to initiatives implemented by local partners.

Kofie Macauley noted that they are pleased that the Policy Brief and the Gender Media Scorecard will serve as a reference tool for the media and all other stakeholders – researchers, academics, media development organizations – to create conducive environment for inclusive political participation.

The Chair of the Female Parliament Caucus in Sierra Leone, Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay, said there is a special need to put specific measures in place to ensure gender equality, as well as the integration of a gender parity perspective in the media to ensure that the sector is truly inclusive and that they contribute to social changes, be it in politics or economic development.

Hon. Veronica Kadie Sesay used the opportunity to encourage the girl child to pick up a career path to explore the field of Information and Communication Technologies thereby creating a platform for inclusion and visibility in public life and to the women media producers, the first task is to address the concerns of their fellow women and create an identity that imparts faith in them.

Giving the keynote address, the President of the 50-50 Group Sierra Leone, Dr. Fredline M’cormack-Hale, said they are happy to note that legal strides have been made and that there are series of laws passed including the gender equality and women’s empowerment act.

She said that this is a key area the media can work highlighting the number of women elected to leadership positions within the party as nominees and elective women thereby helping them to promote accountability adhering to these new laws, highlighting the challenges women face, and get them to speak about their plans and manifestos.

Giving the policy recommendations, the Executive Director of Initiative for Media Development, Yeama Thompson said that in order to increase gender-sensitive reporting in the media during elections in Sierra Leone, the following policy recommendations are suggested.

Firstly, to conduct a broad advocacy campaign in the media based on the evidence obtained in the 2023 Media Gender scorecard and 2018 Media Gender Scorecard. This includes statistics targeting media houses, media regulatory bodies, media owners Journalists unions and associations, bloggers, and relevant and competent services under the Ministries of Information and Communication and Women and Gender.

Secondly, to develop a gender equality policy or charter for the media and build a strong partnership with the sectoral Ministries concerned and relevant stakeholders such as the Gender Media Advisory Panel of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Women in the Media Sierra Leone (WIMSAL), Sierra Leone Association of Women in Journalism (SLAWIJ) and other organisations, for the effective application of the gender policy.

Thirdly, to prioritise coverage of gender-related and other development issues from the local communities to ensure that underrepresented groups, including women, are adequately featured in the media.

Fourthly, to increase sensitisation and awareness-raising to bridge the information gap and give women a stronger voice in the media etc.

One Year of War Against Ukraine: Acting Together to Ensure International Law will Prevail

February 24, 2023

By Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy

24 February 2022 will forever be recalled as the day when Russia started its brutal, unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine. This was and remains a case of pure aggression and a clear-cut breach of the UN Charter. This war is neither ‘just a European issue’, nor is it about the ‘West versus the rest’. It is about the kind of world we all want to live in: no one is safe in a world where the illegal use of force –by a nuclear power and permanent member of the Security Council – would somehow be ‘normalised’. That is why international law must be enforced everywhere to protect everyone from power politics, blackmail and military attack.

One year on, there is a risk that people become inured to the images of war crimes and atrocities that they see – because there are so many; that the words we use start to lose their significance – because we have to repeat them so often; that we get tired and weaken our resolve – because time is passing and the task at hand is hard.

This we cannot do. Because every day, Russia keeps violating the UN charter, creating a dangerous precedent for the whole world with its imperialist policy. Every day, Russia keeps killing innocent Ukrainian women, men and children, raining down its missiles on cities and civilian infrastructure. Every day, Russia keeps spreading lies and fabrications.

For the European Union and our partners, there is no alternative to staying the course of our ‘triple strategy’: supporting Ukraine, putting pressure on Russia to stop its illegal aggression and helping the rest of the world cope with the fallout.

This is what we have been doing for one year now – and successfully so. We have adopted unprecedented sanctions; cut our dependency on Russian fossil fuels; and in close collaboration with key partners reduced by 50% the energy revenues the Kremlin gets to finance its aggression. Working together, we have also mitigated the global ripple effects with food and energy prices declining, partly thanks to our Solidarity Lanes and to the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

It is not enough to say that we want Ukraine to be able to defend itself – it needs the means to do so. So, for the first time ever, the EU has supplied weapons to a country under attack. Indeed, the EU is now the leading provider of military training for Ukrainian personnel so they can defend their country. We are also offering significant macro-financial and humanitarian aid to support the Ukrainian people. And we have decided to respond positively to Ukraine’s request to join the EU. Finally, we are working to ensure accountability for the war crimes that Russia has committed.

Ukraine has shown its remarkable resilience, partly thanks to this support. And Russia has grown more isolated, thanks to global sanctions and the international condemnation by the overwhelming majority of states in the UN General Assembly. Our collective goal is and remains a democratic Ukraine that prevails; pushing out the invader, restoring its full sovereignty and, with that, restoring international legality.

Above all, we want peace in Ukraine, a comprehensive and lasting peace that is in line with the UN Charter and international law. Supporting Ukraine and working for peace go hand in hand

In all this, the EU does not ask anyone to ‘pick a side’. We just ask countries to stand on the side of the UN Charter and international law, as we jointly agreed at the last EU-Africa Summit. The support of many African countries at the UN and elsewhere for the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty and international law is crucial.

Just like Ukraine, our African partners are free to make their own choices and have the sovereign right to determine their own future. We reject any logics of countries belonging to any ‘sphere of influence’. Indeed, Russia’s aggression is a textbook example of an imperialist mindset.

We need to be clear that Russia’s actions are responsible for the economic shockwaves in terms of food, energy and fertilizer prices. We have always exempted Russian energy, food and fertilizers from EU sanctions and we are monitoring any possible unintended effects of our sanctions. The EU continues to work hard to address food security needs and we have increased our funding, for instance with€1,6 billion for the most-affected countries in the Sahel, Lake Chad and the Horn of Africa.

More broadly, the Russian invasion has underlined the need for both Europe and Africa to avoid excessive dependencies. And it has reinforced our commitment to leverage our partnership to build more resilient and inclusive economies, protect our democracies and strengthen social cohesion.

History and justice are on the side of Ukraine. But to accelerate history and achieve justice, we need to amplify our ‘triple strategy’. We know this is a collective task. That is why the EU is counting on all its partners, to act in a spirit of joint responsibility and solidarity to ensure that aggression fails and international law prevails.