APC Women in Action Group Declares to Support any Emerging Flagbearer

January 11, 2023

The Women in Action group of the All People’s Congress (APC) Party has on the 4^thJanuary 2023 intimated the party’s Task Force that the group was primarily formed to support any presidential candidate elected at its National Delegates’ Convention for the June 2023 elections underscoring that they are strongly against the formation of camps, factions and other groups within the party.

That disclosure was made at the party headquarters on Old Railway Line, Brookfields in Freetown while members of the Women in Action group were addressing the party’s Task Force, the grassroots of the party.

One its members, Kadi Sesay, revealed that they are all members of the APC, that the group was formed to among others serve as a pressure group to the party’s Women’s Congress and the party itself, that they do not have candidates of their choice but the APC, that there is no vacuum in nature, the reason they are supporting the National Executive to effectively function until the conduct of a Convention and Delegates’ Conference, called for a timetable for the conduct of lower level elections revealing that they had held a meeting and presented their resolution to the Interim Governing Council Team of the party.

According to her, APC members are all one firmly united family, appealed to all to stop backbiting, embrace unity and love, recalled that in the past the party’s lower-level elections were peacefully conducted to the applause and administration of all and called for peaceful and transparent general elections in June this year reiterating that if the party wins the elections the victory is for all members.

She added that they have members nationwide and abroad, that the group would soon be launched to fill gaps within the party before the National Delegates’ Conference after which they would throw their weight behind the presidential and other candidates that would emerge winners to contest the General Elections in June this year.

Santigie Bangura, Director of Operations, APC Task Force thanked the Women in Action group for recognizing them as a unit, praised the group for their initiative in coming together and revealed that the party has a lot of work to do ahead of the elections but was confident that the party will succeed in the coming elections.

Danke Edward Kargbo, a member of the group intimated that the Task Force plays an important role in the party, recalled that her late father was a founding member of the party and called for unity within the party to win the next polls.

Other members of the APC Women in Action group including Wotay Dura assured that they would ensure that the Task Force is upgraded to make members independent, that they are all one family, urged the Task Force to continue its good work, that the party’s struggle started long ago, that they would ensure that the right candidates are elected, appealed to them to focus on the party and not individuals as well as vote for the right candidates and underscored the need for peace and unity within the party.

The event was well-attended way beyond the expected numbers and ended with the singing of the party’s Victory Song and the vote of thanks with a sense of jubilation among the crowd.

Proportional Representation Judgment to be Delivered Soon

January 11, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

In a matter filed by Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara and Partners on behalf of Honourable Abdul Kargbo as First Plaintiff and Councillor Hakiratu Maxwell-Caulker as the Second Plaintiff against the Attorney General and Minister of Justice as First Defendant and the Electoral Commission as Second Defendant at the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone on the 9^th January, 2023, oral submissions were concluded.

It must be noted that members of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC) were challenging the legality of using the Proportional Representation System in the 2023 elections.

Dr. Abdulai O. Conteh and Joseph F. Kamara Esq., submitting on behalf of the Plaintiffs, argued that the President’s directive to the Electoral Commission to use the PR system for parliamentary elections in the 2023 elections is unlawful since there were existing constituencies at the time that the directive was given.

They furthered how the Commission had provided no compelling and clear explanation for resorting to the PR system “even though constituencies still exist in the country”.

In response, the State, represented by Solicitor-General R.B. Kowa and Principal State Counsel Osman Kanu, argued that the President acted within the powers conferred on him by the Constitution, stating that the President’s power to issue such directives cannot be questioned in a court of law.

Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, who spoke on behalf of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (the 2nd Defendant), argued that the Commission acted lawfully when it advised that it was impracticable to delineate boundaries, emphasizing that the ECSL is the only body with exclusive information and the specialization to determine whether it was possible to delineate boundaries 6 months before the date appointed for the 2023 elections.

The Chief Justice, who presided over the proceedings, promised that a judgment will be delivered shortly.

One of the major rights based organizations, Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law – Sierra Leone (CARL-SL) commended the five-member panel of Supreme Court Justices to hear the complaint filed by two citizens of Sierra Leone against the use of the proportional representation system in the multi-tier elections scheduled for 24th June, 2023.

“When we urge citizens to use peaceful and legitimate means to resolve electoral grievances, we do so with an expectation that State organs and institutions would resolve such grievances in a speedy, professional and impartial manner,” said Ibrahim Tommy, Executive Director, Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law, adding that “It is gratifying that the Supreme Court will start hearing this matter barely a month after it was filed. This is a positive step forward in our collective advocacy for speedy resolution of electoral complaints”.

He urged the Court to fully consider the merits of the arguments on both sides and hand down a fair and well-thought-out decision.

Monitors assigned by CARL monitored the proceedings.

Gento Hobnobs with Residents of Kissy Community

January 11, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The People’s Mayor in waiting, Mohamed Gento Kamara, commonly referred to as Gento, has with renewed vigour continued his meet the people tours, quite distinct from any form of political campaigning, during which periods the charismatic and result oriented road construction guru succinctly intimates what inspired him to contest for the position and how he intends to positively transform the Freetown Metropolis in order to bring it up to the standard befitting any modern capital city when he would have been elected as the Mayor of the Freetown City Council (FCC).

When Gento and his entourage landed in Kissy over the weekend, the whole Kissy Community went wild as residents were coming from all the nook and cranny to get a glimpse of the man of the moment, whose name and good deeds they have only heard of but have never set eyes on him. His supporters were repeatedly shouting his name in a rhythmic way with whistle and drum beat sounds enveloping the surrounding the vicinity creating a carnival-like ambiance.

The young and old were visibly seen clamouring to even get much closer to their guest to such an overwhelming extent that a stampede could have occurred if swift moves were not taken by some members of his entourage to divert Gento from the ever growing crowd that was converging on a playing field where the engagement took place by condoning an area on the field where he could not be easily accessed.

Cognizance must be taken of the fact that the Kissy community has been one of the key communities in the East End of Freetown that have opted to see Mohamed Gento Kamara and their reception was overwhelming.

After many reasonable and realistic submissions by the community heads publicly declaring their supports for Mohamed Gento’s aspiration to be the next Mayor of Freetown 2023, the community head stated that they were blessed to have received the next Mayor of Freetown.

He informed the large gathering that he is the brain child behind the construction of a state of art road with flyovers, the Hill Cut Road in West End of Freetown, a philanthropist who has enormously rendered assistance to all classes of Sierra Leoneans. He expressed the view that Gento is very capable of transforming the capital city and there is every reason why he must be supported in order for him to translate his plans to tangible realities on the ground that would impact lives not only in Kissy but throughout the metropolis.

On his part, Gento started by admonishing “Kissitonians” that if they want a better Freetown, they should distance themselves from Tribalism, political sentiments and embrace each other as theirs is a breeding ground for any municipality to develop.

He underscored that the Kissy community is at the center of his heart as it is the community where he was born and raised up leaving a lot of positive and indelible experiences on his mind.

Gento clearly stated that devoid of his aspiration, he is charged with the zest to build Freetown as he has been doing for ages but said the community’s support is very important for him to be elected as the next Mayor of Freetown maintaining that after attaining that position he will be in a better place to collaborate with other stakeholders to build Freetown in a way Freetonians have been yearning for ages.

Responding to concerns that past political promises have not been honoured, Gento said he does not believe in making false promises to gain their votes but rather he is someone who is very realistic and mindful of what he does.

He informed residents that he is very keen to see political tolerance at play which was what inspired him to bring together both the incumbent President, Julius Maada Bio and his predecessor, Ernest Bai Koroma to make a commitment to the Nation for in order to give peace a chance.

“The two held cordial discussions as if nothing had ever happened to hamper peace,” Gento is on record of intimating the residents of Kissy.

He debunked the assumption that the Freetown City Council is an institution for ethnic monopoly adding that such is false.

In an attempt to discourage the nurturing of tribalism he gave examples of cross marriages making reference to himself Gento by saying he is a Temne and Limba but his wife is a Mende, President Bio is a Shebro/Mende but his wife is a Mandingo, Ernest Bai Koroma is a Temne/Limba but his wife is a Kono, Samura Kamara is a Temne but the wife is a Mende and lest but not the least Kelfala Marrah is a Koranko but his wife is a Mende.

He asked rhetorically: “Why do people still assume that there is tribalism?

He said there is indeed a moral defect which he stands to combat furthering that if there is an outburst of widespread violence in Freetown such will affect the economy as investors will shy away.

When the man of the moment declared that when he becomes the sitting Mayor he will pledge his salary to assist the disable community within Freetown there was an outburst of applause in commendation of such a gesture.

The highpoint of the occasion was when various social groups stepped forward to register their massive support for Gento.

Orange CEO & High Powered Delegation Visit Bo Data Center

January 11, 2023

By Millicent Senava Mannah

The Chief Executive Officer of Orange Sierra Leone, Sekou Amadou Bah in the company of a high powered delegation, including the French Ambassador to SL, Head of European Delegation to SL, Deputy Min of Information and Communications, NATCOM Director General and Staff of Orange, has on the 7th January, 2023 for the second time in less than 30 days visited the Orange Bo Data Center.

The rationale behind the visit was for the EU Head, French Ambassador and officials from the Government of Sierra Leone to have an assessment of work done and the level of investment Orange is doing in this part of the country.

It must be noted that the Data Center project and location gave an impressive picture to the EU Head of Delegation – Manuel Alexander Muller.

In his submission, he said, he is impressed as such is one of the core pillars of the EU by taking major developmental projects out of the capital.

The CEO assured them that it is his desire that the work be completed in the early part of this year and that their next visitation will definitely be the commissioning of the facilities.

In his statement, the French Ambassador said he will be glad to be part of the commissioning of the facility as Orange is doing an impressive work.

The Deputy Information Minister, Solomon Jamiru, asserted that this is a testament of the fact that an investment of such a nature depicts that Orange is here to stay and is complementing the work of the Government.

2021 Auditor-General’s Report Negates SLPP’s Claim of Fighting Corruption

January 11, 2023

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

This medium is of the strong conviction that one of the things that the current SLPP ruling Government is priding itself of having achieved, that is effectively fighting corruption has been made hollow, insignificant and a mere empty bluff as the recently released 2021 Auditor General’s Report reveals massive corruption in not only Ministries, Departments and Agencies but in other related sectors of governance.

According to the Report, an alleged estimated cash loss of $:3,523,588 (Three Million Five Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty-Eight United States Dollars), €183,949 (One Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty Nine Euros), and £ 752, 859 (Seven Hundred and Fifty-Two Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-Nine Pounds was reported at some of the country’s Diplomatic Missions; an alleged estimated cash loss of Le:5,610,439,736 (Five Billion Six Hundred and Ten Billion Four Hundred and Thirty-Nine Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty-Six Leones) was reported in 14 Local Councils; an alleged estimated cash loss of Le. 65,181,048,963 (Sixty Five Billion One Hundred and Eighty-One Million and Forty-Eight Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixty-Three Leones) plus $132,000 (One Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand United States Dollars) was reported in revenue-generating entities; an alleged estimated cash loss of Le.560,204,104,073 (Five Hundred and Sixty Billion Two Hundred and Four Million One Hundred and Four Thousand and Seventy-Three Leones) was reported as tax liabilities and a further alleged estimated cash loss of Le.116,238,191,455 (One Hundred and Sixteen Billion Two Hundred and Thirty-Eight Million One Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand Four Hundred and Fifty-Five Leones) plus $338,424 (Three Hundred and Thirty-Eight Four Hundred and Twenty-Four Leones) was reported under the general category.

This medium repeatedly argued that one of the main factors responsible for the economic morass in which the country is trapped is undoubtedly massive institutionalized corruption in Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

For many Sierra Leoneans, it is really very painful and a pity to come to the realization that this country is unimaginably rich in terms of natural resources, but pathetically, majority of the citizenry are continually wallowing in abject poverty whereas only a handful of the citizenry (in this context), public officials with their cohorts in the private sector, keep plundering the national coffers with reckless abandon.

Candidly, the revelations as contained in the recently released Auditor General’s Report 2021 are very shocking and grueling vis-à-vis the colossal amount of monies which certain Ministries, Departments and Agencies cannot properly account for, meaning that as a result of institutionalized corruption in those institutions, funds that were intended to finance development projects were clandestinely diverted into personal accounts.

In some instances, public officials circumvented stipulated procedures to be followed in the implementation of projects as well as procuring goods and services.

Another anomaly that the Auditor General’s Report (2021) unearthed is that recommendations that were proffered in previous reports to stop leakages and wastages in terms of following best practices and the utilization of public funds were not adhered to by these MDA’s who manifested blatant neglect for those recommendations and deliberately embarked on carrying on business as usual.

If in actual fact some public officials were sincere enough and very patriotic there should be nothing wrong for them to strictly adhere to those recommendations in order to prevent leakages and wastages.

We must be mindful of the fact that some of the misappropriated or unaccounted funds are those that were provided by donors for the implementation of specific projects. It goes without saying that if donors of such funds realize that the funds were not utilized properly then obviously they will lose confidence in making available future funds to the Government or may tend to give certain ‘conditionalities’ which must be adhered to by Government some of which could be detrimental to the populace.

We have seen how the Anti Corruption Commissioner, Francis Ben Kaifala, reacted by furiously promising that he will chase the missing billions of Leones.

The strategy and methodology used could not be of much interest than recovering monies that should belong to the State and for the benefit of the citizenry. Those found culpable must pay the price.

One can only conclude that the current SLPP Government cannot be highly commended in its fight against corruption as the 2021 Auditor General’s Report reveals billions of missing Leones that should be accounted for. To be true, the crusade mounted by Commissioner Ben Kaifala on corruption was outwardly impressive but to the chagrin of many the persistence of corruption in public institutions is a testament of its endemic nature and failure on the part of the ACC to put tough measures in place to avoid recurrence.

As the ACC Boss has pledged determination to hold all those responsible for managing such funds all eyes are now on him and his team to see tangible results otherwise that could be dismissed as an empty bluff signifying nothing.

NP-SL is Keen on Continuing to Optimize Customer Care in 2023

January 11, 2023

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

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The most trusted, reliable and result oriented petroleum marketing entity in Sierra Leone, the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone (NP-SL) is all set to continue optimizing opportunities to ensure that there is availability of various petroleum products, year round, that could be procured at various NP Filling Stations across the country.

Management of the company is with renewed vigour determined, as always, to create the leeway for Customer Care to be taken on a high pedestal everywhere the company is operating.

It was reliably learnt that the Shareholders and Management of the company are very much interested in how customers are treated and are doing everything within their ambit to optimize it with a view that if such is done impressively and respectfully such will retain its customers and as well woo others to do business with the entity.

In 2022 the company conducted nationwide trainings of Station Managers and Pump Attendants on how to professionally treat customers and such a positive move has been yielding fruitful dividends.

Established by thirty five Sierra Leoneans , who were former employees of the British Petroleum company out of shares they bought, NP-SL Ltd over the years, has placed high premium on customer care and therefore thought it entrepreneurially prudent to import and install modern calibrated pumping machines in all its Filling Stations.

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

Within that same domain of satisfying and providing care for its customers, the company made it a must that all its Filling Stations should have safety regulations. Such is done to serve as a caution for customers and others not to use naked flame, to switch mobile phones and engines switched off at Filling Stations when fuel is pumped among others.

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

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

The Shareholders and Management of the company thought it fit that to make cooking safer and less health hazardous to introduce an environmentally cooking device known as NP Gas.

Manufactured in different cylinder sizes, NP Gas has a high precision performance and for it to be refilled it is simple as the gas could be accessed at all the company’s Filling Stations in the country.

Many whom have tried them intimated this medium that it is worth having at home and one could never regret having it but would rather recommend it to others.

NP-SL Ltd has etched its name in the sands of time for embracing and effectively rolling out the country’s Local Content Policy. As one of its major priorities, the company has placed high premium on giving employment preference to Sierra Leoneans. It is only on rare circumstances that the company makes use of expatriates and in most cases it is when local personnel cannot be sourced.

In a country where accessing a secured and suitable job is like finding a needle on the beach for a company like NP-SL Ltd to avail Sierra Leoneans the opportunity to access job is indeed commendable. This posture, on the part of the company, has given the beneficiaries the opportunity to live improved lifestyles and have a sense of believing that they are contributing to national development.

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

It must be concluded that though the company is going through various challenges, one of which is to gain easy access to foreign exchange, the Board of Directors, Shareholders and Management are more determined to prevent energy poverty or shortage of petroleum products that could have far reaching socio-economic and political implications.

Tradition and Values

January 10, 2023

By Rajja Sourav Singh Sarmal

Archaeological findings prove that the beautiful tropical Sierra Leone of west Africa has been inhabited for thousands of years. Language patterns in most of its parts suggest that its population certainly had a continuous cordial connection with different populations. The societies who migrated here from other parts of Africa or the world, adopted the lifestyle of the indigenous population and intermingled with them. Also, the indigenous people accepted many things of the foreigners.

Even the name of this country was given by non-indigenous people, the Portuguese voyagers. They termed it ‘Serra Lyoa’, which later became ‘Sierra Leone’ and it was then adopted as the official name post independence on April 27, 1961 from the British colonists.

After independence, it saw many ups and downs; especially in 1967 when after general elections, the army intervened and the nation saw its first military coup by Lt. Colonel Andrew Juxon-Smith. Successive coups under different commanders kept taking place thereafter as well.

The major reason behind such coups must be the vast mineral wealth of this country. Especially the diamonds and gold, so, it should not surprise us, why such a mineral rich nation had to bear unrest for long.

When the situation went out of hand and civil war-like events occurred in the decade of 90s, the United Nations Organisation decided to send peacekeeping troops here (UNAMSIL), who entered the country in November 1999. Their task was to support the peace efforts of the Sierra Leone government and rebels formalised on paper in the Togolese capital of Lome; to monitor the disarming and demobilisation of the rebels, called the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), and reintegration of the combatants, especially the child soldiers, in civil society.

During this peace mission, Lieutenant General VK Jetley (then Major General) of Dogra Regiment was appointed as the first UN Force Commander. The necessity of creating a UN force for Sierra Leone brought into scene when armed tussle between the government and various rebels factions, predominantly the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), was taking a major turn after several years of their conflict as the noble initiative of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) made possible the Lome Peace Agreement being signed between Sierra Leonean Government and the representatives of the various rebel community.

The mission led by the Dogra Force Commander of UN was much successful in establishing peace in the country. Today many people of Sierra Leone might not even know what Dogra actually meant and who are these people; on whom name there is a military Regiment, whose General came from another corner of the world to bring peace to their nation.

The Dogra are one of the infamous ethnic tribes of Himalayas belonging to Khasa Arya stock. The land which they inhabit is historically known as Durgaradesa. Today, large part of their population can be found in Jammu & Kashmir, parts of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab states lying to the north of India, with a number of Dogras also residing in parts of bordering areas of Pakistan as well.

Although commander from their force acted as emissary of peace for Sierra Leone, traditionally they have been mercenaries, having fought wars for the British Empire, the Sikh Empire and their own Dogra empires throughout history, right from ancient times.

They have exercised suzerainty over vast areas, from Multan (in present day Pakistan); to the north extended over trans-Himalayan regions of Raskam valley and the Taghdumbash Pamir on one side and over Xiadulla and Qara Qash valley in present day China. They also held sway over the Kailash Mansarovar, a place revered by the Hindus and the Buddhists alike.

Just like Sierra Leone, most of the Dogras have also lost touch with their glorious past and true identity. The purpose of this article is to instil a sense of honour and respect towards the sacrifices of our ancestors. Dogras are resurging under Kaliterics, a group of highly motivated, and united by divine inspiration, working towards cultural and social renaissance of the Dogras. The beautiful nation of Sierra Leone is also called upon to remember its heroes and is assured another helping hand, as and whenever the clarion calls.

Kaliterics remind us of various groups of Sierra Leone like Purroh and Zadεgi, who is said to rely purely on the revival of the traditional values of Sierra Leone but Kaliteric as a whole is somewhat different group having different module of action; only thing common in between them is protection of the traditional aspects of their respective land.

In the history of Sierra Leone, if the warrior like Bai Bureh and his non – compromising attitude is highly regarded then in annals of Durgaradesa, their respective chiefs and warriors too hold the special place. Every tribe of world should know it’s roots and forefathers; it’s my message to all the readers. If we are being connected to our roots then it will help us to exist with dignity for longer time. The tribe who know their base can’t be subjugated so easily because they are being lead by their ancestors and gods who protect them from every harsh flame of harder times.

(Author is a major contributor to the Kaliteric Order, a free-spirited researcher of Jammu Kashmir and it’s allied territories, a spiritual Guide, the Proponent of Himalayan Renaissance, the Dogra Consciousness Advocator, social Thinker and a scholarly mentor.)

Man Reported Missing in Poro Society Initiation Forest

January 10, 2023

By Mohamed Kargbo

One, Rafieu Bendu, is reported to have gone missing in the Poro society initiation forest at Yundu, a remote Village in Kargboro Chiefdom, Moyamba District, Southern province of Sierra Leone

Rafieu’s late father, Ansumana Bendu, was the village chief of Yundu Village and was also the head of the Poro secret society.

Youdu Village is notorious for its deep interest in secret societies. It’s a place where male residents are obliged to join the PORO society while the females are initiated in the BONDO society. Refusing to be initiated attracts consequences for the defaulter and his or her family members.

Speaking to the Calabash Newspaper, Ramatu Bendu, an elderly woman who identified herself as mother to the alleged missing man, said she last saw her son on December 19, 2022, when he visited the village, noting that she woke up one morning and realized that members of the poro society has adopted him and since then until now she never set eyes on her son.

“I later heard rumours that my son has escaped the initiation ceremony, and other rumours also say that my son had been killed during the initiation process. An hour later, I saw some members of the poro society visiting homes and knocking at doors searching for my son,” she said.

She highlighted that, her son arrived at the village at round 5:30 pm in November 2022 looking very sick and beat marks all over his body and when he enquired from him, he explained that, he was beaten because he was caught making love with his fellow man.

“I immediately call Hawa, a nurse at the our community health centre to administer treatment on him at home where he was until he was adopted by members of the poro society,” she explained in tears.

According to the old lady, her son who was living and working in Kenema in the Eastern part of the country, but he was sometimes called on by members of the cult to take his late father’s position as head a position his uncle who is now blind had acted for years.

“I was once approached by some elders of the village, who asked me to talk to my son to accept to replace his blind uncle as head of the cult. They told me that they had tried to convince him, but he had severely rejected their call.

I actually tried talking through my son to accept and follow the tradition that has existed in the family decades, but he told me that he was not interested.

Rahinatu Bendu, elder sister to Rafieu Bendu, also told this medium that she herself had previously travelled to Kenema to convince her younger brother to accept the call of the cult members but he declined.

She further narrated that they were told that her brother had escaped the initiation forest and they don’t know his whereabouts, noting that they don’t believe the story by the cult members.

She said they had reported the matter to the police, but until now, nothing has been done to investigate the whereabouts of her younger brother.

When contacted the spokesperson of the cult, Mohamed Issa Williams, told this medium that, Rafieu Bendu ran away from the initiation forest and they themselves don’t know his whereabouts, noting that he never wanted to be a member of the cult and that was why he ran without completing the initiation.

ACC Commissioner Promises to Chase Billions of Leones Contained in 2021 Auditor General’s Report

January 9, 2023

In an engagement by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on the 4^th January, 2023 at its St. George’s Cathedral Hall Building on 3 Gloucester Street in Freetown, media practitioners and civil society activists were briefed on issues related to the 2021 Auditor General’s Report which was released by the Audit Service Sierra Leone.

Deputy Commissioner of ACC, Augustine Foday Ngobie in his opening statement welcomed all participants and thanked them for the turnout even at a short notice, to the first Press Conference anchored by the Commission in 2023, bordering around the 2021 Auditor General’s Report. He stated that the ACC shall always continue to be accountable to the people of Sierra Leone in the conduct of the national campaign against corruption.

In his presentation on the 2021 Auditor General’s Report, the Commissioner of the ACC Francis Ben Kaifala Esq, registered his dissatisfaction with the constant failure of MDAs to adhere to the recommendations of the Auditors, as the same issues keep repeating themselves every year.

He furthered that the responsibility to act on corruption issues lies on all of us; from administrators who should play their part and them at the ACC and other law enforcement authorities who should at all times ensure persons are held accountable for their actions.

“We have to be serious with our destinies as a people. We must not allow ourselves to be held down by the same set of issues,” he stated. The ACC Boss continued by thanking the Auditor General’s Department for a professional job well done.

“What this audit report shows is what we have always been saying, an auditor should not be a gourd-hound, an auditor is supposed to provide professional opinion and guidance based on established principles,” he said.

He continued that, like other Auditor General’s Reports in the past, most of the issues captured are emanating from administrative lapses as people who should take responsibility to monitor, guide, direct and manage the processes have failed to show the required leadership, and that all Sierra Leoneans must embrace the fight against corruption willingly by taking deliberate and calculated actions.

Highlighting areas and issues of interest to the ACC that shall require its intervention or wherein it has already intervened, Ben Kaifala informed newsmen that a lot of the issues require a quick-fix approach which investigators are already working on.

“Those who have not accounted for resources entrusted to them must be prepared to do so now with us and do so convincingly. The convincing explanations they failed to provide to the Auditors, which they fully know they must do, they are now going to do so with us at the ACC and I assure the people of Sierra Leone that they will be held accountable; all of them,”, he emphatically said.

Highlighting the issues of concern to the ACC, contained in the 2021 Audit General’s Report as suspected misappropriation of state resources, Commissioner Ben Kaifala disclosed the following; that, an alleged estimated cash loss of $:3,523,588 (Three Million Five Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty-Eight United States Dollars), €183,949 (One Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty Nine Euros), and £ 752, 859 (Seven Hundred and Fifty-Two Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty-Nine Pounds was reported at some of the country’s Diplomatic Missions; an alleged estimated cash loss of _Le:5,610,439,736 (Five Billion Six Hundred and Ten Billion Four Hundred and Thirty-Nine Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty-Six Leones) was reported in 14 Local Councils; an alleged estimated cash loss of Le. 65,181,048,963 (Sixty Five Billion One Hundred and Eighty-One Million and Forty-Eight Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixty-Three Leones) plus $132,000 (One Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand United States Dollars) was reported in revenue-generating entities; an alleged estimated cash loss of Le.560,204,104,073 (Five Hundred and Sixty Billion Two Hundred and Four Million One Hundred and Four Thousand and Seventy-Three Leones) was reported as tax liabilities and a further alleged estimated cash loss of Le.116,238,191,455 (One Hundred and Sixteen Billion Two Hundred and Thirty-Eight Million One Hundred and Ninety-One Thousand Four Hundred and Fifty-Five Leones) plus $338,424 (Three Hundred and Thirty-Eight Four Hundred and Twenty-Four Leones) was reported under the general category.

Commenting on the repetitiveness of the concerns and allegations, the Commissioner also briefed his audience that according to the Report, foreign missions were again indicted by auditors, adding that, “…diplomatic missions have been running as if they are not part of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the policies regulating the operations of public institutions. They do not follow best finance processes and procedures”.

He assured the people of Sierra Leone that actions will be taken against all those who should account for mismanaged resources.

The event was climaxed by a plenary session where journalists were allowed to ask questions and seek clarifications to same.

Cowbell & Chill Point Plaza Host 1st Cowbell Kids Carnival

January 9, 2023

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Cowbell, which is one of the products that is marketed by Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd, a food distribution company that operates as an agent for Promasidor, a leading supplier of quality food products in more than 30 African countries, including Sierra Leone, has in celebrating Christmas Day partnered with Chill Point Plaza on Sunday 25th December, 2022 to host the 1st edition of Cowbell Kids Carnival which was held at the Chill Point Plaza on Gloucester Village in Freetown.

The Cowbell Kids Carnival, broadcast live on Facebook, featured young Sierra Leonean musicians from the Kids Super Star Sierra Leone Union, a group that creates platforms for kids with exceptional talents in any form of entertainment to be used as role models and Ambassadors within the society or communities where they reside.

Cowbell’s partnership with Chill Point Plaza in this year’s celebration of Christmas was to enable the company continue on its massive milk education and sampling by availing to actual and potential consumers of milk, the Cowbell nutritious package to enable children and their families enjoy good nutrition through the cowbell milk and strawberry that were sampled at the Cowbell Kids Carnival.

In addition, the company also donated cartons of assorted Cowbell products and souvenirs to Chill Point Plaza and Kids Super Star Sierra Leone musicians who performed during the event.

Children present, who also had the opportunity to participate in a question and answer session moderated by the company’s representative also won Sachets of cowbell milk for them to enjoy quality nutrition from cowbell.

Addressing the gathering, the Marketing and Events Representative of Premium Divine Trading Limited, Audrey Cole, said that as a responsible company, they thought it fit to collaborate with the Chill Point Plaza during this year’s celebration in order to promote young talents, emphasizing the importance of good nutrition with regards to milk for growth and vitality.

Cowbell milk , she said, is a rich source of protein, calcium and vitamins A, B9, C, D E and K otherwise referred to as Vitarich.
She revealed that Cowbell products come in 14g sachet, 20g sachet, 360g sachet and 400g tins for the milk.

Also, cowbell food drinks package sizes are 40gs for the Coffee, Strawberry, Coconut, Choco-Malt and Cowbell Mocha.

They are all produced in Ghana by Promasidor Ghana Limited for export sales to some West African countries including Sierra Leone.

Audrey Cole also used the opportunity to inform all that Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd also distributes and markets Onga, Miksi Chocolate and Coffee drinks, Kremela and Yumvita , the latter been an infant cereal with milk also containing wheat, rice and maize.

She revealed that they are the sole distributor of all the aforementioned products in the country.

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

Parent and Guardians who witnessed the event commended the partnership by the company saying it was a laudable move more as the business entity has committed to support the future generation of musicians and entertainers in Sierra Leone.

It must be noted that activities geared towards the support and growth of children are always considered noble and in this case, this year’s celebration of Christmas.