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Discovering The Hidden Pens’ Ends Intercollegiate Poetry Competition

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their efforts towards celebrating brilliant minds and to provide growth opportunities for young gifted creative writers in the country, “Discovering The Hidden Pens Poetry Organization”, a non-profit organization working towards showcasing young poets in the country has on Saturday 19th November 2022 held its National Intercollegiate Poetry Competition grand finale in the country.

The Poetry Competition, which brought participants from different colleges in the country was held at the New City Hall Auditorium on Wallace Johnson Street in Freetown.

The top 3 winners in this year’s Intercollegiate Poetry Competition grand finale included Simeon Austin David Pangu, a student of the University of Makeni, who took the first position and was awarded NLe 20,000 by Orange Money plus being crowned as Brand Ambassador for Hypemart, Joseph Massaquoi a, Student of Fourah Bay College, who took the 2nd Position and was awarded NLe5, 000 by AfriGas and Fatu Conteh of the  Njala University, who took the 3rd position and was awarded NLe 2,000.

Speaking to this medium, the National Coordinator of “Discovering The Hidden Pens Poetry Organization”, John Koroma, said that the organization is working towards showcasing young poets in the country.

He added that the organization opened applications for students to apply and after applying they went through a rigorous process before the 10 finalists were announced, adding that the 10 finalists are representing top Universities/Colleges in the country which includes Fourah Bay College, the Institute of Public Administration and Management, UNIMAK, Njala University, Milton Margai Technical University etc.

John Koroma also stated that prior to the grand finale they held various outreach programs in order to provide the much-needed orientation to young creative minds to embrace the life-changing opportunity and to equally educate aspiring contenders to know the structure of the historic competition.

He concluded by applauding the Chief Executive Officer of Discovering The Hidden Pens Poetry Organization, Matilda Kahwa for creating the platform for young people in the country to discover their hidden talents.

Making a statement, the former winner of the Intercollegiate Poetry Competition, Lansana expressed appreciation to Discovering The Hidden Pens Poetry Organization for staging another edition of the Intercollegiate Poetry Competition which he described as a very important platform towards providing growth opportunities for young gifted creative writers in the country.

He said due to the Intercollegiate Poetry Competition that he won such has empowered him the more and has created several platforms for him. He urged all to make good use of the given platform which he said will provide growth opportunities for them.

On his part, Simeon Austin David Pangu, a student of Fourah Bay College, who took the first position, commended Discovering The Hidden Pens Poetry Organization for organizing the competition.

He said that he is proud to be announced as the winner of this year’s Intercollegiate Poetry Competition which he said was due to his commitment and hard.

Simeon Austin David Pangu called on other poets in the country to make good use of the opportunity given by Discovering The Hidden Pens Poetry Organization through its Intercollegiate Poetry Competition.

 

Human Trafficking As an “Emerging” Issue In Sierra Leone

Report By: Farid Kefel, for The Calabash Newspaper

Information collected from various destination countries reveals that traffickers have trafficked Sierra Leoneans abroad for different forms of exploitation. Much trafficking to the E.U. appears to be for prostitution, as data shows that all assisted trafficked persons in the Netherlands were working in the sex industry. In the Middle East, Lebanon underwent identification as a key destination for Sierra Leonean children. Traffickers generally recruited them with promises of education or well-paid jobs. However, in reality, these children worked as domestic workers and often experienced sexual exploitation from their employers.

Available data suggest that traffickers trafficked children to West Africa for working in plantations in Guinea and on the Ivory Coast, begging, committing petty crimes, and prostitution. The presence of Sierra Leonean unaccompanied minors (UAMs) in various destination countries is arguably a signal of trafficking risk. Civil society groups regularly comment that trafficking is “an emerging issue” that has existed in Sierra Leone for a long time, but now has a fresh identity as a form of exploitation. Traffickers move a large proportion of Sierra Leoneans internally from mostly rural areas to cities and towns. This form of trafficking impacts a significant amount of children who experience exploitation for sexual or labor purposes.

Sierra Leone is a source, transit, and destination country for children and women trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. Trafficking within the country is more prevalent than transnational trafficking and the majority of victims are children. Within the country, women and children are trafficked from rural provinces to towns and mining areas for domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, forced labor in diamond mines, petty trading, petty crime, and for forced begging. Women and children may also be trafficked for forced labor in agriculture and the fishing industry. It is important to be aware of the extent to which human trafficking is an issue and how trafficking cases occur. Baseline information that one can use to evaluate the further growth of the problem, as well as the effectiveness of the policies and programs in place to tackle trafficking must also emerge. More in-depth qualitative research is necessary to understand the nature of trafficking in the country, including the recruitment process, the routes and destinations, victim profiles, and the forms of exploitation.

The key to stopping and addressing human trafficking in Sierra Leone will be the implementation of anti-trafficking legislation. The police must learn about the recent trafficking law and its required elements, and the judiciary must receive training regarding how to enforce the law. Enforcement of policies and legislation on child protection needs to undergo urgent development. The porous nature of the borders of Sierra Leone requires attention in order to tackle trafficking and other forms of crime. Moreover, awareness-raising campaigns and income-generating programs must target rural areas where many trafficked children originate. While human trafficking in Sierra Leone is a serious issue, the increased counter-trafficking efforts are a step in the right direction.

Trans-nationally, Sierra Leonean women and children are trafficked to other West African countries, notably Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, and The Gambia for the same purposes listed above and to North Africa, the Middle East, and Western Europe for domestic servitude and sexual exploitation. Sierra Leone is a destination country for children trafficked from Nigeria and possibly from Liberia and Guinea for forced begging, forced labor in mines and as porters, and sexual exploitation. There have also been cases of children trafficked from refugee communities in Sierra Leone. However, the U.S. State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons placed the country in “Tier 2” in 2017. The government has demonstrated substantial efforts to prevent human trafficking; therefore, Sierra Leone has received an upgrade to Tier 2. These efforts included the increase in investigations and prosecutions, the arrest of traffickers for the first time in 15 years, increased training for trafficking officials, the commitment of an NGO center to the development of victims’ shelters, and the establishment of anti-trafficking task forces at the district level.

However, the Government still did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. Shelter and services, especially for male trafficking victims, remained inadequate. Law enforcement did not investigate past reports of corruption and complicity which impeded law enforcement efforts. Sierra Leoneans remained susceptible to traffickers as labor migrants. The government had to rely heavily on NGOs and private shelters, including UNICEF — a large advocate against child trafficking in Sierra Leone.

The Sierra Leonean Government demonstrated limited efforts to protect trafficking victims during the last year. The government does not operate its own shelter but refers victims to the nation’s only trafficking victim shelter, which is located in Freetown and operated by IOM. The Family Support Units (FSU) of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) turned over intercepted trafficking victims to the Ministry of Social Welfare (MOSW), which then referred the victims to IOM for assistance. Some victims outside Freetown were not referred for care, however, due to lack of transport to the capital or the difficulty of travel during the rainy season. The Government reported that it referred 14 trafficking victims to IOM for assistance in the 2007 calendar year. In January 2007, the Sierra Leonean Embassy in Conakry received from the Guinean Government and protected 10 suspected child trafficking victims and returned them to Sierra Leone. The MOSW and IOM determined that the children were in fact not trafficking victims, but were related to the aforementioned four Sierra Leonean women whom Guinean authorities had suspected were trafficking these children into Sierra Leone. The children were reunited with their parents under the supervision of the MOSW.

The Government of Sierra Leone does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so, despite limited resources. The Government reported that it prosecuted five traffickers, but was unable to provide data on trafficking convictions. While Sierra Leone reported that it referred victims to an international organization’s shelter, the number of victims referred was low.

 

GoSL-EU Forum Takes Place to Strengthen Bi-Lateral Ties

President Dr Julius Maada Bio has on the 17th November, 2022 held his fourth Government of Sierra Leone and European Union (EU) dialogue forum since 2018, emphasizing that in an era of global interconnection, they both need each other.

“In an era of global interdependence, the EU needs Africa as much as Africa needs the EU. Risks and challenges faced by African countries may have far-reaching ramifications for Europe. In the midst of a seeming global reset, this dialogue we are having this afternoon becomes even more important.

“Sierra Leone is only six hours away from Europe. There are new and existing opportunities that we can further harness. I am hopeful they will emerge during the course of these discussions. I, therefore, look forward with open-minded optimism to the dialogue this afternoon,” he told the opening.

President Bio said that he was pleased to discuss very pertinent issues that continue to shape the relationship between Sierra Leone and the European Union, adding that he appreciated their support to key sectors in the Medium-Term National Development Programme, his Human Capital Development agenda of education and agriculture, in particular.

He also cited, among other things, their interventions in infrastructure, mainly roads and bridges, as well as in governance that was already helping civil service reform, civil registration and Elections, adding that the country-specific bilateral cooperation was also very much appreciated.

“Let me use this opportunity to thank the EU for your invaluable contribution to Sierra Leone’s development. I am regularly briefed by the Minister of Planning and Economic Development on the ongoing development cooperation and interventions across the country,” he concluded.

The EU Head of Delegation, Ambassador Manuel Müller, who was taking part in the event for the first time since his arrival, said it was an excellent opportunity for them to take stock of the most important aspects of their bilateral relationship with the country and the Government.

He added that they would continue to support Sierra Leone’s efforts at consolidating democracy, and peace; promoting stability and creating a conducive environment for human rights and the rule of law, as well as fostering prosperity and development.

 

 

 

Premium Divine Appreciated with Humanitarian Goodwill Award 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Demonstrating recognition, gratitude and appreciation for the company’s outstanding and excellent services towards orphans and the less privileged children in the country, the Orphans Empowerment Society- Sierra Leone has on Wednesday 16th November, 2022 , during an auspicious event held at City Hall Auditorium in Freetown, recognized Premium Diving Trading Limited among several other institutions and personalities with this year’s Humanitarian Goodwill Award 2022.

The Award ceremony, which was geared towards recognizing individuals and institutions that have been providing excellent and humanitarian services towards orphans and the less privileged in the country was held in commemoration of World Orphans Day, which falls on the second Monday of each November, as a day to draw attention to the plight of the world’s orphans, and so on that day, people are encouraged to actively participate to help raise awareness, support and funding for motherless and fatherless children worldwide.

It must be noted that the organization has over the years been very supportive to the Orphan Empowerment Society (TOES) with series of donation of their products in order to support orphans and less privileged children in the country.

Worthy of note is that the continuous support by the company was done within the context of enhancing or raising awareness on the part of the company of healthy eating habits by availing their products, the Miksi nutritious package,  to actual and potential consumers  to enable them and their families enjoy good nutrition through the consumption of Miksi chocolate drink that were sampled during the award ceremony.

In his address during the programme, the National Coordinator of The Orphan Empowerment Society (TOES), Amb Alie Conteh, said the organization, with other humanitarian organizations, joined the world to commemorate the World Orphan Day on the theme: “Caring for Orphan Children in Awful Conditions is a Duty, Particularly in the Fight Against Corruption.”

He added that as part of the commemoration the organization used the opportunity to recognize individuals and institutions that have been providing excellent and humanitarian services towards orphans and the less privileged in the country with 2022 Humanitarian Goodwill Awards.

The National Coordinator revealed that their goal as an organization for the year 2022/2023 is to empower 5,000 orphans across Sierra Leone with vocational skills and free medical care which, he said, they have been doing but said they cannot do that alone by leveraging on their massive volunteer network and the support of kindhearted partners that have been supporting the organization.

He commended Premium Divine Trading Company limited for supporting the organization with donations of their Miski Chocolate products.

Amb. Alie Conteh used the opportunity to inform the gathering that in December, 2021 Premium Divine Trading Company limited donated 200 cartoons of their food products, which included 100 cartoons of Yumvita and 100 cartoons of Miksi Chocolate to the Orphan Empowerment Society (TOES) with the objective of supporting Orphans in Orphanage Homes within the Freetown Municipality.

“Today again in commemoration of World Orphans Day 2022 we are proud to announce that the company has supported us with 100 cartoons of assorted products and 1000 exercise books in order to support our orphans in the country and for this I want to use this special opportunity to appreciate Premium Divine Trading Company limited for their immense support towards the development of orphans in the country,” he concluded.

The National Coordinator on behalf of the Orphan Empowerment Society (TOES) presented the Humanitarian Goodwill Award 2022 in recognition for the company’s outstanding and excellent services towards orphans and less privileged children in the country.

Commenting on behalf of the company, the Marketing Manager of Premium Divine Trading Ltd, Kwaku Ampadu Afoani expressed appreciation to the Orphan Empowerment Society (TOES) for the recognition.

He said that the company is very pleased to join the world to commemorate World Orphans Day.

Kwaku Ampadu Afoani said that food is a basic requirement for life and the company’s support is geared towards ensuring no orphan child sleeps hungry, adding that is why they are offering 100 cartons of their assorted products to the orphanages represented at the ceremony.

He stated that additionally the company is also donating 1000 exercise books to support these orphans’ educational pursuits.

The Marketing Manager informed all that this is not the first donation that the company has made to support orphans in the country of which he said that the company is caring for orphans and less privileged children in the country through the Orphan Empowerment Society.

He informed the gathering that at Premium Divine Trading, their mission is to provide quality food products for all.

Earlier in his statement, the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Mohamed Haji Kella commended the Orphan Empowerment Society (TOES) for the initiative, adding that during the event he engaged a child from one of the orphanage home who told him about how he has been eating Miksi Chocolate of which he further extended appreciation to Miski Chocolate for their continuous support towards supporting vulnerable children in the country.

He said that World Orphans Day is a very important day and that the day has been put in place to draw attention to the plight of the world’s orphans, and so on that day people are encouraged to actively participate in helping raise awareness, support and funding for motherless and fatherless children worldwide.

The Minister, however, called on other institutions and individuals to support orphans in the country. He stated that the country currently has over 3.7 million children and that 12 percent of that population of children lost either one or two of their parents.

He said that most of orphans are living in poverty and that only few of them are living in orphanage homes of which he said some of these children are living on the street and vulnerable to a lot of abuses.

Other dignitaries present at the ceremony,  including the Chargé d’affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone, Li Xiaoyong, the Chief Executive Officer of Leone Rock Mental Group  made enlightening statements.

Closing the ceremony was the presentation of certificates, awards to individuals and institutions that have been providing excellent and humanitarian services towards orphans and the less privileged in the country with the Humanitarian Goodwill Award 2022 of which the  Country Director of Premium Divine Trading Ltd, Kenneth Konuah was also one of the awardees of this year’s Humanitarian Goodwill Award.

Healey International Receives $234,000 Grant form USAID

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Country Director of Healey International Relief Foundation (HealeyIRF), Ishmael Alfred Charles, has informed pressmen that the Healey International Relief Foundation has received a grant of $234,000 from the United States Agency International Development (USAID) grant through the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program to support its work in Sierra Leone.

He made that disclosure during a snap press conference held on Friday 18th November, 2022 at Caritas Freetown Conference Hall on Kingtom in Freetown.

The Country Director said that ASHA program focuses on at-risk youth and improving health outcomes and that the program works to strengthen local capacity and to increase mutual understanding between the U.S and other countries by funding projects at schools, libraries, and hospitals that highlight U.S. values.

He stated that HealeyIRF will partner with Caritas Freetown to implement the “Innovate Your Future Project” which will focus on reaching at-risk youth in Sierra Leone and demonstrating to them how the values of teamwork, science, and innovation can help solve economic and healthcare challenges, adding that Sierra Leone has a very young population with nearly 25% of the population between the ages of 10-19.

He disclosed that to support the program eight Universal Anesthesia Machines (UAM) will be purchased and placed at four faith-based hospitals throughout the country, furthering that a UAM was selected for the project as it was specifically designed to address obstacles many hospitals face in Sierra Leone such as intermittent electricity supply and lack of medical oxygen.

He maintained that during project workshops and site visits they will show the youth how this equipment is saving lives and improving health outcomes in their communities and that through those program efforts and other planned activities the project objective of having program participants feeling more empowered over their future will be realized.

“The ASHA grant is a significant step forward in our work in Sierra Leone,” noted Ben Parra, Executive Director of HealeyIRF. He said the UAMs will not only provide the needed resources in the health facilities they support, but their partner ,Caritas Freetown, has long worked with at-risk youth and that will help enhance their project efforts in that critical area.

He informed pressmen that HealeyIRF has been working in Sierra Leone since 2001 and has partnered with Caritas Freetown on a variety of areas or issues including disaster relief, delivery of healthcare services, and education, concluding that the Innovate Your Future Project will be a two-year effort but will have a long-lasting impact on youths and communities through a greater understanding of each country’s shared values.

 

 ‘Word Made Flesh’-SL Commemorates 20thAnniversary

By Foday Moriba Conteh

‘Word Made Flesh’-Sierra Leone, an organization that has been extending love and care for youths, destitute families, and young children in Freetown, specifically those category of people residing within the Kroo Bay community, has commemorated its 20th Anniversary in the country.

As part of the organization’s activities in commemorating its 20th Year Anniversary, on Thursday 17th November 2022, a dinner was held at the Ale Ale House of Hope on May Street in Kingtom West End of Freetown which was followed by an Anniversary Celebratory 7 Kilometers Walk held on Saturday 19th November 2022 starting from the National Stadium gate to the Family Kingdom Resort on Aberdeen in Freetown.

Speaking to this medium, the Field Director of Word Made Flesh, Jennifer Seo Ney, revealed that the organization was established in Sierra Leone in 2002 after the brutal 10-year civil war in the country, adding that during the first few years when the organization was founded attention was initially focused on working with street youths but few years later their focus shifted to working with vulnerable children and families residing within the Kroo Bay slum community.

She maintained that the organization’s Mission is to holistically care for children and young adults through discipleship, offering educational/vocational opportunities and working towards building family-like relationships.

Jennifer Seo Ney stated that the organization has holistic programs which includes providing mentorship, education, health, prevention from Sexual Abuse etc. furthering that one their strategies is building good relationships with people, especially within communities they operate.

She revealed that during the 20 years of service in the country the organization has impacted so many lives and they have seen so many lives been transformed.

The Field Director pointed out that the AléAlé House of Hope, their Ministry Center, is a place where the children from Kroo Bay can experience community hospitality and safety and that in addition to their church activities, children are welcomed to share meals, grow a garden together and play in the playground, adding that the center is also a place where their international staff develop intimate relationships as they worship and learn together.

She said that the protection of children from sexual abuse is also part of their programs of which she underscored that girls in Kroo Bay are particularly vulnerable since many of them experience sexual abuse and exploitation from young ages and that the organization supports these children and their families by providing sexual abuse prevention education and counselling, as well as helping them receive medical care and pursue legal action against perpetrators.

Jennifer Seo Ney elaborated that through their Kroo Bay Outreach WMF staff, volunteers from nearby churches and some Lighthouse youth reach out weekly to build relationships with vulnerable families in Kroo Bay and  through compassionate listening and prayers, they seek to bring God’s love to those struggling with poverty at Kroo Bay.

She maintained that since the establishment of the organization they have transformed thousands of lives through their programs, they have supported vulnerable youths who were neglected but through the organization’s support they have become University graduates, furthering that through their women program they have empowered and given dignity to so many women within the Kroo Bay community disclosing how some of those women who were abused came to them and now they have been equipped with vocational skills.

“For the past 20 years we have journeyed with people through challenging times and we have seen them become important members in society. So we celebrate God’s faithfulness, we celebrate the lives that have been transformed,” she concluded.

On his part, the Director of Finance and Administration at Word Made Flesh Sierra Leone, Ansumana Bangura, said that they organization is very proud to state that for the past 20 years they have serve humanity within the Kroo Bay community.

He said that as part of the celebration the organization undertook several activities which include their Lighthouse Mentorship Program, which is an integrated program where youths in Kroo Bay, one of the poorest communities in Freetown, are intentionally disciplined and mentored through these activities: Weekly corporate worship, table fellowship, prayer and interactive Bible study, One-on-one small group meetings etc.

Ansumana Bangura added that the organization also had their Women and Men Ministry activities, the 20th Anniversary Dinner, the ultimate Frisbee, 20th Anniversary Celebratory 7 Kilometer Walk, and the Kroo Bay Good News Club were children in Kroo Bay attend the Good News Club for vibrant worship, dynamic Bible stories, prayer, first aid and nutritional snacks as part of the 20th anniversary celebration.

“20 years down the line we will continue to work with people within the Kroo Bay among the most impoverished of Freetown, sharing in their lives and hardships, building mutual relationships of caring and trust, and experiencing together the incarnate love of Jesus,” he maintained.

Narrating his testimony during the dinner, John G. Sesay, one of the beneficiaries of Word Made Flesh Sierra Leone, expressed appreciation for the support the organization has given to him over the years.

He said that 11 years ago he had an accident were he nearly died and that his entire family, including his father gave up upon him but said one day a staff of Word Made Flesh Sierra Leone visited the Kroo Bay Community specifically the hospital where he was admitted, adding the organization supported him in order to regain his health.

“After the accident, I couldn’t walk of which I became more vulnerable and neglected but through the support from Word Made Flesh Sierra Leone now I can walk. I was not going to school by then but the organization also supported me to go to school, I started schooling at age 19 today I have completed high school and am set to be enrolled at the Milton Magai University,” he expressed gratitude.

 

Chinese Embassy Boosts Morale of RSLAF with Military Equipment

Li Xiaoyong, Chargé d’affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone on the 18th November,2022 handed over some equipment to the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces  during an impressive ceremony in which  H.E. Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the Minister of Defence, Kellie Hassan Conteh, Chief of Defence Staff, Lt. General Peter K. Lavahun, Joint Force Commander Major General Dauda Fred Alpha and other distinguished guests were present.

HE. President Bio expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese Government and the People’s Liberation Army for the extensive and significant support to Sierra Leone especially in the security sector. He said that the donated equipment will support RSLAF to undertake civil works in disaster mitigation and response, including flood control and medical and humanitarian emergencies. President Bio promised that Sierra Leone will continue to deepen and promote the solidarity and cooperation between the two friendly nations.

Li Xiaoyong pointed out that the aid is meant for supporting the commendable efforts of the Sierra Leonean Government in enhancing the capacity of its Army. It is a result of the long standing and profound friendship between the two countries and two armies. It is also a concrete action of China in supporting Sierra Leone in pursuing greater development.

He expressed the belief that the items will boost the morale of soldiers and contribute to the consolidation of peace and security in this country and help President Bio’s New Direction Strategy in delivering more well-being to the country and to the people.

Mr. Li said that China has embarked on a new journey of modernization as announced during the 20th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress and China will continue enhancing its cooperation with Sierra Leone to promote the partnership to a new high.

 

 

Rokel Commercial Bank Records Profit of Le88.7 Billion for 2021

BY Abubakarr Harding

This medium was reliably informed that the Rokel Commercial Bank has paid over 17 Billion Leones to its majority (Government of Sierra Leone) and minority shareholders as dividend following a pre-tax profit of Le88.7 Billion recorded for 2021. The dividend represents a significant increase from Le10.6 Billion reported for 2020 financial statements.

Despite a harsh business climate, occasioned by the aftershocks of the COVID -19 pandemic that shattered economies around the Globe, the Rokel Commercial Bank’s 2021 profit constitutes a 6 percent increase from its Le 83.6 Billion profit of 2020.

The bank held its 49th Annual General Meeting past Thursday at the New City Hall where the Chairman of RCBank’s Board of Directors, Buffy Bailor explained that the bank had worked hard to sustain the gains made in previous years by opening a new branch at Juba to serve Juba, Goderich and Peninsular communities.

Buffy Bailor also revealed; “In line with its strategic plan to enhance financial inclusion, the Bank made significant progress towards expanding its services in the East End of Freetown and Tongo Fields in the Eastern Province….During the period under review, the deposit base of the Bank increased by Nineteen (19%) percent to SLE.1.78Bn from SLE1.5bn in 2020.  The growth recorded under this segment was due to the collective efforts of the staff through support from Management…”

Last year, Rokel Commercial Bank overhauled its technology infrastructure with a new Core Banking System and the digitization efforts paid off with the elimination of paper-based transactions, reduced long queues, enhanced turnaround time, faster service and staff productivity.

Earlier, RCbank Managing Director, Amb Dr Walton Ekundayo Gilpin who has been largely credited for the bank’s phenomenal transformation made an impressive revelation of the bank’s prudential statistics stating that the bank’s  positive retained earnings increasing from Le44 billion  in 2020 to over Le77Billion in 2021. With a 56.80% capital adequacy ratio and a loan deposit ratio of 27.36%, Gilpin said the bank is comfortably in line with the Bank of Sierra Leone’s minimum loan deposit threshold.

He furthered;  “We have significantly increased our lending portfolio and new Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) programme is not only changing lives of many Sierra Leoneans in the informal sector, it has also generated good returns for the Bank due to its phenomenal loan repayment rate…..as a bank, our principal aim is to make profit . However, it is equally gratifying that the bank serve as an engine of growth in Sierra Leone…”

The high point of the AGM was when one of the shareholders stood up to present a wooden plaque to the Managing Director in recognition of what he described as  his “outstanding performance” in transforming a bank that was only known for loss making. A loud applause in the room apparently points to the trust and confidence the bank’s management enjoys from its shareholders.

 

Afrimoney & RCBank Enter Integrated Money Transfer Partnership 

By Abakarr Harding

In order to continue providing qualitative services for their numerous esteemed customers and subscribers, the Rokel Commercial Bank and Afrimoney on the 18 November 2022 have launched an integration system during a snap event that took place at the Juba RCBank branch in Freetown.

Present were officials of the two institutions including the Managing Director of the Rokel Commercial Bank, Dr. Ekundayo Walton Gilpin, the Director of AfriMoney, Martinson Obeng-Agyei, some customers, subscribers and members of the Fourth Estate.

In a welcome address, the Business Centre Manager of Rokel Commercial Bank, Umaru Shyllon, stated that the collaboration between RCBank and Afrimoney signifies hi tech and digital banking, adding that since both entities cannot compete with each other it was therefore necessary for a collaboration to take place.

He said the process has been a long journey for RCBank, which is one of the leading banks in the country and Africell which is a telecommunication company with a broad subscriber base.

The Business Centre Manager furthered how the launching conforms to the financial inclusion drive that the RCBank Managing Director, Dr. Gilpin, has been working towards actualizing, according to the Central Bank’s policy right across the country.

“The collaboration shows that the financial drive inclusion is moving,” he maintained stating that the partnership will enable RCBank customers and Afrimoney subscribers to get money from their accounts to their wallets,” he disclosed saying what that means is that transactions are brought to the doorsteps of customers and subscribers underscoring how such could help RCBank customers that are far away from the bank to get access to their accounts without going to the bank.

Managing Director of RCBank, Dr. Gilpin, in his statement, said that the aspect of financial access points means the average time individuals would be able to get access to their money at anytime and do whatever they want to do with it.

According to him, they are coming together to improve the financial sector by introducing latest initiatives within the financial and banking sector  adding that the collaboration is key to enhance financial inclusion in which one can access Afrimoney and banking services  at anytime and anywhere.

Dr Glipin stated that with the over six thousand Afrimoney agents within the country the RCBank will be able to come out to where they would want to be.

“With this partnership between Africell and RCBank customers will have easy access to their monies and can be able to deposit into their RCBank accounts using their Afrimoney wallet and as well withdraw from their RCBank accounts into their Afrimoney wallets,” he stated.

The Director of Finance, Rokel Commercial Bank, Abassie Thomas stated that the RCbank and Africell are not just ordinary companies but have become brand names. He went further to intimate that the bank provides formal services to their customers and that Afrimoney though part of the formal sector but mostly provides services in informal ways and so therefore the collaboration forged between the two entities demonstrate financial inclusion which will help their customers get smooth access to their monies.

Abassie Thomas claimed that RCBank has taken the lead in financial inclusion within the country and so for them to team up with Afrimoney is a fantastic concept, and also a win-win situation for everybody.

Director of AfriMoney, Martison Obeng-Agyei, expressed how thrilled they are to announce the beginning of their relationship with the RCBank to provide the Bank to Wallet, Wallet to Bank service.

According to him, the service would let AfriMoney customers with RCBank bank accounts transfer money and save money at their convenience from their bank accounts to their mobile money wallets and from their mobile money wallets to their bank accounts and get the same alert if they where to come to the bank.

The Director said that with this partnership he is very hopeful that their customers will be happy especially as they will ensure that the  service works on a  24 hours basis. He said whilst the bank has  a specific closing time, however, on the other hand Afrimoney agents do work beyond the bank closing time.

“Even during the rain period RCBank customers would not have to go under the rain to the bank as long as there is an Afrimoney agent nearby,” he said.

1st Lady in Rome for Inaugural Commemoration of Day against Child Abuse

By Abubakarr Harding

The First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, arrived in Rome, Italy on Thursday 17th November 2022, for the inaugural commemoration of United Nations World Day for Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence

It must be recalled that a special day was recently set aside as a brand new Day of commemoration by the U.N. General Assembly after a Historic Resolution was presented there by the First Lady earlier this month as part of His Excellency President of Sierra Leone Dr. Julius Maada Bio’s efforts to protect Women and Children especially Girls.

To her credit, H.E. Dr. Fatima Maada Bio has a shining record, spanning over two decades now, on Advocacy for Protection of Women and Children.

On November 18th, 2022 in Rome, the distinguished Sierra Leone global icon used her experience to participate in High-Level discussions alongside a distinguished panel of Scholars and Government Representatives.

During the High Level discussions,  consensus on the types of Actions that Governments around the World can take to Prevent Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence were deliberated on as well as to ensure victims can get to Heal after suffering such heinous crimes.

The First Lady was warmly welcomed at the airport by a cross-section of Sierra Leone diplomats in Europe led by Sierra Leone Ambassador in Germany H.E. M’Baimba Lamin Baryoh who is also accredited to The Vatican and Italy.

More than 600 victims of child sexual abuse and violence gathered with their families at the Vatican for “healing prayers” on Friday – 18th November 2022 which the United Nations declared as World Day for the Prevention of Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence.

Fatima Bio, who introduced the UN resolution, was in Rome to observe the day that will annually train the spotlight on the sexual exploitation of children and the need to bring those accused to justice.

“It’s also about a healing process. The resolution itself is not only about having a day but about using that day to let child rape victims know that they are not in this on their own,” Ms Bio said in an interview with The National in Dubai before leaving for Rome.

Sponsored by Sierra Leone and Nigeria, the UN resolution was co-sponsored by more than 110 nations and adopted on November 7.

It recommends education about the effects on children, the need to prevent exploitation offline and online and for survivors to have access to justice, eliminate stigma, affirm their dignity and promote their rights.

The symbolism of the Vatican to commemorate the first day was deliberate, to show that the Roman Catholic Church is committed to addressing the scale of child sexual abuse by priests.

Pope Francis has expressed shame about sexual abuse by the clergy and promised that the “ugly habit” of covering up cases would change.

“When people talk about rape, you think of girls. But the story is darker in the church, because they were supposed to protect children,” Ms Bio said.

Prayer was a key part of the first commemorative day.

Ms Bio also credited the resolution to Jennifer Wortham, a US resident whose two younger brothers were molested by their parish priest more than 30 years ago.

Ms Wortham appealed to her to raise the issue at the UN, was with her when the resolution was first presented in September and was also in Rome for the prayers.

A key aspect of the campaign is access to justice so survivors and their families can rely on support when they take their battle to court.

“Victims have to find money to pay for their court cases and transport,” Ms Bio said.

“They should not be victimized again. This burden should be taken up by governments who can set up a mechanism to support victims.”

She also spoke out against the culture of silence about child abuse in Africa.

The President of Sierra Leone, her husband Julius Bio, had declared a national emergency in 2019 over the rape of a five-year-old girl who later died of her injuries.

He said 70 per cent of the survivors of sexual assault were under the age of 15 and that hundreds of cases of rape and assault were reported every day in the West African nation.

It must be noted that Ms Bio has built a network of female lawyers who voluntarily take on sexual assault cases.

“We hope all countries will ease the pain of these children because this is a destroyer of homes,” she said.

“When you talk to victims, to their family, you see the anger, the pain in their faces.

“This violates your space and body, takes away your dignity without your permission. This is why we want victims to be able to talk and Governments to prioritize this,” she said with passion.

In another development, speaking as a Guest of Honor for Africa’s First Ladies at the 9th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa, Asia Luminary 2022, which took place at the Hilton Hotel, Habtoor City, Dubai, the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio disclosed that women in Africa go through extreme societal stigmatization whenever they are faced with issues of infertility, as the African society often blames women for childlessness.

She used the forum as an opportunity to make a clarion call for support to be given to women dealing with infertility issues, and the need to avoid stigmatization, as men equally go through infertility issues that are less talked about.

The First Lady spoke of her firm belief that something can be done to change the myth and stereotype surrounding infertility issues, pledging her support through her Office to advocate on infertility issues

‘’I believe babies are made by two people, hence the issue of infertility should be dealt with holistically and not in isolation,” she asserted.

CEO of Merck Foundation and Chairperson of Merck Foundation Asia Luminary, Dr. Rasha Kelej acknowledged African leaders for being part of the significant strides the foundation has made in dealing with health issues in Africa.

“I am proud to share with you all that Merck Foundation has provided more than 1470 scholarships to young doctors from 50 countries in 32 critical and underserved specialties such as Diabetes oncology with many of them becoming the first specialists in their respective countries,” he said with pride.

 

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