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Mohamed Turay Vies for National Olympic Committee-SL Presidency

Edwardians Football and Cricket Associations.

By Millicent Senava Mannah

The President for the Sierra Leone Swimming, Diving, and Water Polo Association, Mohamed Turay, has declared his intention to vie for the Presidency in the upcoming National Olympic Committee Sierra Leone election, which has been slated for the 10th December, 2022. He made that known through a Media Engagement that was held on the 2nd December, 2022, at the National Sports Association Office on Wilkinson Road in Freetown.

Giving the biography of the aspirant, Alie Sonta Kamara, Sports Editor at the Standard Times Newspaper, said Mohamed Turay started his sports journey since he was in school in the year 1987 furthering that he was appointed as Chairman of the Old Edwardians Football and Cricket Associations.

He maintained that he also served as Vice Chairman for Brookfields United and according to him, under his leadership the team won several trophies disclosing how he is also a founding member of the Blackstar Football Club in Liberia, and several others.

The Presidential Aspirant, Mohamed Turay, told journalists that, they are not oblivious of the concerns facing sports stating that there are lamentations of the lack of transparency in institutions, about the crop of athletes they presented on the international stage.

“About the gender biasness we exhibit in the devolution of roles, about the alienation of the media in these days of rigorous news-hunting, about the bureaucracies we feel that one can do it all.” Mohamed Turay stated.

He continued , “and about the very feeling you nurture that some have not served well to be marked as good examples and still want to lord themselves over all by questionable means.”

Mohamed Turay intimated that the change people desire cannot happen by retaining the status quo. According to him, a good leader is all they need to effect the transformation they are so craving for.

“It is on this note I present myself to you and to our revered delegates for the presidency of the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone (NOC-SL) on the path to exemplary transformation,” he declared.

“Over the period of a tortuous journey, we have seen quite a lot: the fall in the interests of sport, the collapse of administrations, the unsavory practice in the selection of athletes to a wide range of other major concerns,” Mohamed Turay stated.

He affirmed that under his presidency at the NOC, he will embark on transparency, inclusiveness, capacity building, and robust media collaboration and how, he will partner with journalists for the effective promotion of NOC activities and sports in general.

He further assured that, he will be organizing regular media briefings to demonstrate transparency and accountability continuing that, he will strengthen gender empowerment and participation in National Olympic Competition.

“I have been a dedicated and committed serving executive member of the NOC via the Sierra Leone Swimming, Diving, and Water Polo Association. I have seen the difficulties, and it is for that reason, I want to transform all sporting disciplines and commissions for the good of all and for the good of our nation,” Mohamed Turay intimated.

He noted that, as a good leader, he will continue to source out funding to support the operations of sporting associations, work with the Government to develop facilities for the training of athletes before any outing.

Mohamed Turay, furthered that, he will take sports to schools, create online TV and Social media platforms to ease information flow respecting the work of NOC, design Athletes Development Support Pathway for correct training, and promote positive synergy with NSA and Sports Ministry.

David Turner, member of the Sierra Leone Football Association,  also endorsed Mohamed Turay for the position and according to him, he is fit for the position, and how he will bring transformation to the National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone.

 

One Family People Embarks on GBV Awareness Campaign in Schools  

One Family People

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of its campaign to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls with disabilities and those without, OneFamilyPeople with support from Liliane Fonds has on Wednesday 30th November, 2022 embarked on a Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Awareness Campaign at the Government Model Junior Secondary School and the Government Rokel Senior Secondary School respectively.

The campaign, which was held on the theme: “Unite! Activism to End Violence against Women & Girls with Disabilities” is in commemoration of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence which is an annual international campaign that kicks off on the 25th November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until the 10th December, which is Human Rights Day.

Representing OneFamilyPeople were the Programme Manager, Samuel P.O.V Macauley, the Communications Officer Alafi Taylor, the Programme Officer, Ibrahim A. Tarawally, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Sorie Ibrahim Koroma, the Filed Officer, Salamatu Laggah and Beatrice S. Davies, Intern.

Addressing the pupils at Government Model School, an Ambassador for One Family People, Aminata Kargbo, who is hearing-impaired, revealed that the Campaign is based on the fact that this social difference is becoming a menace which if not addressed will polarize our society in the near future, adding that the women in the community of PwDs have been very vocal about their concerns that violence against women and girls (especially those with disability) have reached alarming levels despite the Government having made strides to protect them through legislative frameworks, adding that the campaign is to sensitize school pupils on the forms of SGBV, their effects and how to deal with them as well as where to report SGBV related issues.

She further stated that they 16 Days of Activism is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to raise awareness and demand justice for victims of SGBV of which One Family People deemed it fit to embark on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) Awareness Campaign in selected schools in order for pupils to take ownership of the fight against the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls in their communities especially those with disabilities.

In his address to pupils of Government Rokel School, the Programme Manager of OneFamilyPeople Samuel P.O.V Macauley said the awareness campaign with the theme “Unite! Activism to End Violence against Women & Girls with Disabilities” includes information on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) with prevention and response mechanisms.

He said Gender Based Violence is on the increase especially among women and girls with disability and it is in that regard that they decided to embark on the campaign in schools which will give pupils the opportunity to know about SGBV and how to prevent it in their schools and communities.

The Programme Manager maintained that  during the campaign they will ensure mass mobilization of communities of PwDs to promote collective responsibility in the fight to eradicate violence against women and children particularly those with disabilities and further encouraged society to acknowledge that violence against women and children is not only a Government or criminal justice problem, but a societal problem, and that failure to view it as such results in all efforts failing to eradicate this scourge in the communities.

He encouraged them to serve as Ambassadors in their schools and their different communities ,as girls he also used the opportunity to educate them on where to report GBV related issues of which he told them to call 116 Toll Free line in order to report GBV related issues.

A teacher of Government Model Secondary School expressed appreciation to One Family People for bringing the awareness raising campaign to their school which they described as a very timely intervention towards empowering their students to serve as their sister’s keepers.

He further assured the organization that their school will champion the campaign to end sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the pupils, Fatu Sesay, a SSS 3 pupil of the Government Rokel Senior Secondary School commended OneFamilyPeople for undertaking such an awareness raising campaign which she described as not only important but a timely intervention towards the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls in the country.

She called on other organizations to join OneFamilyPeople‘s campaign and assured OFP that as pupils they will serve as Ambassadors towards the Elimination of Violence against Women and girls not only in their schools but there society as well.

 

CARL Calls on Judiciary to Expedite Lawsuit on PR System

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Executive Director of the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL), Ibrahim Tommy, has called on the leadership of the Sierra Leone Judiciary to promptly look into the recent lawsuit filed by lawyers of the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) against the Presidential directive to the Chief Electoral Commissioner of Sierra Leone (ECSL) on the issue of the use of the Proportional Representation system for the sake of justice for all parties.

He made that disclosure while addressing Pressmen during a Press Conference held on Wednesday 30th November, 2022 at CARL’s Office on Circular Road in Freetown.

He said the Judiciary should look into their complaint and hand down a decision before the six months cut-off period starts for the 2023 elections, adding that over the last 15 years, one of the key challenges they have recognized is dealing with resolution of election petitions or matters relating to electoral violence in which the two are embedded with the issue of delay that is at times “unnecessary” and avoidable.

He stated that they understand the challenges that the Judiciary faces in terms of personnel and tools, but it not just about the judges and that when the matter comes to court it is about the lawyers on both sides, for the complainant and the defendant, to ensure the matter progresses speedily.

The Executive Director maintained that the constitution makes provision of four months for the resolution of election petitions but that, “It is unclear in the way it is stated because it doesn’t for example provide for interlocutory applications”.

He therefore urged that the Judiciary should ensure that if the constitution puts a stipulated period, it has the responsibility to put out directions or guidelines for all the parties in a case to comply with the orders of the court.

He used the opportunity to inform pressmen that on Thursday 10th November, the Center for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL-SL), with support from the Irish Embassy, officially launched the study on Electoral Justice in Sierra Leone ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The objective of the study, he said, was to provide an assessment of the legal and structural environment for the effective administration of electoral justice and also seeks to assess the capacity of existing electoral dispute resolution mechanisms and make recommendations for reforms that may expand the opportunities for resolving electoral disputes.

It could be recalled that 4 lawyers representing the main opposition All People’s Congress Party on Monday 28th November 2022, filed an Originating Notice of Motion to the Supreme Court for a Declaration amongst others, that the Directive issued by the President, Rd. Brig. Dr. Julius Maada Bio, to the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), to hold public elections for ordinary Members of Parliament by the Proportional Representation System, where there are extant and subsisting constituencies, is inconsistent with Section 38A of Constitutional Amendment, Act No. 15 of 2001.

They maintained that the power given to the Electoral Commission is to conduct and supervise elections, and not to determine the form or mode of Elections and that Section 68 of the Public elections Act 2022 is clear as to what constitutes the conduct of elections, furthering that to change the format or mode of elections is a matter of primary legislation, reserved for the Legislature and not the subject of a Statutory Instrument.

According to them in all of these, the controversy generated by the purported Presidential Directive and the irregularity of Statutory Instrument No.83 2022 cannot be underscored, as it degenerated into Parliamentary chaos, public shock and concern.

“Therefore, the Supreme Court in the filed Originating Notice of Motion is urged to declare null and void the Presidential Directive and Statutory Instrument No. 83 of 16 November 2022 now purportedly laid before Parliament,” they urged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

CTC Mining Company To Make Huge Difference …In the Mining Sector

CTC Mining Company

By CTC Mining Company

Officially, the CTC Mining Company was introduced in Sierra Leone on the 16th of November 2022, amidst fanfare, pomp, and pageantry to the inhabitants of Marampa and Maforki Chiefdoms in Port Loko District, Northwestern region of the country.

The traditional leaders and other prominent stakeholders of the two chiefdoms converged at the Port Loko District Council Office to listen to what the Management of the company had for them.

One of the Paramount Chiefs popularly known as “The Lion” broke the news that the meeting was to present to the people of the two chiefdoms in particular, and the Port Loko District in general, the CTC Energy & Mining Company.

PC “The Lion” pressed on that the company has met all the lawful requirements and paid the needed homage to the local authorities and landowning families of the stretch of property the company is to operate on.

The highly consultative meeting was not just to present the company to the people but to let them and their stakeholders have a say, approve or disapprove, the “The Lion” said.

Consequently, elders, religious leaders, youths, women, teachers, landowners, and all other important stakeholders of the chiefdoms gave a standing ovation to the Paramount Chief in endorsement of the CTC Energy & Mining Company amid traditional singing and dancing.

Present on this all-important day for the people of Port Loko were the Port Loko District Chairman, Port Loko City Mayor, the Senior District Officer, a representative from the National Minerals Agency, the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police North, and the Military Brigade Commander, among others.

The CTC Mining Company’s parent body operates in Turkey. But what is advantageous to Sierra Leone is the fact that its leader in the country is a blue-blooded Sierra Leonean, raised in Makeni City, the provincial headquarter of the Northern Region.

In a brief message to the people, he has not just assured them of making a difference in the country’s mining sector and the other areas of the company’s intervention but said they are in the country to stay and prioritize employee satisfaction amid occupational health and safety as part of the company’s management philosophy. Added to this as the company’s mission, ecological balance, sensitive and friendly environmental approach, the production of high-quality goods and services based on continuous improvement and efficiency through paying attention to the optimum use of scarce resources will equally be prioritized

The CTC Energy & Mining Company was established by a team with more than 25 years of experience in their activities. Their vision is “Doing the best, with the best” with the main activity areas of the company being mining, energy, and logistics. Thus, CTC Mining Company produces, supplies, sells, and markets bauxite, iron, and other minerals like chrome and manganese ore. With a wealth of experience in its activities, the company’s bauxite production continues to increase in the bauxite fields with the highest reserves in Turkey.

CTC is enhancing collaboration with its valuable customers in China and the rest of the world by reaching not only their products but also other valuable miner’s products all around Turkey to them CTC’s service and high quality.

In addition to the mining business, the company also has investments in the renewable energy sector, primarily in biogas and solar energy. In 2021, CTC increased its energy investment capacity.

The company has agencies and representative offices in the UK, the US, and the Republic of China, while in Turkey Iskenderun, Muğla-Milas. Its management and team are always ready to share any business opportunity with its valued suppliers and customers.

From the above, it is inevitable that if CTC Mining and Energy Company is given the cooperation that they deserve, it would create multiple employment facilities for Sierra Leoneans with effective tax avenues for the government.

 

 

 

 

 

Sierra Leone Thanks Chinese former President Jiang Zemin: Promotor of China-Sierra Leone Relations

By Amin Kef Sesay (Ranger)

As Sierra Leone mourns the passing away of the former President of the People’s Republic of China, Jiang Zemin, we recall that he has been more than a father and a friend to Sierra Leone in particular, the African continent in general and the world as a whole.

It was on June 1, 1999, when the late President Jiang Zemin held talks with Sierra Leone’s late President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah. The two great men exchanged views on promoting bilateral relations and issues of common concern between the two nations.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sierra Leone, the two countries have carried out fruitful cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, military, culture, and health, and have supported and cooperated closely with each other in international affairs.

We must state here reverently that, the late President Jiang Zemin was an outstanding leader enjoying high prestige acknowledged by the whole of China and the world at large. He was a great proletarian revolutionary, statesman, military strategist and diplomat; a long-tested communist fighter, and an outstanding leader of the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. He was the core of the CPC’s third generation of central collective leadership and the principal founder of the Theory of Three Represents.

It also must not be forgotten that this great former leader, the late President Jiang Zemin ever since his adolescent years, had been a diligent learner and seeker of truth. He was enlightened by patriotism and the ideas of a democratic revolution. During his college years, he established his life-long ideal and belief of working for national liberation and the people’s well-being.

It was the great Jiang Zemin who that the Chinese government will pay close attention to the development of Sierra Leone.

We therefore express our sympathy to the people of China for the loss of a great leader who lifted Sierra Leone from suffering civil war and we express our appreciation to the Chinese People for having such a great leader whose singular efforts helped Sierra Leone achieve national peace and stability when we needed it most.

It is no gainsaying the fact that following the demise of this great leader, the Chinese government has spoken positively of the Sierra Leone government’s efforts to maintain the bilateral relations initiated by the great former leader.

Sierra Leoneans will never forget the congratulatory message by President Jiang Zemin when he said: “Although China and Sierra Leone are far apart, the friendship between the two peoples has a long history. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two sides have carried out fruitful cooperation in a wide range of fields such as politics, economy, culture, and health. Especially in 1999 the successful visit of Sierra Leone to China has effectively promoted the development of bilateral relations. In international affairs, we trust and support each other, and we have made joint efforts to establish a fair and reasonable new international political and economic order.”

The late President Jiang was the core of the CPC’s third generation of central collective leadership. Between the late 1980s and early 1990s, severe political disturbances erupted in the international arena and in China. World socialism experienced serious twists and turns. The development of China’s socialist cause faced unprecedented difficulties and pressures.

The late President Jiang Zemin was far-sighted, and could make correct assessments of different situations. He always observed and reflected on issues taking into consideration the general trends of China and the world, The late President Jiang was firm in his convictions and decisive in actions.

The late President Jiang valued practice and kept pace with the times. He always grasped the trends and opportunities of the times, summing up experience and seeking new ways to advance the work of China in a down-to-earth enterprising manner.

He respected and cared for people and always paid attention to their security and well-being. His fine character and noble manner will always educate and motivate us on the way forward.

His death is an inestimable loss to Sierra Leone and Africa in general.

Eternal glory to the late former President of China, Jiang Zemin!

 

 

 

 

THE INFLATED LEONE CURRENCY ON RED ALERT (AT 44.27%) AGAINST THE US DOLLAR 

Report by; Farid Kefel, for The Calabash Newspaper

According to Steve Hanke’s currency watch list, this week the Leone currency has depreciated against the USD by 44.27% since January 1, 2022.  Steve is a renowned professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins and a senior fellow at the Independent Institute. Sierra Leone Leones (SLL) continued its depreciation in the third quarter of 2022, according to the Bank of Sierra Leone, the currency exchange rate of the national currency against the US dollar was 14,746 SLL in September 2022. Compared to the same time last year, the recent figure represents a value depreciation of 40.7% from 10,477 SLL in September 2021. The Average price of fuels such as Gasoline, Diesel, and Kerosene continued to increase in the third quarter of 2022, reaching 19,333 SSL rising by 20.83 percentage points compared to the previous quarter’s 16,000 SLL. The direct effect of exchange rate depreciation is to increase the price of imports relative to exports, which will tend to decrease the value of net exports (exports fewer imports) and widen the current account deficit.

The rate of increase in the general price level and the exchange rate regime operation are also closely related, for instance, when a crawling peg exchange rate is adopted in the economy, the implications are that it may lose a nominal anchor which could lead to inflation. Accordingly, the rate of inflation could become uncontrollable. This is because the exchange rate and money supply are indices of the price level. Exchange rate changes the rate of increase in the price level affected each other to produce an inflation-devaluation spiral or a vicious circle in flexible exchange regimes or pass-through effects from the exchange rate changes and the foreign price level. These effects may worsen the domestic inflation rate. The September Annual Consumer Inflation Rate in Sierra Leone was announced at 29.10% (YoY), slightly higher than the quarterly inflation rate of 28.9% for Q3, 2022 continuing the upwards trends from the previous two quarters of this year.

According to the UNS WFP RAM Sierra Leone Market Prices Bulletin | Quarter 3, 2022, the current forecasts for the GDP growth rate of the Sierra Leonean economy are predicting a growth rate of 3.8% for 2022, breakdown of sectoral trends analysis outlines the slower expansion of agriculture and services sectors below overall GDP growth rate with 2.8% and 3.7% respectively. The Price of palm oil, a commodity often used in the preparation of Sierra Leonean households’ meals increased by 13.52% followed by locally produced rice and cassava with price increases of 9.31% and 9.06% respectively from their price levels in August 2022.

According to Keren and Pack, the strength of the pass-through effects depends on the price elasticities. The loss of a nominal anchor could imply that shocks to the rate of inflation will have lasting effects, pushing the rate of inflation to a higher level and depreciating the exchange rate. In this case, exchange rate movements, money supply growth, and changes in the rate of inflation drive each other. The Sierra Leone experience shows that the exchange rate and the domestic price level have been unstable for many years. Accelerating money supply growth, fiscal deficit, and foreign exchange squeeze compounded the problem of inflation and exchange rate depreciation. Governments of developing countries including Sierra Leone have made efforts to achieve a steady exchange rate and slow growth in the money supply and general price level. Still, from research, it has been proven that there have been continuous fluctuations in these macroeconomic variables in the past four decades. It is also crystal clear that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been falling, while the unemployment rate increasing. Also, the inflation rate has been increasing, and the exchange rate and balance of payments, fluctuations have been worsening. The balance of payment crisis resulted among other things, a growing parallel market for foreign currency, which has been very difficult to control. Whilst the consequences on the economy have been severe, few studies have been conducted to explain the fluctuation of the exchange rate and money supply on the general price level in Sierra Leone. Few have linked the exchange rate policy and monetary policy. Most studies have concentrated on explaining the domestic rate of inflation, where the nominal exchange rate enters as one of the explanatory variables. Others have estimated a money demand equation where the nominal exchange rate enters as one of the explanatory variables only two of these studies attempt to establish a statistical relationship between money and the exchange rate. For example, money supply growth, inflation, and exchange rate are analyzed in a vector autoregressive model.

The authors find that money supply growth drives nominal exchange rate changes with no feedback effects. In assessing the effect of exchange rate fluctuations and the growth in money supply on the general price level, an answer would be needed for the question below; Is there a link between nominal money supply and the nominal exchange rate? In the long run, De Grauwe argues that the correlation between money supply and the nominal exchange rate is relatively strong but tends to be lost in the short run. We would expect this relationship to be stronger in periods of nominal exchange rate flexibility.

The Impact of the exchange rate on inflation can impact domestic prices through direct and indirect channels, via their effect on aggregate supply and demand. The direct channel is due to the operation of the law of one price based on purchasing power parity theory. It is postulated that the exchange rate between two currencies is determined by relative movements in the price levels in the two countries. PPP states that price levels between two countries are equal when expressed in the same currency at any period. Therefore, if PPP holds, exchange rate fluctuations translate into proportional movements in the domestic price level; i.e. pass-through is equal to one. In a small open economy (an international price taker), a depreciation of the domestic currency will result in higher import prices (both for finished goods and intermediate inputs), which will ultimately be transmitted to higher domestic prices.

Exchange rate variations can also affect domestic prices through their indirect effect on aggregate demand. Depreciation of the domestic exchange rate reduces the foreign price of domestic goods and services, and thereby increases foreign demand, resulting in an increase in net exports and hence aggregate demand and real output. The increase in domestic demand and real income may bid up input prices and hence causing workers to agitate for higher wages to maintain a real wage. The nominal wage increase may result in further price increases. Furthermore, depreciation may increase the domestic price of imported goods and services and thereby lead to expenditure switching in favor of domestic goods and services, which will increase their demands and raise domestic prices

Inflation in Sierra Leone is positively related to money supply growth and real exchange rate depreciation but negatively related to real GDP growth as observed from the coefficient estimates, impulse response functions, and variance decomposition analyses. The result also revealed the existence of inflation inertia. Real exchange rate depreciation is explained by its past values, money supply growth, and inflation. The model passes all the diagnostic tests conducted, implying the results are not only consistent, efficient, and unbiased but also non-spurious. Inflation and real exchange rate depreciation do not impact real GDP growth in Sierra Leone. Real money supply growth has a net dynamic effect implying that cumulative increases in broad money supply will cause real inflation to in the current period. Real GDP growth exerts positive inertia in Sierra Leone such that an increase in real GDP will lead to an increase in the general price level. Generally, growth appears to be driven by its past values, probably by traditional supply-side factors, and not demand-side variables.

The tightening of fiscal and monetary policy will also help Sierra Leone to manage its debt sustainability better. Furthermore, strong reforms aimed at reducing corruption, providing free health care, and improving the decrepit transport, power, and public health infrastructures top the list of the government’s priorities. As a result, the country is ranked as one of the world’s top reformers by the 2012 World Bank’s Doing Business index. Youth unemployment is a challenging social problem in Sierra Leone. The country’s youth unemployment rate of 60% is amongst the highest in the West African sub-region. In the context of the second Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP II) for 2008-2012, the government has implemented new legislation for youth-friendly initiatives that aim to provide an environment conducive to youth development, employment, and empowerment.

 

100 African-Americans Trace their History to Sierra Leone

By the Ministry of Tourism

An orientation workshop for over 100 African-Americans who have traced their history to Sierra Leone was organized by the Monuments and Relics Commission (MRC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, on Tuesday 29th November 2022.

The well-attended event took place at Shanrgi La Bar and Restaurant on Lumley Beach Road in Freetown.

The Minister of Tourism, Dr. Memunatu Pratt underscored that the event envisages what happened 300-400 years ago which she said is sad to remember the brutal repression of slavery, that African-Americans are promoting root tourism that is very important citing Ghana and Senegal as examples and affirmed that the Ministry cherishes heritage tourism that it started since 2018 and has made a very strong impact.

According to the Minister, “we must work together to make our heritage one of the best. My Ministry has done a lot to rebrand Sierra Leone and for the industry to grow. It is one of the fastest growing industries and it is interrelated and multifaceted.”

The Minister furthered that the event demonstrates that Sierra Leone is an investment destination and called on the participants to think of how to contribute to national development as they now have dual  benefits disclosing that Sierra Leone is the third most peaceful country in West Africa and the fourth most peaceful in Africa.

Dr. Memunatu Pratt also observed that the ceremony is solemn, informed the African-Americans that the highpoint of the event is when their passports would be presented to them by the President and assured that they would never regret the decision.

The representative of the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education informed that education is the flagship project of Government for which budgetary allocation has increased from 11-21%, that the Free Quality Education makes provision for radical inclusion and that the Ministry has formulated the new Education Sector Plan for which they have secured funding for 5 years.

She also disclosed that the country now has a new Universities Act for technical education and that there has been an increase of over 100% pupil admission in schools from 34-102 thousand due to the Free Quality Education.

The Deputy Commissioner-General of the National Revenue Authority, Ms. Jeneba Bangura underlined that their main objectives are to assess and collect tax, improve and facilitate trade, that Sierra Leone is ripe for investment, dilated on the various tax incentives, provide border security and management, enlightened that tax waivers are provided for investors in agriculture, airlines, fish farming, infrastructure,  affordable housing, aquaculture, transportation and pharmaceuticals among others intimating that all their systems are automated.

Earlier in his welcome statement and overview of the workshop, the Communications Officer at MRC, Mohamed Faray Kargbo revealed that it is a civic education and investment workshop for the African-Americans, that the event is very important as they have traced their ancestry to Sierra Leone and recalled the slave trade when Africans were transported to America and Europe.

He continued that the participants would learn a lot about the country as well as about their rights and responsibilities and laws governing various aspects of the country.

The Chairman of the ceremony,  Kwamie Yankson, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism  asserted that there is cultural diversity in Sierra Leone, that it the home of peace and affirmed that various speakers would present insight about the country.

In his brief history about Sierra Leone, Francis Momoh, Research Officer, MRC recalled the over 400 years of slavery, the pre-colonial, independence and post-independence history of the country, Sierra Leone’s rich religious tolerance and hoped the participants would enjoy their stay.

He continued that the African-Americans have traced their roots to Sierra Leone to reconnect, that the process is African renaissance to merge and transfer knowledge for growth as they have a lot of expertise that the country needs and appealed to them to be true ambassadors of the country as well as visit Bunce Island and make positive impact in the country.

Presentations were made by various Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies including the Rokel and Sierra Leone Commercial Banks, the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency, the National Tourist Board and the Immigration Department.

Highlights of the ceremony were the singing of the National Pledge and National Anthem respectively.

Chief Minister, Clearing & Forwarding Stakeholders Explore Robust Ways of Reviving Processes

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa, has on the 29th November 2022 engaged stakeholders in the clearing and forwarding sector to explore more robust ways of reviving the clearing processes at Queen Elizabeth II Quay and ensuring efficiency in Government.

A build-up to the stakeholder engagement started with a consultation among key players in the sector on 9th November 2022, which was spearheaded by the Office of the Chief Minister and the Ministries of Finance, Trade, Transport and Aviation and private sector players. During those meetings, a term of reference was developed that led to the stakeholder meeting.

The Chief Minister noted: “We are here to look at one of the perennial problems in Sierra Leone, the clearing and forwarding sector. It is no news that there have been challenges and there will continue to be challenged. We are also here to discuss the clearing and forwarding process with a view to streamlining and simplifying the processes at the port by identifying the challenges in the sector.

“President Bio is looking forward to this stakeholder engagement and to see that we are able to solicit inputs from all sector players on their roles and responsibilities as well as conduct a general review of the entire clearing process in the country.”

He noted that part of the process was, therefore, to look at and assess existing laws that might be considered obstacles to the operations of the sector, adding that the engagement was to also ensure that there was ease of doing business in the sector.

“We need to ensure that we are able to generate more revenue for the Government and to also address some of the bottlenecks around the clearing that recently led to an overnight increase in the cost of commodities as a result of charges resulting from the cost of clearing goods at the quay,” he concluded.

Minister of Finance, Dr. Dennis Vandi, urged for a mechanism to be in place that would have a single player lead the process of clearing and forwarding in the country.

“The absence of a leadership role has resulted in shipping lines allowing goods to be delayed due to either deliberate fault of the clearing agency or on the part of the customers,” he said and called on the stakeholders to urgently look into issues of clearing agencies by addressing all obstacles leading to delays and loss of revenue.

Stakeholders present at the meeting identified as challenges, among other things, the incorrect declaration of clearance documents, falsification of clearance documents, absence of a clear service delivery charter by the respective agencies, improper examination procedures by customers, duplication of roles, lack of coordination between port authorities and customs and overcrowded examination processes.

The outcomes of their deliberations will be presented to His Excellency, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, for decision in the next cabinet meeting.

 

 

 

President Bio Encourages Korean Ambassador to Work on Education & Agriculture

President Bio Encourages Korean Ambassador to Work on Education & Agriculture

By Abubakarr Harding

President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has on the 30th November, 2022 welcomed His Excellency Kim Young Chae, Ambassador of South Korea to Sierra Leone, and shared his Government’s plans to use education as the base for the country’s sustainable development.

The visit comes as the two countries celebrate 60 years of diplomatic, trade and economic relationships.

“For the past 60 years, we have been strengthening and broadening this relationship between our two countries. So, you are very much welcome here, as you have come at a particular point in time for more diplomatic strength. Please convey my fraternal greetings to His Excellency Yoon Suk-yeol, as we are heartened by his commitment to increasing trade with Sierra Leone by 20 percent annually.

“We want to have a very strong relationship with the private sector in South Korea and to work together, especially in the areas of agriculture and education, which we believe will lift our country because we are very aware of the technological advancements that you have made,” he noted, adding that they would also explore opportunities in ICT.

President Bio said he was also using the opportunity, again, to thank the Government and people of South Korea for the beautiful edifice of the City Hall, which was a symbol of their long-standing relationship.

“We are very happy that you are here. We know that you will be at the Security Council as a non-permanent member, and at about the same time, we want to assure you that the peace you seek is always shared by us. We are also a peaceful nation, and we will be there to always seek your interest,” he said.

In his remarks, the Korean Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Kim Young Chae, said: “His Excellency, please allow me to stand on the existing protocol to express my heartfelt congratulations and gratitude for the 60 years of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Republic of Korea. I want to convey my warmest greetings of friendship to Your Excellency and the people of Sierra Leone from the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol”.

“Your Excellency, since the establishment of the diplomatic relationship, our two countries have continued to strengthen mutual cooperation in various aspects, and as an Ambassador, I am particularly delighted for the reconstruction of the City Hall, as one of the country’s highlights of our bilateral cooperation over the past 60 years,” he said.

 

 

 

Orange Money & Partners End One Year Digital Inclusion & Financial Literacy Project

By Millicent Senava Mannah

In a bid to improve and make the digital Eco-space sustainable especially for Sierra Leonean youths, one of the biggest and most reliable mobile network operators in the country, Orange-SL, through Orange Money, in partnership with Empire Solutions, Mosabi, and UNCDF, have wrapped up a one year project promoting digital inclusion and enhancing financial literacy. The auspicious event took place on Wednesday 30th November 2022, at Orange-SL headquarters on IMATT.

The theme of the event, “Improved Access to Digital Financial Services” shed light on digitalization, financial inclusion and women empowerment in Sierra Leone.

Eric Mortem, highlighted that the purpose of the gathering is to wrap up the financial inclusion project with Orange Money, Empire Solutions and Mosabi.

He went on to state that the event marked a lucrative journey that started over a year ago and it’s a project funded by the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), with the motive to enhance innovation skills, promote financial literacy, and assess the impact of sustainability of the project.

The Orange Money CEO, David Mansaray, in his keynote address, said that sometime last year they entered into a partnership with Mosabi and Empire Solutions to win a Bid worth USD 150.000. He went on to state that the main objectives of that bid was to promote financial literacy, expand access to finance, recruit and train over 10.000 female agents. He added that each partner plays a key role to ensure that the dream was actualized with Mosabi responsible for the financial literacy, Empire Solutions was responsible for modernizing and providing the space for financial loans, whilst Orange money recruited and trained the agents.

He further stated that they have trained over 10.000 customers on financial literacy, and they were able to expand on the scope to promote entrepreneurship and teach customers how to promote their businesses to seek financial loans and how to maintain those loans – and they were encouraged to use most of the Orange Money services, as the objective was to enable them to access loan facilities in which Empire Solutions aided in that area.

David Mansaray affirmed that over 57.000 customers were able to access loans which cost around 3.5 million dollars.

He asserted that they have been able to put the money into good use and most have benefited from the project, thanks to Empire Solutions further highlighting that the other objective they achieved was to recruit female agents – as before, they used to have about 300 female agents, but now they have been able to recruit over 2.000 female agents and now they represent over 15% of the agent scale. “This has been very successful as now someone that was once unemployed is making a minimum of 950 Leones a month,” he said.

He mentioned that they were able to achieve all those objectives through the support of all partners and the UNCDF.

Orange money is not only providing financial services, but also creating a platform for the financial service literacy of all Sierra Leoneans.

He thanked partners and the central bank for their support saying going forward they are looking to having more partners and support to help push the financial digital Eco-space towards a positive upward trajectory and eradicate poverty.

The UNCDF Country Lead, Wycliffe Ngwabe, in his statement, acknowledged that he is honored to be part of such a wonderful gathering. He added that it is an unprecedented time in history, with the COVID-19 and the Ukraine/Russia war exacerbating pre-existing vulnerabilities across the globe and Sierra Leone has not been spared. He went on to say that exactly a year ago, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) partnered with Orange Mobile Financial Services in a consortium of Orange, Mosabi and Empire Solutions to improve distribution of Digital Financial Services in Sierra Leone leveraging innovative agent models, financial and digital literacy, and digital credit. The project aimed to focus on women, youth, and low – income – segment of the population.

He underscored that in Sierra Leone, the financial inclusion rate is 29% and for women it is 25%. This is according to the Global Index report 2021. He further stated that to accelerate financial inclusion there is the need to drive digital financial services (DFS) since we cannot continue to depend on brick – and – mortar structures.

There has been a lot of work done in the DFS space in Sierra Leone over past years but there remains a lot more to be done.

Mobile Money Operators, Commercial Banks and other DPS providers have tried to develop the ecosystem under the leadership of the Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL) but there is the need for more collaborated efforts through partnerships and integrations. He affirmed that the project is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1. No poverty; SDG 5 Gender Equality; SDG 8, Decent work and economic growth; and SDG 10, Reduced inequalities.“The UNCDF and its sister UN agencies are committed to working with you all to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals At the time of the start of the project, only 4% of the mobile money agents in Sierra Leone were women, Financial and digital literacy was low , and the digital loan product popularly called orange money ‘lajor’ was well suited to the needs of the target market and thus required some enhancement,” he said.

He continued that building on the successes of the project, the future for DPS in Sierra Leone is bright. There is the need to extend the innovation to Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLA) and other informal savings and credit groups by designing solutions that will mimic their methodology. There must be the right use cases and value proposition for the customers to want to go digital. The partnership with the consortium of Orange, Mosabi and Empire is evidence of how collaboratively a lot can be achieved within the industry. He urged players within the DES space to continue to work together towards building a strong digital ecosystem

“We are appreciative of your hard work and efforts and we look forward to more innovations and partnerships in the future.

Chris Czerwonka – Founder & CEO of Mosabi said that boosting of financial services is uniquely aligned with their mission to improve financial inclusion in Sierra Leone. He went on to say that they are happy to partner with Orange Money to see that the youthful population is included in the financial Eco space, as that is also the vision of the Bank of Sierra Leone.

The Central Bank Assistant Director of Development Unit – Momoh L. Sesay, expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation for such an event. He added that he is extremely delighted that such events are more focusing on women and Youths in Sierra Leone. He went on to say that the financial literacy in Sierra Leone is 21% and they are trying to breach the gap of financial literacy to ensure that every Sierra Leonean is well equipped with knowledge about the digital financial Eco-space. He went to say that it is good to have organizations that are willing to help with financial services and transform the nation positively.

The event climaxed with a short video of the beneficiaries who went through and benefited from the process.

 

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