Don Bosco Embarks on Awareness Campaign Against Plastic Pollution & Deforestation

September 26, 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Don Bosco Fambul, through its Don Bosco Eco Project, with support from Atabal Foundation and Aexcid has on Saturday 24^th September, 2022 embarked on an Awareness Campaign Against Plastic Pollution and Deforestation.

The event, which brought together partner organizations, pupils, teachers from various schools within the Western Area Urban and Rural was part of their support to reforestation and environmental protection in the country. The one day Awareness Campaign Against Plastic Pollution and Deforestation, which took the form of a float parade, was done from Atlantic Beach Lumley to Family Kingdom Aberdeen in Freetown.

In his address, the Project Coordinator of Don Bosco Eco-Project, Murray Massaquoi, noted that the Awareness Campaign Against Plastic Pollution and Disforestation is part of their commitment towards addressing many of the environmental problems in the country.

He said that management of waste is something that many Sierra Leoneans take for granted but said a waste crisis has brought flooding in many parts of the country, adding that Sierra Leone was named among the most vulnerable countries to climate change.

Murray Massaquoi maintained that the Don Bosco Eco Project made a commitment to address two key environmental issues which include plastic pollution and deforestation.

In terms reforestation, he said they are planting a total amount of 20,000 trees across Lunsar, Kabala, Bo, and the Western Area as an effort to environmental protection in the country and that for the plastic pollution they are using awareness-raising strategies to speak to Sierra Leoneans on the importance of managing its plastic waste and deposit them appropriately.

The Project Coordinator also elaborated that they have organized a workshop for teachers and pupils on their responsibility to the environment, specifically when it comes to reforestation and plastic pollution disclosing that is why they are using them on the Awareness Campaign Against Plastic Pollution and Deforestation.

He concluded by encouraging Sierra Leoneans to invest in the environment by embarking on afforestation and segregation of plastic waste from the other waste in their communities.

Fatmata Samura, a teacher of the Hope Assembly Primary School at Hamilton commended the move by the Don Bosco Fambul to embark on Awareness Campaign Against Plastic Pollution and Deforestation in the country as a laudable venture towards enhancing reforestation and environmental protection in the country.

She said that plastic waste also poses health issues, as blocked drainage causes water to stagnate adding that water contaminated by mud and waste is washed into open drinking water wells and can lead to illnesses in the country.

Fatmata Samura ended by calling on other citizens to join the fight towards addressing Plastic Pollution and Deforestation in the country.

Saidu Koroma, a pupil also used the opportunity to commend Don Bosco Fambul for the move adding that he has benefited from a Don Bosco Fambul workshop for pupils on knowing his responsibility to the environment, specifically when it comes to reforestation and plastic pollution.

He assured that as a pupil he will cascade the information to his colleagues and members of his community to address those issues.

Closing the session was the commencement of the Awareness Campaign Against Plastic Pollution and Deforestation from Atlantic Beach-Lumley to Family Kingdom-Aberdeen and during the process participants present displayed placards carrying messages on plastic pollution and deforestation and the picking of plastics on the beach.

Africell Presents Cash Prizes & Medals to Sierra Leone Volleyball Federation

September 26, 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of efforts to motivate players of the Volleyball Federation of Sierra Leone after the team won the gold and bronze medals in the CAVB Zone Two Beach Volleyball Championship in The Gambia, Africell Sierra Leone has on Friday 23rd September, 2022 presented medals and cash prizes to the Volleyball Federation of Sierra Leone. The event was held at Africell’s Headquarters at Wilberforce in Freetown.

Giving the backdrop of the team’s performance in The Gambia, the Coach expressed appreciation to Africell Sierra Leone for the outstanding support they have been giving to the Volleyball Federation of Sierra Leone over the years.

He said that the secret behind the team’s victory is based on the fact that the players are very much committed towards making Sierra Leone proud further describing the team as not a participating team but a competing team.

The Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Africell Sierra Leone, Joe Abass Bangura, congratulated the team for winning gold and bronze medals in the CAVB Zone Two Beach Volleyball Championship in The Gambia.

He said that Africell Sierra Leone and the country as a whole are very proud of the Volleyball Federation of Sierra Leone adding that it has been a long journey between Africell and the Volleyball Federation of Sierra Leone.

The Chief Corporate Affairs Officer revealed that in 2009 Africell Sierra Leone signed a five year agreement with the Volleyball Federation of Sierra Leone which granted the company the opportunity to support the Volleyball Championship in the country which he said led to a Volleyball tournament held in April 2009 at Roy in Freetown and the inter-regional Volleyball tournament consisting of four regions held in 2010 at Victoria Park in Freetown.

He said that Africell is so pleased with the tenacity, resilience of the leadership of the Volleyball Federation of Sierra Leone in making sure Sierra Leone stays on the map in terms of Volleyball.

He concluded by commending the players for such a wonderful performance and further encouraged them to continue the good job in making Sierra Leone proud further assuring of the company’s support towards the Volleyball Federation of Sierra Leone.

On his part, the President of Volleyball Federation of Sierra Leone, Ahmed Kanu, on behalf of the Volleyball Federation of Sierra Leone, expressed appreciation to Africell Sierra Leone for their continuous support to the Federation.

He said that the Federation is very proud of the partnership between Africell and the Federation over the years, stating that the Federation is very committed towards making Sierra Leone proud, furthering that in achieving that commitment the Federation has been going around in search of athletes and build their capacity.

Ahmed Kanu said that the Federation believes in the “can-do spirit” and that is why they have been making waves in and out of the country.

Climaxing the ceremony was the official presentation of the medals to the Volleyball Federation of Sierra Leone by the Assistant Media Manager at Africell, Nancy Toure and the President of Volleyball Federation of Sierra Leone, Ahmed Kanu.

Information Minister Calls for Carbon Removal to Remain High on Political Agendas

September 26, 2022

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

During the 77^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and in particular the Climate Week, held from the 19^th to 21^st September, 2022 in New York, United States of America, an ambitious platform was created to drive global climate action.

On behalf of Sierra Leone the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, on the 22^nd September, 2022 delivered an all embracing statement.

The Minister started by expressing joy to join all in the August gathering on climate and went further to extend gratitude to the Government of Kenya, through the leadership of H.E President William Ruto, for inviting Sierra Leone to join the Partnership.

The Minister underscored that the Governments of Sierra Leone and Kenya have been co-championing transformative initiatives aligned to technology and its impact on sustainable development pointing out that now the collaboration is called to do more.

He said as all may know and as clearly amplified in the remarks by Heads of State and Governments at the 77th UN General Assembly, the world is in a climate emergency adding that the statement may ring hollow but all are now deeply reminded of the shocks of climate change.

“Africa, more than any other part of the world is bearing the brunt of this existential threat,” he lamented pointing out how African countries are experiencing prolonged drought, biodiversity loss, increased climate-related disasters amidst a global pandemic, energy crisis and food insecurity.

Mohamed Swaray reminded all that President Bio, in his address to CoP26 highlighted that impact on Sierra Leone. The Minister maintained that rapid biodiversity and tree cover loss and the attendant threats to human habitat, health, food, and water security are causing other challenges such as increased poverty, gender disparities, and intensified youth unemployment, especially in the COVID-19 era.

The Minister stated that he cannot over-emphasize that the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report confirms that fact despite Africa’s contribution of less than 4% of total emissions.

He pointed out that the report further places Africa’s annual adaptation needs at 86.5 billion US Dollars by 2030 adding that the current mitigation or adaptation measures, while impactful, are not scaling fast enough to counter the effects of climate change.

The Information Minister pointed out that it is, therefore, a belief that we must do more innovatively, leveraging natural and technological means to remove legacy carbon and keep the world on track to keep global warming below 1.5 Degrees.

“I believe we have a consensus: the science, according to the recent IPCC report and the math, points to a logical path of action,” Mohamed Swaray expressed a conviction and suggested that we, developing countries, need increased investment in carbon removal alongside mitigation and adaptation to be led by the global South and supported by developed economies.

The Minister said to that end he would like to applaud the leadership of the Governments of the United States of America with the recent allocation of USD$2.6 billion towards carbon removal.

He also thanked and acknowledged academia led by Thunderbird School of Global Management and other private sector companies for their commitment to that effort.

Mohamed Swaray intimated that it is his conviction that the pathways being explored by that partnership will have immediate benefit to countries involved whether through fairer carbon markets and just technology transfer to countries in the Global South.

He continued that as noted by President Bio, fiscal space is already stretched and therefore requires more support from partners.

“As we proceed to CoP27, we look forward to collaborating with this partnership and in close collaboration with the Governments of Kenya and Colombia to ensure that Carbon Removal remains high on the political agenda,” the Minister concluded.

Impressive Strides Made, Yet Education Transformation Faces Huge Challenges

September 26, 2022

By Ranger

President Bio, the champion of Free Quality Education and his Basis Education Minister were centre stage last week at the UN for the impressive strides the country has taken since 2018 in reviving and rehabilitating an educational system that had become dysfunctional and producing tons of unwanted graduates at secondary and tertiary levels.

We thus understand President Bio’s avid desire to design a new educational system that is geared towards the needs of nation building and national development through the FQE, revamping of the educational infrastructure including curriculum reforms, seeking of greater international assistance, etc.

Yet there are challenge of reaching the true purpose of education – which is to provide learners the opportunity to acquire useful knowledge and skills that make them meaningful contributions to personal and societal development. We start with the place of the teacher who if not well motivated would do his/her work half-heartedly.

Timely payment of teachers’ salaries and consideration for medical, housing, transport and remote posting allowances would go a long way in motivating teachers to give their best in the classroom. Another consideration in transforming education is school buildings and equipment.

The provision of school textbooks and exercise books is not enough. The vast majority of schools have no science and technology labs, as well as libraries to enhance learning at the secondary levels.

Obviously, all these educational transformation require huge capital over a long period of time.

Given the competing needs for limited national revenue, would the Government continue to fund education and its transformation adequately; as the numbers under the FQE will continue to rise in the coming years?

ECSL Positions Itself to Identify & Respond to Electoral Risks

September 26, 2022

By Millicent Senava Mannah

The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) in partnership with International IDEA and with support from the European Union and GIZ on the 22^nd September, 2022, held a one-day Electoral Risk Management Stakeholders Workshop for staff, State agencies, religious leaders, CSOs and media advocacy groups working on observation and conflict prevention at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Freetown.

The overall objective of the stakeholders’ workshop was to raise awareness on electoral risks and promote effective inter-agency collaboration in the electoral process ahead of the 2023 elections and for ECSL and other relevant institutions to be able to identify the roadmap for addressing electoral risks in Sierra Leone.

In his statement, the Chief Electoral Commissioner and Chairman of ECSL, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh, applauded International IDEA for putting together the Risk Management tool.

He said due to the outbreak of COVID-19, ECSL and International IDEA had their first meeting via Video Conference on the 28^th January 2021 on the need for ECSL to adopt the Electoral Risk Management tools.

The Chief Electoral Commissioner revealed that after holding other virtual meetings, Olufunto Akinduro, the Regional Thematic Lead on Elections of International IDEA proposed to have a face-to-face session with the Commissioner and Management.

He stated that it was agreed that International IDEA must provide the Electoral Risk Management tools.

Mohamed Konneh furthered that the International IDEA’s most recent Global State of Democracy report recognizes that Sierra Leone continues to be a stable emerging democracy.

“As the electoral cycle in Sierra Leone is fast unfolding in a fluid context, the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) is positioning itself early enough in the process to identify and respond to various electoral risks throughout different phases of the electoral cycle,” the Chief Electoral Commissioner highlighted.

He affirmed that the Commission is undertaking efforts to strengthen institutional capacity to manage electoral risks in order to ensure that the forthcoming elections are credible and peaceful.

The ECSL Chairman disclosed that International IDEA has developed the Electoral Risk Management Tool (ERMTool) to support Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) that seek to adopt or improve their risk management processes.

He disclosed that the Commission has decided to deploy the tool ahead of the 2023 elections adding that the tool is been hosted by the Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Department of the Commission and supported by the IT Department.

Mohamed Kenewui Konneh revealed that International IDEA has conducted a remote technical training as a first step in the development of an electoral risk management project. He continued that in November 2021, ECSL and International IDEA co-hosted a context overview workshop that brought together key electoral stakeholders to map out electoral risks ahead of the 2023 elections.

Serena Bertiana, EU Delegation Team Leader on Governance and Relations with Civil Society Organizations stated that the Electoral Risk Management Tool is an important step towards strengthening electoral processes for maximum performance. She maintained that they are pleased to be able to contribute to the strategic priorities of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone.

A representative of the German Embassy said that elections all over the world are sometimes marred by diverse risks, continuing that the Electoral Risk Management Tool is very important to have free and fair elections.

In her statement, Olufunto Akinduro, Regional Thematic Lead on Elections-International IDEA commended the ECSL for hosting them. She revealed that International IDEA is a family and ECSL has now become part of the family.

She disclosed that the goal of her organization is to promote democracy as a human aspiration across the world furthering that they achieve such through three thematic areas: electoral processes, constitution building processes and inclusion of donors.

Different sessions held on Risk Management climaxed the workshop.

NRA Chairperson Appeals for support to data analytics & Establishment of Data Warehouse

September 26, 2022

National Revenue Authority in Sierra Leone.

By Abubakarr Harding

The 3^rd Belt and Road Tax Administration Cooperation Mechanism- (BRITACOM) was held in Algiers with the theme: “Enhancing Tax Administration Capacity Building in the Post-Pandemic Era”. Representing the National Revenue Authority (NRA) was the Board Chairperson of that institution, Adama Tuma Gento-Kamara, who in a bid for the Authority to continue to institute sustainable reforms made a strong case, on behalf of Sierra Leone, by appealing for support to be given to data analytics and for the establishment of a data warehouse for the National Revenue Authority in Sierra Leone.

In her keynote address, the Vice Chairperson of BRITACOM), Tuma Adama Gento Kamara, highlighted some of the most important digital reforms made so far by the NRA in the last three years noting the immense changes in the country’s revenue administration.

She continued that despite those positive steps a wide range of institutional weaknesses persist and according to her that is where the practicality of capacity building comes in.

“These weaknesses ultimately have the potential to negatively impact on the revenue mobilization drive of the Government,” she said.

The NRA Board Chair said that the limited capacity building and inability to catch up with the levels of revenue/GDP performance of many of the performing countries in the African continent are caused by a combination of factors such as the lack of access to reliable data, weak capacity in data analytics, low capacity of ICT staff and the inability to retain them, the lack of skills for revenue intelligence analysis, low taxpayer education, the adoption of reform projects, the absence of an evaluation mechanism to assess their effectiveness and the lack of exposure to best practices from other countries which have successfully implemented ICT reforms.

She said for countries like Sierra Leone, one of the main problems causing low institutional capacity is the lack of access to reliable revenue data. Although the NRA has introduced ICT systems, some key business processes are still performed manually, which render access to reliable data impossible especially when the systems are yet to be integrated or linked.

The Board Chairperson continued that staff responsible for research and monitoring have to extract data manually from the archives which is not only time consuming, but also impairs the quality of data needed to inform tax audit, risk assessment, forecasting and research.

As a first step to addressing the problem of accessing reliable data, Tuma Gento- Kamara, said the institution is planning to set up a Data Analytics unit dedicated to extracting and analyzing data regularly to inform risk management, tax audit, forecasting and research.

That unit, she said, is expected to be trained and provided with advanced data analytics software to ensure it handles all data needs in the Authority. Establishing and capacitating the Data Analytics unit is therefore a key indicator to the success of the project.

Moreover, the NRA Board Chair said that the institution is seeking to establish a data warehouse which provides a one stop shop for data accessibility. According to her it is a software platform where data from internal ICT revenue systems and from Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government will be stored and retrieved for analysis. According to her, achieving accessibility to data will be dependent on the creation of a data warehouse system.

The data warehouse, she said, will partly feed from NRA ICT systems such as ASYCUDA World, ITAS and ECR, as well as operational systems of MDAs with a stake in revenue collection. Linking all these systems together makes it easier for users of the data.

She suggested four recommendations that she thinks will ensure sustainability and benefit of technological advancement to tax administrations of BRITACOM:

In the first place, ICT staff and project management teams of the technological systems of tax administrations must be fully capacitated and incentivized to ensure retention of their services.

In addition, a central ICT training lab should be established within the continent of Africa to train ICT staff and project management teams in the technologies of the systems rolled out and those that constantly evolve with time.

She informed that Sierra Leone already has vast acreage of land space for such a training lab that can serve the rest of members of the continent.

Thirdly, by building capacity in data management including setting up of a data warehouse system and data analytics function within revenue administrations.

To strengthen capacity in digital communication through making use of interactive tools in the ICT systems of revenue administrations to reach out to taxpayers whilst they can also seek clarifications and forward complaints using the same interactive tools.

According to her, many of the revenue systems being rolled out today provide for such facility, but not sufficiently utilized to reach the elite taxpayers who contribute the larger portion of revenues raised by tax administrations.

She concluded that if the impact of BRITACOM is to be felt within member countries those areas must be supported or given serious consideration.

The NRA Board Chairperson therefore called on China, as leader of the Belt and Road Initiative Tax Administration Cooperation Mechanism, to join hands with other member countries to seriously consider the aforementioned areas of support for sustainable technology usage and capacity building in BRITACOM Revenue Administrations.

NP Strongly Believes in Maximum Satisfaction of its Esteemed Customers

September 26, 2022

By Amin Kef-Ranger

In a privileged conversation with some pump attendants at NP Cotton Tree, it was highlighted by all of them that although they have a stipulated time of closing down sales, however, the Filling Station does not close down before that time until the last customer is attended to. They were invariably trying to say that the satisfaction of the customer must take precedence over everything else as the customer should always come first. It is in that light that the company is considered 1^st For Customer Care.

It must be noted that NP-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL-Ltd) is one that has dominated the petroleum business landscape in this country for quite a long period of time now and it is still positioned to make good use of opportunities in order to grow to another level.

It will be totally erroneous to conclude that the 100% indigenously owned company is been dressed in borrowed robes but the truth or reality of the situation is that there is no other petroleum marketing entity doing business in petroleum products in this country in such an encouraging way than how NP-SL is currently doing.

When rating privately run business entities in this country, attributes such as efficiency and effectiveness in timely service delivery must come out vividly in order for successful transactions to occur. The company is well renowned for his proactive stance in always trying to optimize customer care, which it holds in high esteem with the view that in the absence of its numerous customers then the company’s existence is meaningless.

As far as the shareholders and Management of the company are concerned achieving customer satisfaction is very precious and key.

Through its pro-activeness and the ultimate need to succeed, latest calibrated pumping machines that pump the appropriate quantity of petroleum products paid for were installed. As the machines are very transparent they continue to instill confidence in customers that they are dealing with a very transparent company as well as feeling that they are getting their money’s worth.

Within the same ambit of bringing technology closer to its customers for enhanced transactions, the idea of availing its customers the use of NP Smart Card was borne. Today we hear of “fuel on your smart card” which figuratively could be interpreted within the context of using a financially loaded NP Smart Card to purchase the right number of petroleum products one intends to utilize without any physical monetary transactions. Using NP Smart Card guarantees safety, saves time and gives air of importance to the holders, some considering them as the crème-de la crème of society, when in actual fact anyone can make use of it. It creates a situation where a customer will intermittently know the balance of finance on his card and use such information to make informed decisions as to further top up or utilize, for example, the quantity of fuel that the balance amount could procure.

With a view to make people gain easy access to a device that could be suitable for various cooking purposes, NP Gas was introduced and since gas is one of the petroleum products that is up for sale then it just falls in place that it will be prudent to make it convenient for people to access them at their filling stations and from authorized dealers, going at affordable prices. It had been undoubtedly proven that they are environmentally friendly and safe to use as well as refill.

When job opportunities are created from time to time, the negative impacts of poverty subside with a corresponding upsurge in peace and tranquility. Instead of tempers rising, daggers drawn out there will be joy and harmonious co-existence. Through its expansionist drive and to match up with modern trends, NP-SL has been providing various jobs for many who were hitherto at the lower ends of society. Family lives have been transformed for the better and there is room for future positive outcomes.

As a matter of fact, NP-SL-Ltd has been recognized for being a company that has doggedly insisted on maintaining its indigenous posture. Its shareholders are all Sierra Leoneans, it places premium on maintaining an indigenous stance with majority of its staff being indigenes. The company is very mindful that with the implementation of the Local Content Policy it is positively contributing to the socio-economic development of the country. NP is committed to serve the people of this country.

Civil Peace Service Network Recognizes International Day of Peace

September 26, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

As part of their strides towards strengthening the ideals of peace in the country, the Civil Peace Service Network comprising Bread for the World Sierra Leone and AGIAMONDO has on Wednesday 21^st September, 2022 joined other countries to commemorate International Day of Peace on the theme, “Stop Election Violence, Build Peace.” The event was held at the New Freetown City Hall Auditorium in Freetown.

In her welcome address, the Program Coordinator of the network, Adenike Cole said that every year the two organizations have been coming together to commemorate International Day of Peace, adding that as two civil peace networks they have been doing content analysis in order to identify some of the issues that are threatening peace and stability in the country.

She revealed that as the country is currently preparing to hold its elections in 2023 and owing to fact that during electioneering process there are several instances of violence and so they decided to choose, “Stop Election Violence, Build Peace” as the theme for this year’s International Day of Peace commemoration.

She further called on all Sierra Leoneans that as we celebrate International Day of Peace to commit themselves towards building sustainable peace in the country which she described as the smooth way towards the development of the country.

“Let us take this message far and wide as Peace is very important; when we are at peace the country will be at peace and such will enhance development,” she concluded.

Following the welcome address, was a panel discussion on the theme of the event “Stop Election Violence, Build Peace.” The panelists included the Chairperson of National Election Watch (NEW), Marcella Samba-Sesay, the Public Relation Officer for the National Commission for Democracy-Sierra Leone, Rev. Gibrilla Kargbo, the Chairman of Black Street Association Brookfields, Osman Bangura, a Market Women Leader, Marie Bob Kandeh, etc. and Samuel Wise Bangura of the Africa Young Voices Media Empire moderated the session.

In her submission, the Chairperson of National Election Watch (NEW), Marcella Samba-Sesay, mentioned that Sierra Leone as a nation has completely become divided in the political line where in the Northerners refer to themselves as Red and the Southerners as Green, stating that all these are happening because the politicians are not taking responsibility for those actions but rather they have defending such actions.

She also stated that politicians are failing to respond to the wrongs of their fellow politicians because they are in the same political party and taking any firm action might affect them in the future.

According to Marcella peace is an action word and a peaceful country is a State where the voices of the people are heard and the people have right to their opinions.

She pointed out that the International Day of Peace is celebrated globally to encourage all humanity to commit to peace above all differences and to contribute to building a culture of peace of which she called on all, including politicians, to commit themselves towards building sustainable peace in the country.

On his part, the Public Relations Officer for the National Commission for Democracy-Sierra Leone, Rev. Gibrilla Kargbo also stated that in order for peace to be sustainable in the country people should have access to the basic necessities and that the social and economic rights of the majority needs to be guaranteed.

Other speakers made salient contributions.

Effective leadership is putting first things first …Babadi Kamara of Bo Rangers FC

September 23, 2022

Babadi Kamara Executive Chairman Bo Rangers Football Club

By Abu Bakarr Kargbo

Without doubt, football is the most popular sport in the world, which is why well-thinking people like the Executive Chairman of the Bo Rangers Football Club, Babadi Kamara have invested lots of resources in promoting the number one sporting discipline. His football club, Bo Rangers is a Sierra Leonean professional football club based in the country’s second-largest city of Bo and it has become one of the most popular football clubs that won the last Sierra Leone Premier League.

Although his football team is out of the Total Energies CAF Champions League qualifiers, he has not relented in appreciating their supporters especially when this is the first time in the club’s history to play a continental league and they are happy to have competed with pride. “This in itself is winning! We’re excited to have gone through the preliminary round but we’re grateful to have come this far. Yes, our journey has ended in the #TotalEnergiesCAFCL this season but we shall certainly come back next season. Our players are excellent and we appreciate their bravery and talented display in this competition. #TheElephants. Our darling fans, it was a good fight and we promise to continue with the club’s progress. Today, Bo Rangers FC is recognized globally as the Champions of Sierra Leone. Congratulations to our newfound brothers #CRBelouizdad. We hope to continue as partners in football for club and player development,” the Club stated on its official Facebook page. .

In his press release dated 21^st September 2022, Babadi Kamara stated thus: “Our maiden sojourn in continental football did not go as scripted; definitely not the fairy-tale we had hoped for as it was cut short even before it got off the ground. No doubt, qualifying for the group stage would have been a massive achievement in itself.

But we have never been oblivious to the challenges that might scuttle our ambitions. However, we can still pride ourselves in achieving the step-by-step progress we continue to make in building a team that is worth competing with elite clubs on the continent. Effective leadership is putting first things first.

We decided on our priorities and have had the courage to go for them. We are proud to have achieved our initial objectives: structure the club, have a clubhouse and secretariat, win the premier league and eventually compete at the continental level. We remain committed to ensuring that Bo Rangers Football Club is mentioned in the same stanza as those of giants on the continent. We know it appears always impossible until it’s done.

Thus, our just-truncated participation is the beginning of getting to where we want to be-a footballing colossus on the continent. Yes, we are out of the Total Energies CAF Champions League qualifiers. Our performance may have been underwhelming, particularly in the second leg. However, we will look back with a deep sense of pride and forever relish this period in our club’s history. We savored every moment of our journey as debutants in continental football. We wanted to be there; we got there! This in itself is mission accomplished! We are honored to have been there as the experience is immeasurable and invaluable.

We are not sacred to fail because to do is to dare. We are certainly going to do an introspection. We hope to better this year’s outing in subsequent participations by changing our trajectory from our recruitment policy, and discipline to tactics. We will never allow people to intimidate us to downgrade our objectives. Our quest for continental glory has just begun! 1954 We would like to acknowledge the contributions of those who, in countless ways, helped us get this far. Playing in continental competition is more than what you see on the pitch.

The administrative work that is done behind the curtains is immense and requires the relevant expertise to settle those preliminary issues. The SLFA was really helpful in this regard. We, therefore, thank them for their unwavering support to us throughout the preparation and up to the participation stage. We thank our Board for the encouragement and constant motivation, thereby inspiring us to excel in everything we do. You continue to push us to heights we never thought possible. Thank you for all the great leadership and support!

Thank you for always noticing and acknowledging our contributions while teaching us how to improve. Thank you for always keeping the team in high spirits and making tough decisions. You talk us through potential pitfalls that we have not thought of. You do not rubber-stamp everything we recommend, you ask critical questions and entreat us to see the big picture. We would surely not be nearly as effective without your critical insight. We appreciate your service and look forward to your continued guidance as we look ahead to the start of the new league season.

To the fans, we thank you for your continued unwavering support even in the face of adversity. You always have high expectations for what we can accomplish; there is always a sense of optimism that we can do extraordinary things. Unfortunately, our debut participation in continental football did not live up to the expectations that you desired.

It was filled with some off-pitch situations that caused unprecedented distractions and disruption to our preparations. We are not making excuses. Our performance over both legs simply did not live up to our standards. We will continue to work to make up ground going forward. We thank the technical team and players who gave their sweat and blood to get us to participate at the highest level in football on the continent.

Do not hang your heads in shame. Football teaches us character and to know what it feels like to win and lose; you learned a great valuable lesson for life. To lose is part of the game; it is only temporary and for which you have no choices. However, it should give you the opportunity to go back, study it, learn from it and prepare to win. We really appreciate what you have done for us and are proud of you guys. Inasmuch as we will look at what we did not do well, we will equally think about the positives and how we can take them into subsequent games. As a team, we win together and lose together. The giant strides we continue to make as a team would not have been possible without colleagues in the Executive Management.

You guys are, without a doubt, the biggest professional asset to this club. We truly appreciate the time and effort you put into doing an excellent job. Thank you so much for the professionalism, commitment, and sheer hard work you are all doing. It is rare to find a group of colleagues who inspire me in the way you have. Thank you for always motivating me to be my best. With us all working together, the Board, fans, and supporters of Bo Rangers have a great football team behind them. We want to say a huge thank you to all those who, despite our local rivalries, shelved them and supported us as we represented the green, white and blue. We appreciate your demonstration of true sportsmanship and patriotism.

And to those with deep-seated animosity disguised in local rivalry, we equally appreciate you for inspiring us to continue to set the pace in football development in our country. We would continue to work tirelessly to etch the name of Bo Rangers in the annals of football history within and across borders. As we return to prepare for the start of the 2022/2023 premier league season, we wish FC Kallon, our only continental representative now left good luck in the CAF Confederations Cup. We are Bo Rangers. Always in the range!”

US Embassy Strategic Capacity Group Expresses Interest to Capacitate the Police

September 23, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

The United States Embassy Strategic Capacity Group in Sierra Leone has on Wednesday 21st September, 2022, paid a courtesy visit to the Inspector General of Police, William Fayia Sellu at Police Headquarters, in Freetown.

The visit was geared towards ascertaining a first-hand assessment of elections specific management training for police personnel.

The team gave a synopsis of experiences acquired over the years in diverse disciplines, which are related to policing activities.

The team comprises: Amadou Berlfie -Project Coordinator, Deedee Rodriguez, Subject Matter Expert and Jean-Marc Barattola -Senior Police Adviser.

Jean-Marc shared his experience with IGP on Police Training and the roles he played in international peacekeeping missions in Darfur and Mali respectively.

Rodriguez on the other hand, intimated IGP Sellu that the group is looking at possible areas where they can come in to conduct training after completion of their training needs assessment; whilst Amadou Berlfie emphasized that the Police is key in the electioneering period i.e. before, during and after. And that proper training can assist the Police in the process.

The Deputy Director of Training, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Esther Kaintor-Dukuray, briefed the team on how the Police intend to provide security for the forth-coming general elections, for it to be free, fair, and conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.

She further urged the team to share their experiences with the Police in the form of training, so as to develop the capacity of Police Trainers.

The Deputy Director also hinted that personnel deployed in the regions also stand to benefit from the proposed training.

Responding, IGP Fayia Sellu thanked the team for the assessment visit, stating that he was expecting their visit, backed by experience sharing. He said he was delighted about the intended gesture from the team; given the fact that the Police have a whole lot of training needs.

He, however, appealed to the team to have further engagement with the Police after they would have concluded their assessment, so as to help identify dire areas of training needs within the SLP.

In view of her wealth of knowledge and experience in local and international training, the IGP nominated ACP Esther Kaintor-Dukuray to work with the team in conducting its assessment and eventual implementation of same.