Appalling State of Rural PHUs In Sierra Leone

April 24, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

A report monitored on the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation Radio this week describing the appalling physical dilapidation of a primary health care unit facility in a chiefdom in Koinadugu district that included gross staff shortage, and workers volunteering without salary showed clearly the urgent need for the Ministry of Health and its development partners to prioritize the development and equipping of PHUs as a critical first step towards ensuring the health of particularly the 80 percent of Sierra Leoneans that live in the urban communities.

The 2014-2015 Ebola Virus Disease (“Ebola”) outbreak in Sierra Leone has highlighted the need for high-quality health promotion and adequate investment in this critical area.

The then Chief Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Brima Kargbo, at the time noted that, “We acknowledge the significant role health promotion played in finally containing the outbreak, particularly through social mobilization and mass media communication strategies.

“Strategic health promotion interventions continue to promote optimal health behaviours including creating demand and increasing health service uptake. The human resource challenges that the health system faces (in terms of staff numbers and skills) extended to health promotion cadres.

“As a result, we face challenges of adequately addressing the health needs of the population. This Strategy consists of national health priorities that all partners must rally around, including a plan for improved human resources for health promotion, capacity strengthening, advocacy and strengthened monitoring and evaluation systems.

“The work plan that accompanies this Strategy provides a solid roadmap, in the medium term, to improved health promotion that benefits the people of Sierra Leone…”

According to official source, in Sierra Leone, the burden of disease is predominantly communicable disease, with 25% of deaths due to malaria, 9% due to hypertension and 9% due to maternal causes. In outpatients, the predominant conditions are tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis, hypertension and diabetes.

Ebola exacerbated an already challenging situation in terms of human resources. There were 1.4 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10 000 population compared to the most recent sustainable development goals threshold (set in 2016) of 44.5.

In absolute terms, this equated to a qualified workforce of just over 1000 doctors, nurses and midwives, with an approximate shortage of 32 000. There was only one medical school in the country from which approximately 30 graduates pass out per year.

Within Sierra Leone, there is also an urban–rural split, with many doctors preferring to live and work in the urban areas.

Each district has a health management team and an average of 50 peripheral health units (PHU) and over 100 technical staff. The management team is responsible for planning, organizing and monitoring health provision, training personnel, working with communities and supplying equipment and drugs.

Critically, it is the PHUs that are designed to be the delivery point for primary health care in the country and there are three main types.

The community health centre carries out health prevention measures, cures and health promotion activities and is in charge of overseeing the other PHUs in the area. It is planned that in each chiefdom, the unit of local Government in Sierra Leone below the level of district should have at least one community health centre.

Community health posts perform a similar function to community health centres but have fewer facilities and are used to refer patients to the health centre or the district hospital.

Maternal and Child Health posts are the first level of contact on the ground and are located in smaller towns with populations between 500-2000. Much of the health care infrastructure was decimated during the Civil War. Long after the war, and after Ebola, the health service is still in the process of being organized with hospitals and PHU being rebuilt or created and staff being trained.

Over Demolition of Project Site… FCC Mayor Schools Lands Minister

April 24, 2020

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In a letter dated 23^rd April 2020 written by the Mayor of the Freetown City Council, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr and addressed to the Minister of Lands, Dr. Denis Sandy , she expressed utter disappointment over the demolition of an erected fence and preliminary construction work done for the Waste Transfer Station on Jomo Kenyatta Road/Pyke Street in New England.

The said incident took place on Friday 17th April 2020 and according to her the Minister deployed armed soldiers at the site who physically assaulted the staff of the contractor, carted away tools and personal items belonging to the contractor and staff.

The FCC Mayor stated how she subsequently saw the written Statement issued by the Ministry of Lands on Monday 20th April 2020 maintaining that there are legal and factual inaccuracies in the Statement.

According to her, it was entirely inappropriate for the Ministry to have proceeded directly to demolish the site without any prior communication with the Freetown City Council (“FCC”) or herself. “This is particularly so given the fact that representatives of the Ministry have attended meetings with the FCC relating to this specific site within the past 2 months. Further, the work that was demolished was public infrastructure supporting sanitation provision in the city, being built for the benefit of Freetonians, with funds donated by the UK Government,” she posited.

She said her assumption was that the Minister may not have been adequately informed by his team, as there is no way on the true facts, and given the Ministry’s presence at meetings, that the Ministry could have taken the approach that they did.

The Mayor said for that reason, as she is prepared to work with the Ministry to explore any legitimate dispute or concern she would like to correct certain facts.

“The land in question was until recently a very narrow strip of land along the waterway which was substantially widened through the process of backfilling during the recent construction of the Jomo Kenyatta and Hill Cot Roads,” she disclosed adding that the FCC began communications with relevant central Government Ministries and Departments about the site well over 6 months ago.

She underscored how these communications included a meeting in February with an official from the Lands Ministry, at which no suggestion was made that the Ministry of Lands had any objection either to the project or to the work at the New England site.

“On 11th October 2019, FCC wrote to the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development to update him on progress of the transfer station project, attaching a detailed Briefing Note. That letter informed the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development that FCC had identified 7 suitable sites, which included the New England site. FCC requested the Minister’s support on liaising with relevant entities on 4 of the sites,” she mentioned.

Mayor Aki-Sawyerr stated that on the same day there was a meeting (to present and discuss the Briefing Note) between the Deputy Mayor and the Deputy Minister for Local Government, which the Minister for Local Government himself was able to join for the last few minutes. The Deputy Minister and the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development expressed their support and willingness to assist.

She said she followed up the request for support with the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development later in October and in January 2020 relating to a specific issue that had arisen on one of the other sites.

“The Minister replied to me by email dated 18th January 2020, stating among other things that he had proposed a date to meet with you and the Minister for Environment to discuss the matters which had previously arisen,” she stated.

She said on the 16th January 2020, an issue arose on the New England site. According to her the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) expressed their intention to build a 12-15 vehicle car park on the proposed transfer station site but she raised this issue with the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development on 18th January 2020.

“As a result of the helpful support of the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, and the Honourable Vice President, a meeting was convened on 6th February 2020 chaired by the Minister for Works and Public Assets and also attended by officials from the Ministry of Lands and Housing, the Ministry of Works, the Office of the Presidential Infrastructure Initiative (OPII), SLRA and FCC,” she disclosed.

From what was intimated at that meeting SLRA’s position was that the New England site was a Right of Way and that SLRA proposed to build a car park for 12-15 vehicles on that site but, however, no funding was available for the scheme.

She said it was determined that FCC should proceed with the transfer station project at the site as this would service approximately 240,000 households thus significantly improving sanitation in the city and because DFID project funding had already been secured.

The Mayor pointed out that accordingly, the Ministry of Lands was involved in discussions of this specific site since February 2020 and was party to the agreement that the site could be used for a transfer station.

“It is, to say the least, surprising that you took the action you did on 17 April without ever raising any issue with FCC,” Aki-Sawyerr expressed indignation. She said they are aware that the Ministry of Lands has in practice continued to issue building permits, outside its legal powers.

On the need for FCC to apply for a building permit for the works FCC’s response was that the building permit function has legally been devolved to local councils, including FCC, since 2004.

She said ,however, acknowledging the practical position, FCC’s Estate Department has been progressing a site survey plan submission to the Ministry of Lands which was due to be submitted shortly. She added that FCC’s Estate Department’s advice to her was that FCC has not previously been requested to seek building permits for the construction of public toilets, markets or other municipality structures.

The transfer station is part of a plan for 7 such stations at sites across the city. It is part of FCC’s sanitation plans, which will ensure that the city is clean, improve the health of Freetonians, and increase both the number of waste collectors operating in the city and their income.

She registered that FCC remains committed to working collaboratively with Government and all MDAs in order to deliver a safe and clean environment for the residents of Freetown.

Support to the SLAJ ‘Wear A Mask’ campaign

April 24, 2020

Ahmd Nasralla — President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Ahmed Sahid Nasralla (De Monk)

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Mahdi Kallon, the Chief Executive Officer of Al-Mahdi Apparel, disclosed that the masks were produced with caution in line with the intended purpose and well packaged as a further protection from the virus.

“This quantity may be small but it’s the quality and fit for purpose that matter,” said Kallon and called on the public not to use masks just for the sake of it but to use them properly with the intended purpose in mind always.

President of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, while receiving the masks thanked CEO Kallon and his team for what he described as a ‘timely gesture’, coming immediately after the Association launched the ‘Wear A Mask’ campaign.

Nurses Association Raises Concern over Poor Treatment of Quarantined Nurses

April 24, 2020

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Nurses Association, which is the umbrella body of professional nurses in Sierra Leone, has expressed concern over the plight of its members who are under quarantine and appealed to the Government to work on improving it.

Dozens of nurses were placed under quarantine within the largest maternity hospital in Freetown after a Covid-19 confirmed case was reported to have gone through the facility.

The Nurses Association of Sierra Leone said a total of 34 nurses were identified as part of the contacts of the case and were subjected to quarantine without been provided with the necessary support.

The incident led to the temporary shutting down of a section of the hospital, keeping out pregnant women and lactating mothers for about two days. Latest reports indicate that some of the nurses have been moved to a more conducive facility.

Secretary General of the Nurses Association, Haurace Nyandemoh, said they were concerned by the fact that all the nurses were placed in the same section of the hospital with the risk of infecting those who may turn out not to have the virus.

“Putting people in one confinement area is not good. If one case becomes positive, all the others are at risk,” he said. According to the Association, the nurses were left without food.

When they were later given cooking ingredients, they were not provided with materials to cook with. They were also concerned that all the nurses had only one toilet available for them. Officials said samples taken from the nurses are being used for testing.

Healthcare Workers to Benefit from Government’s Incentive Packages

April 24, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

Government through the Ministry of Finance is set to provide over 100% of the COVID-19 compensation package demanded by medical doctors in Sierra Leone. This was disclosed after a meeting with medical doctors in Sierra Leone.

Jacob Jusu Saffa, Minister of Finance, intimated how Government will provide 105% of the demands made by the medical personnel in Sierra Leone. He made this statement on Tuesday 21st April, 2020 while signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone with the Sierra Leone Nurse Association (SLNA), Sierra Leone Association of Community Health Officers (SLACHO), and the Pharmaceutical Society of Sierra Leone.

With the MoU, Doctors, Nurses, CHOs, Pharmacists that are working in Treatment Centers, Isolation Centers and Laboratories are entitled to weekly Allowances of Le 1,000,000 each for twelve weeks commencing 1st April 2020, subject to review as may be necessary, whiles cleaners and drivers are getting Le 500,000 with similar conditions. This is in line with the recommendation made by the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) of Le 1,000,000 weekly allowance.

“Healthcare workers shall be provided with a cash risk allowance in lieu of their P.A.Y.E. (Pay As You Earn) tax deductions for three (3) months commencing 1st April 2020, subject to review as may be necessary,” the Finance Minister said. This he says is in line with the SLMDA request for an exemption of P.A.Y.E. tax for three months.

According to the Minister, Tax exemption can only be granted by Parliament, but as a responsible Government, they’ve decided to provide a cash risk allowance in lieu of their P.A.Y.E.

The Government will also provide food compensation of Le 60,000 for staff in treatment centers, Isolation centers and Laboratory for 84 days.

“In addition to a life insurance policy encompassing payment to next-of-kin, Government shall provide free tuition and other forms of educational support for a maximum of three (3) children, up to 1st-degree level, for any healthcare worker who loses his/her life in the discharge of their duties in the combating and treatment of persons infected with COVID-19,” he said.

The Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Alpha T. Wurie, said that the Government is desirous to ensure that frontline health workers are provided with the required incentives to facilitate their efforts and activities in the treatment and medical care of persons with the disease.

However, the Sierra Leone Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) didn’t show up for the signing of the MoU. The Finance Minister stated that in a meeting held on Monday 20th April, 2020 at the Treasury Building, all parties consented to the MoU and promised to avail themselves for the signing on Tuesday afternoon, but representatives of SLMDA didn’t show up.

The representatives of the Sierra Leone Nurse Association (SLNA), Sierra Leone Association of Community Health Officers (SLACHO), and the Pharmaceutical Society of Sierra Leone commended the Government for the motivation provided and expressed their commitment to the fight against COVID-19.

Secretary-General of SLNA, Haurace Nyandamoh, expressed frustration with regards to the attitude of the SLMDA, noting that they (SLMDA) are pushing for a different MoU from what they agreed in the negotiation process.

“If the Government goes ahead and signs another MoU that is different from other healthcare workers, we will talk to our membership to down tools. Nurses comprise about 75 percent of the healthcare workforce and our job is riskier at this period,” he said.

During Good & Tough Moments, NP-SL Always Stands By the Side of Sierra Leoneans

April 24, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

Many have praised the National Petroleum –Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) for holding the fort during these difficult moments when the Government and other relevant stakeholders are scaling up the fight against COVID-19. The shower of praises comes in the wake of the company’s demonstration of dogged fortitude in ensuring that all necessary arrangements are made to make possible the availability of petroleum products in the country.

At a crucial time like this when health workers are moving up and down doing contact tracing and administering treatments to those that have been proven positive, easily accessing fuel cannot be overemphasized as it is highly significant that they must be accessed without much hassle.

A prominent Social Commentator intimated that: “To see a pro-active petroleum business entity like NP-SL making frantic moves to ensure that fuel is available and at the same time donating a colossal amount of One Billion Leones towards the COVID-19 fight really shows that it is not only a truly indigenous company but a very patriotic one.”

According to what this medium gathered when it went out to sound the views of people about what NP-SL should be up to was that many highlighted that at this point in time we need all hands on deck to scale up the fight against the current world enemy No 1.

“Government and the informal sector should put shoulders to the wheel by providing financial, material and moral support if only we are to have an upper hand against the dreadful enemy,” Chairlady of the Sani Abacha Traders Association expressed her view noting further that NP-SL has once more demonstrated that it is a true partner in development further enjoining other business entities not to panic by folding up their businesses but to be resilient in carrying out its operations as well as strictly adhering to the health preventive measures that have been put out by the Ministry of Health and its partners.

Economist Jacob Macauley suggested that to cushion the rippling economic effects that the outbreak of COVID-19 is causing to the country’s economy, it is but prudent for the Government to dish out stimulus packages which could help businesses that have been affected to keep on going.

“It could be in the best interest of the nation if the Government, through the Ministry of Finance, waive custom duties on essential commodities like petroleum products and even make available easy access to foreign exchange which certain business enterprises use in the importation of essential goods,” he further suggested.

Indeed, it is an indisputable fact that NP-SL Ltd is a prime mover of the country’s economy. The company, has over the years, been paying huge taxes to Government as it is within the Large Tax Payers bracket of the National Revenue Authority (NRA). These taxes paid are reserved in the Consolidated Revenue Fund to be utilized by the Government to fund the implementation of various development programmes. As far as investigation mounted proved, there has not been a single complaint of the company reneging in honouring its tax obligation, which some say is highly commendable.

To also demonstrate that it is indeed a 100% indigenous company, that means well for the people of this country, besides maximizing profits from sales, the Shareholders and Management of the company made it a laid down policy to give consideration first to Sierra Leoneans instead of foreign expatriates when it comes to employment opportunities. This has made it possible for indigenes, with the requisite qualifications and skills to gain employment in the company which in turn is helping greatly in reducing poverty and to take care of basic responsibility. From what was learnt NP-SL has indeed taken the lead in enhancing the country’s Local Content Policy which is in tandem with national growth.

This thriving business entity is better known for taking Customer Care to the highest pedestal in the country as it has been rolling out different strategies to give utmost satisfaction to its numerous customers right across the country. With modern calibrated pumping machines customers do get the exact quantity of petrol or diesel they purchase at Filling Stations which, according to some, is transparent and good in terms of fair transaction.

“I feel comfortable using NP Gas for cooking purpose as it is quite easy to handle and not harmful,” Mariatu Sawaneh, a housewife told our reporter adding that it is easy to refill as the gas could be easily secured from the company’s Filling Stations. Her impression resonates with that of others that were interviewed with many recommending it as an efficient cooking gadget. NP Gas cookers are manufactured in different cylinder sizes and are very affordable.

NP Smart Card is the most convenient means or device of purchasing fuel at NP stations. This memory chip can be uploaded with money which in turn can be slotted in the calibrated machines and the required amount paid. It prevents individuals from moving around with large amount of money, especially on behalf of companies or corporate institutions just to purchase fuel. It can be used at any time of the day when the company is operating and has been rated as very accurate.

One of the yardsticks that could be used to measure the viability of any company is its growth rate. In this regard NP-SL stands tall as it has successfully opened branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia , Ivory Coast and The Gambia. These NP branches are really doing well within the realm of importing and marketing petroleum products and contributing positively towards the development of those nations.

It can be said with all amount of certainty that NP-SL Ltd is indeed a good development partner that is always willing and determined to stand by the side of Sierra Leoneans in good and bad times. The company is truly here to stay.

Chinese Govt. Beefs Up Salone’s Health System for the 3rd time since COVID-19 Outbreak

April 24, 2020

The high table and some of the donated items

Foday Moriba Conteh

A consignment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and other medical items were donated on Tuesday 21^st April 2020 by the Chinese Government, through its Embassy in Freetown to the National Emergency Response Center for the Corona Virus during a snap but impressive ceremony at the Government Medical Stores, Compound on New England Ville in Freetown.

The donated items included 10,000 medical masks, 2,000 N95 masks, 2,000 PPEs, 500 forehead thermometers, 2,000 medical goggles, 10,000 pairs of medical gloves, 10,000 pairs of medical shoe covers and 5 ventilators estimated at Le. 259,750.00.

The World Food Program (WFP) Country Office in Sierra Leone helped to transport the items from Ghana to Sierra Leone.

Dr. Amara Jambia, the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation II, who chaired the ceremony, maintained that the donation is a ‘bumper harvest’ from the Chinese Government titled ‘China Aid for a Shared Feature,’ further underscoring that the items came at a very crucial time to overcome the coronavirus pandemic and affirmed that the world would never be the same again.

He continued that China has always been with Sierra Leone, that the donation would raise the confidence level of healthcare workers and assured that the World Health Organization in Sierra Leone would ensure the technical aspects of the items are intact.

The World Health Organization Representative informed that the donation from China is a true spirit of friendship between the two countries, that his organization appreciates the Chinese Government, that he would ensure that the kits are in place further underscoring that no one person can do win the fight but through partnership adding that COVID-19 does not respect borders and observed that the health system in Africa is weak, the reason all must plan and work together to defeat the pandemic.

He continued that most of the COVID-19 cases in Sierra Leone were imported and appealed to all to continue to be focused.

The World Food Program (WFP) Country Representative, Dr. Housanie Tall, disclosed that the pandemic has had its toll on the country’s human resource capacity as well as food security, also assuring that with its rich experience, WFP stands ready to support the people of Sierra Leone and that the items would booster the capacity of Government to combat the pandemic by saving more lives.

The Chinese Ambassador in Sierra Leone, His Excellency Ambassador Hu Zhangliang disclosed that he highly appreciates the resilience and solidarity demonstrated by the Government and People of Sierra Leone during this difficult time underscoring that a fire brigade needs a fire engine, firemen go with extinguishers, expressing hope that the items would greatly help to strengthen the country’s capacity to defeat the pandemic adding that the donation is a genuine reflection of the sincere friendship between the two countries as well as China and Africa.

The Head of the National Emergency Response Center for the Corona Virus (NERC), retired Brigadier Kellie Conteh described the donation as a significant and wonderful gift and recalled the strong bond between China and the Ministry of Defence.

He reiterated that China has always stood by Sierra Leone in thick and thin, observed that Sierra Leone has limited resources and numerous challenges, that the Ministry of Health has given the vital role to the NERC to combat the pandemic that would soon be over pointing out that developed countries must come together to help the poor, also commending the WFP and WHO for their invaluable support to the country and appealed for post-corona virus support.

The Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Alpha T. Wurie, who received the items on behalf of Government, recalled that this is the third donation China has made to the country since the outbreak of the global pandemic citing the 40 KVA generator, PPEs and highlighted the country’s major strength of contact tracing stating that case management is also doing well.

He further informed that the 34 Military Hospital is leading in laboratory tests and that all the laboratories have Chinese experts but highlighted gaps in the availability of PPEs underscoring that there is no better friend than China and that he would soon again receive another consignment of medical equipment from the Chinese Government.

According to Dr. Alpha T. Wurie, Government has put in place a life insurance scheme for medical staffs who are leading the fight against the pandemic.

In his vote of thanks, the Chief Medical Officer, Rev. Canon Dr. Thomas Samba, urged China not to be distracted by the negative propaganda from other countries with regards the pandemic concluding that UN Agencies have always supported Sierra Leone.

President Akinwunmi Adesina’s Transition to His Second Term Must Be Smooth to Deliver His Covid-19 Commitments to Africa

April 22, 2020

President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina

Monday, April 20, 2020

This article is intended to highlight the recent achievements of the African Development Bank under President Akinwunmi Adesina, underscore the need for a smooth Presidential re-election, and highlight the contributions of the Bank to COVID-19 containment efforts across Africa.

The current President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina is set for his re-election in May next month, during the 2020 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank, while many African countries will be struggling with containing the COVID-19 pandemic. The enormous achievements of President Adesina as Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture and his first term as President of the African Development Bank since 2015, have greatly contributed to the strategic repositioning of Africa in the global economy.

Besides maintaining the African Development Bank’s “AAA” credit rating and increasing the net operating income of the Bank by 50 percent, President Adesina has helped to mobilize US$ 80 billion of new investment capital to support countries in Africa. For example, through the establishment of the Africa Investment Forum, the African Development Bank and its partners intend to leverage approximately US$ 300 billion of new private capital in Africa over the next 8 years.

In October 2019, the African Development Bank successfully completed an unprecedented 125 percent General Capital Increase (GCI-7), increasing the authorized share capital of the Bank from US$ 93 billion to US$ 208 billion, the highest in the history of the Bank since its establishment in 1964. ADB’s concessional window, the African Development Fund (ADF) was also increased by 35 percent, making more funds available to support low-income countries and economies in transition.

As a result of these achievements, President Adesina received unanimous support and endorsement by all 55 Heads of State and Government for his second term as President of the African Development Bank. This unanimous endorsement demonstrates the level of support that President Adesina has by all African Heads of State across the entire continent.

Need for a Smooth Presidential Re-election and Transition

By virtue of its corporate governance structure, the African Development Bank cannot be held hostage by any single individual. When an Executive Director, who is expected to provide managerial oversight of the Bank, assists in the preparation of allegations of breaches of the Bank’s Code of Conduct by the Bank’s President, one begs the question of the extent of professional integrity of the Executive Director. Could it be true, that some Non-regional Executive Directors appointed to serve on ADB’s Board are often former finance executives deliberately sent on exile from the capitals of their countries of origin, for one reason or the other?

To date, there have been several calls for mediation between President Adesina and his critics, in the interest of a smooth re-election process and transition at the African Development Bank. The United States still remains the second largest shareholder of the African Development Bank and President Adesina continues to receive overwhelming support from US government agencies and institutional partnerships.

The African Development Bank: Post COVID-19

Amidst the struggle of the COVID-19 containment effort and the need for macroeconomic stabilization across Africa, President Adesina, has remained focused on providing the much needed assistance to regional member countries and designing innovative financial instruments to help countries with the greatest need during this difficult period. The African Development Bank, as Africa’s premier financial institution, has maintained its record of good governance and delivering crisis response programs to countries with the greatest need in a timely manner.

Moving forward, we hope that President Adesina will get re-elected for his second term in view of the overwhelming support he is receiving from both regional and non-regional member countries. His more recent achievements in relation to COVID-19 include the launch of the US$3 billion COVID-19 Social Bond on March 26, and the US$10 billion COVID-19 Response Facility announced on April 8.

As we brace ourselves up for the changes envisaged in the post COVID-19 global financial architecture, we hope that President Adesina’s transition to his second term would be smooth, to enable him to successfully deliver on his commitments to Africa and help the continent reposition itself in the new era.

We remain resolute in our unflinching support of President Adesina and trust that the global development community would join us in endorsing his second term as President of the African Development Bank.

—————————————————–

Dr. Patricia Laverley is the Deputy Minister of Finance of Sierra Leone.

COVID-19 Consumes life of Sierra Leonean Ambassador in New Jersey

April 22, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

A representative of the International Human Rights Commission, Ambassador Foday Mansaray, is among the latest victims who died due to COVID-19 complications. Mansaray, of Franklin Township, Somerset County, was a representative of the International Human Rights Commission Relief Fund Trust and Deputy Foreign Minister and High Representative to the United Nations.

Few days ago, Phil Murphy announced that the State has registered 4,377 COVID-19-related deaths to date. Total State-wide cases have reached 88,806.

Foday Mansaray was among the latest victims who died due to COVID-19 complications, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday during his daily coronavirus press briefing.

“He was a strong advocate for his native Sierra Leone and especially for our State and our region’s Sierra Leonean and West African communities,” Murphy said. “He put his community before himself and was always thinking about how else he could help others.”

Murphy went on to describe Mansaray “as a kind and hard worker whose boundless energy and sense of humor spread to all who happened to be around him.”

According to the IHRC, Mansaray was first appointed by the Commission as Diplomatic Adviser in 2016. Since then, he has championed several initiatives, hosted and co-sponsored over sixty-five high level events at the United Nations, Geneva, Africa and Caribbean Islands.

Over the last quarter of a century, according to the IHRC, Mansaray had been involved in extensive community initiatives and human rights, and was an expert adviser on sustainable development projects in Africa and Caribbean. He was a strong advocate for his native Sierra Leone.

Tribute to Music Icon, Abou Whyte

April 22, 2020

Abou Whyte, a veteran Sierra Leonean musical icon, entertainer, and artist passed away at the age of 76

By Aroun Rashid Deen

Abou Whyte was an exceptional gentleman, a doyen to all in every organization or community of people to which he belonged. The remains of a Sierra Leonean music and entertainment maestro, Abou Whyte, who passed away on Sunday, April 12, in the United States, have been buried at the Oaklawn Memorial Park Cemetery in South Brunswick, NJ.

The veteran musical icon, entertainer, and artist hailed from Fourah Bay and Foula Tong in Freetown, Sierra Leone. He died in New Jersey, where he resided for decades, at the age of 76.

Thousands of mourners from around the world listened to the funeral event organized by Da’awatu Islamia, the Muslim Jamaat in the city of Somerset to which Whyte belonged, conducted online via Mixlr radio. Mourners also called to express their condolences.

Limited family members and friends attended the funeral on Tuesday, April 14, due to restrictions on public gatherings amid the COVID-19 crisis.

In his eulogy, Imam Alhaji Sheikh Ibrahim Conteh said the passing of Abou Whyte “was another stark reminder that death is inevitable for every human being.” Whyte’s unexpected death came as shocking news to many who knew him, including his fans and admirers around the world across all walks of life and all ages.

His production manager and business partner, New Jersey businessman Busairi Savage, described Abou Whyte as the most courageous, disciplined, and humbled person he had ever known. “He was also a very reliable person,” he said.

Abou Whyte is best known for his signature tune, “Good Morning Sierra Leone Good Afternoon Freetown.” Abou Whyte, aka Bra Abou, stepped into the limelight in the early 60s when he joined the popular Bolton Wanderers FC of Freetown as a goalkeeper, and later, a left-out striker, under British military-trainer-turned-coach Captain Dick Fairweather.

His short-lived football career ended when he switched over to music, first with Merry-Go Jazz, then Okes-Muyei, and then Muyei Power dance bands, performing the roles of songwriter, composer, singer, drummer, and percussionist. His signature tune, “Good Morning Sierra Leone, Good Afternoon Freetown,” still soothe hearts and elevates memories.

Abou Whyte was a man of many talents. He was a painter, sculptor, and the chief designer and builder of the then Vimto Lantern in Central Freetown, leading Vimto to win many awards at the Annual end-of-Ramadan Lantern Parade.

Abou Whyte was also a culture-minded man. He participated and promoted many cultural activities in and outside of Sierra Leone.

Alhaji Sallieu Wagon Kamara, Imam of New York’s Jamiatul Islamia Mosque, was a childhood friend of Whyte and remembered him as a man who lived a fulfilled life. “Abou would go all out to keep us, his friends, together. He would put everyone’s interest first.” Another childhood friend and cousin, Alhaji Ahmad Shamsu Deen-Cole of New Jersey, described Whyte as a critical thinker, master craftsman, and a courageous man with many talents.

His music colleagues nicknamed him Billy Whyte after Massachusetts country music star Billy Whyte, whose 1973 album, Cold Sunshine, was a hit.

I still recall my first face to face encounter with the late musician. Our meeting was characterized by his usual embrace and his cool, welcoming smile, a smile that defined his whole life.

Veteran broadcast journalist Cyril Jixon Smith of SLBS/SLBC, who also lived in the same Foula Tong vicinity as Abou Whyte, remembers him as always having “a cool, composed smile.” A composed smile that will be missed forever. Abou Whyte was an exceptional gentleman, a doyen to all in every organization or community of people to which he belonged.

If ever there is any such thing in the afterworld, one would imagine the kind of warm embrace at the gate of Heaven that would welcome Abou Whyte by so many who had proceeded him, including his daughter, Humu Whyte Savage, and younger brother, Abdul Fatta (Biggy Joe) Rahman.

Community organizer Alhaji Alieru Bakarr, also of New Jersey, described Whyte’s death as a blow to the Sierra Leonean community, particularly that of New Jersey. Whyte is survived by his wife, Salamatu Boi Whyte, six children, and a sister, Madina Rahman Taylor, and several family members and friends at home and abroad. May his soul rest in peace.

1...727728729...980 Page 728 of 980