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MoPED Engages Stakeholders on ICPD & NPP

By Esther Wright

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Planning (MoPED), with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), on Saturday 10th December 2022 ended a day’s engagement with 49 participants drawn from Members of Parliament of the Sierra Leone Parliamentary Action Group on Population and Development (SLPAG-PD), the Ministries of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs respectively, staff of parliament and the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education on the status of the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the National Population Policy (NPP).

The event took place at De Wizard Conference Hall, 62 Damballa Road, Bo City, Southern Sierra Leone.

Among the recommendations, Members of Parliament appealed for support to promote the ICPD in their various communities, pointed out that there are lots of traditional and religious barriers to early child marriage, that Islam does not accept family planning except when the life of the mother is in danger, the role of the MoPED in coordinating NGOs and other development projects in communities and that they want UNFPA to track progress yearly on the ICPD and NPP.

According to the MPs, staff of MoDEP do not talk to politicians when they visit their communities, that they are concerned about the increase in the number of homeless people around the country, that in some cases there is duplication of development projects, that some development partners are hypocrites, that UNFPA should work with local partners, that the output/impact of some projects are at variance with the resources invested and that there is need to prioritize ethics in the nursing profession.

Questions were also asked about the status of the Child Marriage Bill/Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill in Parliament and that MoDEP should enrich future engagements with other stakeholders.

Giving an overview of the meeting, the Director of Policy, Planning and Research, MoPED, MDaniel Brima revealed that it was to discuss the status and implementation of the ICPD and appealed to participants to be attentive and make salient contributions.

Peter Koroma, Program Specialist, UNFPA recalled the ICPD held in Nairobi, Kenya in 1994 that was attended by 179 countries including Sierra Leone asserting that the conference endorsed the ICPD policy to among others prioritize human rights issues and poverty reduction and commended Government for reducing maternal deaths by 40% observing that they are also monitoring the progress made on the implementation of the ICPD.

According to Peter Koroma, UNFPA puts premium on reproductive health, that the engagement would help change people’s cultural and traditional practices and underscored that every pregnancy is wanted and that every child is saved.

He also disclosed that they have supported Government to train over 1,300 midwives in two years, that another ICPD would be held in 2024, that countries committed at the last ICPD in Nairobi, Kenya to among others attain universal primary education, reduce infant and child mortality by 2025, access reproductive health and prevent abortion, discourage Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as well as for Government to contribute 1% of its national budget to family planning.

According to  Peter Koroma, with support from UNFPA, Government has screened and treated 900 cervical cancer patients, that 800 girls have been integrated back into schools and underlined the need to accelerate all the targets, quality and care services, disclosed the need for a contingency plan to respond to emergencies, strengthen capacity and service delivery in addition to optimizing management of resources.

He went on to reveal that UNFPA provides 90% of family planning commodity services, that the ICPD conference also aimed at ending teenage pregnancy and early marriage, that UNFPA supports the one-stop center and the Police Family Support Unit, Statistics Sierra Leone, the National Civil Registration Authority and other data producers in addition to the development of the Data Protection Policy, promotes innovation and empowerment of valuable youths and women.

In his statement, the Director of Performance Management, MoPED, Dr. Robert Moikowa underlined that the main thrust of the NPP is to effectively manage the country’s population with the aim of reducing the dependency rate in the country and reiterated the need to improve on population planning and management intimating that the ICPD was for countries to prioritize three main areas with respect to population and development like zero unmet need for family planning by 2030, for government to allocate 1% of the health budget to family planning, reduce unmet need from 28% in 2019 -20%, training of midwives, nurse anaesthetics as well as provide an inclusive platform to achieve these and provide the political and financial direction.

Dr. Robert Moikowa further intimated that the engagement is key citing others with Traditional and Religious Leaders and other stakeholders, appealed for collaboration with MPs, commended UNFPA and other development partners and urged participants to disseminate the ICPD and NPP in their various communities.

Presentations were also made on the ICPD Commitments and Progress Report.

Highlights of the engagement were the question and answer session, discussions and commitment from the participants to support the process while the vote of thanks was rendered by Hon. Neneh Lebbie of Bo District representing the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) who commended UNFPA for good work.

The program was chaired by the Chairman of the SLPAG-PD, Hon. Festus Lahai of the SLPP representing Kenema District.

 

Freetown Terminal Joins Other Entities to Observe Anti-Corruption Day

A subsidiary of Bollore Group, the Freetown Terminal Limited (FTL), has observed this year’s Anti-Corruption Day on Friday 9th December 2022 at its Queen Elizabeth Port, Cline Town in Freetown.

It must be noted that the 2022 International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) seeks to highlight the crucial link between anti-corruption and peace, security, and development. At its core is the notion that tackling this crime is the right and responsibility of everyone, and that only through cooperation and the involvement of each and every person and institution can we overcome the negative impact of this crime.

Since 2003, the Bollore Group has been actively participating in the United Nations Global Compact, and it has committed itself to supporting its core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, environmental practices, and the fight against corruption and integrating all its principles in the strategy, culture and day to day operations of the company.

The local theme for this year’s celebration is “Deepening Inclusivity in the Fight against Corruption”.

FTL’s Compliance Officer, Olusola Sesay said the Bollore Group condemns all forms of corruption and influence peddling. “We do not offer anything of value directly or indirectly to anyone with the aim of illegitimately influencing decision making. “Paying a public official for carrying our routine administrative formalities constitutes an act of corruption,” she said and added that offering or accepting gifts remain a reasonable and selfless gesture. She commended all staff members of FTL for their vigilance and dedication to the fight against corruption. “I call on all staff members to renew our focus on governance as a driver of change and sustainable development,” Mrs. Sesay said.

Bollore Group’s Country Manager, Bertrand Kergeulen said everybody must come on board the fight against corruption because it affects every part of society. He revealed that the estimated global cost of corruption stands at about $2.7 trillion. “The fight against corruption must be done every day, for hour or minutes,” he advised his team.

Sylvanus Blake, Assistant Public Relations Officer of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), in his keynote address extended his Commission’s appreciation to FTL for taking the lead amongst private sector companies in fighting against corruption, noting that this is what many other service providers cannot do.

Corruption, he said, is one of the root causes of conflict, undermines the rule of law, worsens poverty, and creates insecurity. “Corruption is making businesses not possible and it is only a good private entity and a good governance system that can stop it,” he said and furthered that the valid role played by FTL in ending corruption is a step in the right direction.

“Bollore Group is a worthy leader in the fight against corruption,”  Blake remarked and continued by stating that corruption is a contagious pandemic that can affect all. “Corruption is a vicious circle. It makes you spend more than what you earn,” he said and called on FTL workers to give corruption a social distance that will enable them to negotiate well to put an end to it. “Corruption affects all of us but it has a devastating challenge on the physically challenged persons. I am calling on the informal sector to take the lead in ending corruption,” Blake remarked and revealed that corruption is Sierra Leone’s number one enemy for which all are responsible for it spread. “Let us stop looking at corruption from the size and quantum involved. Corruption is dishonest, regardless of where it happens, how it happened, and why it happened.

Some of the basic tools needed to manage corruption, he said include, education, sensitization, the environment, regulations, reporting, and punishment.

 

 

High Cost of Operations are Adversely Impinging Telecommunications Companies

High Cost of Operations are Adversely Impinging Telecommunications Companies

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The primary purpose for the establishment of businesses by individuals in various parts of the world is to maximize profits, though in actual terms, business owners cannot just determine the prices of certain goods and services as such are really determined according to the market forces of demand and supply.

Maximization of profits must not give private business entities the liberty to lord it over unassuming consumers which is why it is highly significant for Government to intervene from time to time to ensure that fairness and equity prevail.

It is very important to maintain at this juncture that the costs incurred in doing business also affect the prices of essential goods and services because simply put if much is expended, in terms of costs that are incurred in running a business, then definitely it is expected that the prices of the finished products or services will go up with the reverse also being true.

Globally, Governments depend on taxes to generate much-needed revenue to fund certain projects or development programmes and business entities are the main sources from which the Government derives revenue.

However, the imposition of taxes must be judiciously done otherwise if taxes are simply imposed just for the sake of generating funds when in actual fact they are really killing business enterprises then obviously at the end of the day the populace including the citizenry will have to bear the brunt.

When things become economically difficult for the vast majority the blame is squarely placed on the Government and in a true democratic setting it is left with the citizens to either maintain that Government in power through the ballot box or kick it out of power.

It is against such a backdrop that it seems that from the look of things telecommunications companies operating in this country have decided that the huge costs they are currently expending to operationalize their services, which subscribers could easily access in the country, must be reflected in the prices of data that are bought.

Fairly, it is right to say that telecommunications companies are finding themselves in a very tight corner as they are spending so much just to provide telecommunications services used by the vast majority.

To put it in the right context, it is clear that the country is going through an inflationary phase as is evident in the everyday escalation in the prices of basic goods and services. What at times seem incomprehensible is that even locally manufactured or produced goods and services are so costly which understandably could be linked to the costs that are incurred in bringing those goods and services to the market.

As the situation now stands, there seems to be no ending in the increase in Foreign Exchange rate against the Leones. The present day value of the UD Dollar is at Le. 18,000 (Old Leones) to $1.  This record an increase of 148% since the last GSM tariff adjustment was done in 2017 when the exchange rate was Le. 7,258 (Old Leones) to $1. Obviously, with these new increases, the telecommunications companies are forced to make adjustments in data prices just to ensure that they are not losing.

Telecommunications companies are also presently contending with an increase in fuel cost. Presently the queues have started resurfacing again at Filling Stations. It must be noted that Fuel price is at Le. 25,000 (Old Leones) against Le. 6,000 per litre 5 years ago when the telecommunications sector tariff was last reviewed. This records a colossal increase of 317% for a product that account for a major part of the total operations of telecommunications companies in this country.

As if to add salt to injury, the cost of the Electricity Tariff has also gone up.

Even electricity tariff which is a similar utility service and a cost driver for telecommunication services has witnessed a significant increase of 78% from Le. 1,890 (old Leones) to Le. 3,364 (New Leones) as at July, 2022.

Presently, the use of the internet has become very trending as many are using it for various purpose, other than, to conduct academic research. Since Zoodlabs took over the control of the internet from SALCAB the connectivity cost has increased. It is worthy of note that at the beginning of 2022, the cost of 1 Gbps data from Zoodlabs was Le 156 Million (Old Leones). Today, it is Le234 Million per Gbps recording 53% increase in the direct cost of internet.

There are companies that are using the Terrestrial Fiber for internet connections. As at present, the cost per Mbps that was $0.4 has also increased to $10 recording a 2,400% increase. Telecommunications companies have no alternative but to comply.

In the midst of all the costs that telecommunications companies are currently incurring, a recent move by these business entities, to increase data prices was stiffly resisted against by the Government only because the vast majority of subscribers were widely grumbling.

Among those that expressed dissatisfaction were not just mere phone users but others that sell telecommunications credits to subscribers. As the volume of the grumbling started becoming deafening the Government responded by insisting that the prices be reverted to their old state to which they were.

Though telecommunications companies are willing to continue with their operations, however, the constraints they are presently going through are really affecting their operations. For them the situation cannot continue this way as mechanisms must be put in place to ensure that these companies derive benefits in terms of profits for the services they are providing.

There is the need for telecommunications companies and the Government to reach a middle of the road agreement which could end up to be a win-win situation otherwise it will reach a point when an impasse will set in and the brunt of the effects of poor telecommunications companies will be badly felt by the vast majority of subscribers and credit dealers.

Already, some are expressing fear that the telecommunications companies will reduce the rate of implementation of projects as part of their Social Corporate Responsibility if the situation remains the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rice Harvesting in Torma Bum Dispels Rumours about the Rice Project

Rice Harvesting in Torma Bum Dispels Rumours about the Rice Project

By Tamba Tengbeh

Farmers in Torma have joined the Regional Rice Value Chain Project in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to continue with on-going harvest of various rice fields cultivated in Torma Bum, Bum Chiefdom, Bonthe district through two agribusiness companies the project is partnering with, Commercial Agro and Global Hub. Such is done in a bid to increase on rice production in the country,

The Project Coordinator of the Regional Rice Value Chain Project in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Abdulai Bun Wia, reiterated that the essence of the meeting and symbolic harvesting was to bring journalists from both the electronic and print media to Torma Bum to showcase what the project has done so far, and to dispel rumours about the project on social media.

The Project Coordinator of the Regional Rice Value Chain Project, Abdulai Bun Wia informed his gathering that the rice value chain implementation model has been divided into five segments the seed\fertilizers\agro chemicals, paddy production, rice mill, marketing and access to finance since each segment depends on the other for the successful implementation of the rice value chain including participation of the active players and the farmers. He added that the project would irrigate 4000 hectares of farmland in Torma Bum to increase the cropping period and eventually enable vegetable production.

Mr. Bun Wai disclosed that,3000 hectares of rice fields have been cultivated in Torma Bum for this year’s cropping season, and the reason for the symbolic harvesting was for people to understand that the project management unit is working tirelessly to produce rice, albeit the challenges, noting that the project has registered over 4000 farmers both in Torma Bum and Kambia district in order to enhance a successful implementation of the project.

“We are bringing four integrated mill machines that would help to polish the harvested rice on to bagging. This will create jobs for the young people and training would be given to them through the agribusiness companies,” he explained.

The Paramount Chief of Bum Chiefdom, Bonthe District, PC Kaipumu expressed satisfaction for the tireless efforts the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is making through the Regional Rice Value Chain Project to boost agriculture in the chiefdom again,a place that use to feed the nation in the 60s, noting that it would take time for the place to realized it full potentials.

“The Project Management Unit is already working hard to meet the project objectives, it would be wise for the government to engage BADEA for their own part of the funding to release to the project in order to increase rice production in the chiefdom, “PC Kaipumu noted.

Mariatu Tucker one of the farmers of the project expressed hope for the kind of support they are getting from the project, and called on the government to give more support to the ministry of agriculture, as a way to increase on rice production and better the lives of more farmers.

The two agri-business companies reiterated their full commitment to the successful implementation of the project, and called on the farmers to embrace the project since what the project it doing is to improve on the livelihoods of the smallholder farmers.

The Paramount Chief of Bum Chiefdom, Bonthe District, PC Kaipumu and the Project Coordinator of RRVCP, Abdulai Bun Wai and Technical staff of RRVCP including other stakeholders graced the symbolic launching of the harvesting at Makita one of the rice fields in Torma Bum.

Africa produced around 24 million metric tons of rice in the trade year 2020/2021. The production might slightly decrease to some 23 million metric tons in 2021/2022, according to the source’s forecasts. Most of the rice production in the continent was done in countries below the Sahara.

 

SLAJ President Dilates on Recent Gains & Challenges

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

During the Presidential Media Cocktail 2022 which was held on Wednesday 7th December, 2022 at the Country Lodge on Hill Station in Freetown, bringing together media practitioners in the country and the President with his officials on the other side, the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, in his statement thanked the President for hosting media owners and practitioners.

He proudly told the President that on Monday he officially launched the State of the Media Report 2018-2021 put together by the Media Reform Coordinating Group (MRCG) adding that delivering the first remark as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the MRCG during the launch, Dr. Victor Massaquoi, who is also the Chairman of the Independent Media Commission (IMC), said without mincing his words that: ‘the State of the Media in Sierra Leone has drastically improved between 2018 and 2021’maintaining that himself and the MRCG National Coordinator, Dr. Francis Sowa, also expressed a similar claim.

The SLAJ President furthered that but at the end of the launching, one of the country’s exemplary journalists working for Mano Reporters, Kemo Cham, asked the question: “What has actually changed for the media in Sierra Leone? What specific areas can you point to?”

He said in response to Cham, Victor and Sowa mentioned media pluralism- the fact that the country has registered more newspapers, radio stations and other media during the period; a general improvement in content, and an increase in the number of professionals coming into the media- now the media can boast of professionals with PhDs, Masters, first degrees, diplomas and some level of academic qualification; and now some of these professionals are contributing to the body of knowledge on the media ecosystem in the country.

According to him, the most fundamental change that has happened in the media is FREEDOM, the freedom that allows journalists to publish front page headlines such as “Adebayor Is Popular Than President Bio”  in the build-up to the infamous August 10 protests, and “President Bio Displeases God To Please Satan”.

He also highlighted some other achievements in the media: the annual Government subvention, which was increased in 2021, and Freedom of information which the recent MCC scorecard puts at 98%,  made the biggest leaps in the World Press Freedom Index two years in row (in 2020 and 2021) since the repeal of the criminal libel law.

Nasralla also o mentioned the Safety and Security of journalists disclosing how they have developed a national framework and a policy on the safety of journalists in Sierra Leone adding that they have established a National Coordination Committee on the safety and security of journalists in Sierra Leone.

The SLAJ President revealed that a project proposal has been submitted which, when approved, will see Sierra Leone benefit from an initial 100 thousand United States Dollars from the international fund.

He said 50 percent of that will go towards setting up of the structures, which they have already started putting in place, and the other half will be a grant to NFPIM maintaining that they expect Government to soon announce its counterpart allocation to the basket fund as one of its commitments during the conference.

“This will be the first time in the history of the media in Sierra Leone that a locally-owned-and-managed Fund will be giving out small grants to media houses, or groups of journalists, that are committed to doing public interest media- embarking on in-depth and investigative reporting on governance issues of accountability, transparency, and service delivery at the local and national level,” he said.

He said he thinks it should be noted that they are achieving these remarkable results because there is a political will to ensure the media makes progress.

“We are achieving these results also because of our approach: collaboration, engagement and consultation. The first thing I made clear when I came in as President of SLAJ is that Government has a fundamental responsibility to ensure the independence and growth of the media as a bedrock of our democracy and governance; hence we have to collaborate with the government at the level of the Ministry of Information and Communications where we have a fantastic minister and a dedicated and committed team of professionals,” he maintained.

Highlighting challenges, he stated in spite of all those efforts they are making there are very serious concerns and challenges.

He said less than a month the country will be into an Elections year, and the unfortunate incidents of August 10th are clear indications that the media (traditional and social) will be the battlefield for the elections.

According to him,  Government should invest in communication infrastructure adding that  it doesn’t matter what accomplishments one have made if one don’t take it to the public or communicate it to the public in a way they understand, it means nothing adding that there should be some level of independence in the transmission of Government information.

He said the MIC and its sub-agencies (IMC, RAIC, SLBC, etc.) should be well-resourced to be able to perform efficiently and effectively.

That information is very powerful, so Government should treat communication with all seriousness.

He said SLAJ, and a lot of people, have some concerns around the cyber security bill  and what that will mean for free expression and media freedom during the elections.

“We vehemently condemn, in advance, any use of that law by the security and justice sectors to clamp down on critical and dissenting views or political opponents in the guise of an allegation of ‘incitement,” he pointed out.

He also mentioned how the media is struggling saying that is very serious underscoring how the media has been hit by real hard times, and it is excruciatingly difficult.

“Ironically you will not see this on the front pages of our newspapers or hear it on radio and TV. Instead, what you will see is us fighting the course of the MNOs: Hard Times Hit MNOs! That is because we are so selfless that we put the interests of other people above our own interest. We care so much about the many Sierra Leoneans that will lose their jobs if the MNOs scale down their operations and so we didn’t even bother to fact-check or cross-check some of the claims they were making. We just ran with their narrative.

“But sincerely, we also care about the fact that the media is on life support and the MNOs and Mercury International are our only physicians for now,” he maintained.

He said the truth is some form of help must come from the Government and if that is not forthcoming, a good many of the newspapers will close down.

He said we all know that our country is polarized along tribe and region lines rather than on ideologies recommending that they need to fix that.

The SLAJ President said when you have a SLPP Party that draws 90 to 95% of its supporters from the South and the South East regions you expect that when they are in power it’s people from those regions who will enjoy that power.

“And when you have an APC Party that draws 90 to 95% of its supporters from the North and North West then you expect that when they come to power, they come with the North and North West,” he stated adding that it is a recipe for tribalism and regionalism as it promotes exclusion and marginalization.

“You see that there is something fundamentally wrong with our political system,” he said adding that the reforms should start at the political party level.

He maintained that the time is now to start honest, frank, sincere and patriotic conversations for a new political system that will address those deficiencies in the body politic.

He said if anybody tells you we don’t have tribalism because we have inter-marriages for example, he begs to differ.

“We are getting there in high speed; the mindset is building among young politicians; it is being induced; I can see it, I can sense it, I can feel it; and it will be the biggest mistake we will make as a nation,” he sounded the alarm.

He ended up wishing the President and his beautiful wife, the Vice President and members of Government, colleagues and guests present, the opposition parties, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2023 in advance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tax for Development Conference Organized by BAN/ICTD   Ends in Freetown 

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The International Center for Tax and Development (ICTD) in the collaboration with the National Revenue Authority and the Budget Advocacy Network (BAN) has on the 8th December, 2022 ended a first of a two day Sierra Leone Tax for Development Conference  at the Radisson Blu Conference Room which commenced on the 7th December, 2022.

Bringing together international partners, the conference recorded or had eight sessions on different topics of relevance to taxation and development in Sierra Leone such as domestic revenue mobilization, taxing the informal sector and tobacco taxation among others and brought together policy actors, the media and civil society activists.

The conference also provided the platform through which participants shared and increased the impact and usefulness of a research conducted by a body of researchers in the country who have explored the impacts of taxation and tax reforms on citizens, equity and service provision.

Chairman of the occasion, Abubakarr Kamara, Executive Director, Network Movement for Justice and Development and Executive Chair of BAN said for the next two days the conference will look at taxation expressing  hope that the sessions will inform the discourse and at the end of the day all will understand whether taxation is the best option for revenue.

Commissioner General of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), Dr. Samuel S. Jibao, said he is delighted to be part of the first International Conference on taxation held in Sierra Leone.

He furthered how incidentally there have been a growing number of research efforts on Sierra Leone’s tax system by both local and international researchers and that the conference will explore the usefulness of some of these researches in the context of informing tax and other policy formulations in Sierra Leone.

Dr. Samuel S Jibao said he is delighted that BAN collaborated with the International Center for Tax and Development (ICTD) to host the very first International Conference on Taxation in Sierra Leone especially at a time when the NRA has made great gains in revenue mobilization in the midst of multiple shocks as a result of COVID-19 and the Russian/ Ukraine war.

He disclosed how revenue to GDP has grown from 12.3% in 2007 to 15.7% in 2021 with four percentage points in four years. He said the implementation of reforms has had positive effects on revenue mobilization with the latest reforms of the Non Tax Revenue Department. He said conferences like this will help inform policy directions in formulating future tax laws.

The Commissioner-General maintained that  the NRA’s relationship with ICDT dated back in 2019 and that he is pleased to be part of the conference because the documents been presented are researched materials.

“Revenue mobilization is critical and that most people now believe that the best way to run a nation is through domestic revenue mobilization. With the shocks and donor funding dropping, domestic revenue is the only thing that is helping,” he said.

Dr. Jibao noted that the Government continues to reduce tax rates while widening the tax base.

He said though Government continues to reduce tax rates, however, the NRA will still continue to collect taxes while hitting its target.

Dr. Jibao noted that a number of research papers will be presented that will generate a number of discussions.

“The Ukraine Russia War has affected revenue generation and as of September this year we should have collected 5.3 trillion but we were only able to collect 5.1 a drop of three hundred million. For the past years we have embarked on series of reforms and if we want to be efficient, we cannot continue to collect taxes manually,’ he said.

This is the more reason Dr. Jibao said they have introduced the integrated tax administration System or ITAS.

“With the ITAS, big businesses are now paying more except for businesses ratified by Parliament that we do not have control over,” he intimated.

Speaking on how important is the conference for tax administration, Dr Samuel Jibao said tax research is very critical and whatever they do must be informed by research which according to him is why they organized such a conference.

He said NRA and its partners have been implementing tax policies and laws to improve tax administration in the country.

He said they are doing all of these things because they believe that tax administration should be made simpler noting that the cost of complying with tax laws should not be expensive.

Abubakarr Kamara, Executive Director, Network Movement for Justice and Development and Executive Chair of BAN, speaking earlier, said the conference will seek to see how policy formulation can be influenced by a well evidence based research so that decisions will be taken on available data in order to be able to see an increase in revenue in terms of fairness and equity.

Abubakarr Kamara disclosed that they brought recent studies on taxation nationally and locally for revenue generation, adding that they want to see how such studies will help policy formulation.

He continued that at the end of the conference they want to see how the researches will be used by Government and other stakeholders to influence policies, revenue administration, review laws and revenue strategies in supporting Government’s drive towards a fair, transparent and equitable revenue mobilization.

On his part, the Director of Research and Delivery at the Ministry of Finance, Dr. Yakama Manti Jones said even though sixty percent of the Government’s expenditure on development plans is from tax revenue they collect, because of the impacts of COVID-19 and Ukraine war on the people of Sierra Leone the Government has waived off taxes on essential commodities such as rice.

Dr. Yakama Manti Jones furthered that resources generated from tax collection enable the Government to invest in education and health, infrastructure as well as adaptation measures in response to climate change risks and expand social safety nets to protect the most vulnerable citizens among other things.

Giving the keynote address and declaring the conference open, Dr. Yakama Manty Jones said, “our country like the rest of the world has been experiencing multiple crises brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and the intensifying threats from climate change”.

She affirmed that these crises have created uncertainty, disrupted supply chains and exacerbated shortages of essential commodities, causing sharp increases in the prices of food, fuel and fertilizer.

She said the IMF has projected that global growth will slow from 6 percent in 2021 to 2.7 percent in 2023 while noting inflation continues to rise.

“These developments have caused real hardship for Sierra Leoneans, affecting their livelihoods and food security. The poor and vulnerable who make up the majority of our society, have been disproportionately impacted, and must be protected. That is why the theme for our proposed budget for 2023 is ‘Addressing the Needs of the Vulnerable in the Context of Multiple Crises’,” she said.

Dr. Manty-Jones noted that they at the Ministry know that mobilizing tax revenue is critical in helping the situation although Government still benefits from aids.

She said over 60 percent of Sierra Leone’s total revenue comes from taxes and the resources will enable the country to invest in education, health, build roads, and infrastructure to improve the supply of clean water and energy, support local food production, pursue adaptation measures in response to climate change risks and expand social safety nets to protect most vulnerable.

“We have already implemented fiscal measures to mitigate the impacts of the economic situation. We have maintained the zero-import duty and goods and services tax on imported rice, deferred taxes on the importation of essential commodities and cut taxes in half on essential commodities such as cement and iron rods,” she stated.

Abubakarr Kamara noted that Government continues to forgo a lot of taxes in the mining sector; a situation he said is not good for the country.

The Executive Director of Actionaid Sierra Leone, Foday Bassie Swaray said taxation is something his organization continues to talk about over the years while they continue to put forward information on the subject matter.

Bassie Swaray noted that tax justice should be a social concern adding  that they believe in taxation but it should be progressive and distributed equitably.

“Taxation  therefore should be at the center of development and we have a strong interest in progressive taxation as we want to see a situation that those who earn more pay more and these monies are used to provide health care services for the poor, water supply and other essential commodities,” he said.

Bassie Swaray said, over the years, together with the Budget Advocacy Network they have made several recommendations to Government regarding taxation.

“We hope this conversation will not stop here as we debate and engage the Government,” the Actionaid Executive Director said.

Presentations and a roundtable among panelists formed the highpoint of the conference

 

 

 

 

 

Eminence Africa Entertainment Set to Kick Start first African-Caribbean Festival

By Millicent Senava Mannah

Raymond Alie, the Director of Eminence Africa Entertainment has on the 8th December 2022 revealed at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs that the organization is indeed very pleased to be in Sierra Leone to organize the first African-Caribbean Festival in the country from the 28th December 2022 to the 2nd January 2023 at the Radisson Blu Hotel and Lumley Beach respectively and assured that the festival is expected to be the biggest event in Africa.

According to the Director, their ultimate goal is to increase tourism, create employment and economic impact for the private sector, showcase the country, organize lantern parades, promote local musicians like Ebenezer Calendar, local artists, drummers, ‘bubu’ dancers and the country’s culture as well as display Caribbean culture and instruments.

He enlightened that the event is an opportunity to showcase Sierra Leone to the outside world and appealed to the public to be part of the festival that would be exciting and fantastic, is optimistic that the event would be organized annually to among others foster greater economic trade between Africa and the Caribbean, to create investment opportunities in addition to exploring freedom and get a taste of the country’s culture and freedom.

Raymond Alie continued to inform that Eminence Africa Entertainment has subsidiaries and that part of its mandate is to enhance growth and development in the entertainment sector.

Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt articulated that this is God’s time for tourism to thrive in Sierra Leone as it has not been at its best over the years, observed that a country’s DNA is in its culture, that without tourism there would be no cultural heritage reiterating that the day is historic as the festival would be the first in West Africa.

She also asserted that Africa is full of many opportunities, is not divorced from African-Americans and Africans in other parts of the world and recalled that 109 African Americans who traced their roots to the country were recently awarded Sierra Leonean passports.

Dr. Memunatu Pratt further informed that the African Union has declared the Diaspora African Region and the Year of Return due to the high remittances, that Africans in the diaspora are exploring their roots to the continent through DNA and recalled that Sierra Leone in the 1808s was the hob for free slaves and a melting pot underscoring that the country is a very important component in all of these.

She continued that creative identity is a very important tool to promote culture, emphasized the need to review the country’s cultural institutions like the lantern, suggested the organizing of a food festival during the same period to enrich the festival and that she has informed the President and Parliament about the program.

The Minister went on to appeal to the public to make the festival one of the best in the country citing as examples the Bamako/Budapest Rally and others that were success stories and called for the cleaning of the Lumley Beach.

The program was chaired by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Mr. Kwame Yankson.

Highlights of the press conference were the video show, the question and answer session and the vote of thanks by Kai Saquee, Public Relations Officer, National Tourist Board.

 

 

 

 

 

NP- SL Widely Recognized for Marketing High-Grade Petroleum Products

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

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

NP-Sierra Leone Limited has been rated as a business entity that is first in terms of customer care. Dealing in various petroleum products, the company has been widely acclaimed for the cordial, smart, and efficient manner in which it is treating its numerous customers in different parts of the country.

The company has become very endearing simply because their dedicated staff are trained to respond to the needs of customers. Giving satisfaction to customers forms a cardinal objective of NP and from what was learned it has been maximizing that very well.

Investigations mounted revealed that one of the secrets behind the success of NP-SL is the fact that the entity has been blessed with dedicated shareholders and successive capable Management teams that have been injecting fine initiatives that are yielding fruitful dividends.

The selflessness and commitment of the shareholders have made it possible for the company to empower many Sierra Leoneans and at the same time put it at a vantage position to continue to open more filling stations across the country.
NP has cordially maintained a good business relationship with its numerous customers’ right across the sub-region where it exists and most have confessed that they are realizing optimum satisfaction in dealing with NP.

The company deals with individuals and various sectors of society, always ensuring that its various petroleum products are available and are sold at affordable prices. This keen symbiotic relationship with its customers has been paying huge dividends, always resulting in a win-win situation, making NP very endearing to all and sundry.

NP-Sierra Leone is also known for offering Sierra Leoneans affordable NP Gas cookers of various sizes, which are safe and very user friendly . NP Gas cookers could be purchased at all their filling stations across the country and the very gas is also sold to replenish those that have been used.
When we talk of the steady and effective implementation of the Local Content Policy, NP stands out tall as it is truly has 100% indigenes, particularly in Sierra Leone, as workers. This is one of the factors that have made the company to become a success story.

“I always carry my NP Smart Card with me just in case my car’s fuel gauge will show red and I may not exactly have the required amount of money to refill or even if I have it such could have been put aside for another purpose. With my card, I can just breeze into any NP Filling Station and by using my card the attendant will pump the quantity of petrol I need,” Felix Sesay, an engineer intimated adding how the card’s security features are unique and could not be easily falsified.

“When I first heard of ‘Your fuel on Smart Card’ I thought it was a joke but only realized its efficacy when I started making use of it,” he furthered saying he is really finding it very convenient in doing so and as such prevent him from withdrawing big cash from his bank account for purchasing fuel adding how it as well helps in also saving him time.

Holders of NP Smart Cards only need to be regularly crediting their cards in other words topping it up with the money. As long as they contain credits the holders are at liberty to use them at Filling Stations to get the amount of fuel required without exchanging cash with the pump attendants.

NP-Ltd is doing exceptionally well in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia where it is functioning and indeed there are prospects for further expansion.

The company gives preferential treatment to indigenes in terms of employment in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, and The Gambia not to talk of here Sierra Leone where NP has a presence and operates vibrantly.

Besides, the company is one of the largest taxpayers to the Government and meaningfully rolled out its Corporate Social Responsibility.

It can therefore be justifiably asserted that NP-SL Limited is the country’s reliable fuel provider as it always ensures that its stockpile is always at an appreciable level.

 

 

 

Gento Was a Businessman, Not a Favoured Personality

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The man of the moment, the engineer of roads, promoter of football sporting competitions and the compassionate helper, all laced as “the grassroots dem paddy”, Mohamed Gento Kamara, is still living his dream alive of the emerging as the next Mayor of the Municipality of Freetown in the wake of the 2023 Presidential, Parliamentary and Municipal Elections after contesting under the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).

As elections are expected to be very competitive, there are other individuals who have shown keen interest in also vying for the same position. What this portends is that there are bound to be criticisms from various angles but it must be noted that they must be constructive, tenable and speak to the truth.

One of the criticisms that left most in the newsroom and even those outside found very absurd and very untenable is that it was erstwhile President Ernest Bai Koroma who favoured Gento by awarding him road contracts thereby making him rich but has now turned his back against him and the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) Party to contest as Mayor under the banner or aegis of the SLPP. To them, that is ingratitude to the highest degree.

Though that may sound plausible, however, it is hollow and untenable as it is full of sound and fury signifying nothing. It must be hammered at this juncture that Mohamed Gento Kamara is a specialized road contractor who is on record for reconstructing the Hill Cut Road to international standards apart from the previous impressive works he has completed.

It must be noted that State funds meant for developmental programmes are not just distributed according to the whims and caprices of the then President but rather are allocated to certain Ministries, Departments and Agencies by the Ministry of Finance, after Parliamentary approval for the rolling out of various development programmes.

Road construction and rehabilitation are most times put up for bidding, whether it is National or International bidding, for which various interested entities bid with only one emerging as the winner.

Gento Group had bid and won certain road projects because he had all what it takes to undertake the works. With the technical skills, networking, standard equipment and available human resources at his disposal fantastic completed state of the art roads have been rolled out. The funds utilized were public funds and not presidential or party funds and so it is unjustifiable for some to say that it was the APC that gave him money simply because he won contracts during the tenure of Ernest Bai Koroma as President of the nation.

Mohamed Gento Kamara is currently craving and yearning to secure the symbol of the SLPP to qualify him to contest for the Mayoral position. He is poised to change the face of Freetown and ensure that it regains its past glory. Besides, he is determined to redirect the energies of many young people into productive enterprises by creating opportunities for them to add value to their lives and avert the loathsome outburst of the August 10 violent protest that erupted in the Metropolis leading to fatalities.

Gento wants to come from behind the scenes to the open in order to crystallize his development initiatives into more tangible realities that could positively impinge the lives of the vast majority.

No amount of negative criticism will dampen his zeal to occupy the Mayoral Seat and serve the residents of Freetown judiciously by ensuring that the city gets what befits it.

For now, let it be known that it was through hard work that Gento first came to the limelight and through his kindly gestures these young people, who is working towards bringing all the tribes in Freetown together.

As the situation now stands let all know that this time is Gento’s time. He needs our support as he deserves it.

 

 

 

 

 

Xi in Riyadh for China-Arab Summit, China-GCC Summit and  State Visit

Xi in Riyadh for China-Arab Summit, China-GCC Summit and  State Visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

He will attend the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Riyadh and pay a state visit to Saudi Arabia from December 7 to 10 at the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.

Xi delivered a written speech extending sincere greetings and good wishes to the government and people of Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Chinese government and people.

He said China and Saudi Arabia have stepped up strategic mutual trust and produced fruitful outcomes in practical cooperation since establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Xi said he will have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties and international and regional issues of common concern during his visit with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The president said he is looking forward to attending the first China-Arab States Summit and the China-GCC Summit, working with the leaders of the Arab countries and GCC countries and taking China-Arab and China-GCC relations to a new level.

Xi’s plane was escorted by four fighter jets from the Royal Saudi Air Force after it entered Saudi Arabia’s airspace, and by six Saudi Hawk jets from the royal aerobatic team after it entered Riyadh’s airspace.

He received a grand and warm welcome when the plane arrived at the King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. A 21-gun salute heralded the arrival. The Saudi Hawks painted the sky in red and yellow, the colors of China’s national flag.

Honor guards flanked the purple carpet. Chinese and Saudi national flags fluttered in the wind. The Chinese president was warmly greeted by Governor of Riyadh Province Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who works on China affairs, and other key members of the royal family and senior government officials.

 

 

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