5th Multi-Stakeholders Election Steering Committee Meeting Held

January 20, 2023

By Foday Moriba Conteh

At the New Brookfields Hotel on New England Ville in Freetown, Stakeholders have on Wednesday 18^th January, 2022 concluded the 5^th Multi-Stakeholders Election Steering Committee Meeting. The meeting brought together Election Management Bodies and Development Partners in order to discuss critical issues around election management in the country.

Development Partners present at the ceremony included the EU Ambassador, US Ambassador, and the British High Commissioner etc.

In his electoral update, the Chief Electoral Commissioner of Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone, Mohamed Konneh, said that the Commission has successfully concluded the updating of the Voters Registration Exercise in line with the legal framework capturing a total of 3,374,258 voters, adding that cconfirmation and verification of details of voters continue through the use of web portal at https://voterdetails.ec.gov.sl and by downloading the ECSL android mobileapponGooglePlayStore:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id-com.app.ecsl as well as SMS by dialling *838# on any Africell line.

He revealed that the procurement process for the offshore printing of Voter Registration Cards is ongoing and that the distribution of voter ID cards is slated for the 17th-26th March, 2023, stating that stakeholder engagements across regional and district levels are planned as part of sensitization exercise on PR system. The production of jingles and other IC (Information, Education and Communication) materials are also being prepared.

He pointed out that the Commission has approved the existing policy of assigning polling stations which remains as a standard of 300 voters per station with the last stations not having more than 400 voters and that the Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government has deferred the Village Head elections to October 2023.

The scheduled date of February 11 was predicated for the distribution of voter ID cards. Since this cannot be achieved in time, the Commission is obliged to defer the Village Head election.
With support from International IDEA, an Electoral Risk Management Hub has been set up with three technical staff recruited. Through stakeholder engagement, electoral risks (27 internal & 12 external) have also been identified.

He informed the gathering that EU provided funding for printing of Public Elections Act and training materials for the Voter Registration exercise and that UNDP has procured services for the provision and installation of solar panels and batteries as power backup to the server rooms at Headquarters and Wellington, continuing that the UNDP has procured and delivered to ECSL, eighteen (18) units each of generators and printers as support to the operations of the district offices.

Commenting on Electoral Inclusion he maintained that with support from EU and UNDP, Gender and Disability Stakeholder Coordinating Groups have been formed and launched at district and regional levels nationwide with support been given to conduct several trainings for various minority and disadvantaged groups to facilitate increased awareness and participation in the electoral process.

Giving an update on electoral financing, the Minister of Finance said that they are structured in the context of the Elections Steering Committee, and he will serve as the co-chair of the Finance Sub-committee with the UNDP Resident Representative.

He said that he will endeavour to hold monthly meetings of the Finance sub-Committee starting February 2023 as they put plans and strategies in place to support the financing of the conduct of the 2023 General Elections to be held in June.

The Minister provided an update on elections related disbursements made by Government through the Ministry of Finance in FY2022 and also provided a synopsis of the planned disbursements for FY2023.

In his update, he informed all that the approved elections related budget for Electoral Commission Sierra Leone (ECSL) for FY 2022 was Le 300 million with an actual transfer to ECSL as at 31st December 2022 through the Elections Basket fund amounted to L 358 million, which was Le58 million above the approved budget.

He maintained that for FY2023, the approved budget by Parliament as allocation to ECSL and other Elections Management Bodies (EMBs) for the conduct of the General Elections in June 2023 is Le 423.7 million, of which the total allocation to ECSL is Le 349 million and based on the cashflow forecast for the first half of FY2023 that has been developed by the Ministry of Finance, they plan to disburse in full all funds budgeted for elections related activities to ECSL and other EMBs by the end of April 2023.

The Chairman of the Political Parties Registration Commission, Abdulai M. Bangura, said that PPRC received the reviewed party constitution of the Alliance Democratic Party (ADP) and the Commission has also engaged political parties to ensure compliance with their party’s constitution and the review of the same if need be.

He maintained that of the seventeen registered political parties; only four (4) have held their National Delegates Conference (SLPP, UNPP, UDM & NGC, which is yet to elect its flagbearer).

He pointed out that the Commission awaits the commencement of Lower-Level Election by the remaining political parties even though few have commenced but have yet to hold a National Delegate Conference and that the proposed regulatory framework of the Commission titled “Political Parties Regulatory Commission Act, 2022” is now in force following the Presidential Assent it received in December 2022.

The meeting was chaired by the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Jacob Jusu Saffa and its Co-Chairman, the UN Resident Coordinator, United Nations.

Carter Center and SDI Conduct Training for Enumerators

January 20, 2023

By Abubakarr Harding

In an effort to empower women and promote their participation in society, the Carter Center and the Society for Democratic Initiative (SDI) recently held a two-day training session for enumerators from five different districts in Sierra Leone. The training, which took place on January 19th and 20th at the Radisson Blu Aberdeen Freetown, aimed at providing women with the information and tools they need to assert their rights and make their voices heard.

The issue of women’s access to information has become increasingly pressing in recent years, as many women find themselves excluded from important decision-making processes and unable to contribute to society in meaningful ways. This is often due to a lack of access to information, which can make it difficult for women to understand their rights and advocate for themselves.

The training session aimed at addressing that problem by providing enumerators with the knowledge and skills they need to help women access useful information and develop themselves. The enumerators will then use this information to help women take part in and contribute to the development of their communities.

According to the Executive Director for SDI, Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, the lack of access to information for women has become a pressing issue in today’s societies and has led to many women dropping out of decision-making processes and unable to fully participate in society. The research study also aims to address the problem by identifying the successes, hindrances and challenges that women face in accessing information.

The study will also examine situations in which women are disadvantaged or are hesitant to go to public institutions to access information. Without access to basic information, women and their children may suffer. The research team aims to identify the challenges and provide recommendations to improve access to information for women. These recommendations will be implemented not only by SDI and the Information Commission but also by the Government.

The research is not based on assumptions, but on empirical data that will be collected in the field. The data will be used to inform Government decisions and interventions on issues related to health, transportation, and education. The research was a step towards ensuring that women have the right to information and to voice out their opinions which will help in the development of the society.Top of Form

The training was well-received by the participants, who appreciated the opportunity to learn more about their rights and how to access information. Many of the women expressed a desire to use their new knowledge to help others in their communities, and many were excited about the prospect of being able to take an active role in decision-making processes.

The Society for Democratic Initiative (SDI) has been working alongside enumerator Gerald A. Foday to complete the Access to Information Act. As a leading advocate for the Act since its inception, Foday has emphasized the importance of understanding how women in Sierra Leone are able to access information from public institutions.

To gather this information, the SDI and the Carter Center will conduct research in the field to gather credible data on the subject. This data will then be used to inform Government and development partners on the state of women’s rights to access information in Sierra Leone.

According to Foday, “It is crucial that we understand the barriers and challenges that women face when trying to access information from public institutions. Only by gathering this information can we work to ensure that women’s rights to access information are protected and upheld.”

The Access to Information Act, passed in Sierra Leone in 2013, guarantees the right of citizens to access information held by public institutions. However, it is clear that there is still work to be done to ensure that this right is extended to all members of society, including women.

The research to be conducted by the SDI and the Carter Center will be a crucial step in understanding the current state of women’s access to information in Sierra Leone, and identifying areas for improvement. The findings of the research will be used to inform policies and programs aimed at ensuring that women in Sierra Leone are able to fully exercise their right to access information.

Overall, the ongoing efforts of the SDI, the Carter Center, and advocates like Foday serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting and promoting the rights of all citizens to access information, especially women in Sierra Leone.

Overall, the training session was a success, and the organizers hope that it will help to promote greater participation and empowerment for women in Sierra Leone.

SLURC Completes Implementation of Shock Tactics Project

January 20, 2023

By Millicent Senava Mannah

The Sierra Leone Urban Research Centre, in collaboration with the Institute of Development Studies based in United Kingdom and with support from the United Kingdom’s Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), has completed the implementation of the Shock Tactics Project on the 18^th January 2023.

The project is geared towards understanding the daily health burdens of people living in informal settlements and to learn how to overcome those burdens.

Giving a background of the project, the Director of SLURC, Dr. Macarthy, said one of their key areas of research, which focuses entirely on urban development issues, is urban health. The Director stated that they are very deliberate because health issues matter for their development.

He maintained that the Ebola, Corona and Cholera outbreaks have shown that the urban is very vulnerable especially the informal settlement furthering how long time approaches to health and more especially in terms of policy and planning have really drawn a lot of experience from rural communities.

‘’And when we were caught up with events like COVID, it is also very difficult to draw from urban perspectives, especially how to plan and how to possibly ensure that relevant actions are taken in ways that does not only prioritize the rural, but also has the rural dimension.’’

According to him, they undertake the research as way of finding out what health means for people living in deprived communities and how do they ensure they know a lot better in terms of dealing with health issues.

Annie Wilkinson, a Co-Researcher via zoom apologized for her physical absence revealing how they have been working on the research for six years maintaining that the research is to create a picture of the health conditions in the Urban Settlement in Freetown, more especially the informal settlement.

She commended all those who put their efforts to make the research a success and all the participants for attending the closure of the project.

In his presentation, the Senior Researcher SLURC, Abu Conteh, intimated that the knowledge aims to improve understandings about how the national health system responds to health challenges in informal settlements, according to him, which include shocks such as epidemics as well as everyday health problems.

‘’Through the ESRC Project, we conducted research in two informal settlements- Moyiba and CKG using different data collection approaches. Data collection activities were followed by engagements with communities to address some of the key priorities,’’ he revealed.

Abu Turay maintained that, the research is also to highlight the relevance of community inclusion and capacity strengthening to the attainment of development priorities in informal settlements.

Abu Turay noted that, the key findings of this research are local understandings about health, access to healthcare and gendered experiences of health.

He disclosed that they did thirty narrative interviews, went through sixteen Governance diaries, and participatory impact pathways analysis further revealing that the narrative interviews were done to find out how people understand and describe their health, and the actions, practices, and norms they follow to prevent ill-health.

According to him, the governance diaries were to help understand the social, political, and personal relationships and networks that affect the health of people in the community.

Abu Turay also said they held a participatory workshop with community stakeholders to discuss innovative solutions to address community priorities such as water and sanitation.

The event was climaxed with a short video showcasing community capacities. Discussions were also held by members of the two communities.

Dr Adonis Abboud Address 1st Convocation of Ernest Bai Koroma University

January 20, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

During the first convocation and Congregation of the Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology, on the 19^th January, 2023, which attracted personalities from all walks of life, the Dean of the Sierra Leone Consular Corp, Director & Member of the Board of Governors, Chairman Equinox Group, Chairman DStv, Chairman Capital Radio 104.9, Chairman PIKIN BIZNESS, a renowned philanthropist, Dr Adonis Abboud, was among other speakers that delivered statements.

Speaking on the theme: “Leveraging Research, Science and Innovation to Address Current and Future Issues of Higher Education in Sierra Leone” he stated that the sad commentary of our educational system from the sky-high level of pre-independence when it earned the enviable sobriquet of ‘Athens of West Africa’, through the giddy days of the late seventies and early eighties and of course the decade-long civil war of the 1990s and the upheavals of Ebola and Corona Virus epidemics, put into context, the significance of the day’s event, the theme of the convocation and indeed the giant strides of the past five years.

He noted that education in Sierra Leone has experienced notable advances in recent years especially since the advent of the current administration whose determined effort has led to the investment of a large chunk of its resources on education which, according to him, is a paradigm shift in the way the nation conceptualizes education.

“The strenuous effort of the Government, to not only pay serious attention to education in its real sense, but to ensure that no stone is unturned in the quest for excellence, has seen the sector move from the previous stability of a lottery ball in a tombola to global recognition,” he informed adding that wise people have opined that it is much more difficult to formulate effective solutions to initiate a reversal of any abject retrogression, such as has been the case in Sierra Leone’s education policy.

He said, however, it is clear that in the process of development time comes when opportunities arise for a determined people or leadership to evaluate the past, appreciate the present and look forward to a glorious destination.

Dr Abboud intimated that while the forum is just a continuation of the tireless effort to rededicate to the determined march for excellence and the highest height of the creative and productive capabilities of Sierra Leoneans, we must not lose sight of the obstacles and realities of our society and nation.

According to him Knowledge is power adding how the world is in a frenetic speed and has become more competitive, more globalised, more dependent and highly more propelled by information technology.

He said if we do not want to be left adrift, we have no choice but to race against time with all hands on the deck, and mobilized, to overturn the inhibited developmental status that still trails our efforts.

Dr. Abboud said leveraging research and technology will no doubt not only help to combat known and unknown emerging threats to development adding that effectively doing so is essential for wealth creation and is a key component of social integration, sustainable development and poverty eradication, based on equity, freedom, justice, governance, peace and prosperity.

He asked: “Why have we found it difficult to create a world class higher educational system especially at the university level which can filter down to the quality of those who will propel the system from the immediate level to others below?”

Again he asked: “Apart from the historical past when the ruling circle saw the country, not as a society to passionately believe in, but one which was more of a vehicle for personal advancement, which other inherent factors undermine the ability to attain excellence and is responsible for our underdevelopment and the ability to become the great nation that we can be?

He said among other things that we need to look at why the political class has not been able to solve our developmental problem through research and innovation maintaining that our weakness is technology yet politics and religion occupy all the spaces; leaving very little for science and critical thinking asking why is that the case. What is wrong and what can we do over and beyond current efforts to accelerate the pace of innovation and rate of success? What are the root causes of slow translation, and what can we learn from recent failures and successes in translation?

Dr Abboud revealed that our ancestors embraced science, technology and innovation in their daily activities by using locally available materials for their food, nutrition, drugs and medicine as well as local materials for the construction of their accommodation.

He said unfortunately, today, the stranglehold of beliefs and tradition on our thinking as well as the negative impact and understanding of social media and technology, are some of the things that are keeping us back stressing that people must have the freedom to question beliefs and rely on their evidence without fear.

According to him, Science, Technology and Innovation remain the main driving force of growth and development underscoring that as the Government continues to demonstrate its invaluable role and commitment it is imperative that increased attention is paid to the study of science and technology, right from the primary school.

He informed that Technology can be a boon for any system when incorporated correctly; otherwise, it can increase unnecessary expenditures stating how it is therefore essential to know what a system requires before developing and incorporating new technologies. According to him, sometimes that requires a critical assessment of the status quo, and sometimes, it requires looking into the future.

He pointed out that no doubt financial constraints play a significant mitigating factor in the rate of the future source of growth, infrastructure and research maintaining how it is essential to carry out a critical assessment of the status quo and sometimes look into the future in the development and incorporation of new technologies at each step.

Dr Abboud said there is a school of thought which believes that Government’s commitment to science and technology is measured by how much money is spent adding that money is important both for the quality and quantity but it is an input, not an output measure.

He suggested that reducing bureaucratic burden in research, innovation and higher education, can be overcome by the establishment of an independent fund that will be equitably distributed to institutions to encourage the study of science and research as well as lay the solid knowledge foundation for development.

Dr Abboud said that every country that has developed has prioritized the study of science and technology adding that access to higher education goes beyond the admission of more qualified students as it also means that high performing indigent students are given merit-based scholarships and all the encouragement and enabling environment to succeed.

He argued that Science and technology are not liberal arts created from the mind adding that we need state-of-the-art laboratories, libraries and uninterrupted power.

He recommended the building of quality and relevant universities and other higher institutions responsive to the visions and missions for which they are established, independently funded outside the control of politicians is necessary.

Dr Abboud also suggested that Government must enthrone enabling policies encouraging the country’s corporate world to intervene in core Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) and once the perception changes whereby such funds are not seen as grants but as self-perpetuating investments with potential for innovative application to products and services; and which require beneficiaries to return part of their profits to the fund, then we can be assured that we are on our way to progress.

He informed that the power of science and technology lies in information sharing adding that lack of shared ideas and assets between higher institutions and international institutes are contributing to poor performance in science.

“Bright minds frustrated by loneliness, limited resources and collegiate apathy are left with no choice but to rely on prayers rather than technology,” he stated.

According to him, if we want to leverage anything at all, there is the need to break the stranglehold of conformism that tends to emasculate products of higher institutions and instead, steer them towards research and innovation.

He said that new thinking will challenge them to create wealth using their heads in the area of science, technology and innovation that created the founders of Microsoft and Facebook that we love so much.

Dr Abboud said in pursuant of that we need innovative and updated curricula that breeds intelligent, self-motivated and curious students confident enough to do things differently and which will stimulate curiosity and motivation.

“In other words our higher institutions must be inculcated into the world of “internet of things,” artificial intelligence and robotics to produce the likes of the Ghanaian student who has just developed an African search engine to rival the likes of Google,” he stated.

He said we need to allow the leaders of our future unfettered intellectual freedom if all the current efforts at leveraging the educational system is to yield the desired result.

“One way of overcoming this obstacle is through the introduction of digital technology into the classroom,” he said adding that academics must be armed with laptops to enable them access the social media in addition to catching up with their own students who will no longer be limited by time and space.

He said that we must pay attention to and encourage specialization adding that our higher institutions must be equitably supported to excel in disciplines where they have the highest capacity and expertise. “Specialization saves resources while encouraging collaboration, quality teaching and research,” he said.

He also suggested that Foreign Experts, especially of Sierra Leonean heritage, must be encouraged and recruited where the requisite skills are lacking locally; especially to start their own research institutes back home, which would have the multiplier effect of facilitating technology transfer and set some of our universities on the trajectory of excellence.

Based on what he said greater collaboration with the diplomatic and consular corps can also help towards achieving this goal.

He said to the graduating set that it is his hope that they will realize that they are the hope of the nation.

“You are its future. You can become whatever you want to, if you will unleash your minds and with a renewed mindset from the frenetic development of the world, apply yourselves to the challenges facing Sierra Leone,” he said.

Quoting Tom Brokaw, Dr Abboud said, “You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. Let me ask you to think of an alternative. Think of it as your ticket to change the world”.

He concluded by stating that the whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows and replace an empty mind with an open one.

“With discussions such as this and the current determination to open up the nation to align with the rest of the world, you have in your hand, the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” he inspired the graduating students.

Ernest Bai Koroma University

SALWACO Monitors & Injects New Life into the Blama-Bandawo Project

January 20, 2023

By Sheku Putka Kamara

A delegation from the Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) which includes the Board and Management of the Company on the 18^th January, 2023 concluded a stakeholder’s consultative meeting on the Blama-Bandawo Project with a viewpoint to speedily complete the project and to subsequently supply safe drinking water to the people.

In his welcome address, the Chiefdom Speaker of Small Bo, Chief Ishmeal S. Koroma said that the engagement could not have come at a better time. He said that the said project had been on for years and that the people now look forward to its full implementation.

Chairman of the event, who happened to be the Managing Director of SALWACO, Ing George Lamin Vandi, gave a succinct background of the project which he said had started since 2014. He said that a lot had happened over the years but that there was a concern that the project is yet to reach a successful completion. He said that it was on such note that the Ministry of Water Resources, represented by the Hon. Deputy Minister was at the site to get first-hand information and to see what could be the way forward. Ing. Vandi said that the Management of SALWACO is expecting the project to be completed anytime soon and that contractors should be able to live up to expectations.

Paramount Chief of Small Bo Chiefdom, PC Mohamed Daffie Benga V said that since the commencement of the project, a lot has been going on, but observed that information flow has largely not been appreciable. He said that having the right information will put them in a better position as Chiefdom and Traditional authorities to fully and realistically communicate with the people.

The Paramount Chief of Niawa Chiefdom, Kenema District, PC Mariama Jaward Tamia III reestablished the fact that water is life and that it should not be treated with levity. She said that the stakeholders and chiefdom authorities had done very well to see that the project is successfully completed and therefore urged for fruitful deliberations to ensure that the project becomes a success.

Representative of the Water Resources Committee in Parliament, Hon Brima Mansaray informed that there have been lesser engagements with community people on the project and therefore referred to the meeting as first of its kind this time. He said that at a time like this, everything should be done to successfully complete the project and that there should be no room for excuses.

The Kenema District Council Secretary stated that he was very happy with the development and that the project should be continued as it was already near completion. He said that people may not be in position to understand the technicalities and other associated challenges of the project and therefore appealed that everything possible should be done to complete the project for the benefit of all.

The SALWACO MD further informed all present on how SALWACO is the implementing agency of the project and that the Company has a responsibility to embark on a day-to-day monitoring and to subsequently report to the Minister of Water Resources. He said that the Company is now at a level where excuses will no longer be tolerated. He said that the only option is for the contractor to assure that before the end of March-April, 2023, the project must have been completed. He said that a failure to deliver will leave SALWACO with no other option, but to scout out another contractor who will be able to complete the project on time. He said that the assessment performance of the contractors will now inform next action points.

The Contractors of the project said that the meeting was very timely and that they look forward to complete the water facility. They cited Ebola, COVID-19 and the destruction of pipes as a result of road works as some of the challenges, but appealed for more funding support to fully complete the project.

The SALWACO Project Manager of the Blama-Bandawo Project who also doubles as the Company’s Director of Operations and Management, Ing. Abdul Ben Lebbie said that the functionality of the plant is an issue and that the willingness of the contractor was another. He said that the position of Management is to see that the project is completed and nothing else. He said that the Company has done all within its powers to see that the contactor is able to leave up to expectations.

The representative of the SALWACO Board, Ing Badamasi Savage said that delivery of project is key and that the contractor should avoid solvable excuses. He issued out a two-week grace period to fix the water system, adding that any attempt not to deliver will be met with consequences. He therefore concluded that the water treatment plant is to be fully functional within two weeks, stating that such was the position of the SALWACO Board. He said that any failure will result to termination.

The Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Madam Nimatulai Bah-Chang said that access to clean water is key and that the SALWACO Management and the Contractors should do all within their powers to complete the project. She said that the political will is there to support all implementing agencies and that President Bio has promised to provide safe drinking water for people and urged all parties to put hands on deck and see that all challenges are addressed and safe drinking water delivered to people.

The SALWACO Team will do another inspection within two weeks and to see that the Blama-Bandawo project is absolutely completed and water provided for the people.

Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO)

Mercury International Dishes Out NLe3.3M as Payment to Lucky Winners

January 20, 2023

It was smiling all the way for lucky winners as Mercury International on the 18^th January, 2023 made the first biggest winning payout of the year, splashing out Three Million, Three Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety Thousand Leones New Leones (NLE 3,395,490) or Three Billion, Three Hundred and Ninety-Five Million, Four Hundred and Ninety Old Leones (Le 3, 395,490,000) to a total of 4,138 (Four Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty-eight winners).

Tuesday’s night National Draw Edition 231 was the producer of such a huge winning for 4138 customers from across the country, with the drop of “32, 23” balls in Turbo two. The winning balls were; 32-23-82-19-79 {(Extra 6- (15) Extra-7 (8)}.

The draw also produced the highest individual winning of NLe 27,350 (Twenty-Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand New Leones) or Le 27, 350,000 (Twenty-Seven Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Leones old Leones).

The win came just almost a month after the historic win in December which was the biggest and highest ever in the history books of the Lotto draw in Sierra Leone as the Mercury Daily Special Draw dropped popular balls, 18-81 which falls within Turbo 3. The winning balls were; 81-84-18-72-55 (Extra 6-(64), Extra 7-(73).

A total payment of Eight Million, Seven Hundred and Forty-Eight Million New Leones(NLe 8,740,000,000) or Eight Billion, Seven Hundred and Forty-Eight Million Old Leones (Le 8,740,000,000) were made to over Fourteen Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy (14,770) customers in a single individual draw, which includes a 50% bonus for all lucky winners.

12 Journalists Earmarked to Report on Human Trafficking

January 20, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

Twelve Sierra Leone journalists from print, online and broadcast outlets have been awarded fellowships to report on human trafficking. The unique fellowships, organized by a new partnership between the University of Georgia’s Center on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach (CenHTRO)and the Journalism Centre on Global Trafficking (JCOGT), are aimed at encouraging and promoting top-quality journalism and reporting on human trafficking.

The Fellows were selected from a wide pool of applicants based on dedication to reporting on human trafficking and on reporting projects currently underway or in the planning stage related to the topics explored during the duration of the fellowship.

The award-winners will receive financial assistance or stipends that enable them to attend an in person-workshop and related events and for in-depth or investigative stories on human trafficking. The project aims to increase evidenced-based reporting on human trafficking, especially child trafficking, in Sierra Leone’s national and community print, audio, and broadcast media. JCOGT will organize workshops and capacity building activities for journalists to provide them with the necessary tools and information to report on human trafficking, The program will help journalists understand the context, concepts, and terminology behind trafficking. The program will foster investigative skills and support the launch of collaborative journalism networks on trafficking so that media can continue to report effectively on these issues. JCOGT will coach and support select journalists over a period of months as they report, conceive, and publish impactful stories on human trafficking.

Overall support for the workshop and fellowships comes from the Center on Human Trafficking Research &Outreach (CenHTRO)and U.S. Department of State Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. These organizations did not participate in the review or selection of the fellows.

The 2023 Fellows are listed below.

Abdulaziz Samura, Standard Times Newspaper

Edna Ngegba, Radio Maria Sierra Leone Makeni

Zainab Sheriff, Media Matters for Women Sierra Leone

Marian Amaria Bangura, Africa Young Voices Media Empire (AYV)

Alhaji Haruna Sani, Concord Times Newspaper

Stephen Vandy Lansana, Premier News

Rachael Amara, Nyapui Radio

Alusine Sesay, Premier News

Mohamed Special Conteh, Future View Media Center via BBC Africa Eye

Mariama Suma, Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation

Alfred Koroma, Concord Times Newspaper

Erica Ruth Esther Bangura, Nyapui Radio

Judiciary Justifies Rationale behind the Arrest & Detention of Edmund Abu Jr

January 20, 2023

By Abubakarr Harding

The Judiciary of Sierra Leone, in a Press Release it issued on the 18^th January, 2023, stated that it wishes to inform the general public that the Director of Native Consortium and Research Center, Edmund Abu Jnr. is currently before Honourable Justice Adrian Fisher J, for Contempt of Court proceedings, in accordance with the provisions of Section 120 (5) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, Act No. 6 of 1991.

Further stated was that before being committed to the Pademba Road Correctional Center for twenty-one (21) days, Edmund Abu Jnr. was a Plaintiff in a matter between Native Consortium and Research Center and the mobile operators including the National Telecommunications Commission.

It was also included that during trial, complaints were made by lawyers for Africell and NATCOM about Edmund Abu’s conduct in harassing them by making financial demands to settle the matter out of Court. They further complained that he was on social media publishing prejudicial statements about the trial of the action.

Stated also was that the Honourable Justice Fisher later granted an Order on the 26th day of February 2021, restraining publication and comments on the case as it was sub judice.

According to the Judiciary, notwithstanding the Court Order, Edmund Abu Jnr in an apparent defiance continued to make publications on social media as well as the traditional media to impugn the credibility of the Judiciary and the Honourable Judge who was presiding on the matter. Based on the Press Release, among other things he said was that he had seen the judgment and it was in his favour which was totally untrue.

The Judiciary continued that as if that was not enough, on the day for Judgment on the said matter his absurd and disrespectful conduct in Court in the full view of other litigants and his lawyers shows his campaign of calumny were aimed at not only putting the hard-earned reputation of the presiding Judge into disrepute but a flagrant disrespect for law and order in the country.

It was added that he couldn’t also produce his own predicted judgment and so far the matter has been completed and judgment delivered against him.

Stated by the Judiciary was that, meanwhile, some comments suggest that the Judiciary had favoured mobile operators against Edmund Abu, which, according to them, is totally false and unfounded.

Also revealed was that in the course of the trial, Edmund Abu was awarded the sum of One Hundred Million Leones (Le100, 000,000.00) old notes as costs in his favour, on behalf of the 300 plaintiffs he represented.

The Judiciary of Sierra Leone affirms that it wishes it to be known that it does not arrest and detain any person “for no reason” as always it acts in accordance with the laws of Sierra Leone, in particular Section 120(1) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, Act No 6 of 1991, which vests Judicial powers on the Judiciary of Sierra Leone.

Concluding, the Judiciary pointed out that the proceedings for Contempt of Court would be heard by Honourable Justice Fisher on the 31^stJanuary 2023 and that Edmund Abu has been served with all relevant papers for him to prepare his defence to the (10 counts) charges of Contempt of Court he faces.

Dr Turad Senesie Demystifies the Notion that Lungi Airport is Not a Brand New Airport

January 20, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

According to the Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesie, the Lungi airport is a “New Brand Airport” constructed in a different location in Lungi from scratch.

He revealed that the entrance to the new airport is from the Port Loko Road away from where the old one is and that it will host up to ten (10) planes at every given point in time with a capacity of 50,000 passengers monthly compared to 10,000 monthly using the old airport.

The Minister pointed out that the reason for such a massive construction is to make Sierra Leone a hub for international travels in the sub region in order to bring it at par to Ghana and Senegal further maintaining that for now the new airport is going to be the best in the sub region which he says is a national pride.

Dr Senesie argued that the New Airport is a smart city airport commonly known as a “Green Airport” (solar energy) that supports terminal buildings and runway. He added how the new airport now provides cargo shell that meets international standards that was never there.

He argues that in addition to that, there is a duty free with wide range of goods order than just cigarette and drinks that will be functional 24/7. He also mentioned a new Tower with an elevator constructed with a diamond at the top symbolizing one of the country’s treasures as a nation, a recreational center adjacent to the new airport to attract tourism adds to the ambience of the new facility adding that a five star hotel is going to be part of the new creation, a new runway constructed that accommodates any flight irrespective of size or volume.

The Minister then asked the rhetorical question: What else do we want to prove that this is a New Brand Airport?

Dr Senesie said the question we should be asking now is what do we do with the old airport?

He said as a Government they are still discussing various possibilities including using the old airport as a military air force wing that would accommodate private planes also.

“We are now thinking that it is time to develop our military air force. Similarly we are also thinking of bidding to use the old facility as the ECOWAS aircraft maintenance site. The benefit of this to Sierra Leoneans again goes beyond this world,” he maintained saying Sierra Leoneans deserve the best and that include taste in terms of the country’s national development.

The Minister continued by stating that as a Government, when they said they were going to open up Lungi they were mocked pointing out that when they say they are going to do the Lungi bridge, they have reason for that and the Lungi bridge is going to be built.

He stated that the triggers to the construction of the Lungi Bridge include the new airport that is now near completion adding that next is the New Financial City for Sierra Leone in the same location.

“We have already concluded surveys and beacons fixed on the ground,” he revealed adding that the new financial city will provide for administrative facilities, industries, financial institutions, hotels, housing and so on.

The Minister said such will increase the traffic flow to Lungi and having the bridge will bring about quick returns on investment on the bridge.

He said as a Government they are not guessing as a New City for Sierra Leone is on the horizon and systematically they are developing Sierra Leone in the midst of a world economic crisis in a sustainable way.

Dr Turad Senesie warned that politicizing national development is a bad dream and recommended for the provision of better alternatives to the current national policy drive if there are any on the same subject matter.

Omrie Golley Declares Tomorrow

January 20, 2023

The Campaign Team of APC strong man and former Ambassador to the Republic of South Korea has officially stated in a Press Release that Ambassador Golley will be officially declaring his intention to lead the APC party to the 2023 elections. Read Press Release on Page..

Press Release

Friday, 19th Jan 2022

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We are pleased to officially launch the Ambassador Omrie Golley Campaign bid for All People’s Congress (APC) Flagbearer ahead of the party’s National Delegates Convention (NDC).

Ambassador Omrie Golley comes into the race with a mission to promote and sustain peace, reconciliation and meaningful dialogue as the party prepares to return to governance in 2023.

With an enviable track record as a top performer and veritable servant of the State as well as his dedication to peace and national cohesion, Ambassador Omrie Golley will become a viable alternative for stability and progress in the APC.

In the next few days, the Former Ambassador to South Korea will be making an official declaration.

Watch this space!!

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For more information Contact:

Address: 39 Jones Street, Freetown

Tel:+23274026408/+23230163402

Email: info.omriegolleycampaign2023@gmail.com

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