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Police Charge 125 Drivers to Court for Assorted Traffic Violations

June 1, 2022

By Elisha Harding

Assistant Inspector General of Police and Director of Road Safety, Brima Kanneh on the 30^th May,2022 intimated at the Central Police Station that 150 drivers have been charged to court for violating various traffic offenses including terminating the journey halfway, driving a vehicle with smooth tyres, defective windscreens, trafficators and headlights respectively and failing to produce a driving license on demand.

He underscored that due to the rainy season, the police would continue to regularly check vehicles to ensure that they are roadworthy disclosing that in-spite of the ban imposed on commercial motorbike riders, they are still plying the Central Business District (CBD) of the city for which violators would be arrested and charged to court reiterating that plying the CBD is a very serious offense for which their motorbikes would be impounded.

He also intimated that most of the arrested drivers were fined between Le800, 000 and Le1 million and that the monies have been paid into the Government Consolidated Revenue Fund and warned commercial motorbike riders not to ply the CBD or would be arrested and charged to court.

ASP Brima Kanneh further commended the National Traffic Coordinator and the various District Traffic Officers (DTOs) like Reuben of ‘D’ Division, Kailie of New England Division, Thorlie of Lumley Division and the DTO of Central Police for exemplary performance and dedication to duty.

Endorsing Bid for UNSC Non-Permanent Seat… Former Pres. Koroma Pledges to Support Anything that brings National Honour

June 1, 2022

By Elisha Harding

Erstwhile President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, has on the 29^th May 2022 endorsed the country’s bid for a seat in the Non-Permanent Category of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

His endorsement follows a courtesy call by the country’s Vice President, Honourable Dr Juldeh Jalloh, on the former President at his residence in Makeni.

The two discussed a wide range of issues bordering on national development and social cohesion. The Vice President briefed former President Koroma on the progress of the Transco Electricity project which will provide electricity to many parts of the country when completed, and which remains close to the heart of the erstwhile President. The project has already brought reliable electricity supply to Bo and Kenema, as well as several towns and villages along the project lines in the South and Eastern parts of the country. Vice President Juldeh informed that the next phase of the project which is its expansion into the northern region is well underway.

On the international front, the Vice President intimated former President Koroma about the Government of Sierra Leone’s intensified diplomatic campaign for international support for the country’s aspiration to return to the Non-Permanent Category of the Security Council. The last time Sierra Leone held such a seat was between 1970 and 1971. Given the rotational nature of this, and the sheer number (54) of African countries within the United Nations, it is not surprising that it has taken this long for Sierra Leone to once again be eligible to serve in that category of the UNSC.

“I will endorse anything Sierra Leone aspires for at the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and will leverage international goodwill in pursuit of such an aspiration, as long as it brings pride and honour to our beloved, nation Sierra Leone,” said former President Koroma.

President Koroma has repeatedly said that he would always avail himself if called upon on matters of national interest.

Eminence Company’s Executive Director Hits Entrepreneurs Magazine Cover Page

June 1, 2022

By Elisha Harding

“SERVICE got me here. I love to serve, but not in a traditional 9 to 5 job. The 9 to 5 office culture never appealed to me.

All through school, I identified as a creative, so I never wanted to be locked in a box, but rather wake up to different things with different approaches and the exciting part of it for me is, taking risks to bring solutions.” She expressed.

This is Sarah Laura Solomon (Mrs), The Executive Director at Eminence Africa Holding Company Limited. She grew from communications manager to Director of Communication and project, to now the Executive Director of one of the leading multimedia companies in the country.

Eminence was a social association made up of a group of friends from its inception.

In early 2019, it was reregistered into a corporate entity by the Chief Executive Officer, in agreement with some friends and his wife(then girlfriend) – Sarah Laura Solomon, who happens to be his business partner. As they grew into mature adults, they decided to use Eminence; which is built on the foundation of passion and love for country, to serve Sierra Leone and its people.

The company began as an Entertainment Company called, Eminence Africa Entertainment Company Limited and as it grew with the trust of clients in its capabilities, it expanded into multimedia and events.

With efficient delivery and immense passion flowing through staff members and management, the company needed to expand due to the rapid increase of its operations. As a result, it was re-registered again into a holding company with six subsidiary companies, all managed by young visionaries.

Sarah had other dreams, but being into entertainment whether as a talent or creative, was one of them. So the mission and vision of Eminence, especially its values – are the facets that helped develop her interest in Eminence. The idea that they work as a team too, being that the workforce is made up of youths with an average age of 25, is just what Sarah had always dreamt of. “We aren’t given enough chances as young people, yet we are being judged as lazy. Our elders are not only seated in places we are meant to occupy, they refuse to carry us along too – like it’s a competition.” She further expressed.

According to Sarah, it exhilarates her to see young people in Sierra Leone creating their opportunities, grabbing spaces, and in fact, taking serious strides in breaking barriers and changing the narratives about young people in business and leadership. She loves adventure because it lets her dream and most definitely; she loves the kind that impacts lives, positively, while making a living. Eminence is just the start, as she dreams to invest and launch multiple ventures and businesses in the nearest future.

She concluded that it has been a long journey with Eminence, but still nowhere close to where they aim to be.

The service continues…

At Africa Day Concert: Drizilik & Team Thrill Hard

June 1, 2022

By Elisha Harding

Okay, Let’s go. Third time in a row. Are you ready now?

Africa day celebrations have a new vibe, aided and propelled by Sierra Leone English Idriss Elba and naturally as a vibrant musical nation acts get to represent us on that stage.

Drizilik, Ben ten over ten showed up and showed out as always.

When we touched down on arguably one of the biggest stages in global entertainment it was easy to see that because every act was considered VIP they got the best available packages and pampering. On such a day nobody would walk up to the stage and not blow the lights out.

Benji, as some of the close members of the team call him is the coolest calmest celebrity around the local scenes and I am sure one of the easiest VIPs the organisers hosted. How he remains this down to earth is still as unique as his style of singing.

Drizilik wowed the stage and the global audience and was especially particular about sounding local. Salone was truly represented on the African stage.

The management team of Eminence Africa would always mention how easy it is to work with Drizilik and how enthusiastic he seems about utilizing every opportunity that comes to grow and expand the brand.

Speaking after the performance Drizilik who was excited to have represented spoke on how the other bits of his performance made the appearance great. His dancers and those who took part in the choreographed bit of his performance.

He says this is the beginning of the journey. Many of us know he has come far and wonder if this still looks like a beginning point to him, what would the peak resemble.

At that level, with the level of accomplished acts and teams, the magnificence of the area and the wonderful delivery of his performance, we wait in bated breath for his next outing.

With his black leather jacket, his Ashobi, dark glasses and his ever cool demeanour Drizilik looks into a very bright future. Flying the green, white and blue, displaying the Shukubly and bringing more sparkle to the spikes that crown the E of Eminence Africa.

Orange Foundation & Partners Celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day

June 1, 2022

By Mary Kabay

Orange Foundation along with its partners, Rainbo Initiative, Prevention First, 4Her, and Community of Practice, have on Monday 30^th May, 2022, celebrated menstrual hygiene day by raising awareness on the theme: “Making Menstruation a Normal Fact of Life by 2030”. This auspicious occasion took place at the Orange-SL headquarters at IMMAT.

World Menstrual Hygiene Day is a day set aside to raise awareness and educate young girls and women about the importance and relevance of menstrual hygiene.

Orange Foundation donated menstrual hygiene kits to some pupils on the day with many more kits to be distributed to thousands of pupils across the country. The menstrual hygiene kits include, 5 sanitary reusable pads, sanitary soap, menstrual calendar, and hygienic wiper.

Welcoming guests to the occasion, Madam Priscilla Oke-Cheku acknowledged that it is an important day for women in our society maintaining that as the saying goes: “If you educate a girl child/woman, you educate the world”.

She added that thousands of women who menstruate are facing challenges and at least 500 million women across the globe lack adequate facilities for menstrual hygiene management.

“Inadequate WASH – an acronym which means Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), particularly in public places such as schools, offices, and health centers, pose a major obstacle to women and girls in observing their menstrual hygiene in a private, safe and dignified manner,” she underscored.

Madam Priscilla continued that Orange-SL , through the Orange Foundation, has partnered with other organizations to raise awareness about menstrual health management, to collectively challenge the stigma of menstrual hygiene poverty and advocate for availability and accessibility of menstrual products and resources.

In highlighting the relevance and importance of Menstrual Hygiene Day, the Founder/Director of Prevention First Initiative, Madam Umu Alberta underscored that May 28^th every year is celebrated as World Menstrual Hygiene Day, but was first recognized in 2014, as it was a concept that was put together by WASH United, a German non-profit organization that focuses on sanitation and providing hygiene for women and girls without accessibility.

She added that period poverty is a term which describes women and girls’ lack of access to hygiene facilities, as that has been a major challenge for women and girls in this part of the globe.

Madam Umu Alberta went on to say that stigma and shame that surrounds menstrual hygiene is a negative force that has been affecting young girls and women in our society.

According to her, the taboo related to menstrual hygiene has paved the way for girls to miss out on about 20% of their school work, adding that over 500 million woman and girls lack adequate menstrual hygiene facilities.

She emphasized that people need to learn and educate themselves about the subject matter, and it is important for people to know that menstruation matters, it is normal.

Martha Sumaila, the Communications Manager for Orange-SL, acknowledged that it is a pleasure to speak on a topic that has been branded as taboo and forbidden to speak about in our society adding that so many girls would rather stay at home instead of facing the embarrassment of society.

She affirmed that in this part of the world some of girls and women have never heard about menstruation and menstrual hygiene – women and girls are faced with the challenge of having no knowledge about their menstrual cycle or calendar.

Martha Sumaila went on to say that Orange-SL and the Orange Foundation have been working tremendously to support the Free Quality Education Program in the country, and the Orange Foundation has donated menstrual hygiene kits to schools across the country.

She concluded that accessibility is the key issue that affects women and girls in this part of the world and called on large number of nongovernmental organizations to come onboard and initiate ways to eradicate these problems emphasizing that girls don’t have to stay away from school because of periods, rather they should be treated in a dignified manner. She urged everyone to raise the awareness and spread the knowledge across the country.

The Deputy Minister 1 of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MBSSE), Emily Kadiatu Gogra, acknowledged the good works of Orange Foundation saying they have played a pivotal role in terms of educating the public about proper hygiene.

She went on to say that Orange-SL and Orange Foundation have helped greatly in promoting the free quality education program by building structures and providing educational tools for school kids.

Emily Kadiatu Gogra highlighted her first experience with menses and the challenges she faced especially with proper hygiene education. She urged girls and women to make use of the education being given to them and put it into practice.

Lela Eton, the Project Manager for Rainbo Initiative, affirmed that the main motive of Rainbo Initiative is to prevent and respond to Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and offer services to survivors.

She added that Rainbo Initiative, in collaboration with other organizations, has celebrated menstrual hygiene day in order to enhance and enlighten the public about the menstrual cycle. She emphasized that it is very important to include boys in sexual education and by doing that the stigma and taboo will be eradicated. She underscored that come 2030, menstrual hygiene will become a normal fact.

She concluded that Nongovernmental organizations should partner with top institutions and the Government to raise awareness and help change the narrative against women and girls dealing with menstrual hygiene.

The event climaxed with the handing over of menstrual hygiene kits to invited pupils from different schools.

Out of a Plea by Alphonso Manley… PROPEL Consent to Construct Fence for Logos Academy School

June 1, 2022

By Millicent Senava Mannah

In the discharge of one of the cardinal aspects of his mandate, in fulfillment of an aspect of the Mission of the Civil Rights Coalition, a Civil Society advocacy entity, the Executive Director of the entity, Alphonso Manley, made a passionate plea to the Management of PROPEL in order to build a fence for the Logos Academy School, which is situated close to the sea, especially for the safety of the pupils.

In an engagement on Friday 28^th May 2022 at the School premises, situated at Bendu’s Drive, Lumley Beach in Freetown with media practitioners, the Executive Director of the Civil Rights Coalition, Alphonso Manley, intimated how he was on a monitoring tour of the school when he noticed that the second guiding factor in education, which is Comprehensive Safety, has been breached, making it possible for the pupils of the school to gain easy access to the beach simply because there was no concrete fence to prevent them from doing so.

He furthered how he raised the issue with PROPEL, a humanitarian organization that is closer to the school. According to him, PROPEL as an organization that has been awarding scholarships to some of the pupils of the school honoured agreed his request to build the fence.

Alphonso Manley used the opportunity to extend profound gratitude to the organization for granting his request expressing delight that at last a solution has been reached in terms of maximum security for the pupils.

He reiterated that with the erection of the fence the pupils of the school will be secured from the sea and the school authorities will now gain control over the children contrary to the previous situation when some stubbornly renege by seen running on the beach.

Chief Operation Officer of PROPEL, Chernoh Timbo, informed members of the Press that PROPEL is a humanitarian organization that is rendering assistances to vulnerable people in the society adding that they also have three flagship programs which are eco-tourism, agriculture and education.

Timbo stated that as a non-governmental organization, they are trying to complement the efforts of the Government disclosing how part of their Corporate Social Responsibility includes optimizing conditions of living in the community where they operate.

He revealed that the organization awarded scholarships to 25 pupils in the school who are vulnerable also explaining that after they were engaged by Alphonso Manley on the issue of the fence, they thought it fit that it is a welcome idea for the pupils to learn in a secured environment.

Councillor Mahmoud of Ward 442 within the Constituency where the school is located extended appreciation to Alphonso Manley and PROPEL for what he described as a kindly gesture stating that the school authorities will now be able to protect the children of the school from the sea.

One of the pupils, Momodu Turay, said on behalf of his colleagues that they are grateful to the Activist and PROPEL, expressing how they are happy for the commencement of the fence project which he said is for their safety, disclosing how he and his colleagues sometimes go down the beach to play even though they know it is risky.

Fatu Suma, a resident of the community expressed her joy, asserting that from now onwards their minds will be at ease as parents knowing that their children are going to be learning in a safe environment.

NP-SL Values Customer Care as a Win-Win Situation

June 1, 2022

National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL-Ltd)

By Amin Kef-Ranger
There is no doubt that NP-Sierra Leone Limited is highly known for prioritizing customer care and taking it to the highest pedestal in the country. Indeed such is indisputable when cognizance is taken of how Management is very keen in optimizing customer satisfaction in its service delivery on different fronts.

Members of staff of the company are very mindful of the fact that it is the customer that comes first and therefore needs the utmost attention always ensuring that transactions are conducted under a congenial atmosphere that always result into a win-win situation.

Through this brilliant and managerial initiative, the company has been making positive headways, positioning it to stand tall among other business entities in this part of the world.

The well-established oil marketing company is also relentlessly enhancing its strides to always ensure that imported petroleum products are available on the market and easily accessible to its numerous and esteemed customers. Management of the company has made it a matter of must for these products to be present in all the nook and cranny of the country.

Amidst various challenges that the company has encountered it has, however, successfully weathered those storms that could have dwarfed it or exposed it to extinction, save therapeutic intermittent Managerial injections that keep it upright and on the right course.

Demonstrating its true Sierra Leonean identity the company has maintained a policy of strictly adhering to the Local Content Policy ensuring that it has a maximum indigenous staff in its employ. What this actually means is empowering our brothers and sisters to access employment opportunities and reduce poverty.

As a matter of fact some members of staff continue to benefit from various trainings that have afforded them the conduit to imbibe useful skills to efficiently carry out certain assigned tasks. If we are counting the number of companies that have upheld the Local Content Policy, without any iota of doubt, NP-SL could be seen at the top.

1st for Customer Care was earned by the company because it has been widely acclaimed by many for solidly executing such.

In its drive to optimize customer satisfaction the company went the extra mile to install calibrated pumping machines which are not only modern but trustworthy, as opposed to old pumping machines which certain unscrupulous individuals used to cheat unassuming customers.

This is helping to repose confidence in customers that they are dealing with a very transparent entity. The friendliness of their pump attendants is very impressive and they are always there to timely respond to various concerns.

Still within the purview of 1st for Customer Care, the company is always in a position to enter into payment plans with its reliable and dependable customers including Ministries, Departments and Agencies for supplied fuel and lubricants as long as all the necessary modalities have been put in place.

When cognizance is taken of the fact that some of these institutions receive intermittent budgetary allocations then such an arrangement is very significant. Its significance in real terms borders on functional continuity of those institutions as they will be assured of supplies of petroleum products in as much as they keep honouring their obligations.

For those who have not tried NP Gas for the first time it is now time to give it a try. Designed in sizable varying cylinders and sold at various NP Filling Stations, this cooking device has been rated as one of the best that is on offer for sale. NP Gas is safe, user friendly and portable. Trying it will spur you to recommend it to others.

NP Smart Card is now in vogue and is one of the latest technological devices used to purchase petroleum products. Using it has attendant advantages as evident in procuring fuel at any time of the day even during times when monies could not be accessed from banks. It is secured, easy to use and very quick. It is now trending.

To crystallize proposed projects into tangible realities on the ground, Government needs the required financial resources to effectively do so and one sure way is from collection of taxes which is the mandate of the National Revenue Authority (NRA). NP is one big tax payer to Government and it has been doing so timely.

NP-SL remains undaunted, unperturbed amidst all the challenges it is going through and conscientiously it is steadily contributing to the socio-economic development of the country as well as positively changing communities and lives.

22 Housemates Up for Next Eviction but Your Vote Could Make D- Difference

June 1, 2022

By Amin Kef-Ranger

The first eviction process for Housemates Salone Season 3 with the slogan, “Di Game Get Yagba, If You Nor Able Na for Pull Hand”, took place on the 29^th May, 2022 ,in other words after the first week of being in the House.

It was dramatic! Full of surprises as the hosts, entertainers, Housemates – everyone was on point. The good news is that all the Housemates were saved on that Sunday night. However, the process is slated to take place from time to time.

According to eavesdrop, this weekend is going be tough, crazy, fearful, but also funny as all the 22 Housemates will be up for eviction and sadly , with no joke some will go home this Sunday. Against this grim backdrop, the public should continue to vote, vote, vote!!!

As it was stated it is only votes by members of the public that could save a particular Housemate to continue staying in the House which is why voting by members of the public really matters.

To do so, the organizers of the Reality TV Show and Africell SL , have made it easy for members of the public via AFRIMONEY by simply Dialing: **161*10* plus the NUMBER of an Housemate from an Africell line.

It could also be done online by going to: https://housematessl.com or https://www.africell.sl and follow the instructions there.

It must be noted that recently Twenty-two aspirants entered the House as Housemates to battle it out, in a competitive manner until the climax, after some would have been exited from the House, for the ultimate winner to emerge and bag the mouthwatering prize of Le250M plus a fully sponsored round leisure trip to Dubai.

Also, one of the sponsors of the Reality TV Show, Zarlux Car Rental, revealed that a brand new car will be given to the winner of the Zarlux Car Rental task that will be performed by the Housemates in the House during the course of the show.

Many are now watching the Reality TV Show live, on a 24/7 basis, on AYV Entertainment Channels 34 & 33 and AYV on DSTV Channel 399. It must also be noted that Housemates Salone Season 3 is also shown on what is widely referred to as Nigeria and Ghana DSTV.

Viewers now have a wide variety of platforms through which they could enjoy the Reality TV Show.

If some of the Housemates are appearing sexy by the kind of dresses they wear then that must not come as any big surprise simply because they are expected to display nudity.

Again, if sometimes they are seen talking harshly then it is because they are to intermittently use strong language and act funnily as the expectation is for them to be humorous. Manifestation of these traits is what is really making the Reality TV Show very interesting to watch, providing some form of comic relief for viewers and serving as a therapy to reduce stresses.

In actual fact, the Reality TV Show is serving as a conduit through which the Housemates are taken through mental and physical exercises that will end up to mould and shape their characters.

Having been exposed to the outside world, some of the talents of the Housemates have been spotted and they could be contracted to serve as Brand Ambassadors, advertisers, film characters etc.

Indeed, Housemates Salone is all about enhancing Youth Empowerment and already it is thrilling many with its funny episodes.

College of Digital Excellence (CODE) Ends its Maiden Soccer Tournament

June 1, 2022

By Amin Kef-Ranger

One of the best Information Technology institutions in the country, the College of Digital Excellence (CODE) has organized a one-day Super Cup Soccer Tournament for its students and the winning team took home the Cup, medals, and Le 4,500,000 cash prize. This auspicious event took place on Sunday 29th May 2022 at the Saint Edwards Secondary School, Kingtom, Freetown.

Five teams competed in the tournament: Team A, Team B, Team C, Team D and Team E respectively. Team E emerged as the winner of the tournament.

Speaking at the event, the Founder and Director of the College, Mrs Niharika Agnani, who started the kick off of the tournament, intimated that CODE is an institute that has the focus on empowering youths with all the technical skills and expertise required to compete in the modern world, which according to her is their main objective.

“We certainly want the youths in Sierra Leone to have the proper guidance and excel in areas of Information and Technology, so that they can also be empowered with the rest of the world,” the Director asserted.

She disclosed that the football tournament is their first extra curricula activity in the College. “It is just to building the spirit of sportsmanship and to bring all the students together. And let them know that education is not just studying but also doing other things out of the campus,” she furthered.

The College started with the first state-of-the-art IT Centre of Excellence in Freetown on 36 Main Motor Road, 2nd Floor, above Westpoint, Congo Cross. The CODE first alliance is with the leading Skills and Global Talent Development Corporation called NIIT (www.niit.com) to impart the best cutting-edge IT education to the students looking for career-oriented education programs as well as professionals needing skill upgrade for career enhancement of Sierra Leone.

The Head of the Institution disclosed to this medium that the College is an idea envisioned by the Board of Directors of Choithram’s Group. Continuing that they thought it fit that education is one of the fields they can use to add more impact in society.

He averred that, it is well known that teaching goes along with extra curricula activities. He continued that it is not every time you engage students in the classroom, but also to involve them into 360 degree development.

He maintained that the aforementioned Tournament was a friendly game, stating that the main aim of organizing such is for them to be able to select the best players among the teams to represent the College on a different platform.

The Captain of the Winning Team, Sidibie Sesay, said on behalf of his team that they are grateful to God for winning the tournament. He continued that they are grateful for the College Administration for organizing such an event.

He mentioned that the tournament was quite impressive. He further revealed that they were surprised by the administration for giving the cash prizes to each member of his team.

Another student who participated in the tournament expressed his gratitude to the administration for organizing such an event for them, which according to him does not only unite them, but they also availed them the opportunity to have lots of fun.

The event was climaxed with the Winners receiving their trophies and medals were given to both the Winners and the Runners Up.

As Pavi Fort Work at Ferry Junction attracts Attention… Govt’s Implementation of Integrated Resilient Urban Mobility Project Receives Wide Commendations

June 1, 2022

By Amin Kef-Ranger

One accomplished feat, which this current SLPP Government, under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio, through the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and its related Agencies, could be lauded for is embarking on improving some of the roads and bridges in the country to enhance mobility, standards and minimize accidents or crashes.

The fact that SLPP Government paid serious attention to complete certain uncompleted infrastructural projects it inherited, in addition to new ones that it launched, completed and some still ongoing is a testament to the fact that the Government is keen on fulfilling that aspect of the manifesto promise made by President Julius Maada Bio to translate mere intention into a tangible development reality that will be beneficial to many.

Through serious and continued engagements, after taking over the governance mantle in 2018, the SLPP Government successfully secured funding from the World Bank for the implementation of the Integrated Resilient Urban Mobility Project (IRUMP), a project that is now being implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Aviation, its relevant Agencies and other stakeholders

The main objectives of the project are improving the quality of public transportation, addressing climate resilience, improving road safety in selected areas and enhancing institutional capacity in the transport sector.

The Project will also allow the Ministry of Transport and Aviation and its respective Agencies to achieve comprehensive corridor improvements that will cover complete traffic management measures including intersection improvements, coordinated traffic lights, improvement of sidewalks for pedestrian movement, drainage, etc.

One of the selected areas in Freetown that was earmarked to be covered by the Project mainly geared towards improving road safety was the Ferry Junction axis in the East End of Freetown. The award of Civil works, according to the Project specifications, was given to one of the highly commended indigenous road construction companies in the country, Pavi Fort-Sierra Leone, that won the contract,of which the Chief Executive Officer is Alimu Barrie.

Commencing construction work on the 15^th May, 2022, Pavi Fort –Sierra Leone has successfully undertaken re-graveling works, covering a 400-metre stretch from J Matter, around the Dockyard axis to reach as far as the Bomeh axis, in the East End of Freetown.

Currently, the company is placing asphalt on the surface of the road, said to have been constructed forty years back, to bring it up to 10 cm from the previous 5cm and that involves three layers.

The company has also expanded the road from two lanes, on both sides, to three lanes, fixed a new drainage system to replace the old small clogged ones which will curtail or drastically reduce flooding on the road during the rains, and made provision for a traffic light to be fixed at the Ferry Junction intersection to control the traffic flow which will eliminate the presence of Traffic Police Officers and SLRSA Wardens, made provision for street lights, guard rails to be fixed as well as convenient bus stops or parking spaces.

Though inevitably the construction work is posing certain inconveniences to the road users, however, for now or at this material moment the speed at which the company is undertaking or moving forward with the work, according to research conducted by this medium, continues to impress many pedestrians as well as motorists, as captured from their comments all cumulating into commendations for the Government for coming up with the initiative to be funded by the World Bank.

To gauge the reaction of members of the public as to what they think of what is going on, this medium dispatched two of its ace reporters to interview the road users. From the feedback so far received some have expressed the view that it is quite mystery that in just, two weeks since commencement ,Pavi Fort could have accomplished so much, made a significant advancement in their work which is geared towards improving the condition of the road in order to bring it up to modern standard. They claimed that the company is indeed doing very impressive work.

Many, so far interviewed heaped praises on the current SLPP Government saying it is indeed a good move and initiative on its part to improve the condition of the road instead of leaving it to depreciate to ways that could pose lives and goods to danger.

Some stated that if what is going on at Ferry Junction is replicated by this Government in some other parts of the city then the issues of road accidents could be reduced, traffic congestion minimized and the life span of the roads extended and above all give the city a very good outlook or facelift.

“I am aware of the constraints we are facing at the moment to get through that part of the road but from what I have seen or understood so far the construction work is indeed a move in the right direction by this Government to improve the road network in the country and by extension enhancing infrastructural development,” a man who only identifies himself as a Lecturer at the Freetown Teachers College (FTC) stated with authority.

Some young people residing within the vicinity also commended the Government for the initiative of choosing that part of the city for the project implementation, maintaining that it created a situation for them to be employed as casual workers by Pavi Fort-SL.

“We have been promised by the CEO of Pavi Fort that based on our performances we do stand a chance of being recruited as permanent workers,” they expressed optimism.

In an engagement with a female Civil Society activist, she intimated that the Government is on the right trajectory adding that contrary to the expectations of some to see development materialize overnight, it takes time for certain feats to be accomplished. She added that indeed President Julius Maada Bio is passionate about seeing development and the implementation of the Integrated Resilient Urban Mobility Project is a pointer to that fact furthering to mention others like the Lungi Airport Project, the Mabang Bridge among a host of others. She concluded that in that direction the Government is on the right track.

What this medium also learnt during its fact finding mission was that hopeful, all being well, the entire project will be completed in June 2022 with much improvements of benefits for all and sundry.

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