New Pepel Port & Railway Agreement to Benefit the Mining Sector

January 25, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

It is indeed very nauseating, to say the least, in noticing that certain ill-informed and shortsighted individuals in this country are blowing out of proportion the lease agreement that was recently signed between the Government of Sierra Leone and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms Limited relating to the use, management, maintenance and rehabilitation of the railway and port between Tonkolili and Pepel in the Port Loko District as well as creating the impression that the said agreement is not in the best interest of the country.

Those propagating the falsehoods that residents of Tonkolili and Port Loko Districts are against the lease agreement and are planning to stage a protest to demonstrate that they do not support the agreement are really fabricating and embellishing lies bordering on instigating unrest which any firebrand, looking for cheap popularity, could capitalize on to lead some astray to embark on any untoward move that could negatively impinge the tranquility prevailing in that part of the country.

However, it is important for the propagandists to realize that the lease agreement that was signed with the Kingho Railway and Port Company on the 8th January, 2021 gave the Government of Sierra Leone the free hand or right to engage any other entity to independently operate the Railway and Port after the first two years of the signing of that 8^th January, 2021 agreement provided a six months’ notice is given to Kingho Mining Company.

In strict legal terms, since a notice was given to Kingho six months before entering into this new agreement with ARISE, it is obvious that the Government of Sierra Leone acted within the confines of the law.

As it was explicitly spelt out, the 8^th January, 2021 agreement did not single out the Kingho Mining Company to have monopolistic or exclusive right over the use, management, maintenance and rehabilitation of the railway and port between Tonkolili and Pepel in the Port Loko District.

As a matter of fact Kingho has managed the facilities for two years meaning that Government now has the legal standing to enter into any new agreement.

It is important for the spinsters and rabble rousers to realize that the operations of Kingho Mining Company was centred around iron ore mining and not, as it is often mistaken, to manage the country’s rails which it only resuscitated, after African Minerals Company that revived the railway went into liquidation, to mainly transport the mined ore to the shipping docks. Their mandate did not extend to manage the rails for any other purpose whatsoever.

Indeed, History is replete of how when the railway was up and running in this country the transporting persons and goods from one point to another was very easy and simple. People, especially traders, were able to transport sizable quantities of goods, there were abundant produce or products that were transported from rural areas to urban settings to such an extent that their prices were affordable and making food security a certainty.

To have a reputable company like ARISE IIP, which is a specialist firm, with proven track record across Africa in managing infrastructure to make the railway a viable commercial enterprise, with many attendant benefits, will be a game changer.

It must be noted that one major component of the agreement is that it will increase mineral export which could be advantageous even for Kingho.10% dividend will go to the Government were as surface rents will be paid to landowners plus other taxes that must be paid to Government.

Besides, it will create the leeway for other companies engaged in mining activities to have the opportunity of having their stocks easily transported for shipping which is currently not the case as there are huge costs involved.

It must be noted that the financial model and pre-feasibility studies estimate a total investment of 476 million dollars covering the refurbishment of the Pepel Tonkolili Railway, Pepel Port, Railway connectivity to Marampa Mines, the introduction of passenger rail services and the rail connection to Guinea.

Sierra Leoneans must not forget in a hurry that it was the same hullabaloo raised by certain ill-motivated individuals in this country related to the SUMMA Group that built a brand new airport for us.

Initially, they blindly and myopically castigated the group maintaining that they will not be equal to the task but in light of what has translated into a New Airport the argument has now taken a different dimension that it is not a brand new airport.

Though it is understandable that with elections few months away in order to make this Government appears to be off rail, in order to score cheap political goals, any good initiative taken will be caustically criticized out of political considerations and not in the good interest of the country.

One such good initiative is the signing of the lease agreement with ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms Limited.

NP-SL’s Customer-Friendly Strides Elicit Profound Commendations

January 25, 2023

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

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

In the aftermath of all the empty bluff of establishing a standard storage facility at the Kissy Oil Terminal by a new oil marketing company, continuous commendations are being showered on NP-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) for the company’s pro-active strides, over the years, to ensure timely importation of petroleum products with the avowed objective of avoiding the occurrence of any shortage that will lead to negative repercussions.

NP-SL Ltd continues to gain recognition for its efficient service delivery to its many esteemed customers evident in the bagging of commendations, accolades and awards from reputable institutions in and out of the country.

An attribute that has made NP-SL Ltd to stand tall among other entities hinges on putting premium on effective customer care service delivery.

The company is highly distinguished for being 1^st for Customer Care as it strives to give optimal satisfaction to its esteemed customers right across the country.

In all its petroleum transactions the company does so transparently as it has modern calibrated machines in all its Filling Stations which are highly capable of pumping and displaying the exact quantity of fuel demanded for, be it petrol or diesel, as well as the price. This gives buyers the feeling that they are not cheated when purchasing fuel.

In the same direction, the company has a very good arrangement with transporters that operate tanker vehicles transporting fuel from the fuel depot to various Filling Stations across the country. Maintenance is always done on these vehicles to ensure that they are road worthy; something which the Management of the company takes very serious.

The importance of regularly doing so is to really ensure that petroleum products are timely delivered to various parts of the country in order to prevent the occurrence of any form of shortage that may affect daily activities and lives.

A company that was established by thirty-five (35) Sierra Leoneans years back, it was made a laid down policy by the Shareholders and Management that special preference must be given to indigenes who have the requisite qualifications in terms of consideration for jobs. Interestingly, that decision is in tandem with the country’s Local Content Policy which aims at making use of our local resources, both human and material, instead of depending on external resources.

Such has made it possible for indigenes, who were hitherto unemployed, to now be gainfully employed and be at vantage positions to take care of individual responsibilities. With all amount of justification it could be said that NP-SL is a very caring business entity.

The company has been a shining example of expanding its operations in the West African sub-region by establishing branches in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and the Gambia where they are effectively marketing petroleum products. By doing so it is providing job opportunities for locals in those countries and by extension regularly paying taxes to the Governments of those countries which are used to fund different development projects.

This bold step undertaken by the company is a mark of a serious entity that is taking business to a higher pedestal.

NP-SL is very notable for making available NP Smart Card and introducing NP Gas. In this modern age when efforts are being made to operate cashless societies and going digital there is no other moment than this when transactions in petroleum products should not follow suit. With the NP Smart Card, a particular customer could purchase fuel via using the card, just stating the quantity required which is debited from the amount in the card.

The customer can credit it again in order to make future purchases. The biggest advantage is that a customer can properly schedule or budget for the amount of fuel he or she will need over time, meaning that he or she has saved the headache of having to raise cash for the sole purpose of fuelling his or her vehicle. Using the card makes it less time consuming to buy fuel and prevents the movement of physical cash which maybe a customer could use for another emerging need or the cash could be stolen. NP Smart Card is now trending and many are now going for it.

With NP Gas, the cooking needs of individuals are easily solved as it is quick in terms of performance as a cooker. Environmentalists have validated its safety in terms of less emission of dangerous gases and it is manufactured in different cylinder sizes, very portable and easily refilled by purchasing gas at the company’s Filling Stations or its authorized dealers.

With all amount of justification, NP-SL is a thriving company among the myriad challenges it is surmounting. The company is indeed a true development partner that is positively contributing to the socio-economic development of individuals, entities and the country as a whole.

UN Resident Coordinator Urges Political Parties to Have More Female Aspirants

January 25, 2023

Dr Babatunde Ahonsi, the United Nations Resident Coordinator has publicly called on political leaders ahead of the 2023 elections to follow the spirit and letter of the new Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Law and get more female representation into their youth wings and other positions of leadership.

He made that plea at the Sierra Bay Hotel yesterday before delivering his keynote address at a UNDP and PPRC (Political Parties Registration Commission) organized three-day training on Mediation and Negotiation for young political leaders ahead of the elections in June.

The Resident Coordinator said that political parties and their leaders, including women and youth, community and religious leaders, journalists, businessmen and businesswomen, police and military personnel, and Government officials have not only a role, but also a social responsibility, to encourage peace and stability.

“We also want to encourage you, as political leaders, to foster an environment for women and youth to participate peacefully and safely in the upcoming elections, be it as activists, candidates, or voters,” Dr Ahonsi indicated.

He added that promoting dialogue between different political parties and social groups, particularly youth and women, is a central ingredient of democracy and conflict prevention.

The new GEWE law which sets a minimum 30 percent quota for women in leadership could double the number of women in the country’s next parliament and more women in cabinet.

WORK READY AFRICA- Supporting the development of the next generation of Sierra Leone’s Work Force

January 25, 2023

Young people in Sierra Leone are eager to enter the workforce and others are looking at entrepreneurship as an alternative career option, but many still lack the essential entrepreneurial and career experience and capacity to become successful business owners and entry-level career professionals.

In 2019, Work Ready Africa was founded in Sierra Leone to serve as an employability and further learning training institution to address key employment gaps for employed persons, graduates, qualified job seekers, and final year higher learning students (college/university) across Sub-Saharan Africa. In their pursuit to capacitate these targeted groups with adequate work-ready skills and provide entry into the job market, Work Ready Africa empowers young professionals by providing structured human capital development skills, business and entrepreneurship training, and development support services for young people in Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

The key services that Work Ready Africa provide includes:

The Flagship Boot Camp Program – (Sierra Leone & Nigeria) – This four months intensive training and assessment program aims to produce work-ready graduates that have expertise in entrepreneurial leadership, communication skills, project management capabilities, and the ability to make data-driven decisions.
Quick Books Training Program – (Sierra Leone & Nigeria) – WRA uses Intuit QuickBooks program package with a 16-course training model design. The models are the blueprint that provides the opportunity for users of QuickBooks to learn the different aspects of QuickBooks Functionalities. The program trains students through 16 models within 40 hours of concentrated practical training. Models 1 to 11 covers beginner & intermediary levels and 12 to 16 covers the advanced levels.
Work Ready Short Courses – (Sierra Leone & Nigeria) – WRA short courses covers a wide range of soft skills and digital literacy training, information, advice, guidance, and access to training resources and related support networks. E.g. Time Management; HR Management; Negation Skills; Leadership Skills; Communication; Business Writing; Basic Bookkeeping; Microsoft Packages (Basic & Intermediary); Presentation Skills; Proposal & Report Writing; QuickBooks Intermediate & Advanced; Budget &Financial Reporting; Internal Control Processes; Supply Chain Management; Contract Management.
Work Ready Internships & Employment Opportunity- WRA works with beneficiaries to help them secure internship opportunities with employers who will monitor their performance during the internship period with the aim of offering them full-time employment at the end based on their performance.
Work Ready Mentorship Program – Our mentors help beneficiaries understand more fully their socioeconomic environment and business ecosystem both locally and internationally in a structured format. Mentors also support beneficiaries in developing and advancing their personal attributes and professional career.
Business Development Services – WRA employs a variety of business development service implementation methods for our entrepreneurship program activities to address key gaps affecting SMEs and Startups. The program activities aim to address these gaps by focusing on key business development service component areas including Business Development and Growth Training; Access to information through expert and mentorship engagement activities; Technology development and transfer; Access to profitable markets through networking, sales, and marketing activities; and Consultancy, counseling, admin, technical and financial service support.

Work Ready Africa (WRA) believes in developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem as a way to create career alternatives for young people. In this respect, they designed the Entrepreneurship Development Service Programs which aims to address key administrative, technical, and capacity-building gaps that many SMEs and Startups across Sub-Saharan Africa face preventing them from scaling and competing in the local, regional, and further extent global marketplace.

Along with their partners (The Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Program – SLEDP; The Sierra Leone Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency – SMEDA; Arizona State University; iSpace Ghana; hapaSpace Innovation Hub Ghana; mHub Zambia; Central University Sierra Leone; University of Makeni; and The International School Of Advertising – ISA Kenya), and other experts, WRA provides entrepreneurs, SMEs, and start-ups business development services including mentorship, coaching, and human capacity building training, incubation and accelerator support. These programs tap into building administrative, technical, professional services, and training capacity of businesses which in return will lead to job creation and contribute to the economy and strengthening of the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Work Ready programs are tailored to be delivered both virtually and in person.

Over the last 3 years, Work Ready Africa has directly impacted over 450 young people with an 80% progression to full-time employment rate for those who successfully complete the WRA Bootcamp program and internship opportunity. WRA currently has a gender disparity of 60% male to 40% female and it is projected to increase that by at least 30% over the next year.

To learn more about their upcoming programs and services, Contact them at +232 80 327 327 or via email at workreadyhq@gmail.com, www.workreadyafrica.net, or Follow them on social media @workreadyafrica

Red Cross Supports Funkia Fire Victims with Hygiene Kits

January 25, 2023

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Sierra Leone Red-Cross Society on Friday 20th January, 2023 donated hygiene kits worth millions of Leones to over two hundred affected victims of the Funkia fire disaster that occurred on December 25, 2022.

The inferno left thousands homeless with properties worth millions of Leones completely burnt down.

Over hundred victims received bag packs containing tooth-past and brush, laundering soap, bathing-soap, hand sanitizer and other items.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, which took place at the Funkia Community, the Director of Human Resources (HR) and Administration of the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, Mariatu Eliza Kaikai, expressed delight, describing the event as a big loss for the community people who lost their properties in the inferno.

She informed the gathering that the Sierra Leone Red-Cross Society is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose humanitarian mission is to exclusively protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and others situations in the country, adding that on the 25th of December, 2022 the team of the Sierra Leone Red-Cross visited the disaster scene and provided immediate basic assistance to protect the victims.
Mariatu Eliza Kaikai stated that they as Red Cross Society teamed up with others partners who are ready to help homeless people more especially women, girls and school going kids.

She went on to state that the organization decided to donate hygiene and dignity kits to the affected victims of the Funkai inferno, especially pregnant women and girls.

She noted that it is disheartening that most of the residents were in pain, adding that the Sierra Leone Red-Cross Society will continue to render other supports, including the reconstruction, cash transfers to help victims regain normalcy.
She noted that they will also support the community with WASH facilities and also engaging them in other relevant issues.

Skeku Fornah, the Goderich Shebureh-town Village Headman expressed delight over the donation by the Sierra Leone Red-Cross Society saying they are the first to answer to the call of the community residents.
He also extended thanks and appreciation to the Red-Cross Society, adding that residents of Funkia community are very happy with the gesture .

Abibatu Kamara, one of the fire victims who is also a beneficiary explained to journalists that she is very happy with what she had received as that was the actual time she need such from Red-cross, adding that everything she had work for burnt down but with the gesture extended she is giving thanks to God.

Sierra Leone Red-Cross Society

The Jawei Politics: A Chronological Analysis of the Political Situation In Jawei Chiefdom (Constituency 007)

January 25, 2023

By: Musa Kallon

Jawei Chiefdom in the Kailahun district, Eastern Sierra Leone is a single chiefdom Constituency known as “Constituency 007”.

Rich in arable land and forest, Jawei Chiefdom shares border with its close neighbouring chiefdoms of Njaluahun, separated by the Moa River and Malema Chiefdom on the other side.

The three chiefdoms have lived together in peace even during national political periods. They practice a rich and admirable culture known as the “Jawei Culture” which symbolizes peace, not only among the people of Jawei Chiefdom but also among the people of the three sister chiefdoms of Jawei, Njaluahun and Malema chiefdoms.

For so many years, Jawei Chiefdom was either merged with Nyaluahun Chiefdom to make a Constituency or merged with Malema Chiefdom to make one.

In 2002, just after the decade long civil war, a very peaceful parliamentary election was conducted under the District Block Proportional Representation System thereby ushering in Honorable J. Q. B. Sawi into Parliament.

In 2012, at the demise of Honorable J. Q. B. Sawi when political constituency system resumed, Jawei Chiefdom became a Single Constituency Chiefdom known by then as Constituency 006 now 007, with Hon. Moinina Conteh as the first Honorable to enjoy the highest level of unity under the Sierra Leone People’s Party ticket.

Since then and in the last fifteen years, Jawei Chiefdom had remained a one chiefdom constituency and was first represented in Parliament by two successive MPs from the current ruling SLPP both of whom occupied the seat in Parliament during the All People’s Congress Party (APC) regime. Ironically, the current MP is an Independent MP now occupying the Constituency 007 seat under the SLPP led Government.

The two General Elections which sent to parliament Honorable Moinina Conteh and Honorable Maada Moiwai Momoh in 2007 and 2012 respectively were reportedly very peaceful as against the last one held in 2018 which awarded the Constituency 007 seat to Honorable Quinton Salia Konneh under the Independent ticket.

The violent attacks of persons during rallies of the 2018 parliamentary elections in Jawei Chiefdom countered the accolade of Jawei chiefdom as being a peaceful chiefdom and turned the once peaceful chiefdom into a politically hostile land.

For more on this history, do take a moment to go through how it all started, what’s the current situation and what solution I would personally proffer at the end of this write-up.

The 2018 political crisis that has deprived Jawei of the much needed development packages is more of a personal vendetta than a political battle as people of the same political party fight one another.

The 2018 parliamentary election in Constituency 007, formally 006 had gained its background from grudges accumulated from the 2012 symbol award contest of the SLPP and led to a vindictive and destructive fight among members of the same political party – the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP).

This internal wrangling expanded to encourage the other political parties to merge and fight a common enemy ,the incumbent SLPP MP Maada Moiwai Momoh and ushered in an Independent candidate to represent Jawei Chiefdom or Constituency 007.

It all started with the struggle for the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) symbol for the parliamentary seat of Constituency 007 in Kailahun district.

As a way to limit intraparty fights and defections, the party has an internal support mechanism with the understanding that all factions (loosing or winning) will support whoever that emerges the winner in such elections. This move was to sustain the overall victory of the SLPP party in the Constituency. For the most part, this was not the case in the Quinton Salia Konneh and Maada Moiwai Momoh elections as we will later come to see in this article.

In all of these arrangements, the most blatant display of hurly-burly was in 2018 which has somewhat been tagged as the most violent parliamentary symbol election in the history of that constituency.

But just before that, in 2012. former Honorable Moinina Conteh who was seeking a second term contested for the SLPP ticket but was defeated by Maada Moiwai Momoh for the seat of Constituency 007. Maada Moiwai ended up representing the Constituency in Parliament.

Whilst serving his term, Karmoh Conteh (son to Moinina Conteh) happened to work as an Administrative Staff in Parliament (Senior Committee Clerk). Karmoh Conteh later used his office to revenge his father’s dealings with Maada Moiwai Momoh by lobbying against some of his attempts to bring development to the chiefdom.

Regrettably, this singular action by Karmoh deprived a whole Chiefdom of development for a whole term; something that has been consistently echoed by Maada Moiwai. This same Karmoh will later show up to contest for the SLPP parliamentary ticket in 2023 to still continue to fight Maada Moiwai.

The aftermath of that election left so much animosity between the two as Hon. Moinina Conteh had accused Maada Moiwai Momoh of not allowing him to go for a second term.

As far as Moinina Conteh was concerned, this was an affront to his political ambitions and it was too much to take.

The ousted Hon Moinina Conteh was so bitter that he supported the candidature of an Independent candidate from the home town of Honorable Maada Moiwai Momoh but lost woefully in the 2012 elections.

Little could many SLPP supporters believe that a former SLPP honorable could openly support an Independent candidate against the party that sent him to Parliament.

Fast forward 2018, Maada Moiwai Momoh came back to seek for an SLPP ticket which he ended up winning for his second term, on 5th January 2018 after getting 25 votes as against Quinton Salia Konneh who secured 8 votes only.

Quinton Salia Konneh, a young social worker who lost against Maada Moiwai Momoh could not pass most of the standards set by the Party Executive for an SLPP ticket to parliament. The decision to not award Quinton Salia Konneh was now maximized by the 2012 ousted MP as an opportunity to spit fire back at Maada Moiwai Momoh for what he did to him in 2012.

The former MP, Moinina Conteh seized the opportunity in influencing Quinton Salia Konneh who had lost to Moiwai to contest for Parliamentary seat under an Independent ticket.

Even though there were doubts over him being a true son of Jawei Chiefdom, Moinina Conteh ignored all of those red lights to render an eye for an eye for Maada Momoh. In fact he was quoted severally in public places to have vowed never to allow Maada Moiwai Momoh to win the seat he had occupied in Parliament. Apparently, most people came to know Quinton Salia Konneh as more of a “Bo Town” Boy than a “Daru Borbor”.

Moinina Conteh later mobilized other disgruntled SLPP supporters who had supported Quinton Salia Konneh in that election to form a strong resistance against the SLPP symbol winner of the seat.

The 2018 Elections finally came and it happened that Quinton Salia Konneh, the young lucky Independent candidate was blessed by the merger of disgruntled SLPP supporters sandwiched by supporters of the All Peoples Congress Party and won the elections.

They had been convinced to fight their common enemy which was the SLPP as represented by Maada Moiwai Momoh. They fought the great SLPP and won in Kailahun District.

Since then there has been skirmishes and tensions here and there. Reports of ambushes, burning of rice farms were the stories of that election between the people and their supporters.

When he won the Elections, observers had expected Quinton to be the peace breaker but he ended up being more of a menace and suppressor of SLPP supporters than anyone in Jawei Chiefdom.

He was allegedly known to have instigated his supporters to stab some SLPP supporters. On one occasion, it was alleged that his supporters were known to have pelted stones at Senior SLPP Officers like Dr. Prince Harding. Haven been pressured by disgruntled SLPP supporters and other prominent APC members, Quinton went to the extent of suing the SLPP Chairlady Baindu Kormoh for allegedly referring to him as a “thief”. One would not need to explain how those cases went. They were adjourned sine die (indefinitely).

Judging politics in this country, an issue of this nature arose in Kenema during the reign of the Former President Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Tejan Kabba, between Late Brima Kargbo and the Late Mohamed Benson Suwu following the conflict over who should govern the Kenema City.

Alhaji Dr. Ahmed Tejan Kabba set both contenders aside for a neutral person to take the position. The decision was in the right direction to enhance peace and build the support base of the SLPP in that region. It ended up yielding the desired dividend.

From the look of things, the happenings of the 2012 and 2018 elections have caused a colossal division within the SLPP in Jawei Chiefdom. Supporters of Quinton Salia Konneh, Maada Moiwai Momoh and Moinina Conteh hardly see eye to eye. How can we trust them? How can we trust people who have shown us that their interest is more important than the interest of the Chiefdom?

What is even more shocking is the change of allegiance by Hon. Moinina Conteh from Quinton Salia Konneh to that of his Son- Karmoh Conteh. Such a blatant display of hypocrisy ego and arrogance! The people of Jawei need a breath of fresh air. Whilst other constituencies are making head way in terms of development, these set of individuals have made it their job for the chiefdom to remain in a perpetual fight.

The question on the lips of most people concerned is this? Do we need a neutral face to represent our people in Jawei Chiefdom? The answer is certainly yes.

I would have advanced many reasons in support of this question but I am going to limit myself to just three.

First, we can’t rely on people who have caused political division and tensions in our Chiefdom. We would be shooting ourselves in the leg if we do so. This is the time we need to come together as a people and identify the most suited candidate to represent Constituency 007.

Second, with all the disagreement on terms as well as candidature, our best bet is a new face, new energy and new program of development for our people and Chiefdom.

Lastly the cost of a prolonged peace -making effort at this time will be too much to pay. Considering the time now, any attempt to broker a peace deal will leave Jawei more divided than it is. Simple reason is who among those aggrieved factions is ready to let go? We must be able to provide answers to these questions as we seek to develop our beloved Chiefdom.

President Bio Embarks On A Four Day Working Visit to Moyamba

January 23, 2023

President Julius Maada Bio ended his four-day tour, which commenced on the 20^th January,2023, of Bradford, Rotifunk, Bauya, and Moyamba town in the Moyamba District, one of the most ethnically diverse districts in Sierra Leone, where stakeholders assured him of a resounding victory in the 2023 elections.

“My presence today is to touch base and extend my thanks and appreciation to everyone in the district, especially the children, who are the most important and valuable assets in our nation. They are our future because tomorrow they will be in charge of the affairs of our country,” he said, adding that if they failed in their responsibility as leaders of the nation to ensure that children achieved their full potential, they would not develop as a nation.

“I am happy to be here today. I am glad at the turnout of the youth, the women, the children, and all the district stakeholders who showed up to receive me in the district. I am happy with your level of organization for my visit.

“The children are our future, and with the investment my Government has made in them, they will become our lawyers, medical doctors, teachers, presidents, ministers, and directors, among other prominent persons in the nation.

“Most of us here present today should have become doctors, lawyers, ministers, journalists, and directors. But because of bad political leaders during their time, some people were unable to achieve their full potential. My Government doesn’t believe in talking because we want to. So, whenever I make a pronouncement, I will work towards ensuring I deliver on it.

“So, today, I want to inform you that talks are ongoing for the commencement of the road that will link Moyamba District with the rest of the country but that will only come to fruition during my second term of office,” the President assured.

He emphasized that the only way out of poverty for the country was for children to be educated, and, therefore, called on all Sierra Leoneans to not only focus on his governance strategy but also to have faith in his leadership style for Sierra Leone’s development.

“My mother, of blessed memory, hailed from Moyamba District, and I can recall that when she was on her death bed, she once told me as a child, ‘Don’t forget my home’. This is another chance for the people of this district to show how committed they are to continuing to provide free quality education, infrastructure, electricity, and other rights-based opportunities.

In her statement, First Lady Fatima Maada Bio told the gathering that there was no need for teenage girls to think about men because there was time for everything and that would be reinforced after visiting the people of Moyamba District with her husband, His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio.

“So, the fact that Moyamba District is now one of the most stable places in the country means that the young people are in agreement. Thank you for keeping that peace. I want to assure all those present here, today, that what the President has done since 2018 is very small when compared to what he is intending to do after his re-election in June 2023. That is when he will come out swinging with everything he has in store for the country,” she said.

Paramount Chief for Bumpeh Chiefdom, PC Charles Caulker, acknowledged the presence of the entourage and thanked the President for the tangible development in his chiefdom over the last four years.

“The Mabang bridge did not only connect Moyamba with the rest of the country, it has opened up our district, reduced traveling time, reduced sea accidents, and also ensured that our farm products will no longer perish before they are taken to the market,” the traditional leader noted.

Honourable Veronica Kadie Sesay of Constituency 094 recalled that: “This district used to have the highest number of teenage pregnancies. But with the introduction of the Hands Off Our Girls campaign by the First Lady, cases of rape, sexual assault, and all other forms of violence against women and girls are a thing of the past”.

Moyamba District Council Chairman, Joseph B. Mbogba, outlined major developments his Council had undertaken under the New Direction Government.

“This Government has approved 1,543 teachers in the district, 404 schools, 265 culverts, functional industrial boreholes in the chiefdoms, the construction of 210 kilometers of roads by SLRA, the construction of 3 car wash centres, 10 boats for youth in riverine areas, 95 percent completion on the ongoing Moyamba electrification project, and the cultivation of 75,000 hectares of farmland,” he highlighted.

Assistant Auditor General Reveals No Auditing Irregularities in Offices of the President & Vice President

January 23, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

During the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) weekly Press Conference held on the 19^th January, 2023 at the Conference Room of the Ministry, the Auditor General of Audit Service Sierra Leone updated members of the Fourth Estate of the 2021 Audit Report.

According to Morie Lansana, Assistant Auditor General Audit Service Sierra Leone, the Office of the President, Vice President’s Office and other offices were audited during the 2021 audit year underscoring that there were no irregularities that were material enough with regards the aforementioned offices to have been brought into the Auditor General’s Annual Report 2021.

He informed newsmen that many offices were audited during the period stating that the Offices of the President and Vice President were able to address the queries during the audit process for which there were no irregularities that were material enough to be included in the 2021 Audit Report.

The Assistant Auditor General disclosed that Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) held breakfast meetings with key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at their office headquarters on the 12th Floor of the Freetown City Council Building, Wallace Johnson Street in Freetown with the objective of getting updates from them regarding the implementation of the audit recommendations in the 2021 Auditor-General’s Annual Report and chart the roadmap for the 2022 audit which is set to commence this January.

He pointed out that on Tuesday 10th January 2023, the ASSL hosted the Accountant General’s Department, the Sierra Leone Police and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary School Education, while on Wednesday 11th January, they met with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

According to him, the Audit Service team expressed concern over the repeated queries in the audit report especially when some of them are control issues that ought to have been cleared during the audit field work adding how the ASSL decided to conduct most of the audits between January and May this year.

The ASSL team also informed that this year’s audit will not only concentrate on financial records and documents but will also focus on service delivery which has a great impact on the citizens.

It was also mentioned that the auditors will sit with the clients in drafting the recommendations in line with the standard operating procedures.

The MDAs commended the ASSL for inviting them to the breakfast meeting and promised to liaise with other MDAs to immediately develop a strategy in ensuring actions are taken for the implementation of the recommendations.

They expressed satisfaction with the idea of auditors going beyond financial records and focusing on service delivery and promised to give their fullest cooperation to the auditors whenever the need arise.

The MDA officials promised to implement the recommendations in the Auditor-General’s Report and to fully cooperate with the auditors during this year’s audit.

Edmund Abu’s Prison Sentence Suspended

January 23, 2023

High Court Judge, Hon. Justice Adrian Fisher, has on the 20^th January, 2023 suspended the Committal to prison of the Director of Native Consortium and Research Center, Edmund Abu Jnr. for twelve (12) months on condition that he doesn’t repeat his conduct for which he was committed.

Before Edmund Abu’s open apology in Court, the Judge said, “I have listened carefully to the pleas in mitigation by Lawyer Jengo and taken into account the apology tendered by the contemnor and upon his undertaking not to repeat the conduct for which he was committed and in accordance with Order 51 Rule 6 sub Rules 1 and 2 of the High Court Rules 2007, I shall make the following orders:

That the order of committal of Edmund Abu Jr to prison for 21 days is suspended for a period of twelve months from the date of this order, on condition that Edmund Abu Jr does not repeat his conduct. Should there be any further conduct amounting to contempt of court, additional contempt proceedings would be instituted against Mr Abu for this contempt in addition to the new occurrences of contempt.

Secondly, that the undersheriff of the High Court shall serve a copy of the order on the contemnor, Edmund Abu Jr, forthwith and prior to his release from custody, in accordance with the provisions of Order 51 rule 6 sub rule 2 of the High Court Rules 2007.

That thirdly, there shall be no orders as to costs.

The full Judgment is on the website of the Judiciary: www.judiciary.gov.sl.

New 𝐏𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭 & 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 Could Be a Game Changer

January 23, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The lease agreement signed on Tuesday 17th January 2023 between the Government of Sierra Leone and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms Ltd for the development, expansion and management 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, successfully went through Cabinet scrutiny before it was signed and now awaits Parliamentary debate and approval.

It was observed that people from various walks of life in the country were full of praise for what they termed as a strategic development after the signing of a lease agreement especially when it was realized that the entry of the entity will ensure the provision of job opportunities, revenue for the Government and above all minimize the constraints in the movement of people and goods.

Some even went to the extent of profusely commending the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Timothy Kabba, whom is quoted of expressing the conviction that the agreement is part of the bigger reforms in the mining sector as the current political administration is passionate about and bent on broadening the space to have more players participate in the development of the country.

In an exclusive interview with the result oriented Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, he confidently intimated 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 the country to fully benefit from the growth of its mining output.

According to the lease agreement, the Government of Sierra Leone will get a 10% free Carry and provide access to rail and port facilities to other bulk mineral producers in the northern corridor.

Of significance also is that the project will expand economic activities by providing jobs for Sierra Leoneans and enable passengers’ locomotion from Tonkolili through Bombali to the Port Loko district.

Another major component of the agreement has to do with the introduction of passenger rail services which will allow communities for better mobility and trade, increase mineral export with an additional 20 million MT, 10% dividend to Government, surface rent to landowners, annual royalties PAYE and other taxes.

On his part, the newly appointed Minister of Finance, Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura, maintained that ARISE IIP is a sector specialist firm with a proven record across Africa in managing infrastructure. He revealed that the signing of the agreement came after several consultations, due diligence and approval from the Cabinet with concurrence from the Ministry of Finance.

He maintained how the agreement is in the best interest of the Government and People of Sierra Leone adding that after the signing the agreement will be taken to Parliament for ratification.

Worthy of note is that the business plan, financial model and pre-feasibility studies are 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.

Jesper Harring Boll , the Managing Director of ARISE IIP stated that ARISE is a conceiver, developer and operator of high-added-value infrastructure committed to making Africa thrive with an investment of several billion dollars and a good track record across many countries in Africa like Benin, Togo, Gabon, Cote d’Ivoire, Tchad, RoC, DRC or +

Rwanda.

He also informed that ARISE IIP identifies gaps in African countries that unlock value and create new industries to create local transformation and maximize production, efficiency and cost to generate growth and local value addition.

Mohamed Barrie, a qualified infrastructure developer underscored that the signing of the agreement was a step in the right direction maintaining that such will mark the end of the monopoly in the management of the port and rail in the country and above all allow another player to come onboard and operate with greater benefits emanating that will enhance national development.

It is not business as usual: the Government were serious, conducting extensive economic calculations and making plans for how the takeover would work. The Government’s goal was not to continue with business as usual, but to turn a new page, and present a better deal to the people of Sierra Leone.

Members of Parliament are expected to give their blessing to the agreement simply because the merits that will accrue to the nation are enormous including the introduction of passenger rail services that will make room for residents in communities to move at ease and with larger goods and more importantly increase mineral export with an additional 20 million MT, a 10 per cent dividend to the Government, surface rent to landowners, annual royalties PAYE and other taxes.