Guma Installing Water Meters But…

September 19, 2022

By Ranger

From an economic point of view, the Gums Valley Water Company that supplies clean potable water to over one million consumers in the ever-growing Western Area is installing water meters for those that are legally connected to its service.

The intentions are clear – to cut down on wastage and to increase revenue intake in order to improve on service delivery. However, some consumers The Calabash spoke to on the meters recalled that this not the first time that GUMA has come up with the initiative and that the first attempt some years back ended disastrously.

They asked what modalities have been put in place by Guma to address concerns and challenges like people cutting pipes connected to their homes. They also asked about how Guma will ensure that they do not only have meters at their homes and businesses but that they get water supply, especially in the dries.

SDG17 suggests that water is a human right related to health and sanitation. Water thus being an essential commodity that everyone needs, how Guma ensure that poor communities get public standpipes to cut down on pipe cutting and how will this class of users be billed?

Another concern raised by people in new communities is that they do not have access to Guma clean water at all. What provisions they asked have Guma and its partner water service provider, SALWACO, made for them to access clean drinking water.

Hon. Sidie Tunis & other Eminent Sons Champion Voter Registration Sensitization

September 19, 2022

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

As the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) continues to conduct the voters’ registration exercise across the country, influential sons of Pujehun District, decided to embark on engaging residents of that district with a view to thoroughly sensitize them on the ongoing voter registration exercise and its importance with the avowed objective of galvanizing them to turn out in huge numbers to register in order to become eligible for the exercise their franchise next year when the country will be going to the polls.

For now there is intensive voter registration, monitoring, mobilization and campaigning going on in the district.

Led by the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Honourable Sidie Mohamed Tunis ,who doubles as the Honourable Member of Parliament for Constituency 101in Pujehun District, the team comprised the Chief Minister of Sierra Leone – Honourable Jacob Jusu Saffa, the Minister of Information and Communications – Mohamed Rahman Swaray and HE Eddie S. Massallay who is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Sierra Leone to Liberia and the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Chairman of Pujehun District, Mustapha Wai, the SLPP National Liaison Officer for 2022 Voter Registration Process and others.

With the support of other stakeholders from that district they saw the need to embark on a combined Voter Registration Sensitization in Pujehun District which is located closer to the Sierra Leone – Liberia Border.

The aforementioned personalities have been engaging residents of the district, through radio discussion programmes on Voice of Masoro 90.5FM and other community engagements, geared towards encouraging all qualified citizens to do voter registration.

In a snap chat with Hon Sidie Mohamed Tunis, he stated that to avoid apathy in the district they thought it but fitting to sensitize their people on the significance of participating in the ongoing registration exercise.

He noted that it could be dangerous to form the impression that the residents are knowledgeable of the exercise, what it entails, what they are expected to do and leave it at that but rather to properly ensure that they fully understand the entire process.

On his part, the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, underscored that the issue of First Time Voters must be clearly explained to residents of the district so that those who will be turning 18 years of age before the elections are captured in the exercise adding that they are also doing so to discourage those who will not be 18 years not to attempt to register as such is an electoral offence.

“Information is power and what we are currently doing is empowering our people via sensitization in order for them to properly exercise their fundamental human right which is the franchise,” he maintained.

He enjoined all the sons and daughters from Pujehun District to be very realistic in their political choices adding that when it is time to cast their votes they must do so wisely.

Some of the residents of the district copiously expressed gratitude to Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis for coming up with the initiative adding that they are now knowledgeable of certain things which hitherto were not clear to them.

Orange SL Awards Brand New Toyota Corolla Car to Winner of ‘Points Up’ Grand Draw

September 19, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

For a considerable period of time, Orange Sierra Leone has been running a prize draw called “Points Up” in which customers receive one point every time they recharge their account by SLL 2,000.

Every five points entitle subscribers to enter the daily draw to win as much as SLL 2.5 million every day. Customers who get above five points automatically qualify for the weekly draw, with bigger prizes. The grand prize for the campaign was a brand new car.

On Saturday 17^th September 2022 at the company’s Rawdon Street Customer Care Center in Freetown one Ibrahim Mansaray emerged as the lucky winner of a brand new Toyota Corolla car after a transparent electronic draw was held.

Mansaray who resides at Waterloo in the Western Area Rural District was not economical with the truth as he categorically stated that Orange Sierra Leone Limited is the best mobile telecommunications company in the country, noting that the company is not only operating in Sierra Leone to do business and make profits but it has provided lots of supports to its customers.

Mansaray explained that he was busy with his work at the IMATT community when he received the call on Saturday informing him about the win.

“At first I thought it was a joke. I had to rush to Rawdon Street only to find out that the brand new car was waiting for me,” he explained and furthered that the car will be for his personal use.

The lucky winner with GSM number, 076959355, commended the company for putting their words to action. “I have been an Orange customer for close to twenty years and this is my first win,” he said and continued by urging other customers to continue patronizing Orange Sierra Leone. “I appreciate the Staff and Management for a good job. The gift is from God, people should appreciate Allah,” Mansaray remarked.

The winner’s number was verified and it was proven that it was registered before the prize was handed over to him by the Orange Sierra Leone Chief Executive Officer, Sekou Amadou Bah and the Chief Commercial Officer.

Draws were done every evening from 17:30 hrs on local radio stations across the country. Weekly draws were done using all Orange partner radio stations, too.

Five weekly draws were held on Saturday with the lucky winners grabbing Le1 million each.

The highpoint of the occasion was a performance by a popular musician, commonly known as I-Tribe who rocked the event making it really thrilling and impressive.

It must be noted that the launch of the Orange brand in Sierra Leone speaks volumes of the group’s confidence in the country’s ongoing economic recovery and its wider commitment to bringing the benefits of new digital services and creating value for all the regions it serves.

Miksi Chocolate Supports Strengthening of Democracy in Sierra Leone

September 19, 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Miksi Chocolate, one of the brands marketed by Premium Divine Trading Company Limited, a food distribution company that operates as an agent for Promasidor Holdings, a leading distributor of quality food products in Sierra Leone, has supported the 1^stNational High-Level Youth Driven Dialogue Conference on Democracy on the theme: “Media Freedom: A Catalyst to Democratic Good Governance”, at the New Freetown City Hall Auditorium.

The conference targeted Democracy Experts, Politicians and Practitioners, Civil Society Activists, Women Leaders, Disabled Groups, the Media and over 500 young people across the country.

Miksi Chocolate has been commended as one of the best healthy beverages that gives nourishment by many young people who joined the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day of Democracy in Sierra Leone.

Premium Divine Trading Company Limited support to the Youth Alliance for Democracy and Accountability Sierra Leone (YaDA-SL)1^stNational High-Level Youth Driven Dialogue Conference on Democracy in this year’s commemoration of the International Day of Democracy, was done within the context of the company’s massive education on healthy eating habits by availing their products to actual and potential consumers of chocolate, the Miksi nutritious package, to enable them and their families enjoy good nutrition through the consumption of Miksi chocolate drink that were sampled during the commemoration of the day.

Speaking on behalf of the company, the Country Manager of Premium Divine Trading Ltd, Kenneth Konuahsaid the International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world including Sierra Leone, adding that as a responsible company they decided to support the 1^stNational High-Level Youth Driven Dialogue Conference on Democracyin the country.

Kenneth, spoke about the importance of consolidating peace and democracy in the country of which he pointed out that the August 10th saga, which deprived them as a business company in the country was a great loss on their part.

He encouraged the youth in the Auditorium to join hands together in order to promote peace and stability in their communities as elections are approaching.

The Country Manager further revealed that Miksi brand consists of Miksi powdered milk, Miksi Chocolate and Miksi Coffee of which she encouraged older persons to add Miksi as part of their daily food intake adding that Miksi offers a healthy beverage or snack anyway anytime.

He maintained that Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd also distributes and markets, Onga, Xploza, Kremela and Yumvita , the latter being an infant cereal with milk also consisting of wheat, rice and maize and wheat variants.

He concluded by appealing to all young people present to always buy the quality food products of Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd especially Miksi chocolate and Miksi Coffee because they are enriched with all the necessary nutrients needed by the body.

Earlier, the Mayor of Freetown City Council, Her Worship Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, who also made a statement during the ceremony, commended the Youth Alliance for Democracy and Accountability Sierra Leone for organizing such an event for young people to know and reflect their minds into colonization of the British Empire.

She defined the traditional definition of ‘Democracy’ as the Government of the people, by the people and for the people which was vivid to alland sundry.

She threw light on the term democracy, how its gives respect and rights to citizens in a democratic State. The Mayor said she believes in democracy because it puts people at the center of electing their representatives.

The Deputy Commissioner of National Youth Commission, Emerson Kamara, also commended YaDA-SL and partners for the laudable venture towards enhancing democratic governance in the country.

He noted that social media has a lot of means to promote democratic good governance in the country also urging young people to serve as agents of transformation in our beloved country.

On his part, the Executive Director, Youth Alliance For Democracy and Accountability Sierra Leone (YaDA-SL),Foday Moriba Conteh, said that this year’s commemoration of International Day of Democracy marks the 15th anniversary of the International Day of Democracy, a day to reflect on the democratic credentials nations have strived to achieve, the gains made, consolidated and the challenges to be surmounted.

He stated that according to the UN Secretary on the commemoration of this year’s International Day of Democracy, “Across the world, democracy is backsliding, Civic space is shrinking, Distrust and disinformation are growing and polarization is undermining democratic institutions in various parts of the globe”.

Foday Moriba Contehcontinued by stating that because of the complexity of modern States what obtains is Representative Democracy where the citizens are at liberty to choose their representatives, through periodic elections, to represent them in Parliament, speak and make laws in their best interests.

He said that during this International Day of Democracy, the focus is on one of the cornerstones of democratic societies – a free, independent, and pluralistic media as the theme of this conference was: “Media Freedom: A Catalyst for Democratic Good Governance”, a theme which, he said, could not have been more appropriate at any other given time than now.

He furthered dilated much more on the Freedom of Expression of journalists. “Indeed, attempts to silence journalists are growing more brazen by the day from physical to verbal assault to online surveillance and legal harassment especially against women journalists.

Media workers, at given times, face censorship, detention, physical violence, and even killings often with impunity.”

Francis K. Morovia Declares Intention to Contest in Macdonald Village Headman Election

September 16, 2022

By Abdulai Mento Kamara

It is usually stated that a ripe corn is easily known by its looks. In an attempt to juxtapose that saying with the charismatic, pragmatic and result-oriented Senior Vehicle Examiner and Training Coordinator at the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA), Francis Kovuma Morovia, it cannot be concluded that such an assertion is really an overstatement.

That assertion could be justified on the basis that Francis Kovuma Morovia is one such personality whom, on first sight, could be seen as someone who could be entrusted with any meaningful assignment and definitely he will endeavour his best to deliver solidly.

For the sake of those who are not aware, Francis Kovuma Morovia, has declared his firm intention to contest for the Village Headman position within one of the communities under the Western Area Rural District, Macdonald Village, an election which has been scheduled to take place next year.

In a privileged discussion with this medium, the affable personality, who always radiates with love and compassion, personifying hard-work, dedication intimated that after a considerable absence at Macdonald Village he was really disappointed after returning to only realize that the community is really in a backward state.

“When I came back after spending a considerable time away from Macdonald I observed that nothing had changed for the fact that the entire community is still going without electricity, has poor access road network, lack a health facility, pure drinking water and the issue of unemployment still remains the order of the day,” he stated.

Francis Kovuma Morovia commended one of the erstwhile occupants of the enviable position, popularly known as Aunty Francess. He stated that during her tenure she facilitated the construction of the Macdonald Village Community Junior Secondary School, a pure H20 facility, consolidated peace within the community adding that she is still alive.

He, however, revealed that the Headman who succeeded Aunty Francess, one, by the name of Oseh Koker reversed all the gains that residents of the village were then enjoying.

“Now deceased he only succeeded in destroying all the good legacies that were left behind by his predecessor and left the community sharply divided into factions,” Morovia, as he is fondly called revealed.

According to the aspiring candidate he has the lobbying power or ability to convince development partners to aid in the positive transformation of Macdonald Village.

He described the issue of improving health and sanitation as a priority for him if given the chance or opportunity to serve, followed by electricity and in improving the welfare of the youth.

Morovia attributed the failure on the part of the past leadership to work in line with the young people within the village assuring that his leadership structure wouldn’t only be inclusive, but would also be people centered underscoring that the existing gap between the leadership and young people would be bridged.

He expressed frustration over the complete absence of a health centre in a growing community saying such has resulted to transfer of health related cases from Macdonald to other areas with better health care facilities.

Morovia furthered that Macdonald Village is part of the Western Area Rural District Council (WARD-C) but lamented that they have never benefitted from any visible development.

He described Macdonald as a peaceful community with very ambitious young people and recalled that nobody was found wanting after the ugly August 10th violent protest in Freetown.

The Senior Vehicle Examiner and Training Coordinator assured that he was not vying for the position of the Macdonald Village Headman for any personal aggrandizement or to lord it over the residents but for him to be at a vantage position to lobby for the general development of the community.

“I always wanted good things to happen in my community that will benefit my people,” he stated and concluded that one of the things that residents of the Macdonald community are looking forward to is a credible free and fair village headmen election in order to attain peaceful co-existence.

In another engagement with the Youth Chairman of the Macdonald Community, Melvin Santos Brown, he stated that Morovia has been demonstrating interest for the Headman position of Macdonald Community since the days of the late Headman, adding that he is indeed competent for the position because he had all what it takes to govern the community well as required by the local government procedure.

“People love Morovia because he always makes things happen positively as anticipated,” he commended and disclosed that recently they embarked on a peace campaign with megaphones within the community to raise awareness on the need for people to always remain law abiding and show respect for the rule of law.

He appealed for residents to take part in the current ongoing voters’ registration process in order to become eligible to cast their votes.

Financial Secretary Underscores Huge Bilateral Resources End Up with Donor Partner Agencies & NGOs

September 16, 2022

By Amin Kef (Ranger)

Speaking at the launch of the World Bank’s post-COVID-19 $93 Billion fund for poor developing countries on September 13 in Tokyo, Japan, Financial Secretary Sahr Jusu noted that nearly 60 percent of IDA loan receiving countries are either in debt distress or at high risk.

In relation to foreign assistance, he stated that the challenges faced today in terms of aid proliferation, fragmentation and coordination are similar to those in the late 1990s.

He further noted that the bulk of bilateral resources are implemented by donor partner agencies and NGOs with high-level of fragmentation and that the number of these has doubled in the last two decades.

The Financial Secretary stated that Sierra Leone has experienced that alignment sometimes can be very broad. He said, for instance, Health can be in the National Development Plan but Government priority can be focusing on health strengthening system of its human capital development.

But donor “A” can insist on supporting increase in family planning, which it channels aid resources to agencies to implement.

According to him, that clearly will not assist Government achieve its top priority within the sector as articulated in its National Development Plan.

He suggested therefore that for effective development assistance, alignment should be activity based as prioritized by the Government in its national development plan.

From these observations of the country’s Financial Secretary, what The Calabash deduces is that while for some recipient countries, donor funds has been used to help them improve on crucial existential threats like food insecurity, economic development and population well-being by promoting institutional development and accountability, in many countries, because it has not been coordinated and properly managed and administered, donor funding has been more of a curse than blessing, as it has resulted in debt distress.

Why Governor Rejects Report of Special Investigative Committee & Orders Fresh Investigation?

September 16, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

It seems there is a cold war between the Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, Professor Kelfala M. Kallon and the Managing Director of the Rokel Commercial Bank, Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin, for reasons which are still not clear. But what has become really apparent is the fact that the Bank Governor has openly demonstrated raw determination to see that Dr.Gilpin is shown the exit door at Rokel Commercial Bank for real.

This could not be any form of fallacy of hasty generalization as it is as crystal, opaque that Professor Kelfala M. Kallon has deliberately formed a conclusive opinion on a matter referred to him relating to a complaint of sexual harassment by a female staff of the bank against the Managing Director. By all indications, as far as he is concerned Dr Gilpin is guilty but he does not have the authority to make such a pronouncement.

It will indeed interest many to know that the battle between the Bank Governor and Rokel Commercial Bank Board has resurfaced despite the fact that a Special Investigations Committee, he ordered instituted, sidelining the Board of Directors, had not found any case of sexual harassment against the Managing Director of the RCB.

Interestingly and lamentably, for a person of his status in society, the Governor went ahead and recently wrote that he will reject the report of the Special Investigation Committee, he authorized to be set up, maintaining that the Board should again investigate the Managing Director.

His rejection came at a time when the alleged sexual harassment case at the Rokel Commercial Bank (RCB) has now become dead horse but the Central Bank is now seen to voluntarily turn itself to a Kangaroo court manned by unofficial judges, with the Bank Governor seemingly posing as their Chief Justice.

It sounds rather ridiculous that after a Special Investigations Committee (SIC) had successfully and painstakingly investigated the issue and recommended that it has not find any case of sexual harassment against the RCB Managing Director, a recommendation that was reviewed by the Legal Affairs Department (LAD) of the Central Bank and further recommendations made to the Bank Governor, the latter has decided to rekindle the matter.

In his letter dated 18^th July 2022 the Bank Governor stated the opinion of the Central Bank’s Legal Affairs Department and directed the RCB Board to review both the Report of the Special Investigative Committee (SIC) of the (RCB] Board and the BSL’s LAD Legal opinion, as well as RCB’s corporate governance policies to come to a definitive conclusion about the alleged sexual harassment and suggest disciplinary measures if necessary.

The Board’s reply dated 25^thJuly 2022, noted six key issues, namely: “That a Fit and Proper (FPP) reassessment of the Managing Director (MD) falls within the jurisdiction of the BSL, not the RCB Board; that the opinion of the BSL’S Legal Affairs Department (LAD) is one-sided, and that the Board, “stands by the final report of the SIC” which found no evidence of sexual harassment by the MD; that the issue of sexual harassment was not for the Board to decide but a court of competent jurisdiction; that the Board, through the Ministry of Finance, would seek the Attorney General’s legal opinion on the matter; that the Bank Governor should have copied the Minister of Finance in his letter; and that the Board finds the Governor’s circulation of the letter beyond the SIC disturbing because it could have triggered its leak to the public.”

This reply seems not have gone down well with the Central Bank Governor, whom sources say is been influenced by certain individuals who are bent on bringing the RC Bank to its lowest ebb.

A letter from the Bank Governor to the RCB Board dated 12^th September 2022 stated that, “While thanking the Special Investigative Committee (SIC) for devoting time and energy to investigating the instant matter, this letter serves as a formal notice that the SIC is hereby dissolved and that all decisions and recommendations regarding the extant complaint shall come from the full Board. In this regard, I wish to inform the Board that I feel compelled to reject the findings and conclusions communicated to me in your 25th July 2022 letter because they were reached by a subset of the Board (not the full Board, as I had directed in my 18th July 2022 letter).

Consequently, the Board (excluding the MD and the LA/CS) is again directed to review the Report of the SIC, the legal opinion of the BSL’s LAD, and RCB’s Policies and Procedures, as well as all complaints that have been lodged to it by the LA/CS and her colleagues about workplace intimidation. The findings and recommendations from that review must be submitted to me no later than Close-of-Business on Friday, 30th September 2022.”

In as much as they have been mandated by the Bank Governor, it is now up to the RCB Board to decide on the next step, especially after it had earlier categorically stated that it stood by the recommendations of the Special Investigations Committee (SIC), which had reported that there was no case of sexual harassment.

However, the fact remains that Dr. Walton Ekundayo Gilpin continues to be the Man of the People. Highly respected for working so hard to transform a moribund bank to a multi-awarding bank many are not oblivious of the fact that there are some unscrupulous persons who are hell bent on bringing down a bank that is wooing customers and as reported recently continues to make impressive profits and spreading its operations in order to scale up the much desired financial inclusion which is important to drive economic development.

SLAJ President Commends Cooperation with Information Ministry

September 16, 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, has assured the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, of the Association’s continued cooperation toward media development in the country.

“We have worked together with Government through your Ministry to achieve great things for the media in the last four years. I assure you that we will continue to work with the Government to achieve greater things for the media and at the same time hold you to account as part of our national duty,” said Nasralla.

Nasralla was speaking on Monday 12th September 2022 during a courtesy call of the newly-elected SLAJ National Executive on the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, and his team at the Ministry’s conference room at Youyi Building, Brookfields in Freetown.

Describing the relationship between the Ministry and SLAJ as cordial, professional, and one of mutual respect, Nasralla mentioned the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law, the annual subvention to SLAJ, and the media viability and investment conference as key achievements borne out of the cooperation.

On the media viability and investment conference, which was funded by the BBC Media Action through the Government of Sierra Leone, Nasralla said the success story is that Sierra Leone has now been listed as one of 17 countries to benefit from the International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM), thanks to the compelling case made by the Sierra Leone team headed by the Minister of Information at this year’s World Press Freedom Day summit in Uruguay.

Nasralla said in anticipation of that windfall for the media in Sierra Leone, SLAJ and other media stakeholders have been working with the Ministry to put in place structures to manage and administer the local counterpart of the IFPIM that the Government will also commit funds to.

He revealed that a Multi Stakeholders Advisory Board and a Technical Working Group have been set up in advance in that regard. These groups, he added, will also be responsible for follow-up and implementing the other recommendations that came out of the historic media conference.

President Nasralla also mentioned cooperation between the Ministry and SLAJ on the enactment of the Cyber Security and Crime Act 2021 but expressed some concerns in the area of free speech online and data privacy rights, the protection of critical national information infrastructure as well as the non-inclusion of media and civil society reps in the Advisory Council provided for in the Act.

He also expressed the need for more public education on the cyber law to help citizens and common interest groups understand the law to avoid conflict with it. He said SLAJ is seeking partnerships to simplify and popularize the law for the understanding of the average citizen, especially as the public elections draw near.

Nasralla reported that SLAJ is implementing a project titled Cyber Safe Sierra Leone by engaging stakeholders, journalists, civil society organizations, and bloggers to promote understanding of the cyber law and together build advocacy initiatives for the review of certain aspects of the law that have the potential to infringe on citizens’ right to free expression, especially online, and data privacy rights, and various offenses in Section 44 of the Act.

The SLAJ President also reminded the Minister about the land for the construction of SLAJ headquarters which has been challenging to locate in the central business district. He recalled the suggestion of the defunct Daily Mail building on Rawdon Street in Freetown as a possible alternative.

In addition, he stated the ongoing construction of the SLAJ Eastern Region Office in Kenema which is less than 60% complete and needs support; the land acquired by SLAJ South and the outstanding land for SLAJ Northern Region.

Nasralla revealed some of the plans SLAJ have to position itself well in terms of setting the agenda for the forthcoming public elections in June 2023 and ensuring information integrity throughout the electioneering process. He also talked about the need for training journalists on elections and gender-sensitive reporting as well as the safety and security of journalists during the election period.

Meanwhile, the SLAJ President assured the Minister and his team that his second term MEAL (Mobilize, Evaluate, Allocate, and Liberate) manifesto seeks to consolidate the gains that have been registered in the last three years under the SALT (Stimulate, Appreciate, Learn and Transfer) manifesto and push for more gains.

In response, Minister Swaray thanked the SLAJ President for the courtesy call and congratulated him on his re-election as well as his new colleagues in the Executive.

“Our relationship is one that is made in heaven. None of the outstanding achievements you have outlined would have been possible if SLAJ has not had a collaborative engagement with the Government on matters related to media development in Sierra Leone. Together we are doing a fantastic job in spite of the numerous challenges,” said Swaray, adding that the approach of the Nasralla-led SLAJ Executive is commendable.

The Minister noted that the Government understands the critical role the media plays in national development and that is why President Julius Maada Bio will continue to support media development in the country. He cited the role of SLAJ (and the media) in the fight against Ebola and COVID-19, during the mudslide, among other national emergencies, and said: “SLAJ has always been there to answer the clarion call to save lives and limbs.”

On the Cyber Security and Crime Act 2021, Swaray insisted that though it is technical legislation the cyber law makes provisions for the protection of fundamental rights more than any other law in the country. However, he welcomed the plan by SLAJ for the simplification of the cyber law and indicated that it is a project the Ministry, under the National Cyber Security Coordinating Office, is willing to collaborate on.

Swaray also revealed that under a USD50 million World Bank grant, the Government of Sierra Leone is currently identifying all critical national information infrastructure and they will be declared critical by His Excellency President Bio and will be protected.

He further revealed that the Data Protection Bill is currently with the Law Officers Department and will soon be tabled when Parliament resumes next month.

Regarding the land issue, the Minister advised that SLAJ do some intelligence gathering on the availability of State land in the CBD area and inform the Ministry. He also indicated that the Daily Mail building will be a possible and viable alternative.

Also present was the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Solomon Jamiru Esq. and the Director of Information Emmanuel Turay.

Jamiru accepted the responsibility to work with SLAJ on the land/Daily Mail project and report to the Minister.

The meeting climaxed with the introduction of the new SLAJ Executive and posing for a group photo.

This is the first courtesy call by the new SLAJ Executive since their elections in June this year.

Lokomasama People Ask… What Has Delayed The Rhombeh Rice Project…

September 16, 2022

By Ranger

Without a doubt, given the increasing prices of the staple food rice and the huge amount of foreign exchange used to import it every year, it was received by the population as welcome news that the Government and private sector partners will embark on multi-million dollars mechanized rice farming at the Rhombeh swamp in Lokomasama Chiefdom in Port Loko district and the Tormabum boliland in the South.

These two projects, the Government said, will reduce rice import, save foreign exchange, increase farmers’ income, create thousands of new direct and indirect jobs as it will contribute to the quest for food security.

Yet a year or more after the Rhombeh Project was launched with a lot of fanfare, the people of Lokomasama who are the direct beneficiaries wonder why up to now they see no work being done.

As global food prices due to increase in shipping, fuel and fertilizer costs and Ukraine-Russia war, it makes good sense for poor developing countries to focus greater attention to the production of the food they eat at home. The focus should not only be on the staple food but other foods that have proteins, minerals and vitamins content.

These include animals, poultry, eggs, tomato, onions etc. As this piece is being written, a pound of cow meat costs NLe50, far above the means of the average income earner.

From an economic point of view, without embarking on a robust and sustainable agricultural development path, the country’s balance of trade figure will continue to weigh heavily on the debit side as we continue to pay more for imported foods we can easily grow here and even export surpluses to other countries.

This will not only create hundreds of thousands of new jobs in many fields but will also crucially address the problems of rural poverty, rural-urban migration, low economic productivity, below average GDP and GNP that are clear indicators of continued poverty and socioeconomic backwardness.

ACC Engages Public Procurement Stakeholders on Effective Collaboration

September 16, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

Emmanuel Koivaya Amara Esq, the Director of Operations of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has requested for improved collaboration and unfettered sharing of real-time information among public procurement stakeholders in a bid to promote transparency, integrity and accountability in procurement processes.

He made that call on the 9th September, 2022, at the Freetown City Council Hall, during an awareness-raising meeting organized by the Independent Procurement Review Panel (IPRP), which attracted several key actors in the procurement landscape.

It was part of a string of nationwide stakeholders’ sensitization engagements aimed at educating the public on the mandate, core values, powers, work and importance of the IPRP in contributing to the growing efforts to improve integrity and transparency in public service delivery.

Emmanuel Koivaya Amara Esq stated that procurement is the most effective vehicle of the Government’s national development aspirations as it accounts for over 70% of public expenditures.

He said, however, procurement is prone to corruption as the key players (procuring entities, bidders, and the regulatory authority) can sometimes compromise for pecuniary and other personal interests.

When such happens, the resulting effects are always debilitating for national development, public trust in institutions, peace, stability, and the reputation of the nation, he said.

The Director of Operations pointed out that Section 20 of the Public Procurement Act of 2004, as repealed by the 2016 Act, establishes the IPRP as an independent grievance redress mechanism with the mandate to review all complaints/grievances emanating from procurement processes.

He said the IPRP has the powers to investigate and enter judgment (i.e, annul, suspend, redirect the decisions of procuring entities, etc.) on such procurement processes and award cost to the aggrieved party.

Also, he stated that such sacred duties when properly performed will not only reduce corruption opportunities, but will improve the integrity systems of the nation’s institutions and break the vicious cycle of corruption.

“This will also prevent the blatant disregard for policies and procedures, save public funds and revenues, and improve the quality of service delivery,” he underscored.

Amara made reference to some of the offences in the Anti-Corruption Act of 2008 as amended in 2019 that border on procurement-related issues. He called on the IPRP and other stakeholders to partner with the ACC for better collaboration and sharing of real-time information that will help the fight against corruption.

“During your investigations, the IPRP should bear in mind the sacred responsibility to always refer real-time suspected acts of corruption to the ACC,” he averred.

In his statement, the Chairman of the IPRP, Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai Esq, started off by describing the IPRP as a six man independent supervisory panel established for the purposes of addressing the grievances of bidders who feel aggrieved of procurement processes. He said that since their appointment in 2019, they have successfully resolved 13 complaints from the private sector, including awarding of costs to aggrieved parties, where they cannot reverse the decisions of procuring entities.

He encouraged the private sector and members of the public to feel free and report their grievances emanating from procurement processes to the IPRP and assured them that all such complaints will be addressed in an unbiased and fair manner.

Director of Procurement at the Ministry of Finance, Fodie Konneh, expressed his appreciation to the IPRP for the engagement with stakeholders. He referred to the job of the IPRP as crucial to national development and in promoting integrity, fair play, transparency and accountability in public procurement.