Ing. Tunde Cole Donates $2M State-of-the-Art Learning Facility at FBC

July 20, 2022

Out of Patriotism & Selflessness…

By Amin Kef-Ranger

It was, John F Kennedy, one time President of the United States of America, who in a bid to energize his fellow countrymen to see the importance of engaging in civic action and public service that once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you –ask what you can do for country”.

And it was a great philosopher, Edmund Burke, who stated that, “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”.

History, indeed, unfolded on the 18^th July 2022 on Mount Aureole, Fourah Bay College, to be precise, as a rare, inspiring and impressive gesture was demonstrated by a patriotic son of the soil, a great Sierra Leonean, in the person of Alhaji Ing. Dr. Mohamed Babatunde Cole, as he donated a $2 Million worth multipurpose Engineering Building to the Government and People of Sierra Leone.

It was indeed a fulfillment of selflessness as well as the requisite response to civic action and his singular action is what any good citizen or man should believe is the right thing to do in order for evil, what is not good for purpose, not to triumph over what is good.

As a proud and grateful alumnus of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, Alhaji Ing Dr. Mohamed Babatunde Cole thought it but rather fitting that the best he could give back is to contribute to the infrastructural development of the University.

The donated building is not just a building for the name sake but rather is a solid learning structure that has 6 class rooms, all with whiteboards, 2 auditoriums with projectors, free internet Wi-Fi and a capacity for over 700 students.

To show how important the event was on the 18^th July 2022 on Fourah Bay college campus, it was President Dr Julius Maada Bio who commissioned the building, which was named after the sole financier, Tunde Cole Building.

It is indeed a massive modern learning facility that will add to lecture rooms and provide auditoria that are equipped with technology to maximize learning outcomes.

According to President Bio, “Tunde Cole’s profound altruism is in providing this four-storey edifice with two 170-person auditoria, equipped with smart boards and projectors for video/web conferencing and online-content deliveries; six additional virtual learning-ready lecture and conference rooms; and comprehensive WiFi coverage throughout the building. These facilities will serve as remote and hybrid learning hubs at this university for years to come.

“For over a century, we were called the Athens of West Africa for the superior quality of higher education offered in our dear nation. Ours was the international outpost of European education and its mission to train, to shape, and to reinforce the values, principles, and aspirations of young Africans. The result is that we produced some of the best scholars, researchers, philosophers and public servants – people who were driven by a mission to transform their nations; people who shared a core value of citizenship,” he said.

He cautioned cynics who took pleasure in bad news and would rather spread disinformation in order to foment unrest in the country rather than acknowledge how much citizens and leaders were doing to make things better. He noted that theirs was a mindset that would blame the Government for not providing cheap fuel even though they were well aware that the country was not producing or refining petroleum products.

“So, while cynics sit on the margins spreading disinformation and hoping for things to go all wrong, good citizens like Ing. Tunde Cole ask, ‘what else can I contribute to training more doctors, engineers, lawyers, chemists, policymakers, and more, who will transform the future of this nation?’”, he noted, saying that that was what good citizenship was all about.

“It is not about being wrapped in partisanship and fomenting civil unrest; it is about doing the right things at the right time about the multiple challenges we face as a developing nation. On the all-important issue of food security, we have no option but to plant what we eat…We cannot expect foreign countries to plant rice and sell their rice to us at prices we determine. Our food security is our responsibility, hence my Government’s focus on investing in farming,” he said.

Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sierra Leone, Brigadier General Professor Foday Sahr, said they were happy about the beautiful edifice, which he described as modern. He further stated that the building was fully equipped with smart boards, WiFi facility, canteen, offices and lecture rooms that could accommodate up to 700 students per session.

The benefactor and philanthropist, Alhaji Ign. Mohammed Babatunde Cole, in his own words disclosed how the structure was constructed out of love for his alma mater, adding that he knew the university had constraints with lecture rooms when he attended its 190th anniversary, where speakers and college authorities asked for various support from the public.

He went on to thank President Bio for his presence at the commissioning of the building, adding that that was his contribution to the Government’s flagship programme – free quality education. He also thanked his family, the architect, the centurion construction company, a locally owned firm, and all those who gave him support to put up the structure.

“It is not what you can do for this alma mata, but what you can do for Sierra Leone,” he said, adding that education was not cheap and that the Government alone could not fund it.

Minister of Tertiary and Higher Education, Prof. Alpha Tejan Wurie, described the event as a special one, noting that it was a demonstration that a lot could still be done for Sierra Leone by Sierra Leoneans. He said the massive increase in tertiary education enrolment was inspired by the President’s investment in education.

Giving the vote of thanks on behalf of students of Fourah Bay College, Augustine Bona, said they were thankful to President Bio for commissioning the structure and for putting premium on human capital development, most importantly on education, and for providing school buses for pupils and students. He thanked Ing. Cole, the benefactor, for the kind gesture and assured him that they would use the structure for its intended purpose.

According to a Political Commentator, there are wealthy Sierra Leoneans, in and out of this country who are capable of doing more than what Tunde Cole did but are rather too selfish to share their wealth with others. For others, he said they may be hesitant not to be identified because they amassed their wealth through corrupt means. He, however, maintained that if other Sierra Leoneans could step forward and contribute to the infrastructural development of service-provided public institutions then the burden could be reduced on the Government and the country could be a better place more than it is today.

Indeed, Alhaji Ign. Mohammed Babatunde Cole did not sit idly by, with folded arms, and asked what his country can do for him – but rather has demonstrated what he has done for his country. There is a lesson for all to learn.

Tunde Cole Building

NP –SL Epitomizes Selflessness & Undiluted Service Delivery to All

July 20, 2022

By Amin Kef-Ranger

It has been established that NP Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is shedding a ray of hope for Sierra Leonean businesses. It epitomizes that any ambitious group of Sierra Leoneans, with good intensions and initiatives, can make meaningful achievements when they come together and invest solidly. Today, the company is the leading petroleum marketing company in the sub-region, only because some 35 nationals were shrewd enough to plough their end of service benefits into the formation of the company. This example, if emulated by forward looking and ambitious individuals that make meaningful investment plans will change the development trajectory of this country.

Though NP-SL Ltd is an indigenously owned company, however its shareholders and Management are not afraid to take risk into venturing into various parts of the country. NP-SL Ltd believes in breaking new grounds and this has been the driving force behind its expansionist drive.

The services that the company rolls out are not only limited in the capital city but are replicated nationwide. Everywhere it operates, the company offers the same services, effectively providing the qualitative services to its esteemed customers.

To make the purchase of fuel very simple NP-SL Ltd introduced the NP Smart Card, which enables organizations and individuals to purchase fuel at ease without using physical cash. By introducing this latest technology, it avails its customers the convenience in conducting transactions at Filling Stations as long there is credit in their NP Smart Cards.

Established by some 35 Sierra Leoneans years back, NP-SL Ltd has grown to become one of the most successful indigenously owned companies in this country. Because of effective management initiatives, the company is vibrantly operating in Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, and The Gambia.
With NP-SL Ltd, Customer Care is always taken paramount as Management ensures that customer satisfaction is prioritized. The company truly deserves commendation in that direction.
With well-motivated members of staff, who know how to efficiently treat customers, NP-SL Ltd has become very endearing to many.
In all the five countries where it is operating, the company always ensures that petroleum products, in terms of fuel and other lubricants, are available in order to avoid scarcity.

It has been established that using charcoal and wood for cooking purposes poses health hazards and depletion of our forests. Against such a backdrop many have commended the company for making it possible to get access to NP gas cookers, which are indeed safe and friendly for domestic use. Gas is as well available at the company’s filling stations which individuals can purchase at affordable prices.

The company is one of the few business entities in this country that strictly adheres to the country’s Local Content Policy by strictly offering jobs to Sierra Leoneans except in situations when expert knowledge and skills are outsourced. This has helped in providing jobs and reducing poverty.

NP-SL Ltd is a major tax payer to the National Revenue Authority and is contributing to Government’s revenue which is used for the implementation of various development programmes.

The company has truly made Sierra Leone proud as it continues to fly the Green, White and Blue high in West Africa with the story of how serious minded and ambitious individuals can become successful business entrepreneurs.

NRA Refutes Claims of Purchasing Land at $2.8M & Having a Split Between Management & Board

July 20, 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

According to the National Revenue Authority (NRA), in a Press Release it issued dated the 19^th July, 2022, on Tuesday, the 18th May 2021, the Global Times Newspaper ran a misleading publication in which it was purported that the institution’s Board and Management proposed to buy a piece of land for $2.8 Million.

The NRA says it turns out that the facts in the story were concocted to serve the interests of detractors aiming to bring down the good image of the institution.

In addition, the NRA mentioned that on Tuesday 19th July 2022, the Global Times Newspaper also published yet another misleading story on the same land issue with the caption, “Controversy Over NRA $ 1.8 Million Land”. The NRA, says, it views such publication as unfortunate, unfounded and has further reinforced its view of a media house that lacks credibility.

In trying to make clarifications, the NRA said firstly, the institution has never purchased “a one and half lot of land” for $1.8 Million underscoring that such a claim can only be made by ill-motivated individuals and ran by rogue media houses.

“We are an institution that takes into cognizance all Public Financial Management prudence and place high priority on taxpayers’ money which continues to be key consideration in our corporate negotiations,” the NRA further stated.

Secondly, the NRA says it owes all its achievements of the last four years to the harmony and camaraderie of both Board and Management of the institution stressing how the assumption of a “big split” between the Board and Management is a figment of one’s imagination stressing that let it be known that the institution frowns at such.

The mobilizing national entity stated that for the unsubstantiated publications it is also exploring other options amongst which may include litigation against the continuous publication of false information against the National Revenue Authority.

It concluded by stating that to such an end, they want to appeal to so called media professionals to seek clarifications on all matters pertaining to the NRA from the Public Affairs Unit or the Commissioner-General before publishing stories relating to the institution.

1,200 Teachers to be Recruited in September

July 18, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

This medium was informed that the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) will soon start the process of recruiting one thousand two hundred (1,200) teachers adding to the over 36,000 teachers that are on Government payment payroll.

According to the Chairman of the TSC, Conrad Sackey, they have just completed the development of the Recruitment Forms with the Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), noting that the forms are now electronic and would be completed online. He said the Commission is doing such in order to prevent the complaint that applicants normally make that the forms were sold to them.

He said a recruitment committee is now in place and meets regularly to agree on other modalities.

Since the introduction of the Free Quality School Education (FQSE) in 2018, the New Direction Government has employed 10,268 teachers nationwide in order to meet the overwhelming influx of pupils yearning to benefit from the scheme.

“Teachers make up 40% of the entire Government payroll and over 4000 teachers have been placed on their right pay grade. Over 300 school heads have been regularized. In 2021 alone we have recruited 1,000 teachers. There are over 36,000 Teachers on Government payroll. We aim to add this number to 37,500 by next years. That’s the New Direction,” according to the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Dr David Moinina Sengeh.

He said the Government will continue to invest in and promote teachers because that’s one sure way to contribute to national development.

In the building up to the end of April 2020, there were concerns that the Government might not be able to fulfill its commitment due to the emergence of the Coronavirus pandemic that forced many nations to reduce budgetary support on education. But the Government kept the promise and paid the 30% increase for up to 34,350 teachers across the country. The increment at the time means that the payroll for teachers increased by Le 13,45 billion, from Le 42.95 billion in March 2020 to Le 56.40 billion in April 2020. Recently, there is another 45% increase in the salary of teachers.

“I am a community teacher and I taught for over five years with no salary, and in 2019 I was fortunate to be among the over 4,000 teachers that were approved by the Government. Six of us were approved in my school and that served as a motivation to us. Also, the learning materials they gave to us as a result of the FQSE makes learning very easy for the kids,” according to Alhaji Mohamed Sesay a teacher at Konta Kuma Senior and Junior Secondary School Port Loko District.

Over 500 Principals and Vice Principals have been appointed between August 2020 and November 2021. All were previously either Acting positions or vacant. Government has invested in school management and leadership.

Presidential National Best Teacher Award- 48 teachers were honored by the President of Sierra Leone for their service and dedication as teachers. Two of those teachers were nominated to the African Union Best Teacher Prize and several have benefited from advanced training opportunities.

CSOs Call for Deduction of 10% of Insurance Fees to Address Accident Related Issues

July 18, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

The Civil Society Consortium on Community Accountability and Service Delivery has on Thursday July 14th 2022 called for the reduction of ten percent (10%) from each fee paid as insurance fee to insurance companies to address issues related to accidents.
“We want insurance companies to deduct 10% from every insurance fee paid to them and deposit it to a special account that will be managed by SLRSA to respond to accident victims,” Chairman of the Consortium, William Sao-Lamin stated during a one day sensitization event held at the Sierra Leone Motor Drivers and General Transport Workers Union at Texaco, East of Freetown.

He furthered that the money should go straight to the SLRSA Special Unit account to take care of accident victims revealing how they have engaged drivers, Kekeh and bike riders on the importance of the exercise, adding that they are educating people how to protect their lives and properties after accidents.

“We want Government to build a well-equipped hospital at Masiaka to respond to accident victims. We also want every Government hospital at regional and district level to get a separate Unit and equipped with nurses and equipment to deal with accident cases,” Sao Lamin said. He recalled that several people have died and amputated due to accidents maintaining that insurance companies have not done much to pay insurance to accident victims.

He said they have already engaged several Government institutions and officials including the Chief Minister on the issue.

The spokesman of Drivers Union, Mohamed K. Conteh lauded the move taken by CSOs. He said there has been no law to force these insurance companies to pay claims, claiming that they have been losing hugely.

He said the third party insurance does not cover drivers but passengers describing drivers as vulnerable people without any insurance to cover them. He called for the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to ensure the realization of the initiative.

In his contribution, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Hassan Jonathan Kamara said for far too long vehicle owners, drivers and passengers have suffered with no compensation after accidents. He also called for collaborative effort to ensure the realization of the dream which he noted seeks to reduce death rates during accidents.

WANEP Ends 3-Day Training on Alternative Dispute Resolution for Political Parties

July 18, 2022

By Abubakar Harding

A three-day Multi-Stakeholder Consultation and Training on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ARD) for Political Parties in West Africa was held by the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), commencing on Tuesday 12^th July 2022 at the Atlantic Lumley Hotel on Lumley Beach Road in Freetown.

The event was funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

West Africa remains one of the most volatile regions on the continent due to the frequent incidents of violence and political instability in the region, especially since the late 1990s.

Although the causes of violent occurrences are multifaceted in nature, some are election-related and linked to weak political structures, politicized State institutions and contentious democratic transitions.

Furthermore, the extremely competitive character of party politics has also posed a threat to regional stability, in part because elections are perceived as a “winner-take-all” event, with political interests aligned along ethnic, religious and provincial lines than ideological grounds.

It was against that backdrop that WANEP, through its Democracy and Governance program, to foster an architecture for dispute resolution that electoral systems and structures, in order to mitigate election related disputes and violence in West Africa, organized the training for 25 representatives of political parties, the Political Parties Registration Commission, the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone, Civil Society Organizations, state and non-state institutions, Election Management Bodies (EMBs), National Centers for Response Mechanism and other stakeholders.

Also, growing impunity and delays in the court system’s response to address electoral violence and crimes can serve as motivation for disputants and victims to use unlawful means to seek revenge.

In light of that, there is a risk that electoral violence will become cyclical, resulting in retaliatory attacks after each election.

To address those issues, it is critical to establish informal election-related grievance redress methods and court-annexed mediation procedures.

Another justification for the intervention is premised on the existing capacity gaps in political party structures to address election-relation disputes to minimize intra and inter party related violence.

There is over-reliance on litigation to resolve those disputes within and between political parties.

This suggests limited options of resolution mechanisms to address election-related conflicts.

Moreover, there is the need to strengthen mediation mechanisms in political party structures to resolve disputes. In that regard, ensuring that ADR is used effectively in election-related disputes is crucial.

The training will enhance political parties and EMBs’ mediation capacity to resolve grievances and election-related disputes. It was also intended to create or expand existing infrastructure in the target countries to effectively managing disputes surrounding elections and other democratic processes.

The overarching objective of the training was to enhance the capacity of election stakeholders, especially political parties to develop sustainable dispute resolution structures to manage disputes and minimize election related disputes and violence with the specific objectives to enhance the knowledge and skills of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms for political party stakeholders in targeted countries; strengthen the institutional capacity of EMBs on resolution mechanisms, enhance engagement with political parties before and after elections and strengthening multi-stakeholder cooperation for electoral dispute resolution in targeted countries.

The expected results of the training are that knowledge and skills of election stakeholders in ADR mechanisms at Track 1 and 2 levels are enhanced and a roadmap that provides joint strategies for electoral disputes is developed.

The training was also designed to adopt a Participatory Learning Approach (PLA) including interactive sessions, group work, scenarios and case studies of ADR with emphasis on electoral dispute management.

Earlier in her welcome statement, the National Network Coordinator of WANAP Sierra Leone, Dr. Isata Mahoi underscored that the training is to reduce violence and conflicts among political parties as well as promote peace, unity and national cohesion among them revealing that Sierra Leone is at the crossroads citing the June 2023 elections and concluded that the training is part of WANEP’s commitment to bring all the stakeholders together to interact and amicably resolve issues.

In his opening statement, Shamu Deen Yusuf, Technical Advisor, Electoral Affairs, the ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture and Operations Project co-financed by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ) revealed that they are pleased to partner with WANEP to strengthen the capacity of the participants observing that elections are often characterized by violence and that such interventions would help mitigate disputes and violence.

The other facilitator was Oninyere Onyemenam, External Consultant to WANEP.

Other topics discussed were Understanding Typologies of Responses to Conflict and the ADR Spectrum; Principles of Strategic Negotiation; Dialogue and Mediation Skills; Principals and Practice; Cultural Dilemmas in Negotiation and Mediation and Monitoring Mediation and Dialogue Outcome/Agreement.

A question and answer session and group work climaxed the highly-interactive training.

Professor David J. Francis Nominated for 8th Pan African Peace Leadership Summit & Honors

July 18, 2022

By Amin Kef-Ranger

Professor David J. Francis, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, is among four Heads of State in Africa nominated for the 8th Pan African Peace Leadership Summit and Honors (PALESH) slated for August 2022 in Abuja, Nigeria in honour of his Excellence Leadership and Outstanding Role Model Performance on Capacity Building and to be decorated with the Honour of UN Sustainable Development Goal Humanitarian Icon of Peace by the IPGC Africa where he is to deliver a speech on the theme :” The Role of Inclusive Governance towards Consolidating Peaceful Co Existence in Africa”.

On 30th April 2021 His Excellency President, Brig. Gen. (Rtd) Dr. Julius Maada Bio appointed Prof David J Francis as the Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Co-operation.

Before he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Francis served as the first Chief Minister of the Republic of Sierra Leone since May 2018.

As Chief Minister, he served as one of the Principal Advisers to the President. He was responsible for the supervision, monitoring, coordination and performance management of 28 Ministries of the Government of Sierra Leone. As a Senior Cabinet Minister, the Chief Minister served as a member of the National Security Council; National Defence Council; member of the Economic Management Team; the National Investment Board, member of Cabinet Sub-Committees and member of the Presidential Task Force of COVID 19 National Preparedness and Response.

In his capacity as Chief Minister, Professor Francis chaired and led several high-level Government of Sierra Leone (GoSL) negotiation processes with international, multilateral and private sector agencies and institutions.

Before joining Government, Professor Francis was the Head of the world-renowned Department of Peace Studies & Director of the John & Elnora Ferguson Centre for African Studies (JEFCAS) at the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom. He served as Commissioner for the UK Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. Also, he held the UNESCO Chair of African Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Bradford. Professor Francis held a Research Professorial Chair in African Peace and Conflict Studies, the first-ever to be established at a leading UK University.

Professor Francis has published more than eleven books and more than fifty journal articles, book chapters and commissioned-policy papers. Some of his published works include Peace, Democracy & Development in Africa, Adonis & Abbey Publishers: London, July 2020 (Ed); African Peace Militaries: War, Peace & Democratic Governance, : UN Cooperative Peacekeeping in Africa (Ed.) Ashgate, 2005; The Politics of Economic Regionalism: Sierra Leone in ECOWAS, Ashgate, 2001.

As a distinguished international academic, senior policy adviser, and consultant for more than 25 years, Professor Francis successfully supervised six doctoral completions, 14 Ph.D./Doctoral External Examinations in the UK, Europe, North America, and Africa, as well as more than 50 Master’s dissertation supervision. Professor Francis has served as a consultant consulted for numerous Governments, intergovernmental agencies (EU & Commonwealth), and vital UN agencies (UNAMSIL Sierra Leone, UNMIL Liberia, UNESCO on Peace Education, UNDP on Infrastructure for Peace, UNHCR on Internally Displaced Persons in Liberia); ECOWAS (ECOWAS Early Warning Mechanism & National Early Warning System); African Union (African Peer Review Mechanism & the AU Post-Conflict Reconstruction & Development).

Vista Bank SL Provides Financial Assistances to Lovetta Goba & Others

July 18, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

Vista Bank Sierra Leone has provided support to the tune of US$1,000 to help finance the medical surgery of Lovetta Goba in Senegal and purchased Chabra Shunts for Baby Elizabeth Turay and others at US $1,400 in India and shipped via DHL.

It could be recalled that this medium few weeks ago published an article in which it was stated that the Sick Pikin Project officially partnered with Vista Bank Ltd Sierra Leone to save the lives of sick children in Sierra Leone whose parents cannot afford to pay for their medical bills.

The partnership with the bank was aimed at providing financial support to sick children being brought to the Sick Pikin Project seeking medical help.

Against that backdrop, Vista Bank Ltd Sierra Leone has provided its first set of financial help and 11-year-old Lovetta Goba, who is suffering from Neurofibromatosis Type One and is currently in Dakar, Senegal for a proposed medical surgery, has become the bank’s first beneficiary since the official partnership. The US$1,000, it was learnt, will be used to attend to Lovetta’s medical treatment and pay for other related expenses.

It must be noted that Lovetta received similar support from donations by the Sick Pikin Project US chapter, DIC Foundation and Friends of Transit. Her initial estimate was Le 33 million Leones but such went over board as Le 60 million Leones has already been spent so far because of the new conditions discovered by the treating team.

Lovetta Goba has a massive tumor which blocks the normal flow of her brain fluid causing hydrocephalus and has resulted in an uncontrollable and consistent severe headache, vomiting, and other neurological defects which may kill her if she does not undergo surgery. But with the support from Vista Bank Ltd and other donor partners, it is hopeful that she will come out of the surgery successfully and return home safe, sound, hale and hearty.

Vista Bank SL Ltd also provided additional support worth US$1,400 to other sick children like Elizabeth Turay, which has been spent on shunts.

A shunt is a hollow tube surgically placed in the brain (or occasionally in the spine) to help drain cerebrospinal fluid and redirect it to another location in the body where it can be reabsorbed.

Vista Bank Ltd has proved to be a champion in not only financial service delivery but also corporate social responsibility. The bank has pledged to continue to support the cause of the Sick Pikin Project in saving the lives of severely sick children in Sierra Leone.

It is expected that the partnership with Vista Bank Ltd will, hopefully, give back life to the children and restore lost hopes.

“We are sincerely and heartily grateful for such an important partnership with a bank that is keen to serve humanity, enliven lives, and save the lives of children who are future leaders of this country and the continent of Africa,” the Lead Coordinator of the Sick Pikin Project, Ishmael Alfred Charles expressed gratitude adding that the partnership will continue for as long as it can as they strive to save lives and restore hopes where there is none.

AIC Proudly Discloses Gross Written Premium of Le36.54 billion in 2021

July 18, 2022

By Abubakarr Harding

The 35^th Annual General Meeting of the Aureol Insurance Company (AIC) Limited ended at the District Women’s Fellowship Hall on King Harman Road in Freetown on Friday 15^th July 2022 during which the Chairperson of the event, Jennifer Renner-Thomas, revealed that despite certain challenges experience, however, the company made a Gross Written Premium of Le36.54 billion in 2021 as compared to Le32.13 billion the previous year.

Jennifer Renner-Thomas underscored that the insurance industry is characterized by declining insurance rates and market shares, stiff and unhealthy competition primarily driven by strong bargaining powers of buyers and slow growth which were a reflection of the overall economy underscoring that the industry has to grapple with the far-reaching socio-economic consequences of the COVID 19 pandemic, the weak external demand for major exports, particularly diamonds as well as decline in the mining, transport, trade and tourism sectors.

She continued by informing shareholders that amidst all the challenges, the company recorded a Profit Before Tax of Le4.7 billion for the period to 31^st December 2021 intimating that the Board was pleased to recommend a dividend of Le0.50 cents per shares to all members of the company.

Giving an analysis of AIC’s performance, the Chairperson stated that claims paid for the year ending 31^st December 2021 was Le13.38 billion as compared to Le9.97 billion for the corresponding period to 31^st December 2020 (an increase of 34.2%) disclosing that Claims Ratio for the period under review was 44.62% compared to 38.49% for the same period to 31^st December 2020.

She further revealed that during the year 2021, in addition to the numerous motor and local and overseas medical insurance claims, the company also settled three major Fire Insurance Claims that amounted to Le2.0 billion informing stakeholders that the company is extremely proud of its claims-paying ability and would like to assure its numerous clients that AIC would continue to meet all genuine claims obligations promptly.

The Chairperson also gave an overview of the Sierra Leone economy maintaining that the Gross Domestic Product in 2021 was 4.2 % while inflation increased from 10.45% in 2020 to 17.94% in 2021.

Jennifer Renner Thomas said, “On AIC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), we organized an Essay Competition for Primary and Secondary Schools as well as Tertiary Institutions on the topic ‘Technology, the Answer to the Future of Insurance’ at which event various cash prizes were won. I want to congratulate the winners. Also, as part of its CSR, the company supported and sponsored a host of organizations within the course of the year.”

She continued that some staff members benefited from physical and virtual training programs both locally and overseas and congratulated in particular, Leonard Stronge and Shola Wright who successfully completed the Diploma in Insurance Program in The Gambia (WAII) with Distinction and that the company also bade farewell and happy retirement wishes to its Reinsurance and Statistics Manager, Foday Conteh, who served the company for 34 years.

He expressed gratitude to the Directors, Shareholders, Management, Staff, Customers, Reinsurers, Consulting Auctioneers, Brokers and Agents for the company for yet another successful year in spite of the fluctuating market conditions and extended sympathy and heartfelt condolences to customers and shareholders who died within the period under review and guaranteed that the company would continue to render quality service that would exceed the expectations of their valued and loyal customers.

Highlights of the AGM were the reelection of Directors, fixing of their remunerations and reading of the audit report by the representative of the renowned accounting firm, BDO.

AIC has been in existence for thirty-five years (35) providing its clients with the assurance and protection needed in this uncertain financial world. The company offers a wide range of insurance and other financial services in a profitable manner.

Superintendent Monica Johnson Spearheads Cleaning Exercise at New England Police Station

July 18, 2022

By Abubakarr Elisha Harding

The newly posted Officer Commanding of the New England Police Station, Superintendent Monica Emelda Marcella Johnson, has on the 16^th July 2022, spearheaded a cleaning exercise, in which personnel of the different departments actively participated, with the main objective of enhancing a healthy working environment.

According to Madam Monica E Johnson, one of the things which she believes must be promoted is a clean working Police Station and vicinity maintaining that in as much as the Station is dealing with people from different classes and the fact that public and private offices are situated there, there is the need to embark on a thorough cleaning exercise by ensuring that the heads of various departments in the Station put hands on deck to achieve that.

She revealed that her leadership style will be different from what used to obtain adding that the other Heads of Departments will attest to that further encouraging other Officers Commanding Police Stations in different communities to embark on such stating how the Bible says to be clean is next to Godliness underscoring that they should not wait for higher authorities or the Government to ask them to do so.

Inspector Audrey Rita Kamara, the Line Manager of the Family Support Unit at the New England Police Station, expressed joy over the cleaning exercise adding that translating the initiative into reality shows that women are good leaders.

She intimated how undertaking the cleaning of the station was as a result of a good leadership style and team work also encouraging residents of the New England community to not only be participating in cleaning the environment but as well clean their hearts and minds so that all could have the best out of the community.

The station was thoroughly cleaned with cobwebs removed, the floor scrubbed, nearby grasses uprooted and all unwanted substances gathered and taken to the dumpsite, the offices neatly packed, giving a real facelift of the New England Police Station.