Home Blog Page 657

The Numbers of a Decade: A Journey through China’s Modernization –CGTN

By Amin Kef-Ranger

As China looks ahead to the future after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), let’s recount how the world’s most populous country has fared during the past decade in its journey of economic, political, cultural, social and environmental development.

Economy

An analysis of the last two Five-Year Plans (FYPs) shows that rapid and sustainable economic development, as well as industrial restructuring, emerged as two of the main focuses of the 2011-2015 period, while the 13th FYP (2016-2020) aimed to maintain a medium-high rate of growth.

While China’s GDP more than doubled in the past decade, the contribution of its economic growth to the world economy stands at 18.5 percent.

Moreover, China made substantial leaps in scientific and technological development, building its own space station for future international collaboration and launching missions to the moon, Mars and beyond.

Politics

China adopted its first Civil Code in 2020 after a journey of 66 years. During the compilation, 1.02 million pieces of advice from around 425,000 people were solicited.

China also improved its security environment, with people’s sense of security topping 98 percent, according to a survey.

Moreover, while the CPC membership went up, the participation of non-CPC entities, especially in the consultative process, increased as well.

Society

China achieved one of its “two centenary goals” of becoming a “moderately prosperous society” in 2021. One of the most significant of the struggles has been of eliminating the scourge of absolute poverty.

Speaking of health, China’s average life expectancy increased from 74.83 years in 2010 to 78.2 years in 2021. While the mortality rates continued to dip, a large number of people were brought under social security cover.

In the face of COVID-19, China prioritized human lives over economic gains through its dynamic zero-COVID policy and pushed vaccines as global public goods.

Furthermore, doubling of spending on the education sector in the past decade and the universalization of free nine-year compulsory education could be part of the reason why China’s literacy rate is only 2.67 percentage points shy of hitting an absolute 100 percent.

Culture

In the past decade, the government took a range of initiatives to not only meet people’s contemporary cultural needs but also preserve history by building infrastructures like libraries, museums, and galleries.

China has also been going above and beyond in nurturing a strong culture of sports and fitness, forging ahead with its national strategies of Fitness-for-All, Healthy China Initiative, and Building China into a Country Strong in Sports.

Environment

China’s promise to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 came hot on the heels of a decade of progress achieved in lowering its dependency on coal, shifting to alternative sources of energy, increasing forest coverage and biodiversity, and taking a series of steps to mitigate climate change.

Dangerous Traditional Practice: Fullah Woman on the run for Marrying Boyfriend, Receives Multiple Death Threats from Family Members

Isatu Haja Bah
Isatu Haja Bah

By Abubakarr Harding

Isatu Haja Bah, a 22-year-old Sierra Leonean Fullah woman, is said to be on the run with her six-month-old son after receiving multiple death threats and physical attacks from family members for secretly marrying a man she had dated against her family’s tradition.

The issue was reported to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) by her father who claimed that a man by the name of Mohamed Lamrana Bah, has been dating his daughter for years and all efforts to get him off his daughter proved futile.

Haja’s father, Mr Ibrahim Jalloh said: “As if that was not enough, Mohamed Lamrana Bah went ahead to secretly married my daughter without her family’s consent, which is against our tradition”.

The father went on to state that he has not seen her daughter for two years now, and that he’s made to understand that she has given birth to a male child. He continued that he will never accept the marriage, describing the child as ‘illegitimate’ (a bastard) that does not deserve to live.

Mr Jalloh is the second Imam (one who leads prayers) in one of the biggest Fullah mosques in Freetown, Sierra Leone and it is expected that he and his family should lead their Muslim community by example.

Furthermore, Mr. Jalloh said he had betrothed her daughter (Mrs. Bah) to a 59 years old Fullah man when she was very young; and that the said man has been pressuring him to present his daughter for him to marry her.

This medium can authoritatively confirm that Mr. Jalloh has been suspended from his role as Deputy Imam, and he is facing rejection and, in some instances, hostility from his tribesmen for what they referred to as an abomination committed by her daughter (dating a man before marriage).

This, according to sources, made the family members of Isatu Haja Bah very angry. A close friend of Mrs. Bah (Mariatu Sankoh) told this medium that family members of Mrs. Bah have been desperately searching for her to eliminate her and the baby to save them the embarrassment and provocation.

The friend also told this medium that family members of Mrs. Bah have, on several occasions, attacked and threatened to kill Mr. Mohamed Lamrana Bah for marrying their daughter under such circumstances and putting the name of their family into disrepute.

This medium also understands that the husband, wife, and son are on the run/in hiding for the most part of their marriage in fear of their lives and reprisals.

At this moment, every effort to know the whereabouts of the troubled couple and their son have proved futile.

In Sierra Leone, it is against the tradition of the Fullah tribe for a woman to have sex with a man before marriage. According to them, this will subject their family to rejection, public ridicule, and neglect from the Fullah community.

That is why they take the greatest exception to it by preventing both their male and female children from having love relationships before getting married.

A recent study by ‘Salone Health’, a civil society organization, revealed that the Fullah community accounts for 46% of early marriages in Sierra Leone.

Section 4 of the Public Order Act, 1965 states: “Every person who, with a view to compel any other person to abstain from doing or to do any act which such other person has a legal right to do or abstain from doing, wrongfully and without legal authority— (i) uses violence to or intimidates such other person or his wife or children, or injures his property,…shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding eighty Leones or imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months or both.

The medium will continue to investigate this matter.

 

Ivorian Citizen Sent to 28 Days Imprisonment for Loitering

By Abubakarr Harding

The Resident Magistrate of Mattru Jong Town, Bonthe District, His Worship Magistrate Momoh Lansana has sentenced Saidu Bokina, an Ivorian citizen to 28 days imprisonment for Loitering.

Accused Saidu Bokina was apprehended in Mattru Jong on the 26th October, 2022. Upon interrogation, it was discovered that he was unable to speak any local language or English, but French only.

In Court, he pleaded guilty after the charge was put to him in French but he failed to give any other information to the Court.

After pleading guilty, Magistrate Lansana sentenced him to 28 days at the Mattru Jong Correctional Centre, having considered the fact that he did not waste the court’s time. (The maximum term is one Month).

The following Court Orders were given: (a) That the Correctional Centre Authorities in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Police and the Sierra Leone Immigration verify the country of origin of the convict; (b) That the convict after serving his prison term be deported to his country of origin.

 

Fatima Bio Meets her Guinean ‘Daughter’

By Abubakarr Harding

Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, the Leader of the Republic of Guinea, who travelled with his only daughter Jaba Doumbouya to Sierra Leone on Friday October 28th 2022, introduced his daughter to the First Lady of Sierra Leone whilst smilingly saying he brought his daughter over specifically for her to meet the Sierra Leone First Lady.

In typical Madinka Madingo tradition, the Guinean Leader told First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio that she should take his daughter as her own daughter.

“I brought your daughter to meet you,” Colonel Mamady Doumbouya said at State House on his arrival as he introduced his daughter to the First Family with a special emphasis on the fact that his daughter already admires the Sierra Leone First Lady so much.

The First Lady of Guinea,  Laurianne Doumbouya, who just delivered newborn baby son Lansana Doumbouya last month, was unable to make the trip however the Sierra Leone First Lady was at hand to ensure she warmly welcomed the First Gentleman and the First Daughter of Guinea.

After handing his daughter over to First Lady Fatima Maada Bio, the Guinean Head of State went into closed-door discussions with the Sierra Leone Head of State.

Whilst the discussions were being held between only the two Heads of State behind closed doors, the Honourable Vice President, Foreign Minister and other State officials engaged with other high profile Guinean officials whilst First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio engaged herself with Guinea’s First Daughter Jaba Doumbouya in mother-daughter discussions.

First Lady Fatima Maada Bio spent the entire time of the closed door discussions between her husband and the Guinean Leader, engaging her daughter Jaba Doumbouya in what the Sierra Leone First Lady later remarked as “a delightful time with my daughter Jaba”.

Jaba Doumbouya was seen in all smiles as she walked around State House lovingly behind the sweet motherly Sierra Leone First Lady Fatima Maada Bio.

It is well known that First Lady of Sierra Leone has a natural affinity with youths, especially with Girls who see Her Excellency Dr. Fatima Maada Bio as their Role Model. Such admiration of Girls for H.E. Dr. Fatima Maada Bio transcends the shores of Sierra Leone into neighbouring countries and further into the world at large.

 

Break Down of Mabanta Ferry Causing Serious Problems in Sanda Magbolontor

By Emmanuel Bangura

The issue of travelling through the gateway to Sanda Magbolonthor Chiefdom right inside Kamakwie Town in the  Karene District, Northern Sierra Leone is presently very tedious for indigenes at that part of the country due to the total breakdown of the Mabanta Ferry for the past four (4) months now.

According to stakeholders in that part of the country that spoke to this medium, the ferry was damaged as a result of the overloading of timber logs, coal, and heavy vehicles which were not supposed to use that route.

This medium learnt that with the breakdown of the Mabanta Ferry, which is a major option to Sanda Magbolonthor and Kamakwie Town, an untold suffering had fell upon the indigenes and travelers to those areas, coupled with the general increase in transportation fares which currently stands at Two Hundred New Leones (NL 200) from Freetown to Sanda Magbolonthor Chiefdom and beyond. This medium further discovered that when  the rugged road to that Chiefdom will be constructed, a vehicle can spend lesser than four hours, which is about 115 Miles from Freetown to Sanda Magbolonthor Chiefdom.

Since travelers that are frequently travelling to and from the Chiefdom can’t afford to pay the huge charges involved to travel by road, they are using canoes as an option to cross the river, while some people also making use of bikes (Okadas) to travel by road in to the Chiefdom with multiple charges.

In that regard, the suffering masses of Sanda Magbolonthor Chiefdom within Karene District are calling on the Government of Sierra Leone to step in and render a helping hand to construct a bridge so that the prevailing suffering among citizens in the Chiefdom can be mitigated or reduced, especially during the height of the rainy season.

 

Pan-SL Stages Basita Michael Public Speaking For Girls

By Abubakarr Harding

The Patriotic Advocacy Network Sierra Leone (PAN-SL), has on Saturday the 29th October, 2022 staged the grand finale of The Basita Michael Public Speaking for Girls on the theme: “Digital Generation, Our Generation.”
The grand finale of the competition was hosted at the Hill Valley Academy Multipurpose Hall, Mambo which featured the participation of twenty girls who participated in the Public Speaking, Spoken Words, and Music Categories.

In her opening statement, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of PAN, who doubles as the Lead Project for The Public Speaking for Girls, Patriot Janet S. Kallon said that in celebrating this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, PAN SL and partners recognized it with the 2nd Edition of Public Speaking Training, Career Building and Competition for Girls who are attending various secondary schools in the Western Area Rural and Urban. She said that PAN is a nonprofit making organization that is operating across Sierra Leone with a large membership of over 1,500 and has chapters in all major schools in the country.

In her statement, the Principal of the Hill Valley Academy, Madam Zainab Kamara threw light on the background of her school which was established in 2018 with the Motto: “Together We Can Achieve The Extraordinary”.

She welcomed all and sundry to the prestigious school; Hill Valley Academy stating that they encourage a sense of responsibility and they will continue to support initiatives that aim to build a better Sierra Leone.

Giving the Keynote Address, Sierra Leone’s Attorney and Advocate, Basita Michael stated:“I was so humbled to be given the opportunity by the Patriotic Advocacy Network to serve as the keynote speaker. The first thing I did was to look at the theme: Digital Generation, Our Generation”.

How many girls in Sierra Leone have access to Information Communication Technology (ICT) and How many girls have the requisite skills and knowledge to effectively operate ICT??? Basita asked.
She said that it is time we close the gender gap in Sierra Leone and give access to digital generation.

“I have observed in many campaigns, they are just emphasizing on education, it’s time we focus on the access of technology,” she stated.

She reaffirmed that to create Sierra Leone no one should not be left behind, we can all have access to the digital world, “let us make a digital world in Sierra Leone for reality.

Certificates were given to the twenty schools that participated in the entire competition, all the sixty (60) girls who competed were awarded and medals and cash prizes were given to the best three from each category.

 

Confucius Institute FBC & GCIGC Play Friendship Football Match

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College University of Sierra Leone has on Saturday 29th October 2022 held another friendly Football Match with the Gansu Construction Investment (Holdings) Group Company Limited on the theme: “Show Your Style, Pursue Your Dreams” The friendly match was played at the Siaka Stevens National Stadium Main Bowl in Freetown.

The friendly match ended 4-2 in favor of the Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College University of Sierra Leone.

Speaking to this medium, the Chinese Director of Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College, Professor Jing Man, said that they are very happy to play the friendly Football Match with the Gansu Construction Investment (Holdings) Group Company Limited football.

He pointed out that the football game is geared towards enhancing friendship which is not only the friendship between the Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College and Gansu Construction Investment (Holdings) Group Company Limited.

She continued that the game will also help their physical fitness and  promote communication between employees, enhance collective cohesion and team building.

She pointed out that football is a very good means of exercise as it builds someone’s strength, stamina and speed and that it improves concentration, coordination, promoting teamwork, being social and boosting someone’s confidence.

Professor Jing Man said that the Confucius Institute has local staffs and students while CCECC also employs local staffs and that the football friendly has created the platform for them to interact with Chinese staffs and the local staffs which she said will continue to build the good friendship between the people of China and Sierra Leone.

She concluded by congratulating the Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College University of Sierra Leone for emerging as the winner in the friendly football match and also wished Gansu Construction Investment (Holdings) Group Company Limited a better luck next time.

On his part, the General Manager of Gansu Construction Investment (Holdings) Group Company Limited, Qiao Shu Bin said that the friendly football match is very important to them as it enabled them to relate with the Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College.

He said that as a company working in Sierra Leone they have enjoyed a very good relationship with the Sierra Leonean staff they are working with, stating that the Sierra Leoneans staff at GCIGC make up the majority of their staff and they are learning a lot form the Sierra Leonean staff.

Qiao Shu Bin congratulated the Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College for winning the match and also encouraged his team to accept the defeat.

He said that as a team they will go back and look at their mistakes and  train more in order for them to emerge as the winner in any of their subsequent matches in the mere future.

The Local Director of Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College, Rev. Oliver Harding, congratulated his team for winning the match which he said is as a result of  hard work after they were defeated by CCECC in their previous match.

He said that the institute has been established at Fourah Bay College since 2012, that they have been organizing Chinese programs including Diploma studies and cultural cooperation, and because of the demand from students who are passionate about the language the Institute decided to start the degree course for students.

Rev. Oliver Harding pointed out that the Football Match is geared towards promoting the mutual understanding and friendship between Sierra Leonean lecturers, students, and their Chinese counterparts of which he said the team is a combination of both Chinese and Sierra Leonean lecturers and students of the Institute.

The Captain for the Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College Team, who also doubles as Local Lecturer at the Institute, Gibrilla Sesay, said that their winning is as a result of the hard work of the team.

He said that after losing to CCECC they went back and looked at their mistakes of which they were able to rectify.

Official presentation of prizes to the players of the two teams by the Chinese Director of Confucius Institute at Fourah Bay College, Professor Jing Man, and the General Manager of Gansu Construction Investment (Holdings) Group Company Limited, Qiao Shu Bin formed the highpoint of the event.

 

 

 

OFP Unveils 1st Edition of Its 2022 Newsletter

By Foday Moriba Conteh

During a snap press conference held on Friday 27th October 2022 at Main Motor Road on Congo Cross in Freetown, the One Family People unveiled the 1st Edition of its 2022 Newsletter. The newsletter is part of the organization’s efforts towards bringing the issues of Persons with Disabilities in the country to the public.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Program Manager of the One Family People, Samuel P.O.V. Macauley said that the launching of the newsletter is in fulfillment of one of their responsibilities as the strategic partner organization of Lilliane Fonds in Sierra Leone (Which is to increase visibility on the Child Empowerment Programme).

He maintained that OFP, as the Strategic Partner Organization of Liliane Foundation in Sierra Leone, is mandated is develop and implement policies, strategies, and Programmes that fit the country’s context and are consistent with the LF global policy and strategic framework and that they are also responsible for coordinating a network of partner organizations that are empowering children and youngsters with disabilities below 25 years of age, who belong to “resource-poor” families to participate in society and ensure their inclusion in the community.

Samuel P.O.V. Macauley pointed out that every year Partner Organizations are required to implement the Child Empowerment Programme, applying the Community Based Inclusive Development Strategy formerly known as Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) (where applicable), with a strong lobby and advocacy approach.

The Program Manager said that One Family People believes that this newsletter will be a cost-effective means for building relationships and maintaining regular contact with their Partners and Beneficiaries as the Newsletter contains important news and updates and other significant information.

“In fact, we believe that this will be crucial in our Lobby and Advocacy efforts going forward,” he said.

“As an organization, we are of the strongest conviction that the support we are providing for the children through our partners have broken barriers and opened doors for them to access basic health and education facilities, improved livelihood and enhanced social inclusion using the inclusive development strategy. As a way of achieving the sustainable development goals 2030, in lieu of that we are hoping that the newsletter will amplify and augment the work they are doing,” he revealed.

The Program Manager noted that One Family People is committed towards creating the enabling environment for an inclusive society where no one is left behind. He concluded by calling on Stakeholders to come onboard and mount sustainable campaign against all forms of stigma and discrimination against Children and Youngsters with Disabilities with the strong belief that together with their partners they are providing the basic needs for beneficiaries, but they are equally of the strongest conviction that it is not enough and they need to do more.

He therefore used the opportunity to call on all to support them and know that there are no small actions and creating a barrier free society begins with you.

Speaking on behalf of the Partner Organizations of One Family People, the Chief Executive Officer of Dorothy Springer Trust, Dr. Abdulai Dumbuya, commended the launch of the 1st Edition of its 2022 Newsletter of the One Family People, adding that over the years the organization has been doing a lot of things towards the development of persons with disabilities.

He said that Dorothy Springer Trust is an organization that is registered both in Sierra Leone and the UK to transform the lives of persons with Disabilities through training, advocacy and employment creation.

Dr. Abdulai Dumbuya said that his organization is one of the partner organizations of One Family People in collaboration with the Liliane Fonds that has been receiving funds to support children with disabilities through its Child Empowerment Programme in the country.

He pointed out that the launch of the Newsletter will help to update the public about the functions of one family People as a key organization that has been at the front line to advocate and lobby for the well-being of disabled people.

 

 

Higher Education Minister Addresses MMTU Staff

By Abubakarr Harding

The Minister of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE), Dr. Alpha Wurie has enlightened that they have visited other public universities in the country and underscored the need to re-categorize staff for their conditions of service. He said that during the General Assembly of the Academic and Administrative Staff of the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU) which was held on Saturday 29th October 2022 at the Great Hall of the Goderich campus in Freetown.

He articulated that there are only 16.6% PhD and 80% Masters holders in public universities in the country with the latter to undertake research, that 50% of the staff at MMTU would be upgraded yearly, that degree and post-graduate courses in the universities are not uniform noting that Sierra Leone is doing well in the education sector although there is need to fast-track it and reiterated the need to re-engine higher education stressing that Government would engage the Tertiary Education Commission to develop technical centers to community colleges and reaffirmed the need to rapidly expand higher education in the country.

According to Dr. Wurie, MMTU should also screen for specific faculties, introduce E-learning to meet modern trend, expand distance learning, highlighted the need for structural and management review and that more academic than junior staff should be recruited.

The Vice Chancellor and Principal of MMTU, Dr. Philip John Kanu assured all that the Minister has good message for MMTU, that they would always remember his legacy in the college, especially transformation of the institution from a teacher training college to a polytechnic and now Technical University but noted that the institution is now transiting to its new status and apologized for all what has happened in the institution.

The Chancellor of MMTU, Dr. Victor Kabia disclosed that it is necessary to give correct information to staff and students for them to be guided accordingly, that MMTU was established by an Act of Parliament, that the University Court, that is very strong with effective monitoring mechanisms, is the highest decision-making body that takes decisions that would advance the institution and assured that they don’t take things for granted.

Other issues raised by Dr. Victor Kabia are conditions of service for staff, that the transition from polytechnic to university is not 100% complete, that the University Court would thoroughly investigate all matters, that some staff are engaged in full time jobs elsewhere, others on leave of absence, that the Tertiary Education Commission would categorize staff for which it has undertaken a needs assessment, that there is capacity gap in terms of staff and therefore needs upgrading.

He continued that a good number of staff do not have Masters in Philosophy to be appointed to the position of Lecturer 1 and observed that most lecturers have not taken the challenge to improve themselves.

Earlier, the Director of Higher Education in the Ministry, Emmanuel Momoh revealed that the Ministry is not an arm chair institution for which it has organized similar events in other public universities in the country to have frank discussions with staff and students to know their successes and challenges and affirmed that MMTU is guided by the Universities Act 2001.

The Secretary General of the Students’ Union Government rendered the vote of thanks.

In another development, at the maiden Pitch Nigh event, a Student from the Milton Margai Technical University on Wednesday 26th October 2022 won the 1st position from the first-ever Pitch Night event held by the university at the Great Hall, Goderich Campus.

Lahinatu Mansaray, who won the grand prize of 30,000 New Leones with her business name “Business for All”, pitched an idea to solve the problem of a safe and secured online trading platform.

According to her, the process of production has become cumbersome because people want to make profit at every step taken. These include third parties who tend to realize more profit than the actual retailers.

The business, she said, is focused on building a legal market connection between the retailers and the wholesalers, devoid of swindling.

Kadiru Kaikai Redirects Awareness Raising to ‘No Run Off Come 2023’

By Abubakarr Harding

The ambitious young man who has manifested unflinching and intense love as well as support for President Julius Maada Bio, demonstrating such across the length and breadth of this country, Kadiru Kaikai, has this time round redirected his energy in ensuring that come 2023, when the multitier elections will be conducted, President Bio is re-elected with no runoff.

Kadiru has made that pronouncement in Waterloo, Tombo, Kenema, Kamalo and expressed willingness to do the same across the remaining North-Western region.

Chief Kadiru Kaikai has been consistent and vocal in his unified message to the people of Tombo and Kenema that successive Governments have failed to provide all the basic amenities for the People of Sierra Leone.

He described President Bio as the messianic leader whose development oriented vision for Sierra Leone is unmatched to any leader in the past.  He justified the compelling reason for President Bio’s re-election which is not unconnected to his (President Bio’s) quest to promote and strengthen the Human Capital Development through the commendable introduction of the Free Quality Education Initiative.

Chief Kadiru Kaikai mentioned other areas that the Government under the leadership of President Bio has done well. He called on the people of Tombo and Kenema to embrace development, especially those implemented under the auspices of President Bio-s New Direction Government.

Chief Kadiru also sent a strong worded warning to the locals in Tombo and Kenema not to undermine and sabotage the Government. He referenced instances wherein, misguided and unscrupulous Sierra Leoneans have been vandalizing electrical cables and transformers all in the name of dirty politics.

The name Chief Kadiru Kaikai has now become a household name across the radius and circumference of Sierra Leone including the strongest political base of the Main Opposition APC Party.

1...656657658...1,370Page 657 of 1,370