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 450 Aprons Donated to Market Sellers via the LAPPA to APRON Project

A project titled “LAPPA TO APRON” was launched in Potoru, Barrie Chiefdom, Pujehun District, Southern Province on the 31st December, 2022.

About 450 aprons were donated to market women and men selling in the following markets: Potoru Town, Njala, Makonde (NUC), Congo Town, Wilberforce, Aberdeen Road, Blackhall Road and Malama Thomas Street.

This initiative is directed and coordinated by Dr. Margaret Konima Sesay and supported by family and friends from Sierra Leone, UK, USA and UAE.
A million thanks was extended to the following:
Reverend Canon Joseph and Mrs Maria Tucker & family, Sawyerr family, Modu Jr. & Hamusa Sesay, Iscandari family, Bismarck Davies family, Lukulay family, Bishop Samuel Gbonda& family, Mr. Melvin and Mrs. Hawa Tucker & family, Mrs. Francess John, Dr. and Mrs David Khanu & family, Mrs. Valish Coker and family, Mrs. Aliea Kamara & family, Ms. Ann Akaki, Mrs. Victoria Kargbo & family, Ms. Jane Moikowa, Ms. Beatrice Kuyateh, Haja Fatu Yumkelĺa-Sankoh & family, Dr. Robert Moikowa, Mr. Foday Brima Sawi & family, Ms. Isata Sawi and De-Masoki, Mr. and Mrs. Rashid Sesay & family and Mr.& Mrs. Mahmoud Kamara.

Dr. Margaret Konima Sesay, the Director and Coordinator “FROM LAPPA TO APRON” Project informed that the aprons are of the finest quality as they want the market women to be decent while selling as is the case in other countries the world over, promised that more aprons would be distributed to various markets in the country and appealed to other individuals and institutions to emulate the sterling example.

She further observed that one of the cleanest places in any country should be the market as that is where food items are bought, otherwise, individuals will fall sick and that poor hygiene in market places would zoom on the country’s public health.

Some of the beneficiaries interviewed including Mariatu Kargbo, the Chairlady of Aberdeen Road Market, commended the initiative to promote hygiene and food safety in markets and appealed to other individuals and institutions to emulate the example.

 

Caught Red-Handed… Aminata Turay Narrowly Escapes Lynching By Community Youths

By Abdulrahman Kamara

Reports from eastern suburbs of Freetown, state that one Aminata Turay, residing at Allen Town, narrowly escaped lynching at the hands of angry youths and community people, after being caught in the act of lesbianism, an illegal act condemned by both religious faiths in the country and an offense against the state.

According to residents in the area, Aminata Turay has been seen regularly with her friend, Michealla Thompson, but no one had the slightest idea that they were both lesbians. Family members say that they were of the belief that they were simply close friends from school days, and that this friendship had continued. They disclosed that Michealla Thompson has been a regular visitor to their house, and would often help Aminata do her domestic chores.

Family sources disclosed that on January 20, 2023, Aminata Turay and her ‘partner in crime’ (as Michealla Thompson was described), were caught making love naked in her room by her cousin, Haja Sesay, who accidentally bumped into the room to collect her phone, which she had left in Aminata’s room. Upon entering the room, she discovered both Aminata and Michealla naked, and shocked by the scene, she raised an alarm, which brought neighbors and area youths to the house.

Haja Sessy told this is that though her phone was in Aminata’s room, but her attention was drawn there by the groanings coming from the room. She disclosed that as people stormed the house, Aminata and Michealla managed to escape through the back door of the house and climbed over the surrounding fence into a nearby bush, where they made good their escape, but not without receiving some heavy blows from the youths. She disclosed that news of Aminata’s action quickly spread in the community, reaching the police in the community. A search was mounted by the police to get both Aminata and Michealla arrested, but to no avail.

Police sources say that they now have a warrant of arrest for both ladies, and were looking for them. They appealed to residents in the area to relay any information about the whereabouts of Aminata and her partner.

Same sex activities are illegal in Sierra Leone, and condemned by the religious faiths in the country, as well as by traditional people as demonic, and people caught in the act are to be eliminated or handed over to the police. There has been unconfirmed reports of some people caught in the act being taken to traditional priest for cleansing, and these have never been seen or heard from. Even advocates for same sex legalization have not been spared.

As we go to press, the whereabouts of Aminata Turay or her partner are still unknown.

OBITUARY

Mr. Drissa Adeyemi Yilla Jr, passed away on the 25th of January 2023 in London, England after a short illness. The eldest child of the late Dr. Drissa McQuarr Yilla and Serah Helen Fraser of Bo, Mr. Yilla attended Christ the King College in Bo, the Bootham School and University of Hull in the United Kingdom. A cherished scholar, educator, father and friend, he will be dearly missed. He is survived by his loving sons, sisters, nieces, nephews, and friends around the world.

Funeral arrangements will be announced shortly.

 

Member of Parliament & Driver in Court for Vehicle Accessories

By Dauda Koroma

Member of Parliament of Constituency 116 within Portee/Rokupa in Wellington, Freetown, Honorable Emmanuel Sahr Gbekie on Wednesday January 25th 2023, dragged his personal driver to court for stealing from him.

The accused Osman Jah was before Magistrate Hadiru Daboh of Court No 3 Ross Road, Freetown, on a count of larceny contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916.

According to the charge sheet, the accused Osman Jah sometime in September 2022, at Williams Street, Portee Wellington, Freetown, did steal as a bailee two amp vehicle battery, two tap tyres, one jack, five extinguisher and one wheel puller, all to the total of eleven million seven hundred and eighty thousand Leones entrusted to him by Honorable Emmanuel Sahr Gbekie for the purpose of delivery, property of the said Emmanuel Sahr Gbekie.

No bail was granted and the accused was not represented as he was remanded in custody until the 1st February 2023. Sub Inspector MM George is Prosecuting the matter.

Accused Sentenced to 1 Year 6 Months & Another Remanded for Store Breaking and Larceny

By Dauda Koroma

After pleaded guilty before Magistrate Hadiru Daboh of Court No 3 Ross Road, Freetown, of stealing different items in a vehicle, Mohamed Kamara a commercial driver without wasting the Court’s time on Wednesday 25th January 2023, was sentenced to 1 year 6 months imprisonment.

The accused was charged on a Count of Larceny Contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916.

According to the charge sheet, the accused Mohamed Kamara, on Sunday 4th December 2022, at Jui, Freetown, stole from Toyota Selina vehicle with registration number ALF 394 one 100 Amp vehicle battery, Samsung phone and other items amounting to two thousand seven hundred Leones property of Amna Sesay.

DSP Fatmata Kuyateh Prosecuted the matter.

In another development at the same Court Ishmael Turay was charged with conspiracy contrary to law.

According to the charge sheet, the accused, Ishmael Turay, on Thursday 5 January 2023, at Bottom Mango Market Kissy in Freetown, conspired together and with other person’s unknown to commit a felony to wit store breaking and larceny contrary to Section 26 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.

According to the charge sheet on count 2, the accused on the same date and place broke into the store of Amara Bangura and stole cartoons of Chicken legs and wings valued eighty Leones.

No bail was granted and the accused remanded in custody until the 31st January, 2023. PC17720 Fofanah H is Prosecuting the matter.

Foreign Based Artist, Mos-B Set to Thrill over the Weekend 

Sierra Leone international popstar, Joseph Amos Bangura, popularly known as Mos-B is set to thrill his audience at a ‘never-to-be-forgotten’ live musical concert at the Paradise Complex, on Lumley Beach Road, in Aberdeen Freetown.

The France based multi award-winning singer has yielded to the demands of many Sierra Leoneans to host a VIP gig in his Homeland.

Since the release of his breakthrough song ‘Sweet Sweet Salone’ just after the war in the early 2000s, many Sierra Leoneans did not have the opportunity to watch him perform live on stage.

Since he moved to Europe, Mos-B has performed at big arenas and auditoriums, to audiences ranging from 50,000 to over 100,000. He even performed at the O2 Arena before the likes of Wizkid, Davido and Burna Boy. But his country people are yet to watch him live on stage.

Mos-B now feels obliged to celebrate with his home fans in a ‘UNITY NIGHT’, which will also feature top performances from Sierra Leone’s finest performers.

His latest release, ‘LOVE CONQUERS ALL” is currently making waves across Sierra Leone and beyond.

Book your time with Mos-B on Sunday January 29th in a live musical performance, at the Paradise Complex, Lumley Beach Road, Aberdeen Freetown.

 

 

 

Tourist Arrested for Trying to Smuggle Over Le82 Million

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

During the usual Press Conference that was convened by the Sierra Leone Police on the 24th January ,2023 at the Police Headquarters on George Street in Freetown newsmen were updated on major issues that the Police dealt with or is currently dealing with.

The Police informed that 6 QNET Officials were charged to Court over allegations of Obtaining Money from Sierra Leoneans by means of false pretenses.

AIG Aiah Edward Samadia, the Regional Commander Freetown East intimated the Press that over 200 Sierra Leoneans were arrested on Friday January 20, 2023 in a building at No. 56 City Road, Wellington Freetown, after personnel of the Kissy Police Division responded to a distress call, that claims that a house was on the verge of being set ablaze by some irate Sierra Leoneans.

Investigations later proved that the over 200 irate Sierra Leoneans alleged to have been defrauded by an institution called QNET.

However, the arrested Sierra Leoneans were later released while 6 QNET officials were charged to court for various fraud related offences.

Additionally, AIG Brima Jah, Director Crime Services, who doubled as the Chairman of the Press Conference advised the public to beware of such institutions that are established in the guise of creating quick wealth for Sierra Leoneans. He emphasized that such institutions that come with schemes of short cut to wealth are merely fake.

Another issue that the Police highlighted was that they arrested three (3) persons with some quantity of suspected free health care drugs.

The Head of Media, Public Relations and Sport, ACP Brima Kamara (Media One) updated the press that on Tuesday January 24, 2023, Police attached to Madamaya Checkpoint, along the Sierra Leone-Guinea highway in Kambia Division arrested the following persons with some quantity of free healthcare drugs: Saffie Alie of Jalloh Terrace in Freetown, Aminata Kanu of Deep Eye Water, Waterloo, Adama Kamara of Ojuku Junction in Freetown.

The above mentioned persons were arrested while in possession of the following drugs suspected to be free healthcare drugs: 1,035 boxes of Artesunate Tablets, 468 packets of Atramat Tablets, 30 boxes of Artesunate injections, 252 surgical sutures, 180 black braided silks and 7,000 Albendazole Tablets.

According to the Police, the said arrested persons are in Police custody assisting with the investigations.

An update was given on 2 Suspects arrested for unlawfully possessing 420 Free Quality Education Text Books.

Media One informed journalists that on Sunday January 22, 2023, Police Personnel attached to the Madamaya Checkpoint along the Sierra Leone – Guinea Highway Kambia Division intercepted a vehicle with Registration No. RC7609C driven by one Amza Jalloh and discovered a total of four hundred and twenty (420) Free Quality Education text books.

The driver/suspect claimed that the books were handed to him by one Sajor Barrie of Kono District for delivery to the Republic of Guinea. However, the said Sajor Barrie of Kono has also been arrested and both suspects are in police custody assisting with the investigations.

According to the Police a Tourist was arrested while trying to smuggle millions of Old Leones from Sierra Leone.

Detective Joshua Moisa, a representative from CID Headquarters told journalists that on Sunday January 20, 2023, at the Lungi International Airport, a combined team of personnel from the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), the Office of National Security (ONS) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) arrested one Dieter Alfred Eheim, a German National in possession of Eighty Two Million Old Leone (Le 82, 000,000) notes and eight (8) parcels of Liberian Coins.

According to the suspect, he came to Sierra Leone as a tourist on the 16th January 2023 and during his stay, he withdrew the sum of one thousand five hundred Euros (€ 1,500) using his visa card, which he changed into Leones to have acquired the alleged amount of money. The tourist/suspect, further said that he was making enquiries as to whether he could be permitted to travel with such amount of the Leone currency and he was arrested in the process.

Detective Inspector Moisa assured journalists that the investigation is ongoing and that the Press would be duly updated on the outcome of the investigation.

In another development, on behalf of Men and Women of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), the Inspector General of Police (IGP),  William Fayia Sellu on Tuesday January 24, 2023, in his office at Police Headquarters, George Street in Freetown, received some quantity of items comprising blankets, flashy aprons, facemasks and sanitizers from CARITAS –FREETOWN.

During the presentation of the items, Rev. Fr. Peter Konteh, the Director of Caritas Freetown expressed grave satisfaction over the work of the SLP which he said was the key reason that prompted his organization to make such a donation.

He also expressed sad feelings on how negative people always perceive the Police. He said many a time people do not care to ask about the welfare or well-being of our Police Officers.

“We thought the SLP is an important Institution that deserves our support in reciprocation to the service they render to ensure that we sleep soundly at night in a secured environment. We thought these items could help our Police Officers working in difficult environments or communities. This is just a symbolic gesture to show that we are concerned about what the SLP is doing and to ensure that we motivate you to always work assiduously in order to ensure that our environments and communities are always secured”.

While conveying his appreciation for the donated items, the Inspector General of Police said that throughout his years of service in the SLP, he had hardly seen circumstances where people would appreciate the Police for what they do. He further said that welfare issues in the SLP are key and are a major challenge. “For you to think about our officers who are deployed under very difficult circumstances is laudable. We want you to always count on us for the better,” IGP Sellu concluded.

 

 

NRA Visits New Lungi International Airport

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

Senior Management of the National Revenue Authority (NRA) paid a spot visit to the New Lungi International Airport on the 14th January 2023.  The Commissioner General, Dr. Samuel S. Jibao, stated that the visit was to ascertain the adequacy of facilities for customs operations. He said he is very impressed with the facilities provided for customs, and the fact that the new Airport will meet all international standards required for customs operations.

The new Airport is fitted with facilities such as quay space, cranes, airfield ramp access, temporary storage sheds, customs offices, transport services, clearing and forwarding services, adequate security and cargo inspection facilities as specified in Section 7(4) of the Customs Act 2011, to enable customs handle volumes of trade and passenger traffic and the collection of the much needed revenue.

Some of the facilities provided by the New Airport include: Customs Offices – for outbound passengers- to enable customs witness scanning of baggage by Aviation Security to curb smuggling, Customs Offices – for inbound passengers to enable customs scan and inspect baggage,  assess declarations, conduct preliminary investigations, store intercepted goods and office for Customs Management, Customs Offices – for Air-freighted Cargo – Import which is located within the Cargo Terminal. It has scanners and x-ray facilities, Cold rooms/ storage facilities for refrigerated goods as well as Mortuary for Human Remains, Clearing and Forwarding Office – For customs Brokers in the Cargo Terminal also found within the cargo terminal.

According to the General Manager of the SUMMA Construction Company, the New Lungi International Airport will turnover a passenger volume of over 1.2 million passengers a year.

The new Lungi International Airport is set to be completed within the coming months.

In another NRA related event, the Anti-Smuggling Unit, Border Controls and Management within the Customs Department of the National Revenue Authority uncovered a massive illegal timber depot in the middle of nowhere in Katonga village, Port-Loko district.

According to the Assistant Commissioner of the Anti Smuggling Unit, Border Controls and Management, Richard Senessie, they’ve been getting reports of illegal timber export across various illegal crossing points between Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Richard Senessie said he cannot ascertain the volume of timber smuggling as his Unit has sanctioned investigations into the matter. Other security apparatuses have been alerted and investigations are underway.

 

 

 

Afrimoney Commissions New POS Center in Jui

Afrimoney Commissions

In a bid to make Africell and Afrimoney services easily accessible to customers, Afrimoney Sierra Leone, has officially opened a new POS Centre along the Jui Highway.

In his statement during the opening of the POS Centre, the Media Manager for Africell, John Konteh, disclosed how the opening of the POS Centre at Jui is a clear demonstration by Africell that their customers are close to their heart furthering that the opening of another POS centre was to ensure that they bring their services and products to the doorstep of residents of the Jui Community.

The Media Manager underscored that Jui is a large community and the newly established Centre will help in addressing the challenges their customers face to access Africell and Afrimoney services and products. He highlighted that hitherto the opening of the centre, customers mostly go as far as Calaba Town and Shell to get access to Africell services.  John Konteh assured that the centre will be open from Monday to Saturday, and for Afrimoney transactions it will be opened every day.

Dilating on the services that will be rendered at the Centre, John Konteh mentioned the replacement of sim cards, the registration of sim cards, and Afrimoney transactions like cashing in and cashing out among other things.

An Africell customer lamented that initially it was difficult for him to do Afrimoney transactions, noting that he had to go all the way to Shell to do his Afrimoney transaction, but with the new center at their disposal in the community it is much easier. He further expressed gratitude to Africell for opening the new centre.

 

Sierra Leone Finds a Dependable Partner in ARISE IIP

The Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) on Tuesday, 17th January 2023 signed the Pepel Port and Pepel-Tonkolili Railway development, expansion and management lease agreement with ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms Ltd.

The agreement has been described as a landmark in the history of the mining sector in the small West African country and has been commended in the development sphere in the country and the African continent considering the investment portfolio of ARISE IIP in helping developing countries like Togo and Gabon.

As a trusted partner of governments and communities in Africa, ARISE IIP is committed to partner with African governments on their development agenda, focusing on job creation, education and health. To stimulate the emergence of industrial ecosystems, they create logistical hubs in tune with local public policies and aligned with the partner country’s development strategy.

With Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and the Africa Transformation and Industrialization Fund (ATIF) as its two shareholders, ARISE IIP identifies industrial gaps in African countries and helps unlocking the bottlenecks by creating complete industrial ecosystems.  The company’s aim is to industrialize key sectors by creating local transformation, maximizing production, efficiency and cost, which in turn generates local value addition.

Their trusted partnerships with governments and investors across the African continent have enabled them to execute large-scale projects that transform local value chains and industrialize countries in an environmentally sustainable way.

ARISE tailor-made special economic zones in Gabon, Benin and Togo seek to boost exports, enable the local transformation of raw materials and promote trade, and these are opportunities that Sierra Leone can tap from with its new relationship with a reputable company that has proven record in their work.

According to the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Timothy Kabba, this agreement is part of the bigger reforms in the mining sector, where the government intends to open the space for more players to participate.

He furthered that ARISE IIP is a credible company with a reputation for developing and managing infrastructure in Africa.

“This agreement is taking a government asset from monopoly to be more accessible,” he added.

Minister Kabba furthered that the revival of the mining operation requires significant investment in infrastructure for Sierra Leone to fully benefit from the growth of its mining output.

The lease agreement will give a 10% free Carry to the GoSL and provide access to rail and port facilities to other bulk mineral producers in the northern corridor of the country.

As part of their investment portfolio, ARISE IIP has a Public, Private, Partnership with the Government of Gabon for the establishment of the Gabon Special Economic Zone, a multi-sectoral industrial park located 27 km from Libreville. On 1126 ha, it includes an industrial zone, a commercial zone and a residential zone.

The Special Economic Zone brings together 144 companies from 16 countries operating in 22 industrial sectors, including a cluster dedicated to wood processing which brings together 84 companies.

In Sierra Leone, ARISE is estimating a total investment of 476 million dollars covering the refurbishment of the Pepel Tonkolili Railway work, Pepel Port, Railway connectivity to Marampa mines, the introduction of passenger rail services and the rail connection to Guinea.

With a track record and vast knowledge in investing in Africa, ARISE IIP is a company that should be embraced in Sierra Leone and be provided with the support to be able to succeed in developing the country’s economy and create jobs in a country whose unemployment rate continues to rise.

 

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