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New England Ville Police Station & Scouts Association Undertake Cleaning Exercise

By Millicent Senava Mannah

The New England Ville Police Station, in collaboration with Sierra Leone Scouts Association and the community traders, organized a cleaning exercise at the station and the surrounding Ministries at New England Ville. This took place on Saturday the 4th of February 2023.

The New England Ville Police Station, Officer Commanding, Monica Emelda Johnson, intimated that, when she took up office six months ago, she noticed how there were dirt piling up in the surrounding of the station. According to her, one of her initiatives was to clean the environment.

She intimated that the cleaning exercise was in line with their Station’s forth coming Awards Night and Party further maintaining that it is the social responsibility of everyone to clean their environment and not to wait for the Government to do so.

Officer Commanding the New England Ville Police Station stated how it is not just about dressing decently to go to work, but to ensure their environment should also be clean. She said that all the sections in the station were cleaned including the detention room.

She said she will be happy if other stations will take up the same cleaning exercise or such venture to clean their communities, instead of waiting on Government.

The Administrative and International Commissioner, Sierra Leone Scouts Association, Patrick J. Massaquoi, informed that the cleaning exercise was essential and how as an organization teaching people to become better citizens it is a welcome idea to clean the surroundings.

He continued that when the administration of the aforementioned Station approached them they saw such as a motivation and a collaborative effort to keep the environment clean.

Abdul John, Freetown City Council, Ward 435 Secretary, stated that, he is hoping that there is sustainability of the cleaning exercise, and how it is his responsibility to maintain that.

 

Cowbell Supports National Storytelling

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 the National Storytelling Festival Season 6 Grand Finale on the theme: “My Life, My Land, My Culture, Peace FƆDae,” organized by the Patriotic Advocacy Network-Sierra Leone (PAN-SL) in partnership with Usifu Jalloh commonly known as Cowfoot Prince.

The National Storytelling Festival Season 6 Grand Finale which is geared towards celebrating the country’s rich culture and tradition heritage was held at the City Hall Auditorium, on Wallace Johnson Street in Freetown.

The National Storytelling Festival is an annual event that celebrates the traditional and contemporary oral heritage of Sierra Leone and promotes both literary and oral culture together with traditional songs that are under threat of extinction. The NSF has inspired people in all facets of society including pupils, students, educators, elderly people and Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora; thus, creating the platform for people to share their stories in a well-structured, organized, educative and entertaining manner.

For the past 5 editions, NSF has been able to attract the attention of both national and international audience.

One of the objectives of staging the event was to create a platform where the young and youth can showcase their talents, to bring young people together to tell the beautiful and educative stories of Sierra Leone and to engage school pupils to know more about their heritage of our Motherland, in order to revamp and celebrate the rich oral, literary culture and heritage of our beloved country.

Premium Divine Trading Company Limited’s partnership support to the National Storytelling Festival Season 6 Grand Finale, 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.

Addressing the gathering, the Country Manager of Premium Divine Trading Limited, Kenneth Konuah, appreciated Patriotic Advocacy Network for organizing the National Storytelling Festival which he said will contribute towards showcasing the country’s rich culture and heritage.

He maintained that the theme: “My Life, My Land, My Culture Peace FƆ Dae,” is not only important but very timely. He amplified the importance of peace in the country of which he encouraged all to embrace peace.

He said that Premium Divine Trading Limited deemed it fit to support the National Storytelling Festival as part of their educational campaigns on the essence of milk consumption in the country and to support healthy living.

“If you are talking about my life definitely food plays a key major role, so it is important to also educate the children to eat right. What you eat at this point in time is going to affect you in years to come,” he underscore.

He 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.

Kenneth Konuah stated that Cowbell products come in 14g sachet, 20g sachet, 360g sachet and 400g tins for the milk.  Also, 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.

He 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.

The Country Manager stated that as a company they can guarantee the availability of quality food products for consumption by everyone with Cowbell products.

He concluded by appealing to all to always buy the quality food products of Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd Especially Cowbell milk because it is enriched with all the necessary nutrients needed for growth in the family.

 

US Ambassador Commends the Judiciary for Expediting PR Case Saying it was Fantastic

The United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Ambassador David Reimer, while welcoming the Chief Justice and his team on the 3rd February, 2023, commended the Judiciary for being so expeditious in concluding the Proportional Representation Case filed by Hon. Abdul Kargbo and Councillor Hakiratu Maxwell-Caulker against the Attorney General and Minister of Justice as first Defendant and the Electoral Commission-second Defendant.

He said, “the US paid attention, the US State Department followed the process, and we are impressed with the speed in which the decision was made.”

“That was fantastic, we want to see a continuation as this will instill confidence in the process,” US Ambassador Reimer said.

According to him, the US has no position on the type of voting process or the electoral system, “what we are interested in is peaceful, free, and fair elections.”

He said they are not supporting any candidate but rather wanted more candidates to contest the forthcoming June national elections.

Acknowledging the commendations, Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards assured that the Judiciary would continue to ensure that all cases filed at the Supreme Court will be broadcast live by the media and completed with the much-needed speed.

“I assure you that we would stick to that,” said Chief Justice Edwards, adding that, “for all Parliamentary cases or electoral offences we have an effective Communications and Public Affairs Unit that will provide timely reports as a way of dispelling rumors or misinformation.”

He said the Judiciary will also pay undivided attention to other cases before the Courts as it doesn’t mean other cases will not continue during the electioneering process.

Asked about his challenges, the Chief Justice admitted that the challenges are huge but wouldn’t serve as roadblocks to “doing what is right.”

Among the challenges he outlined are limited financial support to the Judiciary, especially during the electioneering process.

“We are constrained in terms of logistics,” he said, reiterating that, “We are getting support from the Government and UNDP, but the support is not enough to do our work. Even the support is yet to come.”

In attendance were the US Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission-Stephanie A. Bunce, US Embassy Political Counselor-Paul Stucky, High Court Master and Registrar, Supreme Court Acting Registrar, Court Operations Manager and Spokesperson for the Judiciary

Over 6,000 Girls Benefit from Free Sanitary Pads in Bo

In the Southern City of Bo on Thursday 2nd February, 2022 President Rtd. Brig. Julius Maada Bio and the First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio distributed over 6,000 (six thousand) sanitary pads to school girls .

During the launch of the distribution exercise His Excellency, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio expressed his thanks and appreciation to Her Excellency the First Lady and her team for mobilizing over ten thousand pupils to receive the free sanitary pads.

He noted that since Independence, this is the golden era for girls and women in Sierra Leone and the best time to be a woman in this country, courtesy of the Paopa lead Government.

He described the SLPP as a Kombra party that has trained thousands of teachers, provided books, buses, teaching and learning materials, and school feeding programs all for children going to school.

President Bio admitted that menstruation is not a taboo, gone are the days when girls are stigmatized all because they are on their menstrual cycle. “The distribution of the Free Sanitary Pads is to give equal opportunities to girls to stay in school during their menstruation period, our girls will not stay home again for days all because they are on their menstrual period,” he said.

President Bo disclosed that the Hands Off Our Girls was launched to help protect, prevent, stop teenage pregnancy, and early marriages, stop sexual abuses and restore the dignity of women and girls in the country.

He used the forum to encourage the girls to be focused and take their education seriously, especially when the Government is doing all it can to support education in the country.

He concluded by revealing that his Government has introduced the radical inclusion initiative that will allow pregnant girls and suckling mothers to continue school.

This, he said, is to ensure that they maintain children in schools.

Addressing the pupils Her Excellency the First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, thanked the President for leaving his busy schedule to launch the free sanitary pads distribution in Bo.

She admitted that she is excited because the President understands the importance of menstruation and what girls go through during those periods.

She revealed that before now it was her office that went out to source funding to buy the pads for distribution, but “I am grateful that the President for the love of the girls and the importance he attached to this initiative has asked his Government to buy all the pads, while my office does the distribution to the schools nationwide,” she said.

She appealed to the girls to use the pads for themselves as they should not sell them or share it with others. “The pads should last for one year, you have no reasons to buy extra pads for this year as we have you covered,” she cautioned.

The Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Dr. David Moinina Sengeh described the President and the First Lady as Champions of Women and Young Girls in the country.

He appealed to the pupils to use the pads accordingly as they are healthy and very good for them.

Further statements were made by representatives of Goal Sierra Leone, Care International, and UNFPA commending the distribution process and committing their support to the Hands Off Our Girls Campaign and the Free Sanitary Pads Distributions.

 

Sierra Leone to Benefit from $311M Regional Emergency Solar Power Intervention Project

During the signing of a multimillion-dollar Regional Emergency Solar Power Intervention project (RESPITE) supported by multilateral partners for the Governments of Sierra Leone, Chad, Liberia, and Togo the President Julius Maada Bio presided.

“The choices and decisions we make today will shape the continent’s energy sector for decades. I am, therefore, very pleased about the collaboration and commitments between our Governments and the World Bank that have delivered this $311M project. This is an investment in our region’s future.

“The signing of this Regional Emergency Solar Power Intervention Project is a momentous occasion that marks a significant step towards regional integration efforts to provide reliable and sustainable energy to all our citizens.

“But this event is even more significant. Our sub-regional efforts at expanding our economies are confronted with persistent and rather formidable energy challenges. We, in the sub-region, bear some of the greatest burdens of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the resulting global economic impact,” he said.

President Bio said he valued the impactful voices and presence at this event of the World Bank Country Manager and team, country managers and representatives of the African Development Bank, the International Finance Corporation, Country Representatives from IMF, USAID, and West African Power Pool.

“Let me acknowledge, with gratitude, the vision and commitment of my brothers, the Presidents of Chad, Liberia and Togo respectively, to this regional venture as we work to improve the quality of life for our citizens.

“At the same time, our Governments will keep in step with our global commitments on climate actions. Our Governments remain open to cleaner energy transitions and our countries are open to investments in building greener and more sustainable energy futures.

“We collectively take this bold step in the right energy direction. RESPITE is the beginning of a revolution in energy supply and access in our respective countries, and I again thank the World Bank for this innovative and stellar initiative. Rest assured of my full support as the newly established Regional Technical Committee and the RESPITE Coordination Unit implement this project,” the President concluded.

In his statement, Director of Infrastructure in the World Bank’s Africa West region, Franz Drees-Gross, said the Bank had agreed to double their support for energy access to west and central Africa while noting that countries in the region were spending 0.8% of their GDP to cover the increase in the fuel cost and beyond on what they were spending in subsidies.

He noted that RESPITE was coming at a critical time when the Russia-Ukraine war was hitting hard, adding that they were hoping that the implementation of the project would save 0.2% of the countries’ GDP on average annually but would also increase the supply of clean energy.

Sierra Leone’s Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, who signed on behalf of his country, said he was happy to join his colleagues from the other countries to sign the project agreement that would reduce the burden of energy prices on governments.

He said the Government of Sierra Leone had spent a lot on subsidies for petroleum products, even more than what was projected, adding that Sierra Leone’s allocation of the grant would be used to develop solar powers in Newton and Lungi.

In his brief statement, Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, who spoke on behalf of his colleague Ministers of Energy from the other four countries, thanked President Bio for gracing the occasion, adding that it was a show of his commitment to the energy sector.

He said the RESPITE project was a key initiative in their efforts to address the current power supply crisis in all four countries and across the region.

He also noted that the project was a direct response to the impact of the Ukraine war on the region but that it was also to create a platform for the acceleration of renewable energy and ensure regional alignment.

He concluded that the project would help the countries move from expensive to more prolific energy sources that would increase the supply of affordable and clean energy and also deal with crises of power supply.

 

‘Qnet is Not a Criminal Enterprise’

QNET
QNET

In the wake of a declaration by the Sierra Leone Police Force in which it depicted Qnet as a criminal enterprise, the Lawyers representing the company in the country, during an engagement with the Press on Thursday 2nd February 2023 at the Sierra Palms Hotel at Aberdeen in Freetown disclosed that Qnet Company does not offer travel assistance.

It must be noted that according to the Police, they were inundated with distressed complainants from victims bordering on fraud. Also, in recent times, the courts have also been awash with complainants in respect of travel assistance overseas.

On his part, Lawyer Bestmab D. Juah, Sr. stated categorically how Qnet does not operate any form of travelling scheme  nor does it offer travelling assistances but  rather it is engaged in direct selling and E-commerce. He furthered that the company offers personal care, Q-learning which according to him is offering online education services for people who do not want to relocate overseas just to study. “We offer business courses, especially for those who want to become entrepreneurs,” he added.

He went on to inform newsmen that Qnet is not an employment agency or company but has independent representatives or IRs who are responsible for their own actions.

The Lawyer added that those who are duping people using the name of the company and thereby tarnishing its good image will be prosecuted in the court of law. He called for those who have been nabbed for various dubious acts must be held liable for their own actions because they are independent contractors.

“Anybody who tells you that they will facilitate your travel overseas is a liar,” he underscored.

Lawyer Juah spoke in lofty terms of the company noting that it operates in about 100 countries across the world, and has been in operation in Sierra Leone since 2018.

In his own remarks, the other Lawyer, Pious Herman Sesay, intimated journalists that the declaration made by the Sierra Leone Police has not been directed at the company but those who have been engaging in criminal activities in the name of the company.

He noted that Qnet has never been sued rather it is individuals who are engaged in such a criminal act.

“Qnet is incorporated under the laws of Sierra Leone and does not have staff in Sierra Leone, rather it has independent representatives or distributors who help to market its products based on the ethical rules of the company. It is only independent representatives who have constituted themselves into corporate entities,” he said.

Lawyer Sesay assured that they will fully corporate with the SLP to clamp down the criminals adding that those who will be found wanting will be prosecuted in a court of law.

 

 

 

 

NP-SL Ltd is on Record for Marketing Petroleum Products under Difficult Circumstances

By Amin Kef-Ranger

Indisputably, for now, Sierra Leone is not an exception, the prices of petroleum products, chiefly petrol and diesel, have gone up globally thereby affecting the prices of other basic commodities and services countrywide making life becoming extremely difficult for the vast majority.

Some have unjustifiably blamed the unfortunate situation on Governments and Oil Marketing Companies saying they have not taken proactive actions to squarely deal with the situation.

For oil marketing companies, they claim that their insatiable quest or yearning to maximize colossal profits has forced them and still continues to do so, to escalate prices of those essential products.

In Sierra Leone, the former have argued that Government needs to step in and subsidize in order for the prices of petroleum products not to be felt by the vast majority. Though this might sound plausible the fact remains that as the current situation now stands, the Government is so cash-strapped to an extent that to even think of providing subsidies may be farfetched.

It has been established that fuel prices are rising across the world as a result of a number of reasons.  According to a reputable source, one of the key reasons fuel prices are rising so high is because there are more in demand for it as companies cut ties with Russia following the invasion of Ukraine in February.

Indeed, as has been argued by some, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic the price of oil crashed or went down as the world shut down with oil recording negative prices in April 2020 for the first time in history.

However, when global economies began to recover the price shot up as demand rose sharply and there has been a corresponding failure to meet the demand thereby pushing up prices.

It must be noted that Russia is one of the world’s largest crude oil exporters, second only to Saudi Arabia. However, as the current situation stands with the European Union much more reliant on imports of Russian oil and the leaders of the EU agreeing to ban most of Russian imports, with the United States also announcing a total ban,  the situation has become very untenable.

Obviously, under this kind of situation, we cannot expect oil marketing companies, like NP-SL Ltd to be importing petroleum products as it used to do prior to the war.

Though there are available stocks it is prudent that they must be rationed wisely in order not to completely run out of it. This was mainly responsible for the snail pace at which Filling Stations were selling to members of the public with a bid to have some stock until replenishment has been accomplished.

NP-SL Ltd is on record of instructing its business partners, that is, Station Managers and dealers at various Filling Stations, to open up their stations and sell to the public. Indeed, that has been ongoing but it should be underscored that such will only continue to transpire when stocks are available.

At the same time, the Management of the company had been and is still making frantic moves to ensure that more petroleum products are imported into the country and it is doing so diligently as well as passionately.

It is good that when this country started experiencing shocks in the prices of petroleum products the Government reacted wisely by making sure that it provided oil marketing companies in this country with foreign exchange to put them at vantage positions to continue importing petroleum products in the country and it is still determined to continue doing so.

It will indeed be disingenuous on the part of any individual to claim that an oil marketing company like NP-Sierra Leone Limited is using the current global situation to make life difficult for many by creating situations for prices to shoot up.

It is important to note that NP-SL Ltd alone cannot determine the prices of petroleum products as they are determined by international market forces and it is only the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA) that will finally announce changes in prices after taking into consideration certain variables.

NP-SL Ltd, being an indigenous business entity, is indeed a business entity with a compassionate clout and though it is interested in making profits, however, it does not have the record of making life becoming unbearable for the common man. The company is highly capitalized and is operating in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia meaning that it is not starting from scratch.

Under NP-Sierra Leone’s portfolio there are NP Gas cookers suitable for cooking purposes. They are manufactured in different sizes and have been certified as environmentally friendly. NP Gas could be purchased at various Filling Stations.

There is also NP Smart Card which is used to purchase fuel. Holders of NP Smart Cards only need to credit their cards and they are ready for use at Filling Stations to get fuel without exchanging cash.

In terms of Local Content, the company operates a policy of only giving jobs to indigenes of the country where it operates.

NP-SL Ltd is also one of the biggest taxpayers to the Government.

What is clear for now is that there is uncertainty within the petroleum landscape of the country vis-à-vis the stable price of fuel as long as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues.

It will only be unfair to continue blaming the Government and oil marketing companies for the sporadic increases in the prices as seemingly it is beyond their control.

We can only pray and hope for the better for now.

 

Caritas Conducts One-Day Training on Sexual and Gender Based Violence

By Millicent Senava Mannah

Caritas Freetown, with support from Manos Unidas, organized one-day training for residents, stakeholders and teachers in ten remote communities in the Western Rural area.

The training, which was conducted on the 3rd February 2023  took place at  the Kandeh Turay Hall Waterloo  and was geared towards creating awareness on Sexual Gender Based Violence under a Project titled:  “Strengthening Behavioral Change on SGBV Prevention: Access to Justice and Hygiene Education for Vulnerable Women and Girls in the Western Area”.

Giving an overview, the Program Manager, Idriss Gibson Mansaray, applauded all participants who took time out to attend the training maintaining that Caritas is a family and they always find people where they are to work with them.

He continued that Sexual Gender Based Violence is an issue that has been disturbing women and girls furthering how if such continues society will not be lively for all.

Idriss Gibson revealed that according to statistics more girls drop out of school after BECE or WASCE, and in the university many drop out before the final year. He stated that when it comes to jobs more men have access to jobs than women which lead to more access to finances than women underpinning that same occurs in politics.

He continued that the participants are called to be trained for them to be aware of the roles they should play in preventing sexual violence from happening, and how they should not condone perpetrators for committing such an offence, neither should they give their girl child to early marriage.

He further disclosed that the project has been going on for years and how they are working on the implementation also disclosing that they provide psycho social support for children who have been sexually abused.

There are sponsored by organizations that are against SGBV for them to implement this project.

He continued that nobody will want his/her girl child to be exploited underscoring how the project is about sex and gender continuing that out of a survey conducted it was found out that majority of people don’t have knowledge about Sexual Gender Based Violence.

One of the stakeholders, Christiana Davies Cole Esq., intimated that the training is for participants to become Ambassadors in their communities stating that if they fail to fight against SGBV, how it will affect them. According to her, it is the business of everyone and how, no matter how life is, what happens to one person can also happen to another.

She noted that knowledge is power and how years back when a child is being abused, they hide it maintaining that, people need the knowledge that SGBV is a crime and according to her, that is why people with expertise, come together and make it a law.

She revealed to participants that there are now the Sexual Offences Act and Gender Empowerment Act expressing the view that every law in Sierra Leone is Gender friendly.

Christiana averred that, majority of the sexual offences cases affect women stating how women are easily affected by sexual gender based violence.

According to her, rape means when a man forcefully penetrates into a woman. She made mention of how men can also be raped and how, even married women can also be raped.

She disclosed that, the old Sexual Offence Act is 5-15 years, and how the new one shifted from 15 years to life imprisonment revealing that another offence is indecent assault which is touching the waist of a lady, or to fondle her breast for which the penalty for such a crime is NLe 5million or 5years imprisonment

Fatmata Bangura one of the participants from Benguema, said she learnt a lot about gender, sexual penetration laws and the penalties or jail terms for committing such acts, and how she will go back and educate others in her community.

Another participant Rev. Ventis Osman Koroma from Kossoh Town, stated how the training has helped him to be familiar with the law, as they have been treating things with levity, but how they were given the opportunity to go in depth into the law.

He continued that as a leader of the United Methodist Church, he will go back and teach his congregation about what he has learnt.

The training was climaxed with interactive sessions culminating into a question and answer session.

 

 

ARISE IIP CEO Assures Sierra Leone of Massive Infrastructure & Industrial Investments

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

ARISE Integrated, Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) CEO, Gagan Gupta, has assured Sierra Leoneans of massive Industrial Zone investment portfolios just like his company continues to do  in Benin, Gabon and other parts of Africa maintaining that in Sierra Leone there will be massive infrastructural and other developments in line with its mission and vision within 24 months through the intervention of his company.

Sierra Leonean journalists on a special assignment related to thorough assess the activities and the scope of works of the company that designs, finances, conceives and operates industrial ecosystems across Africa, were in Gabon after departing Benin, where the company is also operating and visited the country’s Special Economic Zone in Nkok and one Special Investment Zone in Ikolo.

From what was understood, the Nkok Special Economic Zone, which was launched in 2010 is a multi-sectoral industrial park located 27 km from Libreville.

On 1126 hectare, it has an industrial zone, a commercial zone and a residential zone bringing together 144 companies from 16 countries operating in 22 industrial sectors, including a cluster dedicated to wood processing which brings together 84 companies.

The Economic Zone or GSEZ is a Public Private Partnership between ARISE IIP and the Government of Gabon.

The Ikolo Special Economic Zone benefits from its strategic location, accessible by both land and river, and  its proximity to the forests of the region and neighbouring provinces. Presently, Greenply, Kengi Timber Manufacturing, Acewood and Gabon Sustainable Wood are the key operational units in the zone, recruiting over 100 employees. The zone will create 750 jobs by the end of 2022 and is expected to export between 150 and 200 containers of processed wood per month, generating added value to Gabon’s economy.

The Mpassa Lebombi Economic Zone was created in May 2022 and it  is an industrial zone specializing in wood transformation. With a total area of 1432.5 ha, the zone includes a cluster dedicated to wood processing and eucalyptus plantations. By mid-2023, it is expected that the zone will provide around 850 direct jobs and hundreds of indirect jobs through the various service providers operating in and around the area. In the zone, Jaguar Wood Products is the key operational unit specializing in saw-mill production.

In Gabon they have what is known as Akiba which is a premium wood furniture brand that focuses on a conservative strategy to commercialize the rich Gabonese forests. Akiba Furniture embodies contemporary designs with a functional aspect, developed by the talented furniture experts. Akiba acknowledges the traditional artistic sensibilities of local carpenters and demonstrates them effectively through every design and pattern. From live edge tables to outfoot furniture and fixtures, the Akiba experts spend days searching for the finest wood quality and refining their process to offer sustainably sourced furniture to consumers.

Covered 85% by forest, on 22 million hectares, Gabon has a stock of exploitable wood of 130 million m3 of Okoumé and 270 million m3 of other species. GSEZ has enabled the country to develop and modernise a wood sector that was previously not very promising by relying on specialisation, one-stop services and alignment with the national development strategy. With 3.4 million m3 produced each year, Gabon has become Africa’s leading producer and exporter of tropical plywood, and the world’s second largest exporter. The country intends to go further in adding value to its wood products by transforming GSEZ into a centre for the manufacture of “Made in Gabon” furniture.

All of Gabon’s forest concessions are operated according to the sustainable forest management practices prescribed by the Gabonese Forest Code. In terms of traceability, since October 2018, GSEZ has benefited from the services of the Tracer-Nkok agency, which ensures that all logs entering the special economic zone are traceable. In the near future, the Government of Gabon will ensure that all the country’s forest concessions will be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)and PAFC / PEFC Gabon in order to improve the traceability of the wood and respect for communities and workers.

In terms of direct and indirect jobs created it is 25,000 with $265M worth of products exported annually and 620,000m of timber processed in 2019 with $1.7 Billion generated in direct foreign investments

Speaking during the tour, the Communications Director of Arise IIP, Sarah Adnan revealed how the three companies do specialize in designing, financing, building and managing state-of-the art infrastructure across Africa.

According to her, ARISE IIP started from an humble beginning and succeeded in creating three specialized verticals, making it one of the largest infrastructure investment platforms in Africa in less than 10 years.

She disclosed that investment cumulated to USD 2bn+ (USD 4bn+ committed to date) has been made to develop a portfolio of 15 large-scale infrastructure projects across Africa.

The Communications Director maintained that sustainability has been put at the core of all the companies’ operations and strategy, promoting traceability, use of renewable energy, biodiversity preservation, and carbon neutrality.

“In 2021, ARISE IIP’s Gabon Special Economic Zone became the first carbon-neutral industrial zone in Africa, a year after being ranked the world’s best industrial zone in the wood sector by FDI Intelligence-Financial Times,” she said with pride.

It could be recalled that few weeks back, the Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Mines, signed a huge contract with ARISE Industrial Platform for the management of the Pepel Port and facilitate major agricultural development in Sierra Leone.

According to the terms of the agreement, ARISE will invest over 400 M Dollars in Sierra Leone for three years and they will give Government 10% free carriage.

It is crystal clear that with ARISE now surfacing in Sierra Leone, the lives of farmers across the country will definitely be transformed like those in Benin, as the rail project will be extended to agricultural districts and neighboring countries.

According to the Founder and CEO of ARISE IIP, Gagan Gupta, with the operations of the company in Sierra Leone, the country will transform in 24 months.

Gagan Gupta is a seasoned entrepreneur, boasting 20+ years of professional experience, of which 12+ as a top executive. He is the Founder and CEO of ARISE IIP, ARISE IS and ARISE P&L, three companies specialized in designing, financing, building and managing state-of-the art infrastructure across Africa. years.
Gagan Gupta’s success derives from his unique ability to structure win-win partnerships (both public and private, including with world-class international groups), his unparalleled operational and execution capacity (all projects delivered on-time and on-cost, with successful and growing operations), his ability to manage all stakeholders effectively (States, private sector, civil society, etc.), and his talent for building and leading top-notch management teams. To support ARISE development, Gagan has secured solid partnerships with top-tier private and public shareholders, at both holding and assets level.

Gagan graduated from the University of Delhi, the ICAI and is a gold medallist chartered accountant.

 

 

 

 

PPRC Engages Newsmen on Recent Activities, Solicits Information from Independent Candidates

Abdulai Masiyambay Bangurah, Chairman of the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), on Thursday 2nd February 2023, briefed the Press on the key changes in the Political Parties Act No. 25 of 2022, emerging issues and activities lined up before the 2023 multi-tier elections.

Speaking on the changes in the new act, the Chairman said that the Commission will now have a fifth Commissioner that will be nominated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants and will be charged with the responsibility to look into compliance and to report obligations of registered political parties in Sierra Leone.

He informed the press that the Administrator and Registrar General has been replaced by an Executive Secretary, who will be responsible for the registration of political parties.

On the tenure of the Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Bangura said the tenure is no longer perpetual, as it is now limited to two five year terms.

Speaking on the mediation role of the Commission, the Chairman says before now, the Commission has to wait for an invitation to settle an intra-party dispute, but with the new act, the Commission can now intervene as of right to mediate.

On the enforcement powers of the Commission, the Chairman says in the new Act the Commission can now warn, fine, suspend and if all fail, deregister defaulting political parties. And that if any political party is aggrieved by any decision taken by the Commission it can seek redress in the Supreme Court.

Commenting on the activities of the Commission, the Chairman said, the Commission played a pivotal role in the amendment and enactment of the Constitution and Rules of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), the National Grand Coalition (NGC), and the All Peoples Congress (APC).

The Commission, he said, through the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP), has organized training for the All Political Parties Youth Association (APPYA), the All Political Women Association (APWA), and the All Political Parties Association (APPA).

The Commission, he says, has plans to undertake a Nation Wide sensitization campaign on the New Act and also to shape the minds of Political Actors.

Mr. Bangurah also stated that the Commission will embark on a nationwide engagement with Traditional and local leaders on the need to ensure unhindered access to political parties in every part of the country.

Amongst others, the Chairman says the Commission will embark on campaigns against hate speech, misinformation, and tribal invectives.

He informed the press that the Commission will hold a nationwide walk for peace with peace messages from political party leaders.

Questions and answers formed the high point of the Conference

On another level, in a Press Statement dated 2nd February,2023 issued by the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) the General Public is hereby informed that, by Section 37(4) of The Political Parties Act No 25 of 2022, Independent Candidates are required to submit to the Commission, a pre-election declaration of their Assets and liabilities, as envisioned in Section 37(1) of the said Act.

Consequent upon the above, all prospective Independent Candidates are requested to submit the said declaration to the Commission, as a prerequisite to their Candidature.

According to the PPRC, the declaration form can be obtained from the Commission, in any of its offices at no cost.

 

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