Omrie Golley to Commission 4 New Agricultural Training Centres Countrywide

February 1, 2023

One of Agric Training Centre in Port Loko

Ambassador Omrie Golley, the leading Flagbearer Candidate for the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) Party, is set to launch four (4) Irrigation Agriculture Training centers across the country.

The agric-education demonstration centres will be used to teach modern irrigation methods to local communities in Port Loko (Northwest Region); Bumbuna (Northern Region); Kenema (Eastern Region); and Bo (Southern Region).

Recalling that in October 2022, Ambassador Omrie Golley himself turned the sod for the construction of the four centers, in the midst of warm reception, he promised the people of Sierra Leone that the centers will be up and running within the shortest possible time.

So far, information is that an expert from one of the world’s leading irrigation company NETAFIM, was in the country to do test installation of all dripping kits in the various centers across the country. The centres are now fully furnished and ready for operation.

The team of Golley Agriculture SL Limited, together with the irrigation expert, has compiled a training manual for courses on irrigation and dripping system. The training of locals will be done on a pro-bono basis (for free) and it will not cost prospective students anything.

Meanwhile, in the vision of Ambassador Omrie Golley, using innovative techniques, that combine education and the use of specialized advanced and modern techniques in agriculture, will start to address the issue of food insufficiency in the country.

According to the UN’s World Food Programme, 2.2 million people in Sierra Leone are chronically hungry, with 1.6 million people acutely hungry. By promoting modern farming technologies, which offer a more sustainable method of farming, Ambassador Omrie Golley aims to increase food security in Sierra Leone and foster economic development through agricultural exports.

1st Securitized Multi-Purpose ID Card Launched in Sierra Leone

February 1, 2023

National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA)

President Julius Maada Bio on the 30^th January, 2023 officially launched the country’s first securitized multi-purpose identification card and identification verification system, saying that civil registration and vital statistics, CVRS, data is critical for development planning and policy making.

He also thanked development partners for their technical and other consistent support in strengthening and building the capacity of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) and for promoting new technologies and international best practices.

“As a Government, we believe that comprehensive CVRS data is critical for development planning and policymaking, resource mobilization, effective governance, public service delivery and inclusive national development as a whole.

“I am pleased that the NCRA has grown over the last four years under the leadership of the current Director General, board, and staff. With the support of partners, the leadership of the NCRA has demonstrated strong-willed diligence in making this day a reality,” he acknowledged.

He added that at the national level, they believed that a biometric, chip-based, multipurpose ID card and ID verification system would serve a number of our imperatives for transparent, effective, inclusive, and sustainable national development.

“That is why it is central to our medium-term national plan; that is why my Government invested resources, worked with partners, and provided strong political will and support at the highest levels to achieve this objective today. The Sierra Leone Government and Constrat Systems SL Ltd. collaborated on this ID card project as part of a public-private partnership.

“In consultations leading up to this, I emphasized the importance of putting strong data protection and management measures in place. That is critical for preserving personal rights and liberties within our democracy, and I am pleased that this has been well-considered. In addition, my Government has been working with development partners, through the cabinet, to deliver a comprehensive data protection bill to Parliament that meets the best international standards,” he noted.

President Bio added: “With the chip-based biometric ID, banks, forex bureaus, micro-finance institutions, mobile money providers, and other financial service providers, among others, can now easily and effectively carry out the electronic know-your-customer (eKYC) process to authenticate and verify their customers at far lower costs for trusted financial transactions across Sierra Leone”.

“Essentially, more Sierra Leoneans will subsequently have access to a broader range of financial services and affordable banking. There are now real opportunities for us in Sierra Leone to expand financial inclusion and transition to a more digital economy. The benefits of a digital economy are immeasurable,” he assured.

President Julius Maada Bio also emphasized that a digital economy would go a long way to helping eliminate cash hoarding.

“Money laundering, financial fraud, telecommunications fraud, identity fraud, and illicit financial flows may be tracked better in a digital economic space. NIN numbers have helped us effectively administer payroll and eliminate ghost employees and other waste.

“The introduction of this biometric ID card also provides Sierra Leone with an opportunity to transition to a full biometric voter system that ensures that every citizen is granted his or her due right to vote and that every vote cast is fully accounted for within the shortest possible time. Peer countries in the sub-region have successfully reduced voter fraud and other electoral errors with the introduction of full biometric voting systems,” he noted.

The Sustainability and Local Economic Development Cluster Team Lead for the United Nations Development Programme, Tanzila Sankoh, said: “Previously in Sierra Leone, the National Identification System involved several actors, each producing ID cards that are accepted as valid proof of identity when transacting businesses or accessing services. The NCRA was able to embark on a more comprehensive nationwide consultation thanks to a successful partnership with the Embassy of Ireland.

“Sierra Leone qualified for the pilot UN Legal Identity for All Agenda, based on progress made in establishing a legal framework via the National Civil Registration Authority Policy and Act of 2016, and the development of the strategic plan for 2019.

“In a developing country that is opening to new technology, we must be guided against information mismanagement. It is, therefore, laudable for the Government of Sierra Leone to put in place a legal framework to manage the securitized and multipurpose ID card and ID verification systems. I am encouraging all stakeholders to take this initiative as an individual and collective responsibility to ensure high uptake of the ID card,” he said.

Resident Representative of ECOWAS in Sierra Leone, Ambassador Harouna Moussa, said: “Today, Sierra Leone has become the sixth member state after Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Ghana, Benin, and The Gambia to implement the ECOWAS member identification card”.

He noted that that had shown the Government of Sierra Leone’s commitment to the vision of ECOWAS’s free movement of persons and free integration in the region, adding that, as a result, he was delighted to see that Sierra Leone was now joining others in the ECOWAS region.

NNTDP & Helen Keller Intl Call for Concerted Approach to Sustain Investments

February 1, 2023

The Sierra Leone National Neglected Tropical Disease program (NNTDP) and Helen Keller Intl have added their voices to the call for a concerted approach to sustain investments in the fight to eliminate and control neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Sierra Leone.

The 2023 World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day (WNTDD) theme is: “Act now. Act together. Invest in NTDs” which is the third edition to be held in Sierra Leone since the 2012 London Declaration on neglected tropical diseases.

Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) through its National Neglected Tropical disease program week-long activity which commenced on January 25, started with a robust media campaign and was followed by a walk in Makeni town aimed at raising awareness on NTDs, which is translated in Krio as: “Waka for don away with Big fut En Blen Yai” held over the weekend on Saturday, 28^th January 2023.

Shortly afterward, a team comprising the Chief Medical Officer in the MoHS, Dr. Alie Wurie and Helen Keller INTL Country Director in Sierra Leone, Sugandh Juneja visited one of the two remaining bastions of big fut – Kagbo and Matok and interacted with a cross-section of persons suffering from NTD complications.

Early, on the 30^th January, a panel discussion, titled, “Road to the Elimination of NTDs in Sierra Leone: Prospects, Challenges, and Way Forward”, was held at the Africell American Corner on Bathurst Street in Freetown.

Panelists included Dr. Alie Wurie, Deputy Chief Medical Officer in the MoHS, Hon. Ibrahim Sesay a consultant Entomologist and former Deputy Minister MoHS and Mohamed Bah, NTDs Program Director, Helen Keller Intl. The BBC’s Umaru Fofana moderated the panel discussion.

“We need to think through what investments are needed for Sierra Leone to maintain the tremendous gains,” said Sungandh Juneja, Helen Keller Intl Sierra Leone Country Director.

“For the past 15 years, USAID has been the largest donor investing in the elimination of these deadly but preventable diseases in Sierra Leone and many other countries,” revealed Juneja adding that “We urge all development partners to join the fight against the elimination of these old age diseases, for, alone we can do so little, together we can achieve a lot”.

Neglected Tropical diseases—often called diseases of poverty—is an umbrella term for 20 communicable diseases that cause devastating and disproportionate suffering– particularly women and children who often lack access to basic health care services. Sierra Leone has worked over the past decades to eliminate or control four NTDs: lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis and soil-transmitted helminths.

“Today we celebrate the fact that 95% of Sierra Leoneans are no longer at risk for lymphatic filariasis locally called Big fut, and are sustaining the fight against other neglected tropical diseases, such as river blindness and schistosomiasis. USAID is pleased to partner with Sierra Leone and encourages each one of us to reflect and find ways not only to maintain achievements to date, but to devise innovative solutions to address remaining bottlenecks to eliminate these diseases,” said Nancy Godfrey, USAID/Sierra Leone Country Representative.

Foreign Ministry to Account for Over Le470 M as Double Payment of DSA

February 1, 2023

Regardless of the huge gains made by the SLPP led Government, headed by President Julius Maada Bio, in combating graft, through the indefatigable strides of the Anti Corruption Commission under the leadership of the Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala, lamentably though, certain highly placed public officials still continue to devise clever means of siphoning public funds into personal confers out of greed and personal aggrandizement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation was one public entity in 2019 where an amount totaling Le470, 125,209.00 was withdrawn from the Ministry’s Imprest Account and paid as advance DSA to staff of the Ministry while awaiting the processing of the payments by the Accountant General.

As best practice would warrant, it was expected that the amount was to be refunded into the Ministry’s Imprest Account once the payments were received from the Accountant General.

Unfortunately and rather shamefully, there was no evidence of repayment into the Ministry’s Imprest Account despite evidence suggesting that the Accountant General had made payments.

Though it was expected that the officers concerned should immediately pay back the loan into the Ministry’s Imprest Account and submit evidence of payment for audit inspection, regrettably, that was not done.

When questions were raised bordering on why a refund was not made, the Ministry’s response was that the Director of Banking at the Bank of Sierra Leone was informed to establish whether the concerned cheques in the various amounts were actually cashed at the Bank of Sierra Leone and by whom, thereafter, a repayment plan would be made.

Disgracefully, there was no evidence that the Director of Banking was informed and no repayment plan was submitted up to date.

Commenting on the situation, a prominent Social Commentator pointed out that the act was not only criminally masterminded but shows how public officials are corrupt depriving the State of much needed funds with nothing coming out of it, buff case!

QNET PUBLIC NOTICE

January 30, 2023

QNET is an ecommerce direct selling company offering a wide range of home care, personal care, nutrition, fine jewelry, e-learning and holidays products.

The business model ensures that our registered Independent Representatives (IRs) who undertake QNET business earn commissions ONLY when they successfully sell a QNET product. All sales are processed through our website (www.qnet.net).

IRs are NOT employees of QNET. They are independent distributors. Customers who purchase QNET products can choose to become IRs and earn commissions, but they are under no obligation or compulsion to do so. IRs must be legally entitled to work in their country of residence and must conduct their business dealings in accordance with all local laws and regulations. IRs undertake to follow QNET’s Policies and Procedures which govern their ethical behaviour while marketing its products. QNET maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any infringement of these terms and conditions and enforces strict penalties including termination of IRs engaging in unethical behaviour.

QNET does not offer “employment”, “guaranteed returns” or “investment opportunities”. QNET is not a Ponzi or get-rich-quick scheme.

QNET works closely with local security agencies throughout sub-Saharan Africa to prosecute individuals engaged in unethical or illegal activity which damages its reputation. QNET condemns any misrepresentation or misuse of its name. If you know of anyone misrepresenting QNET by soliciting an investment or deposit, promising returns of any kind, offering shares in the company, promising jobs, detaining persons against their free will, or using forceful tactics, please contact QNET Africa Support Centre at africa.supportcentre@qnet.net

QNET, as a global leader in the direct selling industry, is committed to developing, implementing and practicing a set of international best practices and professional marketing ethics. Further information about QNET’s products, the company, and our business model is publicly available at its official website http://www.qnet.net

QNET DOES NOT:

SOLICIT INVESTMENTS
TAKE DEPOSITS
PROMISE FIXED INCOME
SELL SHARES IN THE COMPANY
SELL OR OFFER JOBS
CONDONE ANY UNLAWFUL HOLDING OR “DETAINING” OF PERSONS AGAINST THEIR OWN FREE WILL
CONDUCT HARD SELLING OR FORCEFUL TACTICS
OFFER INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS AND TRAVELING OPPORTUNITIES TO IMMIGRANTS
ACCEPT MINORS INTO ITS BUSINESS
TOLERATE EXAGGERATED EARNINGS OUTLOOK, ANY MISREPRESENTATION, OVER-PROMISES, OR ASSERTION THAT QNET OR ITS PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ARE CAPABLE OF DOING IMPOSSIBLE THINGS.

If anyone has encountered such activities being carried out in the name of QNET, please contact us immediately on africa.supportcentre@qnet.net

www.qnet.net www.facebook.com/QnetAfricaOfficial

Lands Minister Calls on Entrepreneurs to Invest in Estate Development

January 30, 2023

By: Mohamed Osman Bangura (Political)

In order to stimulate and encourage individuals to focus on investing in housing infrastructure, the Lands Minister, Dr. Turad Senesie, paid a visit to the Sugar Land Estate at 6 Mile, Konotown layout, Waterloo in the Western Rural Urban District, 26 miles from the capital city, Freetown.

The visit was geared towards actualizing his mandate on facilitating housing development and to encourage Sierra Leonean entrepreneurs as well as other investors to work in collaboration with the Ministry to provide affordable houses.

Dr. Senesie encouraged local and international housing developers to count on his Ministry’s support.

The CEO of ATJ Holdings, Dr. Albert Senesie said his focus is to ensure that issues related to affordable housing are well addressed adding that his objective of developing affordable houses was presented to the Minister of Lands who , in turn, was pleased to support his vision, adding that the project has provided employment and job training opportunities for over 28 youths.

He went on to state that the Sugar Land Estate is a new development of the largest affordable and luxury housing community in Sierra Leone.

“The estate is in 6 mile, 150 yards from Waterloo-Masiaka highway. We have erected structures on 65 acres of land that contain luxurious, affordable, gated estates with clubhouses, landscaping, water reticulation, sewage and solar renewable energy electricity systems and it will be a housing estate with over 1,000 (one thousand) homes upon completion,” he said.

He ended saying that the facilities are well designed with swimming pools, security, uninterrupted electricity and water supply.

Program Coordinators Assures Data on NTDS is Credible & in Line with WHO Recommendation

January 30, 2023

Photo: Helen Keller’s Neglected Tropical Diseases Program Coordinator, Victoria Turay responding to questions from Radio Democracy anchor Journalist Mabel Kabba© Alpha Sesay/Helen Keller Sierra Leone

Sierra Leoneans have been assured by the Helen Keller INTL Neglected Tropical Diseases Program Coordinator, Victoria Turay, that the data the Ministry of Health & Sanitation and her organization uses to inform their interventions on NTDs is credible and in line with the recommendations of the world’s health governing body – WHO.

“We conduct interventions such as annual mass drug treatment with medicines that treat the targeted NTDs and stop transmission of the parasite plus surveys to assess the impact of the treatment,” she revealed.

However, she maintained that her organization’s role is purely to provide technical and financial support to the National Neglected Tropical Diseases Program (NNTDP) in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation who lead the work.

She gave that assurance on the popular Good Morning Salone program on Radio Democracy 98.1 on 26th January,2023. The radio program is part of Helen Keller and the Ministry’s media campaign as part of activities to commemorate World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day in Sierra Leone on January 30, 2023.

“These interventions are yielding successes,” she said adding that, “15 out of 16 districts which account for about 95% of the country’s population no longer require treatment for elephantiasis or big fut because of these interventions.”

Despite the show of appreciation for the successes in the fight to eliminate NTDs in Sierra Leone, 80% of the questions from the listeners who participated via text message and Facebook live during the feedback session of the program, were anchored on data collection, management and control on the NTD program in Sierra Leone.

“Sierra Leone NNTDP does not share this success alone,” she stated going on to praise the United States Agency for International Development (USAID’s), Act to End NTDs West program for their support over the years and the partnership with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and collaboration with traditional healers, religious leaders, community drug distributors, community health workers and civil society organizations to support and sustain community engagement, dispel rumors around MDAs and build trust in NTD services.

This year’s world Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, the third to be held since the 2012 London Declaration on NTDs is organized under the theme, “Act Now. Act Together. Invest in NTD”.

Sierra Leone’s National Neglected Tropical Diseases program and Helen Keller have scheduled a week-long activity to commemorate this year’s event including a walk in Makeni to raise awareness about NTDs in the district headquarters town of Bombali the only bigful endemic district in Sierra Leone.

This year’s celebration will be climaxed with a panel discussion on the theme: “Road to the Elimination of NTDs in Sierra Leone: Prospect, Challenges and the Way Forward” will be held on Monday 30 January 2023 at the Africell America Corner in Freetown.

APC Councillor in Port Loko Endorses Omrie Golley’s Flagbearer Bid

January 30, 2023

In an impressive manner that caught the attention of many, the Councilor for Ward 247 in Port Loko District, Zainab Mansaray, publicly endorsed Ambassador Omrie Golley’s candidacy as the APC Flagbearer ahead of the party’s National Delegates Convention this year.

The female Councilor boldly stated: “Ambassador Omrie Golley has brought us the biggest ever agricultural project in Port Loko district in several years and Agriculture is the backbone of the country’s development and the mainstay of our economy….Today I want to say we the people of Port Loko has heard your call to unite and develop this country…”

She also emphasized the role women should play in choosing their leaders and called on the APC party to embrace candidates who have the capacity to deliver and turn the fortunes of the party around.

Councilor Zainab Mansaray also thanked former President Ernest Bai Koroma for appointing Ambassador Omrie Golley as emissary to the People’s Republic of South Korea where the Ambassador excelled as a diplomat and facilitator for development aid including the bringing in of medical experts to help Sierra Leone stem the deadly Ebola outbreak that claimed hundreds of lives in 2014.

Councillor Mansaray also made bare the fact that Ambassador Golley has already shown the hallmarks of a unifier for the APC party and one that is ready to develop Sierra Leone with no consideration to tribal or regional allegiances.

“I am from Port Loko and he is from Pujehun. At a time like this, we need a leader who does not only understand our problems but is also ready to embrace everyone and I am calling on my people from Port Loko to accept and support this great leader of our time.”

Supreme Court Endorses Constitutional Use of Proportional Representation System

January 30, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

Sierra Leone’s Supreme Court, on the 27th January, 2023, ruled that the general elections to be conducted in June be held under the proportional system of representation as proclaimed by the president. The panel unanimously agreed that the electoral commission acted within the law to advise on the PR system.

It could be recalled that a matter was filed by J.F.K and Partners on behalf of the first Plaintiff, Hon. Abdul Kargbo and the second Plaintiff, Councilor Hakiratu Maxwell-Caulker against the Attorney General and Minister of Justice as first Defendant and the ECSL as the second Defendant on the usage of the District Block Representation system or the PR System.

In their declarations, the Supreme Court Justices; Hon. Justice D.B. Edwards (presiding), Hon. Justice N.C Brown-Marke, Justice M. Deen Tarawally, Hon. Justice Alusine Sesay and Hon. Justice A.I Sesay dismissed all the claims made by the Plaintiffs.

“An order restraining the 2nd Defendant, Electoral Commission, its agents, servants, privies or however called from taking steps aimed at conducting the June 2023 multitier public elections on the District Block Proportional Representation system is refused,” Chief Justice Edwards said in agreement with his colleague Justices.

The legal representative of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, Emmanuel Saffa Abdulia Esq, pointed out that the Supreme Court agreed with his argument affirming how it is constitutional for his Client- ECSL- to organize the election by districts block system in the absence of a boundary delimitation exercise.

The Defence Lawyer furthered that the right to vote and be voted for has not been violated or interfered with and that the purpose of election is to ensure people vote and that is going to happen further maintaining that the ECSL is independent, has supervisory powers over election and is ready to conduct a credible election come 24th June, 2023.

As was stated some have applauded the Judiciary for fast tracking judicial process of the matter further stating that it was done in a way that must be satisfactory to all the parties involved.

Some have described what transpired in Court No. 1, Main Law Courts Building in Freetown as a novelty in the dispensation of justice maintaining that the speed in concluding the issue, on the part of the Judiciary was indeed impressive

NP-SL’s Exponential Growth is Attributed to Sound Managerial Initiatives

January 30, 2023

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

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

One of the dominant companies that have been making steady progress, growing exponentially within the business landscape of this country is indisputably NP-SL Ltd.

It is widely acknowledged that the company has dominated the petroleum trade in the country based on its proactive stance with regards the importation and marketing of high grade petroleum products including petrol, diesel, gas and lubricants of which one of the best is the widely used Castrol oil.

Being an indigenous company that cherishes its numerous customers, NP-SL Ltd, over the years, has placed high premium on customer care, which it has effectively rolled out over the years to such an extent that it has earned the enviable reputation of 1^st for Customer Care. It is within that realm that the initial shareholders of the company, thirty-five (35) of them, thought it entrepreneurially prudent to import and install modern calibrated machines at all its Filling Stations.

These are automated and high precision machines which have the capability of pumping the exact quantity of fuel that a particular buyer or customer requests for, displaying quantity (in litres) as well as the price(s). With these machines, contrary to what used to obtain in the past when less sophisticated pumping machines were used, customers have sincerely attested that they do derive utmost satisfaction whenever they do transactions expressing the belief that the process is really transparent.

Within that same domain of satisfying and providing care for its customers, the company made it a must that all its Filling Stations should have safety regulations. That is why it cautions its customers and others that they should not use naked flame, that mobile phones should be switched off, engines must also be switched off at Filling Stations when fuel is pumped among others.

In order to ensure that fuel is distributed timely to all its Filling Stations in the country, the company has maintained a fleet of tankers (vehicles that transport fuel) and they are regularly maintenance in order to ensure that they are roadworthy.

With the avowed objective of making fuel transactions easier and very convenient for its esteemed and numerous customers, the company again introduced the brilliant idea of introducing the use of NP Smart Card. This is a cashless way of transacting business or in other words purchasing fuel without using physical cash. The holder of an NP Smart Card could present the card at any Filling Station, as long as it contains money, and request for the quantity of fuel he or she requires.

The card is then slotted into the pumping machine with the subsequent discharge of the amount of fuel into a car or jerry can. This method of conducting cashless transaction is very advantageous in the sense that a customer is saved the hassle of intermittently rushing to the bank to withdraw cash for the sole purpose of purchasing fuel. This is so because already his or her NP Smart Card is loaded with money for that purpose. Indeed, it also provides security as the card is securitized only having the particulars of the holder which cannot be used by another person.

Human beings cannot exist in the absence of food as it is a basic necessity of life. Food is prepared in various ways but one popular way of doing so is by cooking. In this part of the world, most households are dependent on largely using wood and charcoal for cooking purposes. However, the cutting down of trees to be used as wood and charcoal have been frowned upon by environmentalists on the grounds that such is contributing negatively to the depletion of the environment and pose other adverse consequences on the ecosystem.

Against this backdrop, the Shareholders and Management of the company thought it fit that to assuage that they must introduce a safer way of cooking. It was out of this idea that the initiative of introducing an environmentally cooking device arose and NP Gas was borne. Manufactured in different cylinder sizes, NP Gas has a high precision performance and to refill it is simple as the gas could be accessed at all the company’s Filling Stations in the country. Many whom have tried them intimated this medium that it is worth having at home and one could never regret having it but would rather recommend it to others.

A company that has vibrant branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia speaks volumes of a serious company that is determined to grow. In all those countries, the company employs indigenes and is paying taxes to the Governments which in turn are used to fund various development programmes.

From what have been said so far, NP-SL Ltd is a company that is making Sierra Leoneans proud and is an epitome of selflessness with a strong passion to further climb higher heights. Indeed, the company is truly a success story!