DEFORESTATION POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO GUMA VALLEY & LIVELIHOODS IN SALONE

December 5, 2022

Report by; Farid Kefel, for the Calabash Newspaper

Sierra Leone remains prone to serious environmental hazards such as drought, flooding, coastal erosion, and landslides, each of which is exacerbated by ongoing climate change. Climate projections in Sierra Leone include increases in temperature, more extreme weather, including more intense precipitation, and rising sea levels.

The likelihood of more severe droughts, floods, and storms threatens agriculture, fisheries, as well as infrastructure, and hydroelectric power production. Urban and rural seasonal flooding, recurrent flash flooding, and coastal flooding are the most frequently observed disasters. In the recent past, disasters have mostly happened in Kroo Bay, Susan’s Bay, and Lumley in the Western Urban district. Port Loko, Kambia, Western Rural, Pujehun, Bo, Kenema, and Moyamba districts and the coastal beaches of the Western Area Peninsula are also vulnerable. There are also transboundary risks of overflows at the Great and Little Scarcies rivers from Guinea and Mano from Liberia (World Bank 2017). Floods overwhelm existing systems, contaminate drinking water, create sewage overflows, and damage roads.

Deforestation of the Western Area Peninsular Forest Reserve (WAP FOR) poses a serious threat to Freetown as it is the catchment area for the Guma Valley reservoir, which supplies 90 percent of Freetown’s drinking water. In March 2022, WFP satellite images proved the loss of over 4,000 ha of trees. Despite a legal framework being in place to protect the reserve, unregulated human activity has contributed to WAPFOR’s decimation. Freetown’s equatorial climate barely varies throughout the year. Even within 24 hours, most days are hot and the nights are warm and most residents have no air-conditioning. This means that the working residents of the Sierra Leonean capital are continuously exposed to high temperatures, according to the Arsht Rock study. Without corrective measures, by 2050, economic losses will rise to the equivalent of USD 150 million. Deforestation due to rural-urban migration exacerbates overheating. What makes Freetown’s economy vulnerable is its overreliance on labor-intensive production. While active cooling, such as air-conditioning, can produce additional greenhouse gas emissions, it also provides strong protection from heat. As most workers survive on low incomes, this lost value has a disproportionate impact on individuals’ well-being and ability to escape hunger.

According to Global Forest Watch, within the last 4 weeks in Sierra Leone, 12,696 deforestation alerts were detected, which affected an area of approximately 155ha. The top 2 regions accounted for 84% of integrated deforestation alerts. In Sierra Leone, the top 2 regions were responsible for 73% of all tree cover loss between 2001 and 2021. Southern had the most tree cover loss at 688kha compared to an average of 455kha. From 2001 to 2021, Sierra Leone lost 1.82Mha of relative tree cover, equivalent to a 32% decrease since 2000 and 0.42% of the global total. According to the FAO, the rate of reforestation in Sierra Leone was 343ha per year in 2010. In Sierra Leone between 2000 and 2020, 100% of tree cover gain occurred outside of plantations. From 2002 to 2021, Sierra Leone lost 32.7kha of humid primary forest, making up 1.8% of its total tree cover loss in the same period. The total area of humid primary forest in Sierra Leone decreased by 12% in this period.

Sierra Leone is endowed with 690,000 hectares of inland valley swamps (IVS) that, managed effectively, can provide agricultural yields for food self-sufficiency in the country. Through its food-assistance-for-assets program and other incentives, WFP collaborates with the Ministry of Agriculture to draw small-scale farmers away from the uplands, where deforestation is rampant and yields are low, to the IVS. With year-round water availability and fertile soils that do not require fallow periods, irrigated IVS provides a high-potential food production system that can be continuously cultivated with rice and nutritious vegetables, legumes, and tubers. Given the increasing rainfall variations and deforestation, irrigated IVS provides a more resilient food production system to both adapt to and militate against the effects of the climate crisis. WFP and the Ministry assist 140 groups comprised of over 7,500 farmers across seven districts to cultivate the IVS. A large percentage of the farmers are women and youth, whom the Ministry trains in integrated farming techniques for higher yields (average of 2.4 metric tons/hectare). WFP also provides good seeds and fertilizers.

Evidence is clear that climate change is changing weather patterns, and increasing the frequencies and intensities of extreme weather events. Unfortunately, those in the poorest communities are disproportionately affected. On August 14, 2017, a devastating landslide and flooding disaster ripped through Sierra Leone’s capital city, Freetown. This caused millions of dollars of destruction and damage to buildings, infrastructure, and a reported loss of more than a thousand lives. In response, the government of Sierra Leone requested financial and disaster risk management support from the World Bank should such an event reoccur. Before the landslide, Freetown experienced three successive days of intense and heavy rainfall which caused part of Sugar Loaf mountain – the highest peak in the North Western Area Peninsula – to collapse, and with bodies being washed up on the beaches, and bridges connecting communities and water distributions networks destroyed, response efforts spanning several sectors required millions of dollars to address the direct losses from the disaster. However, this still left the citizens of Freetown extremely exposed and vulnerable to future disasters. A key consideration in post-disaster planning is to ensure that build-back better principles are well considered and integrated so that nobody is left behind during the reconstruction efforts. And engineers, architects, and designers are fundamental in ensuring that appropriate design measures are fully integrated and calculated using accurate data sets. After the landslide, the World Bank, Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), and the European Union commissioned analytical studies of the landslide and geology of surrounding areas. While there was no single cause for the landslide, there were many contributing factors.

A common threat to Freetown is the rapid rate of urbanization, coupled with the increased rate of deforestation. The area where the landslide occurred was within a protected forestry reserve. However, over time, the development of large houses occurred some illegally (without permits) and some with permits (legally). And because of these two factors – housing development and deforestation – soil integrity was weakened and the ability to absorb rain during high rainfall increased the risk of disaster. Presented with the analysis of the landslide disaster, the president of Sierra Leone Dr. Julius Maada Bio declared that the landslide area is to be re-designated as a protected forest area – a memorial park for those that lost their lives during the disaster. The first locally sourced saplings were planted to mark World Environment Day with a total of 30,000 trees making up the memorial park in the hopes that this symbolic memorial park would deter settlements from being built. Over the past decades, Sierra Leone has experienced multiple man-made and natural disasters. In the past ten years alone, the country has suffered significant outbreaks of preventable diseases including cholera and measles, as well as a regional epidemic of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), which lasted two years and infected more than 8,000 people in the country, killing an estimated 3,500. According to the World Health Organization, that number includes more than 150 health workers who lost their lives – representing a serious blow to the country’s healthcare system, which continues to struggle to meet the needs of the nation.

In 2017, torrential rains led to a mudslide on the outskirts of the capital city, Freetown, which killed more than 500 people and displaced 3,000 more. While the mudslide was directly triggered by heavy downpours – a common occurrence during the country’s annual six-month-long rainy season – the tragic event was also largely contributed to by rapid urbanization, illegal and haphazard housing development, and deforestation. Particularly in the country’s urban centers, each of these issues is becoming increasingly common and poses considerable threats to inhabitants in years to come. Similarly, in 2019, multiple flooding incidents occurred in six districts across Sierra Leone, which damaged homes and temporarily displaced several thousand households, contaminated water sources, and inundated rice paddies in Sierra Leone’s ‘rice belt’ region – carrying significant longer-term implications for food security. Nationwide, high poverty levels, ongoing food insecurity issues, and shocks from previous emergencies leave many children and their families especially vulnerable to future disasters and disease outbreaks.

Sierra Leone is endowed with abundant water resources, including seven major rivers: the Kolenté (Great Scarcies), Kaba, Rokel, Pampanga (Jong), Sewa, Moa, and Mano. There are substantial groundwater resources. However, water is scarce during the dry season: only 11-17 percent of the annual river discharge occurs between December and April, with minimum discharge in April. The main source of piped water for Greater Freetown, an urban agglomeration of about two million, is the Guma dam located in the Western Area Forest Reserve. It supplies 83 million liters a day entering the city from the West where the more affluent areas are located. A new dam, the Orugu dam, would provide an additional 75 million liters per day in its initial phase, entering the city from the East where the poorest areas are located. According to a study by the consulting firm Atkins and Oxfam the dam “is the answer to the water supply crisis in Freetown”. In 2009 the Chinese government announced it would provide a US$28.8 million concessional loan to build the dam. In Sierra Leone, according to a national survey (Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey) carried out in 2006, 84% of the urban population and 32% of the rural population had access to an improved water source. Those with access to rural areas were served almost exclusively by protected wells. The 68% of the rural population without access to an improved water source relied on surface water (50%), unprotected wells (9%), and unprotected springs (9%). 20% of the urban population and 1% of the rural population had access to piped drinking water in their home. Since national household surveys are not carried out on an annual basis, more recent survey data than those of 2006 were not available as of March 2010. Compared to the 2000 survey access has increased in urban areas, but has declined in rural areas, possibly because facilities have broken down because of a lack of maintenance.

Access to an improved water source does not indicate whether the water supply is continuous. For example, in Freetown taps were running dry for most of the year in 2009, and still happening in 2022. People collected water in containers wherever they can and those who can afford it installed water tanks in their houses. Even the fire brigade used its trucks to sell drinking water. There were fights between firefighters and employees of the Guma Water Company, responsible for water supply in Freetown, sometimes resulting in deaths.

The water supply in Sierra Leone is characterized by limited access to safe drinking water. Despite efforts by the government and numerous non-governmental organizations, access has not much improved since the end of the Sierra Leone Civil War in 2002, stagnating at about 50% and even declining in rural areas in Salone. According to the numbers released by JMP in 2017, 58% of the population has access to at least basic water and 15% of the population has access to at least basic sanitation. However, estimating the number of people with access to safe drinking water in a developing country is a challenging task. Since drinking water quality is typically not tested regularly for a representative sample of households throughout the entire country, there are no reliable data on the share of drinking water that is safe. National household surveys typically ask questions about the type of water source used. House connections, yard connections, standpipes, and hand pumps that are located within 1 km are classified as what is called an improved water source. Open wells, unprotected springs, rivers, lakes, and ponds are not considered improved water sources

In the capital Freetown, taps often run dry. It is hoped that a new dam in Orange, for which China committed financing in 2009, will alleviate water scarcity. With a new decentralization policy, embodied in the Local Government Act of 2004, responsibility for water supply in areas outside the capital was passed from the central government to local councils. In Freetown, the Guma Valley Water Company remains in charge of the water supply. A 2005 report says that wide-scale corruption is a major problem in the sector. It continues to say that there is a lack of trust between non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the public water company Salwaco, which was “suspicious to NGOs”. A decision by Salwaco to use only German Kardia hand pumps was controversial since they are more than twice as expensive as the India Mark II pumps preferred by many NGOs.

It must be noted that the Guma Valley Water Company relies principally on that single source, the Guma Dam and the Guma Water Treatment Plant at Mile 13, with over 90% of the total water supply to over 1.5 million people in the capital city of Freetown, and on the 23rd of April 2022, President Julius Maada Bio, visited the Guma Valley Dam at Mile 13, where he saw firsthand and with shock how the environment has faced massive encroachment and called for the re-establishment of the Western Area Forest Green Belt and an immediate investigation into the activities of the Ministry of Lands and Housing for the concerning environmental infractions. The President’s visit was geared toward seeing the enormity of the threat to the water source and providing the required political leadership to lawfully prosecute and punish deforestation and those involved in land grabbing around the water catchment areas. The ongoing encroachment of the Western Area Forest Green Belt area of the Guma Valley Dam facility is an environmental concern that should be stopped immediately. Salone parliament implemented The Western Area Forest Green Belt area. The land is protected by law. This is very annoying and concerning. The law stated that encroachers and land grabbers will be persecuted in all forms of the law as agreed in parliament as it is an existential threat that will not be tolerated. The president highlighted that the notion was to re-establish the Green Belt and protect it,” as emphasized furiously by the president.

Princess Jnap, Sierra Leonean Film Maker, Shares Lovely Moments at the Premiere “Wakanda Forever”

December 5, 2022

By Ibrahim Sorious Samura

U.S based Sierra Leonean born actress and filmmaker, Princess Jnap shares lovely moments at the premiere of the blockbuster movie, ‘BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER’, last month (November) in Lagos, Nigeria. The Sierra Leonean film sensation was a special guest at the highly glamorous ‘first-of-its-kind’ Hollywood movie screening in Africa.

Top personalities from the movie industry and from many walks of life, were also attracted to this all-important event in Lagos on November 6th 2022, including the Black Panther Wakanda Forever casts and crew.

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’, a sequel to the 2018 box office hit movie, ‘Black Panther 2’, is an American action superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character.

The film is a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), written by Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole and directed by Ryan Coogler. It continues with the story of T’Challa, the king of Wakanda.

The movie stars Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Dominique Thorne, Isaach de Bankole, Dorothy Steel, and Michaela Coel.

The Nigeria premiere was held in association with the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) and FilmOne Entertainment, and celebrated the movie’s African heritage.

Princess was honoured to have a one-on-one session with some crew members, including the Director, Ryan Coogler (Director for Disney). The actress also met and interacted with Chioma Ude, founder of AFRIFF, and Nickyatu, (an African American of Sierra Leonean descent) Director for Amazon Prime, who recently won the Sundance Award for Best Director.

Princess Jnap took to social media to share this awesome moment with her fans:

“When Disney in association with Film One and AFRIFF said you are cordially invited to the Official Africa premier of BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER and the Theme is Afro-futuristic (show them who we are) black carpet… you know I had to rep MAMA SALONE well… Thanks to my Management and Glam Team for putting this look together last minute.. Check my Reel for the full video. There’s level to this game.”

She was also a special guest at the AFRIFF film festival in Lagos, a few days after the Wakanda Forever premiering. Jnap was already scheduled to do a presentation on stage, as she’s highly revered by the organizers, as a smart and intelligent African movie star.

Princess Jnap Sesay, is a Sierra Leonean actress, filmmaker, model and entrepreneur, who also doubles as the founder and CEO of Real Time Management, a film production company, operational in the United States and Africa.

Princess Jnap’s trip to Africa was wrapped up by a short business trip to Johannesburg, South Africa. The Sierra Leonean born was well welcomed and celebrated, with the potential of expanding her personality and business entity.

Many commentators have opined that Princess is gradually becoming the face of the Sierra Leone film industry at the international stage. Just a few months ago, she was spotted chilling with top Ghanaian Actor, Majid Michel in the United States.

Princess is very much influential in the African film industry, meeting top industry top executives and actors, from Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and more, and she is majestically making inroads into the big industries, like Hollywood.

She is also believed to have held high level meetings with top executives of Netflix and Amazon Prime, as she anticipates a clear-cut deal with one of the major streaming platforms. Her movies, include THE LENS, are among the top quality movies she has produced over the years, with more blockbuster movies expected from the U.S based Sierra Leonean filmmaker.

Jnap’s curiosity for growth and the quest to showcase her motherland, Sierra Leone, to the wider world, is her topmost priority which is one of the reasons she took time off from work, flew from the United States to Africa, spent about 3 weeks networking and representing Sierra Leone.

In one of the sessions, the Amazon Prime, Director Nickyatu, was extremely proud to find another Sierra Leonean female filmmaker at the African premiere in Lagos, when Princess Jnap had to let everyone know that she’s a Sierra Leonean.

In her words, Nickyatu said,

“This is the first time I’m meeting an intelligent Sierra Leonean female filmmaker in the industry. I’m so proud to meet you.”

Jnap took pride and informed Nickyatu about the enormous opportunities in the Sierra Leone film industry, which is in dire need for a facelift.

AHF Commemorates World Aids Day

December 5, 2022

Aids Health Care Foundation (AHF) together with the child-friendly organization HAPPY KIDS & Adolescents has organized a one-day Inter-School Clubs debate and Fun Fair to commemorate World Aids Day

With the theme, “Equalized Achieving Equality to End HIV’’, the event was held at NETHIPS Headquarters along the Regent/Grafton highway where school children from various schools including teachers and parents converged to witness the debate session and fun fair.

Second year Political Science student, Philippa Thorlie, served as chair for the occasion, as duty bearers in HIV/AIDS response are now giving space to adolescents and young people to have their say in all aspects of decision making towards HIV /AIDS response in the country.

UN AIDS Country Director, Issac Ahomesah, was guest of honour broke protocol and decided to have an interactive session with the children as his keynote address. He noted that because science has improved there should be no reason people should succumb to HIV at an early stage and called on the children to show more concern to what is affecting their right to life and a bright future.

He gave statistics saying that despite only 1.7% of people are living with HIV in the country, 2.2% of that number are women and 1.1 are men citing that women are more vulnerable to multiple sex partners. He advised the children to abstain from early sex as the future is unknown so they have to protect their present. Ahomesah appealed to the young girls not to put their future at stake for the lust of material things and contract HIV.

The UN AIDS Country Director furthered that in Sierra Leone many more girls marry before their 18^th birthday and most are being married into a polygamous family, which means chances of contacting HIV is high and that is the reason Government should be stern and ensure equality for both boys and girls to reach their full potential.

Issac Ahomesah assured the organizers that the UN AIDS Country Office will continue to support with programmes that would enhance the living standards of people living with HIV and also help in advocacy to improve on drug roll-out in all health facilities, across the country, in order to protect PLHIV and pregnant women not to pass the virus to unborn children.

AHF Representative, Esther Teh in a brief statement said this year’s theme coincides with the AHF’s slogan which is: It’s not over, till it’s over, citing that fighting HIV is a collective effort bringing everyone on board.

She added that most adults living with HIV are on treatment despite many more do not know their status, and most of the children living with the virus are suffering because only half of the number infected are on treatment, and that, she said, is unacceptable. Madam Teh called on the Ministry of Health and Partners to ensure that enough drugs are available in stock to service clients in order to avoid drug stock out.

The Country Director of Care International, Yaikah Joof maintained that every year World Aids Day is commemorated and despite steps achieved, she said much more needs to be achieved and this can only happen when those affected are also at the centre stage of the process to eliminate the virus which continues to claim the lives of many, especially new born babies. She noted that adolescents and young people need to speak up and discuss with duty bearers what they want to see happen in the area of HIV prevention. Madam Joof said continuous advocacy to support treatment and care without discrimination is very important in order not to lose the fight to HIV/AIDS.

She welcomed the initiative of an Inter-school club debate which will further widen the knowledge of pupils on HIV/AIDS and find ways of how they will work with communities to end stigma among family and friends.

Idrissa Songo the National Coordinator of NETHIPS, the umbrella body of all Organizations providing HIV care and service noted that many a time he is heart broken by the fact that in spite of gains made in science to produce single drug therapy to fight the virus, it is like the world is losing the fight to end HIV, but the theme for this year to end inequality and equalize to end the preventable disease has given more hope that indeed if the right steps are taken, HIV will be eliminated by 2030.

Testing Services Coordinator at the National Aids Control Programme (NACP), Victoria Kamara was delighted to be part of another commemoration involving the children who are the bulk of the country’s youthful population citing that young people need to know everything they should know about HIV, especially voluntary testing which is the first stage for one to know his or her HIV status, before next steps will be taken to treatment, support and care. She added that when people do voluntary testing and know their status new infection rate will be reduced. Madam Kamara called on the pupils to adhere to the ABCs of HIV and if they should live a better and productive life in future, young people must opt for abstinence, a collective effort by parents and peers.

Executive Director, HAPPY KIDS &Adolescents, Mariama Marco-Conteh said every year the world commemorates the day, but the world continues to lose more people especially new born and under five to the preventable disease as a result of drug stock out which is no excuse for any Government that cares about the health and well-being of its people. She noted that the Ministry of Health and Sanitation should start penalizing those responsible to roll-out ART’s to the various facilities across the country for failing to ensure that drugs reach facilities on time at all times to avoid stock out, the children not to miss school and when they get to a facility for drug replenishment, there is a stock out and have no alternative but to take septrin, until drug is available, which she described as inhumane.

Drama depicting the harmful effects of HIV as well as other dangerous drugs which expose people to risk of contracting HIV formed the high point, including the distribution of menstrual and hygiene kits to all 100 boys and girls during the event.

HRCSL Ends Public Hearings on the Conduct law Enforcement Officials (LEOs)

December 5, 2022

The Human Rights Commission for Sierra Leone has concluded public hearings into the conduct of Law Enforcement Officials (LEOs) in Sierra Leone. The last circuit sitting was held on 29th & 30th November 2022 in Waterloo, Western Area Rural.

The Commission in January 2022 launched the Public Inquiry into the Conduct of Law Enforcement Officials in Sierra Leone with the aim to establish the fact and find out what happened in relation to allegations of human rights violations by LEOs, especially in the maintenance of public order in a bid to proffer strong recommendations and prevent a recurrence of such in society.

The Public Inquiry covered five law enforcement agencies— the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Sierra Leone Police (SLP), Road Safety Corps, Sierra Leone Correctional Service and Metropolitan Police on allegations of human rights violations and abuses within the period 2015 to 2021.

As its Complaint’s Rule states, HRCSL has the mandate to conduct a public inquiry into allegations of systemic human rights violations pursuant to Section 7 (2)(a) of the HRCSL Act (No. 9) of 2004 and Rule 42 of the HRCSL (Complaints, Investigations, and Inquiries) Rules of 2008.

Three circuit sittings were held (North & North-West, South & East, and Western Area) to hear complaints from the public against the listed law enforcement officials as well as from law enforcement officials against members of the public. 22 cases of events were brought before the Commission ranging from the hard-handedness of LEOs on citizens causing loss of life, property, and terminal diseases, to citizens’ attacks on LEOs during the performance of their duty.

The panels consisting of Commissioners of HRCSL and Contracted Lawyers across the various sittings cross-examined the complainants, witnesses, respondents, and interested parties (including lawyer respondents for some of the institutions) in the cases to ascertain facts to help the Commission come out with credible findings and recommendations.

The public inquiry focused on nine (9) key issues, which were determined by the Inquiry Panels. Whether LEOs used disproportionate force in the execution of their duties contrary to the UN Guiding Principles on the use of Force and Fire Arms; Ø

Whether there were loss of lives and grievous bodily harm resulting from excessive use of force by LEOs contrary to Section 16 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991, and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) as well as Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); Ø

Whether the right to property was violated by LEOs in executing their mandate contrary to Section 21 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991, and Article 14 of the ACHPR; Ø

Whether LEOs lost their lives or sustained grievous bodily harm in the hands of members of the public or individuals while carrying out their lawful duties contrary to Sections 16 and 13(j) of the Constitution of Sierra Leone, 1991; Ø

Whether individual LEOs and/or their institutions were held accountable for their actions in line with their institutional Codes of Conduct; Ø

Whether appropriate actions were taken against individuals for abuses against LEOs; Ø

Whether LEOs needed further and requisite training in enforcing the law; Ø

Whether LEOs were provided with requisite logistical and operational resources; Ø

Whether citizens were adequately aware of their rights and responsibilities, especially the duty to respect and cooperate with LEOs in the execution of their lawful mandate.

Of the 22 complaints before the Commission, one in Western Area Rural was from a Metropolitan Police against a certain market woman who splashed palm oil and ‘garri’ on his face leading to partial blindness during a brawl to collect market dues. After cross-examining the complainant and from statements from other Metropolitan Police officers who witnessed the hearing, the Chairman of the Panel who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Human Rights Commission said the situation has exposed work hazards which the Commission would further engage the Council on.

He also noted that there is not a clear provision in the Local Government Act of 2004 that permits revenue officers to seize the property of business people when they refuse to pay their market dues. On this matter, the Panel immediately ordered the arrest of the market woman in question while it subpoena the Chief Administrator (CA) and Deputy of the Western Area Rural District Council to appear before the panel for clarification. The Deputy CA, Alhassan Yillah later appeared before the panel and said the Council was aware of the incident and they have been providing some assistance to the Metropolitan Police Officer in question.

In a matter involving a young lady and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) in Bo, Southern Sierra Leone which led to eye complications and her dropping out of school, HRCSL immediately ordered that the young lady returns back to school in which case the Commission will foot her start-up needs as an immediate remedial action.

In Waterloo, a matter involving an ex-service police officer and the SLP led to the complainant removing his children from school because his sources of livelihood were affected by the action of the SLP. HRCSL offered to provide school learning materials and start-up support so that the children could return back to school.

According to the Project Lead of the Public Inquiry who is also the Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Victor I. Lansana Esq., the Commission had a successful hearing across the country with the full cooperation of complainants, witnesses, and the Military whose legal team represented their institution in all settings requiring their presence, a real manifestation of professionalism and respect for the statutory institution. He said the exercise was meant to provide recommendations to the institutions involved and to improve the human rights record in the country as law enforcement officials have always clashed with civilians causing serious threats to the enjoyment of human rights. The findings, recommendations, and directives of this exercise, he said, would not only be compiled into a report and submitted to H.E. the President and Parliament but would also be officially launched and disseminated for public consumption.

Commissioner Lansana applauded other members of the panel including the Chairperson Madam Patricia Narsu Ndanema, Commissioner Simitie Lavaly, Commissioner Hassan Samba Yarjah, Consultant Lawyers (Brima Musa Esq., Abdul Karim Kamara Esq., Musa Kargbo Esq.), the PI Secretariat, PI Consultant and all who were involved in the process. He ended by thanking the donors; Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), UNDP/Irish Aid, and the Government of Sierra Leone.

Queen Consort of Buckingham Palace Host First Lady

December 5, 2022

Dr. Fatima Maada Bio and Mrs. Olena Zelenska,

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Fatima Maada Bio, was on the 29^th November, 2022 hosted by Her Majesty the Queen Consort, at a Buckingham Palace reception comprising a powerful galaxy of distinguished women from around the world, including HM Queen Mathilde of The Belgians, HM Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, HRH the Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, and HRH the Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg.

Also in attendance were selected Secretaries of State, and Government Ministers as well as the Commonwealth Secretary-General the Rt. Honorable Baroness Patricia Scotland.

The event, which took place in an exclusive sector of the palace was organized to mark the United Nations Day for the fight to end violence against women- The “UNITE” campaign- which calls for global action to increase awareness and promote advocacy, “aims to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls around the world”.

For over a decade, HM the Queen Consort has been working to highlight issues around this theme and to assist organizations working to support victims of Rape and Sexual Abuse.

In pursuit of that laudable effort, HM the Queen Consort has visited Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centres in many countries including the USA, India, and the Balkans, and met with survivors to learn more about their issues.

In 2021, HM the Queen Consort became the Patron of the Mirabel Centre, Nigeria’s first Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

It is no surprise that Madam Fatima Maada Bio was invited to this prestigious and exclusive Buckingham Palace reception.

Her advocacy for women and young girls has propelled Sierra Leone’s First Lady to a platform that has allowed her to capture the admiration and support of many important people around the world.

Dr. Fatima Maada Bio and Mrs. Olena Zelenska, of Ukraine, were the only First Ladies invited to attend the Buckingham Palace reception which included royalties from established monarchies and senior officers of His Majesty’s Government. As the First official solo engagement by HM the Queen Consort, following the accession of King Charles III to the throne, this was a particularly special occasion.

It could be recalled that early this month, Dr. Fatima Bio, through her work and advocacy, successfully convinced the United Nations General Assembly to adopt November 18 as “The World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence”

Mrs. Bio has become a global icon who is using her influence and her vast network to bring attention to the plight of a marginalized but critical sector of the human demography- women and young girls. Her efforts in helping women is being recognized and appreciated around the world!

UN Women Supported Armed Forces Report on Opportunities launched

December 5, 2022

By Amin Kef Sesay

The UN Resident Coordinator (UN RC), Babatunde Ahonsi, has assured the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and development partners that the UN system would continue working on efforts leading to a higher representation of the forces’ women in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Additionally, he promised the support of the UN in the follow-up interventions emerging from the assessment.

Speaking at the official launch of the RSLAF 2022 Report on Results of the Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP) Assessment and in the wake of the recent enactment of the gender equality and women’s empowerment law, the UN Resident Coordinator acknowledged the successful efforts to increase the number of women during the last five years.

“Currently, women make up 12% of the armed forces compared to 6% in 2018. The percentage doubled in four years,” the RC said and congratulated the RSLAF leadership for that.

He noted that the increased participation of women in peacekeeping operations has been shown to improve the effectiveness of missions, ensure better access to local communities, particularly women, and enhanced the promotion of human rights and protection of civilians.

According to the RC, the report will “provide an evidence base for future engagements to do things differently to achieve increased women’s participation and representation in all levels of peace operations.”

To address some of the challenges identified in the report, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Lt. General P.K. Lavahun, in his remarks, said that the RSLAF will take bold affirmative actions to address those barriers both as an institution and jointly with support from partners, like UN Women and the Elsie Initiative Fund.

He announced that he had directed the appointment of a female officer to sit as a member at the Ministry of Defence/RSLAF decision-making Committee. Also, he stated, “the appointment of a female officer as a Battalion Second-in-Command to bring more women into senior leadership roles.”

The CDS said this would be on-going based on their fast-tracked capacity building and positioning in the leadership spectrum.

Lt. General Lavahun also said the report holds vital lessons for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and RSLAF in renewing their attention to the barriers and imbalances that hold down the upward mobility of women in their quest for equality and meaningful participation in peace operations.

“The MoD/RSLAF’s Expression of Interest to the Elsie Secretariat Steering Committee was motivated by our commitment to overcome gendered hierarchies and stereotypes and the need to address systemic and structural barriers, with the support of the Elsie Fund,” the CDS disclosed.

The assessment was welcomed by Lt General Lavahun with calls for UN Women, the Elsie Initiative Fund’s Secretariat, and its partners to support the RSLAF to overcome those barriers and chart clear pathways to make progress in the deployment of women to UN Peace Support Operations.

The assessment used four data collection tools: a fact-finding form (FFF), key decision-maker interviews, a focus group with women personnel, and a survey. It examined the Force’s ability to deploy women to and ensure their meaningful participation in UN peacekeeping through ten issue areas. Data collection was from November 2021 to February 2022.

The report revealed the statistics of the current female strength in the RSLAF is 12%, and those on UN peacekeeping are close to 28% within the armed forces.

The ceremony was chaired by Ms Valnora Edwin, President of Africa Women Leaders Network. She said the report was timely coming in the wake of the GEWE Law enactment and congratulated the RSLAF on the venture. Ms. Edwin also hoped that the barriers identified in the report and the associated recommendations for addressing them would be used by RSLAF leadership to significantly improve women’s representation in UN peace operations and the Forces as a whole.

The report was launched by the Director General of the Ministry of Defence, Mohamed Daboh.

Elsie Initiative Fund for Uniformed Women in Peace operations funded the research.

God’s Agent of Transformation Discipleship Training Centre Holds 3rd Graduation

December 5, 2022

The God’s Agent of Transformation (G.A.T) Discipleship and Leadership Training Centre with motto: “Knowing Christ and Making Him Known” has held its third (3rd) annual graduation ceremony, since its inception, with each graduand certified and accepted as worthy to operate as disciples and leaders respectively by the Chancellor Pst. Francis A. M. Mambu.

The ceremony, which had as Special Guest of Honour, Pst. Sola Jegede was held past Saturday November 26 at the Ajayi Crowther Amphitheater, FBC Campus, and witnessed (496) disciples, (162) leaders graduating in an auspicious ceremony, which attracted dignitaries from all walks of life.

Giving his motivational charge to the graduands the Principal of G.A.T, Pst. Mambu implored graduands to note that they must have a clear understanding of the times we are living in, also that this is the days of apostasy, and lastly that they will be accountable for what they have received.

Pst. Mambu reminded the graduands of their role as salt of the earth, which means their life and not the certificate must speak. He also stated that the (G.A.T) Bible school is non-denominational with (12) campuses around Freetown with (66) facilitators and training coordinators from different churches and has students from all walks of life adding that this year the bible school has started operations in Bo, Kenema and Kono, hoping to expand to other five more districts.

Giving his keynote address to the guest speaker Pst. Sola Jegede, who is the Founder of Zion Evangelical Ministries, urged all graduands to remain humble, and not allow pride to enter into them if they must advance in their work with God.

The graduands expressed joy giving testimonies of what the Lord has done for them since they joined the G.A.T Bible training centre and how they are now transformed individuals, ready to do the work of God.

Mohamed Gento Kamara Gets More Support from Residents of Aberdeen Community

December 5, 2022

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

Mohamed Gento Kamara has continued to intimate community residents of his intention to contest for the Mayoral Position of the Freetown City Council (FCC) in the forthcoming Presidential, Parliamentary and Mayoral elections slated to take place next year under the ticket of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). He has been doing so respectfully by contacting important stakeholders who in turn have pledged promises to campaign on his behalf.

In all his Meet-the-People Tours, the man of the moment had been succinctly informing residents in the Freetown metropolis of his aim to unite all the tribes in Freetown with the avowed objective of focusing on development priorities that will make the city really comfortable and an ideal place to reside in, work and do business.

From his actions and interventions there is no doubt that Chief Gento Kamara’s zest to make Freetown become truly inclusive is cutting across all communities, tribes and political lines.

It was this same objective that motivated Gento to visit the Aberdeen community where residents truly manifested their love and willingness to elect him as the prospective Mayor of Freetown.

According to the feedback that residents gave to our reporter, they unanimously intimated that Aberdeen has been known for SLPP and they have signed a social contract with the “Mayor to Be” in a bid to secure more than 80% of the vote that will be cast for the SLPP.

It is on record that various organizations and associations have registered their supports by endorsing Gento with the view of vigorously campaigning for the SLPP in a general spectrum but most importantly for Chief Gento and President Bio.

According to Gento, he wants to become Mayor in order to be the bridge that will bring young people together, take their minds away from violence and channel them into productive ventures stressing that if there is any time that such is needed the time is now.

“The unfortunate violent protests that took place on the 10^th August, 2022 was really uncalled as it claimed the lives of Police Officers and Civilians and as someone who is totally against recourse to violence I totally condemn it as I do not want this country to relapse to war which is why I have decided to run as Mayor for the Freetown City Council,” Gento revealed adding that various strategies could be applied to make young people contribute meaningfully to development.

He said there are issues related to the youth which must be addressed assuring that they could be accomplished only if young people could be prevented from becoming vulnerable and used as puppets by unscrupulous politicians.

As to whether he stands a chance of emerging victorious under the ticket of the SLPP, Gento responded that he believes in the ideology of the party which is “One Country, One People”. He argued that despite the fact that there are various tribes existing in the country the fact still remains that we are all Sierra Leoneans. He underscored the need to be nationalistic, push aside tribalism and embrace patriotism. “Love for one’s country must transcend tribal sentiments and development must be considered paramount in all our endeavours,” he intimated and warned against considering one tribe superior to another.

“Let us support an individual not along tribal lines but rather chose people or put them in positions of trust based on their competencies and abilities to perform and not because of the tribes they belong to,” he admonished.

According to Gento, gone are the days when Freetown was considered as only belonging to the Krios maintaining that it is now a melting pot where individuals from various tribes reside adding that democratically the country has opened up politically, devoid of one tribe having a monopoly over governance ideas or issues.

With the aim of changing the face of Freetown Gento intimated how he has prioritized sanitation as one area to be dealt with.

It is the conviction that as CEO of a reputable road engineering and construction company, Mohamed Gento Kamara, has the wherewithal to make Freetown one of the cleanest cities within the sub-region. He has the ability to mobilize and motivate young people, has access to relevant equipments and has the knack for getting things done at the appropriate time.

As various support groups have surfaced, some formed along community lines, expressing their supports on printed banners placed at strategic locations, the writing is clearly seen on the wall that Mohamed Gento Kamara is the next sitting Mayor of the Freetown City Council.

Make no mistake in electing Chief Mohamed Gento in 2023 as the next Mayor of the Freetown City Council.

NP-SL’s Sustainable Contributions are Positively Impacting Development

December 5, 2022

By Amin Kef-Ranger

One of the most successful entities seriously operating in this country, NP-Sierra Leone Limited, has been lauded for its sustainable contributions, over the years,all geared towards overall national development. Operating as a very successful petroleum marketing entity, NP-SL had and still continues to contribute tremendously towards the socio-economic development of Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and the Gambia as the company is actively functioning in all the aforementioned countries.

A 100% indigenously-owned company, NP-Sierra Leone has so far offered various jobs to residents in the afore-mentioned countries, thereby contributing greatly towards poverty reduction to a considerable level.

Worthy of note is that it is further recorded that the entity is one of the largest taxpayers to the National Revenue Authority (NRA),the institution charged with the mandate to collect revenue on behalf of the Government, which the latter then uses to fund the rolling out of various development projects. Among the outstanding features that the company possesses is its competent managerial team, which from time to time comes up with good initiatives, always ensuring that they are effusively, effectively implemented to create value for money.

Since it was established by 35 Sierra Leoneans, who bought shares from the Government years back, the company has grown from leaps and bounds; weathering storms that would have run it down. But the resolve of its shareholders and Management to succeed has been the centrepiece that has propelled NP to a higher level, equal to none in the sub-region.
If you ask those who really know NP, the feedbacks you will receive will definitely revolve around its commitment to customer care, which it strongly believes must be prioritized in order to give utmost and wider satisfaction.
The selflessness and commitment of the shareholders have indeed 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-SL has doggedly maintained a good business relationship with its numerous customers right across the sub-region and most have confessed that they are realizing optimum satisfaction 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 dividends, always resulting in a win-win situation, making NP very endearing to all and sundry.
The regulatory institution of the different petroleum companies in the country, the Petroleum Regulatory Authority (PRA), has lauded NP-SL for its efficient service delivery wherever it is operating.

The company is also known for offering Sierra Leoneans NP Gas cookers of various sizes, which are affordable, safe and very friendly to use. NP Gas could be purchased at all their filling stations across the country.
When we talk of the serious 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 pillars that have made the company to be a success story.

The company’s introduction of a Smart Card to purchase fuel has been widely applauded as a very good initiative. A particular customer, with money in his or her NP Smart Card, could easily put in for the quantity of petrol or diesel that he or she wants and the supply is facilitated, after which the amount of money expended is deducted from the card.

NP-SL’s result-oriented managerial team will definitely and sustainably continue to put NP-SL at the top.
Without saying it loud indeed NP-SL Ltd is doing exceptionally well in all the countries it is functioning and there are prospects for further expansion to continue taking place.

Disability Commission Urges Govt. to Ratify African Disability Protocol

December 5, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

In commemorating International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2022 in the country, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), Saa Lamin Kortequee, has called on the Government of Sierra Leone to Ratify the African Disability Protocol (ADP) on the Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He made that call during a well-attended press conference held on Saturday 3^rd December, 2022 at the Disability Commission’s Office on New England Ville in Freetown.

He said that December 3^rd every year is the International Day Persons with Disabilities, which is celebrated worldwide to raise awareness on the issues around disability and that according to WHO, about 1 billion people have some form of disability.

Saa Lamin Kortequee maintained that the theme for this year is: ‘Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development: “The Role of Innovation in Fueling an Accessible and Equitable world”.

“The annual observance of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 47/3. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the disability dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life,” he revealed.

The Executive Secretary pointed out that Sierra Leone is on the cusp of becoming the first Mano River Union country to ratify the African Disability Protocol (ADP) but action is needed to push it across the finish line and that is why the NCPD, Sight Savers’ Equal World Campaign, in partnership with the African Union and the African Disability Forum, in a campaign launched on (October 29), urged Governments and leaders to adopt the protocol and ensure the rights of people with disabilities are enhanced and upheld.

He elaborated that the African Disability Protocol was adopted in 2018 by the African Union to address various forms of discrimination affecting people with disabilities in African countries, stating that it is an additional protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (1981) to set standards and promote and protect human rights in Africa, furthering that for the protocol to come into force, at least 15 member states must sign and ratify it and that so far Angola, Burundi, Kenya, Mali, and Rwanda have ratified, and several others are nearly there.

Saa Lamin Kortequee maintained that it is therefore in similar efforts and the huge desire to continue taking the lead in addressing disability issues in Sierra Leone that the NCPD on this very important day has prioritized the full and effective commencement of advocacy and the lobbing of the Government of Sierra Leone to ratify this enabling human rights protocol that is sensitive to the rights of persons with disabilities on the African continent.

He thanked His Excellency the President Dr. Julius Maada Bio for his commitment to disability inclusion in Sierra Leone, the UN Country Team for their unflinching support to the advancement of disability rights and inclusion in development agendas, the World Bank for their support and innovative approach to disability inclusion and NaSA for the Social Safety Net (SSN) support for persons with disabilities in Sierra Leone, he also applauded Sight Savers International, Humanity Inclusion (HI) and UNFPA for their support in celebrating this year’s International Day for Persons with Disabilities.

On his part, the Admin Director Sierra Leone Union on Disability Issues (SLUDI), Sylvanus Bundu, said the International Day of Persons with Disability was formed by the UN in the year 1992 and since then it has been set aside to observe, to promote the understanding of people with disabilities, to discuss about the rights, dignity of the people with disabilities and to discuss the problems related to the people with disabilities, in Sierra Leone and all over the world.

He stated that Sierra Leone has been making progress but more need to done in relation to addressing educational, live-hood, healthcare and the rest of issues affecting persons with disability in the country, furthering that based on their observation they have learnt that the persons with disabilities are not included into Government systems, and therefore they would want to appeal to the Government for them to be included as the country is heading towards an election

“Many bill have been passed into law but we hope to see the passing into law of the revised Persons with Disabilities Acts as we appeal to the Government to look into this before the elections,” he concluded.