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Sentinel Company to Replace SIERRATEL with Improved Technology

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By Amin Kef Sesay

One of the emerging issues that have become topical in many social circles across the country is the privatization of the Sierra Leone Telecommunications Company (SIERRATEL) for the simple fact that, over the years, that institution has become highly dysfunctional and less economically viable as well as being totally irrelevant to national development.

It really beats the imagination that the latest move made by the National Commission for Privatization (NPC) in putting up SIERRATEL for Privatization has come under criticisms from certain quarters that it will create serious unemployment issues and that the company that successfully won the bid to take over the defunct telecommunications, Sentinel, is not savvy in that area maintaining that it is not in the best interest of the company to do so.

However, there are some leveled headed personalities who strongly believe that it is indeed timely to allow another company to take over the operations by SIERRATEL.

One of those personalities is a Sierra Leonean businessman, who has been following developments at the debt-ridden, insolvent Sierra Leone Telecommunications Company (SIERRATEL), has said he supports the privatization of the company 100 percent.

According to the businessman, his business at one-time underwent similar liquidity and lack of marketing competitiveness. “Realistically,” he said, “our Government cannot continue pouring water on duck’s back in terms of spending more and more money to keep it afloat when whatever is done, SIERRATEL is already dead, even if not yet buried.”

It could be recalled that SIERRATEL’s death agonies started at the very beginning of the civil war in the early 1990s, when after spending huge amounts of money on updating its systems, rebels destroyed the entire national infrastructure that was laid.

The demise of SIERRATEL commenced when the International Gateway was taken from the company by the then existing Government and contracted to a foreign operator, a decision which prevented the telecommunications entity from generating much revenue as it used to do.

Added to that the entity did not seize the existing opportunity to effectively make use of the technological changes that private sector operators like then AIRTEL and AFRICELL capitalized on. While SIERRTEL continued operating on the outdated CDMA platform and equipment, the world was moving rapidly towards 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation technologies.

It was against such a backdrop that the National Commission for Privatization (NCP) decided to allow a public-private-partnership with SENTINEL geared towards making SIRRRATEL a viable, debt-free, profit-making entity like the Sierra Leone Ports Authority (SLPA) which before its privatization brought the Government no money and could not continue to survive without Government subsidies.

The type of privatization is a Concession Agreement, not a sale, wherein the Concessionaire Sentinel Telecommunications Company Limited will build, operate and transfer Sierratel assets to Government in a viable condition.

The mode of privatization chosen for SIERRATEL is within the realm of Public Private Partnership (PPP), not only with a human face but to ensure that Sierra Leoneans are given the opportunity to compete in the process.

Promoting local content policy has been the clarion call across the nation as citizens now believe they can make a meaningful investment in Sierra Leone.

It is well known that the business landscape in Sierra Leone is largely dominated by foreigners and they control the dynamics, but the news of a local company taking over a State asset brings joy as it depicts that locals are now ambitious to redeem the business environment that has been hijacked by foreigners.

Currently, there are some aggrieved SIERRATEL employees who have been staging strike actions for alleging that they have gone months without pay and several years without leave benefits, amongst other concerns raised.

Abdul Kaidiru Kaikai Appeals to PPRC to Live Up to its Mandate & Save Sierra Leone from any Senseless War

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By Fatmata Jengbe

In a letter written by one Abdul Kaidiru Kaikai to the Commissioner of the Political Party Registration Commission (PPRC) dated 7th April, 2022 it was mentioned that the peace in Sierra Leone is fragile therefore every stakeholder should partake in mending it rather than posing a threat to it.

He said the Political Parties Act 2002 established the Political     Party Registration Commission for the registration and supervision of the conduct of political parties in accordance with Sections 34 and 35 of the Constitution saying the importance of the phrase “supervision of the conduct of the political parties”, cannot be overemphasized.

Abdul Kaidiru Kaikai continued that since the declaration of the election results in 2018, that brought the Julius Maada Bio led Sierra Leone Peoples’ Party to governance, the former President of Sierra Leone, who doubles as the Chairman and Leader of the All Peoples’ Congress party, Ernest Bai Koroma has exceptionally wandered off the trajectory of his predecessors.

He highlighted that the creation of “Office of the Former President” by Ernest Bai Koroma is as unprecedented as his unpatriotic behaviors have been furthering how as a former President of Sierra Leone, Dr Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabba, lived a moderate and statesmanship life confined to providing advice to his party and State.

Kaikai maintained that he was only relevantly visible adding that  the current President, Julius Maada Bio, as a former Head of State, was limited to his SLPP intra-party politics, arguing that though with a military background, he gave Ernest the right as the President of the country.

On the contrary, Kaikai stated that the former President, Ernest Bai Koroma, has for the four years of Julius Maada Bio’s rule run a parallel Government in his hometown of Makeni. He added that most of the violence across the country, including the prison break attempt, was traced to his mode of integration with the youths of his party’s stronghold, by our independent research.

He included in the letter that it is now an open secret that a miscreant “Adebayo” who lives in Holland and has found comfort in raining diatribes on very respectable citizens, including the first family and inciting tribal discord, is a hired mercenary under the tutelage of the former President.

He said unfortunately, citizens, especially anybody disagreeing with Ernest Bai Koroma, have been left at the mercy of “Adebayo” as even Civil Society Organizations who parade themselves to care to correct ills of society have kept a tight lip on the issue either because they  do not want to invoke the wrath of “Adebayo” or enjoy the new trend in our country’s politics.

Abdul Kaidiru Kaikai stated that the letter to the Political Party Registration Commission (PPRC), is triggered by the recent address of economically challenged youths whose situation continues to make them vulnerable to corrupt politicians who use their booties to manipulate them.

“I consider that address by our former President as intentionally meant to incite those gullible youths to perpetrate violence in the coming elections,” he firmly maintained.

He argues how in that address, one of the youths who was radicalized by the Ex-President’s bogus talks is heard shouting “for you sake we go bring war nar salone” (meaning for your sake we will bring war to Sierra Leone).

Kaikai said unfortunately, the former President had no time to condemn such a war mongering agitation but instead, he giggled like he did when one of his supporters once said, “Mende man dem stupid” (all Mendes are fools), which, he claimed, has today deepened the political divide of the country along tribal and regional lines.

He pointed out that in the just concluded by-election in Constituency 73, in Koya Chiefdom, political thugs, with regalia displaying “APC Warriors” were vividly seen adding that the show of strength to perpetrate violence is not an advantage to be celebrated by any political party.

“I am particularly concerned at this show of strength to perpetrate violence by a party led by Ex-president Ernest Bai Koroma and mostly the silence maintained by the Police, Civil Society Organizations and the All Political Party Association (APPA),” he informed calling on the PPRC to live up to their mandate and save the State from falling back into a senseless war.

Copies of the letter were sent to: The United Nations Peace Building Commission, United Nations Security Council, United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, British High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, the European Union Mission to Sierra Leone, ECOWAS, Africa Union, Chairman of Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), the Inspector General Of Police (IGP), the Inter Religious Council Sierra Leone, Chairman of All people’s Congress (APC), APPA and the Press – local / International.

Gov’t Must Heed Seriously To Deforestation Concern Raised By Hon. Chericoco

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By Amin Kef Sesay

In the spirit of inclusive governance, where the opposition not only criticizes Government’s policies and actions, but can also raise concerns and solutions to problems and challenges facing the nation. The APC leader in Parliament, Hon. Chernor Maju Bah aka Chericoco has raised concern over the widespread unchecked deforestation by unscrupulous self-seeking persons going on unchecked by the relevant State authorities along the Western Area Peninsula.

He further maintained that the Forest Rangers that were employed quite recently to protect the forests are part of the deforestation conspiracy by either being directly involved in it or actively aiding and abetting its commission. He therefore called for the Forest Rangers to be investigated and brought to book.

It is known that deforestation and land degradation caused by human activities not only contribute to the loss of the country’s vital forest cover necessary for controlling adverse climate change.

Deforestation also causes the pollution and degrading of the quality of soils and land utility which negatively affects food production, livelihoods, and the production and provision of other ecosystem goods and services.

Thus, it is alarming that according to research done by environmentalist that nearly 38% of Sierra Leone’s remaining land covered by forest is decreasing, principally as a result of anthropogenic activities which can all be attributed to poverty as the underlying cause of much of the forest degradation and deforestation.

The main drivers of deforestation in the Western Area Peninsula are: urbanization, mining and quarrying, agriculture slash and burn farming, fire wood and charcoal production and timber production.

Another concern in relation to deforestation in the western area is that over the past 50 years, Freetown’s population has increased nearly 10-fold and natural forest cover on the Western Area Peninsula has declined by about 70%.5.

By 2028, the city’s population is expected to increase by over 500, 000, while the forested ecosystem that already struggles to supply Freetown with water may lose some 1,400 hectares (more than 8%) of its remaining trees.

Even at current population density levels, the Western Area Peninsula Water Supply System cannot deliver sufficient, safe water to the region’s population.

The Western Area Peninsula’s forests play an essential role in supplying water and in maintaining water quality.

Forests serve as natural water collection, filtration, and delivery systems. Forested catchments in the Western Area Peninsula National Park (WAPNP) provide about 90% of Freetown’s water supply.

The Peninsula’s forests also mitigate landslides by stabilizing soil and provide flood control services by absorbing and holding vast amounts of water from major rain events, such as those increasingly seen with climate change.

Investments in engineered infrastructure solutions to combat water scarcity are important. However, without investments in ecological infrastructure to secure and augment water supply, even the best built infrastructure will not have enough water to store and transport.

According to experts, between 2000 to 2015, 10,587 hectares of the WAPNP’s forest experienced some thinning or loss of canopy cover, and by 2050, a third of the Park’s remaining forest may be lost if nothing is done.

Without these forests, Freetown and the rest of the Peninsula will experience dire water insecurity and more landslides.

With Le150M at Stake…. Orange SL Welcomes Applications for 4th Edition of Orange Social Venture

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By Millicent Senava Mannah

As part of their efforts in trying to promote local innovation for development, sustainability and business development growth geared towards transforming the lives of young innovators in the country, one of Sierra Leone’s leading mobile companies in the country, Orange Sierra Leone in partnership with Innovative Sierra Leone has on Wednesday 6th April, 2022 launched the 4th edition of the Orange Social Venture Prize in Sierra Leone and 12th edition in Africa and the Middle East during an auspicious event held at the company’s headquarters on Hill Station in Freetown.

In her address, the Head of Public Relations, Orange SL, Annie Wonnie Katta stated how they are pleased to launch the 4th Edition of Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) in Sierra Leone, adding that as a mobile telecoms company Orange is positioned to be the lead digital partner for startups in Africa and the Middle East furthering that is why Orange Middle East & Africa (OMEA) initiated OSVP 12 years ago to reward the best technological projects with positive impact and solution to social challenges mainly in the fields of education, health, agriculture, mobile payments or sustainable development in Africa and the Middle East.

She disclosed that the competition is organized annually in all 17 Orange affiliates in OMEA and that the three winners from each of the 17 countries gets an opportunity to compete in a grand international contest were 1 out of the 51 contestants emerges as the winner adding that the International winner will bag a whooping sum of 25 thousand Euros.

“Orange Sierra Leone joined the OSVP challenge in 2019 three years after joining the OMEA family. We have successfully held three national competitions in 2019, 2020 & 2021 respectively. The 2019 winner Aminata Kandeh and the 2020 winner, Bayoh Turay won 10 million and 20 million Leones respectively to support the growth of their businesses. Today Aminata is a proud owner of a thriving Agro-Fish farm in Bo while Bayoh Turay is now gainfully employed by Orange as a trainer in the  Orange Digital Centre where he is providing his expertise in coding and mentorship to young aspiring innovators,” she informed the audience.

The Head of Public Relations stated that in 2021 they accelerated the tempo of OSVP with the support of their Partner, Innovation Sierra Leone to bring more meaning to the innovation axis and increase empowerment for young startups/innovators/entrepreneurs in the country, continuing that out of a total of 128 applicants, Haja Isata Bah of ‘Uman for Uman’ emerged as the Winner of 2021, with a prize of 100million Leones to improve her business that is positioned to support women and girls by ensuring availability and affordability of recycled menstrual hygiene pads.

She continued that also in 2021, they introduced an additional prize to increase female participation and to promote projects offering a technological solution to improve the living conditions of women and that in that new category; Sia Chaywai emerged as the winner with a 50 million Leones grand prize to support the enhancement of her mobile clinic project.

Annie disclosed that this year they are poised to spend a whopping 150 million Leones for the 2 categories of the OSVP competition, 100 million Leones for the general prize and 50 million Leones for the women’s category and that for the second consecutive year they will continue with the women category and this year they shall go live with a local theme with the catch phrase, “Orange Tech Queen”.

She informed all that application for both categories are now open and that all interested candidates are encouraged to submit their applications until May 27, on both website addresses for the national and international competition. The websites are: https://poesam.orange.com and locally on http://osvp2022.innosl.com.

The Managing Director of Innovation Sierra Leone, Francis Steven George, said the partnership is to identify, support, and promote digital talents, instigators for change in digital marketing.

He maintained that the competition is open to both male and female, continuing that persons affiliated to both parties are not eligible to apply.

Francis furthered that participants must be at least 21 years old adding that for ideas or post revenue the companies must not be more than 3 years old at the launch date of the competition.

“Innovators who are not yet entrepreneurs are eligible to participate but entrepreneurs whose businesses have existed for more than three years are NOT eligible to participate.” He stated.

The 2019 winner, Aminata Kandeh proud owner of a thriving Agro-Fish farm in Bo said she is grateful to Orange SL for making her dream become a reality and for their constant support in the development of her business.

The 2021 winner, Haja Isata Bah of ‘Uman for Uman’ said she is grateful to Orange SL as she used the money she won to  improve her business that is positioned to support women and girls by ensuring availability and affordability of recycled menstrual hygiene pads.

It must be noted that the competition has two stages of which one is the National Stage and applicants must submit their applications via website http://osvp2022.innosl.combetween March and late May 2022. When this stage is completed, a jury with representatives from Orange’s start-up ecosystem will meet in each subsidiary to choose 3 national winners (per subsidiary) who will qualify for the international stage.

The International stage projects the 3 winners from each subsidiary to be reviewed by an evaluation committee made up of group employees. They will select 10 finalists following their evaluation. A final jury of African tech influencers will choose the 3 winners of the POESAM International Grand Prize in October.

As equal opportunities are a crucial aspect of Orange policy, the International Women’s Prize will be awarded for the 3rd year running. Supported by Orange Group Diversity and Inclusion, this €20,000 prize will either go to a project managed by a woman, or to a project offering a technological solution to improve the living conditions of women (women’s independence, creating or maintaining jobs, data collection on gender, digital and financial inclusion, etc.).

 

AMDA Unveils Sierra Leone Chapter

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

In order to promote the development of the mini-grid sector which will benefit rural communities in the country where 74% of Sierra Leoneans still lack access to electricity , the African Mini-grid Developers Association (AMDA) has on Thursday 7th April, 2022 officially launched its Sierra Leone country chapter aimed at bolstering its support for the country’s electrification efforts in the country.

The official launch was done at a well-attended ceremony held at the Hub Hotel on Wilberforce in Freetown.

It must be noted that the Sierra Leone Country Chapter adds to the growing list of AMDA country chapters. Having successfully launched chapters in Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria and Zambia, AMDA is now expanding its operations in Sierra Leone in an effort to promote the development of the mini-grid sector for the benefit of rural communities in the country where 74% of Sierra Leoneans still lack access to electricity.

AMDA currently represents 3 members in Sierra Leone namely Energicity, PowerGen and Winch Energy which have connected so far 98 rural communities serving about 24,126 households, businesses, and schools with a total power supply of 2,472 MWh of electricity and with electricity supply to 54 community health centers.

“We are extremely delighted to launch the Sierra Leone chapter today. Sierra Leone is a market which has seen positive developments with regards to mini grids deployment and we look forward to supporting Sierra Leone’s efforts as well as enhancing collaboration to ensure effective and implementable regulations, accountable governance and donor coordination, so as to deliver access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all Sierra Leoneans thus advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 7).” AMDA’s Policy Lead, Pacifique  Niyonkuru stated during the launch .

In his remarks at the launching ceremony, Ing. Benjamin Kamara, Chief Director of Energy, at the Ministry of Energy, stated, “Access to energy has long been seen as a key lever for unlocking and consolidating socio-economic growth and sustainable development. The Government of Sierra Leone shares this belief and is working with private companies and the donor community to accelerate the country’s electrification and the development of key infrastructure.”

The Country Coordinator,  Aminata Dumbuya-Jarr, acknowledged the presence of key Sector Players such as, The Renewable Energy Association of SL (REASL), Donor Partners, Government Agencies, especially the Ministry of Energy, EWRC, EPA and National Standards Bureau.

“AMDA is an industry association created by private sector mini grid developers and operators, donors and investors seeking to improve market conditions for mini grid companies. This includes working to improve policy, regulation and investment towards ending energy poverty by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Today, AMDA represents over 30 companies, who are operating mini grids across 12 countries.

Learn more at africamda.org and follow them on Twitter and LinkedIn.communications@africamda.org”, the Country Coordinator revealed.

 

SLAJ Appoints Dr. Williette James as Chairperson Gender Advisory Panel

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

In a bid to promote a leveled playing field for all media practitioners irrespective of their gender in the country, the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) a not-for-profit professional organization advocating for the right to freedom of expression, free speech online, free media, and democratic good governance in the country has announced the appointment of its first-ever Gender Advisory Panel.

The Gender Advisory Panel is headed by Dr. Williette P.R.O James as Chairperson.

Dr. Williette Princess Ransolina Oluwakemi James is a Sierra Leonean journalist, lecturer and Gender advocate.

Since 2010, she has interspersed her journalistic work with gender advocacy in the media. Williette has practiced as a journalist for 22 years. She got part of her training in journalism at the Sky High Magazine in Walthamstow, London, and has benefitted from several other media and gender trainings nationally and internationally. She is currently the Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Communication Media and Information Studies at Fourah Bay College University of Sierra Leone.

Dr. Williette P.R.O James as Chairperson of the panel will be working with other competent personalities as members of the panel such as Chernor A. Bah who is a member. According to the release Chernor Bah is a globally recognized champion of girl’s rights, global education and youth development. He is the Co-founder and Co-CEO of Purposeful – the first Africa rooted, global feminist hub for girls activism. At 15 Chernor founded and led the Children’s Forum Network, a mass movement of children who mobilized to demand their voices be included in peace and reconciliation efforts after Sierra Leone’s civil war. In 2012, Bah co-founded A World at School – a global mobilization and campaign organization for education. He has been appointed numerous times by the United Nations Secretary-General and is a frequent speaker and advisor at high-level platforms including the United Nations, The European Union, the World Bank, and major universities around the world.

Naasu Genevieve Fofanah is also another member of the panel. Naasu Genevieve Fofanah is an Entrepreneur, accomplished Author, results-oriented international development and Public Administration Professional. She has substantive experience in psychology, gender, education, global public policy and management. Ms. Fofanah has a proven track record of success in offering senior policy advisory services to governments, bilateral and multilateral institutions, NGOs, CSOs on a broad spectrum of development issues. As Special Gender Adviser to the previous Government, Ms. Fofanah spearheaded the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment national policy in the Agenda for Prosperity (PRSP III). At the Regional level, she served as Vice-Chairperson of the UNECA Bureau on Women representing West Africa. She is a renowned women and girl’s rights activist with several awards to her name.

Finally Joseph ‘Josephine’ Ayamga the Secretary of the Panel is the Country Director of SEND Sierra Leone, an NGO that has done extensive work on women and girls empowerment in the Eastern Region of Sierra Leone. He is widely regarded as the initial champion of women in governance networks and has been able to mobilize more than 36,000 mostly rural women into governance and livelihood cooperatives in the East, South, and Western regions of Sierra Leone. Under his leadership, the NGO has grown exponentially from its initial presence in only Kailahun District to working in eight districts within five years. Ayamga’s work has contributed significantly to Kailahun making history in the 2012 elections as the only district to attain 41% of women representation in the local council. Recently, he has been responsible for establishing the Nyapui School and the Radio as platforms to give voice to women and build the next generation of women leaders. Ayamga is now called Josephine by women in the Eastern region.

According to the release SLAJ recognizes that gender inequality is a major challenge in the media in Sierra Leone. While the Association acknowledges that discrimination, harassment, and inequality on the basis of gender are not limited to the media, it wants to make it a priority to deal with these issues within the media, furthering that the media in Sierra Leone is male-dominated, in terms of ownership and representation in leadership positions across individual media institutions as well as in SLAJ and its affiliate bodies.

The release pointed out that out of a total of 718 active SLAJ members across the country, only 170 are women and women in the media suffer unequal distribution of assignments in the newsroom. The male reporters are given assignments to cover hard news while female reporters are given soft beats and that gender-sensitive reporting in the media is also very low.

“Women journalists also claim they face sexual harassment and intimidation in the media from their male colleagues and superiors.
These are only a few of the challenges female journalists face.
While SLAJ does not have control over the employment and editorial policies of media houses, the Association wants to support efforts aimed at formulating policies that make the newsroom more conducive for female journalists,” the released revealed.

“Members of the SLAJ Gender Advisory Panel are volunteers, helping SLAJ and the Sierra Leone media to promote a level playing field for all practitioners irrespective of their gender. We thank the appointees for consenting to serve on the panel, and we hope and pray their contribution will change the narrative for women (and men) in the media,” the President of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla disclosed.

Op-Ed Submission – no cost for print or digital

Melissa Martin  Syndicated Columnist , USA  
Melissa Martin Syndicated Columnist , USA  

A media outlet, whether print or digital, without an opinion-editorial or Letter to the Editor section from reader responders is a media outlet source that I will not support. Any newspaper (international, national, or local) that has developed a policy to end feedback from readers or does not accept comments/opinions lacks respect for the citizens. A land of freedom values the voices of its people.

“What is an op-ed? An op-ed, short for opposite editorial, is an opinionated article submitted to a newspaper for publication and written by members of the community, not newspaper employees.” Visit www.desmoinesregister.com.

An editorial is an opinion article written by newspaper staff via an editorial board. “News will help you define events, and opinion will help you debate them,” proclaims The Wall Street Journal.

However, my column is focusing on the voice of the reader, not the journalist. But let it be known that I support both staff editorials as well.

The Guardian published its first op-ed written entirely by artificial intelligence in 2020. “The big picture: There’s been many conversations over the past few years about whether journalists and editors could one-day be replaced by machines,” according to Axios.

Opinions generated by robots for news media outlets is not my cup of tea. My reading of opinion pieces is focused on the comments and feedback of humans. Oh, no offense to robotic machines.

A 2021 article by Diana Bradley at PRWEEK interviewed Axios cofounder and CEO Jim VandeHei where he gave a ridiculous excuse as to why there will be an absence of opinion pieces on his websites. He opined, “all of us in the media can tone down the gamesmanship and tone down the noise to try to get people to focus on the things that matter — give them clarity.” Visit www.prweek.com.

Since when are the opinions of readers considered to be “noise.” Ideas, beliefs, thoughts, feedback, opinions, viewpoints, and comments are not to be considered clatter or clamor. VandeHei may consider freedom of speech as hubbub or hullabaloo, but I do not. And the words of the people do matter. And the words of editorial boards do matter.

Using misinformation as a reason to delete opinion pieces (censorship of reader feedback) is a mammoth copout. That’s like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Yes, some partisan news media outlets abound with the promotion of liberal vs. conservative agendas. However, listeners and readers must be able to debate and discuss issues and use critical thinking skills to discern fact from fiction.

A 2013 article by the Pew Research Center reported that several daily newspapers reduced the amount of spaced devoted to editorials and commentary. Visit www.pewresearch.org.

Media outlets, don’t reduce our voices.

Opinion pieces generate discussion, provide pros and cons of issues, and persuade readers to take action. The solution is not to abandon commentary. The solution is news literacy. Visit free lessons from the News Literacy Project on identifying credible information and seeking out reliable sources. And learning digital media literacy is imperative.

Will other media brands follow Axios’ trampling of the voices of opinionated readers, the consumers of news? If so, an outcry from readers must ensue.

“Freedom of the Press, if it means anything at all, means the freedom to criticize and oppose.” ― George Orwell

Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is a syndicated opinion-editorial columnist. She lives in USA.

 

OBITUARY ANOUNCEMENT FOR MRS. BONDU BAH

Late Bondu Cathrine Bah
Late Bondu Cathrine Bah

TO God be the glory,

The sudden death is announced of Mrs. Bondu Cathrine Bah of No. -90 Sir Samuel Lewis Road, Aberdeen, which took place on Saturday 2nd April 2022 at the Choithram Hospital.

Age: 47

She is survived by her husband Mr. Bilal Bah, daughter Zainab in the USA

Sisters: Kumba, Elizabeth in Germany, Mrs. Finda Onuigbo in the USA and Annemarie

Brothers: Aiah Senessie and David Senessie

Three grandchildren:- Jordan, Ebenezer, and Daniel

Nieces: Victoria in the USA and Natasha in Germany

Nephew: Bernard

Uncle: Brother: Abioseh Chambers in the USA, Mr. Victor K . Cole, Mr. Comber, Mr. Sahr Musa, Uncle Solomon Senessie, Comber Gbondo, uncle Safia

Aunties: Mrs. Mathar Samura, Elsie Maclean, Christiana Johnson, Mrs. Tanny Baryoh, Mrs. Tina Dumbuya in the USA. Mrs. Adama Mamie, Aunty Komonor, Aunty Isatu, and Aunty Fatmata

Cousins: Mrs Doris Conteh, Barrister Florence During, Ada, Hannah, Hawa, Fatmata in Holland, Amsatu in the USA, Yvonne, Fatmata, Yvonne and Brenda Chambers in the USA, Adella Mason in the USA, Brian Chambers in London, Mariama Aberdeen, Tewa, Fereh, Samuel in Cyprus, Bami, Roland and Raymond Chambers, Yuletide, Leonard, peter, Julius, Isata, Jeremy, Pedo, Suriaya in the UK, Winston in Holland, Baba Turay-, Mohamed, Bala and Mustapha Turay in the USA Relatives:

Other Relatives:

The Chambers family, The Cole family of 68 Wilkinson Road, Michadi Shylon, William Chambers, Rev. David chambers, Alfred Chambers, the Bayoh family, Johnson family, the Maclean family at Pendembu and Goderich, the Samura family, the Senessie family, the Musa family, the Comber Family, Bockaeri and Ahmed family in The USA and the Bah family.

In-Laws: Mr. Onuigbo in the USA, Mr. Conteh of International School, Abibatu Juldeh Barrie, Ramatu Camara, the Bah family, Mr. Comber of Goderich, Mr. Turay of Pendembu, Mr. Jackson of Goderich and Mr. Charlie of Bonthe

Close Friends:

Apostle Cole and family, Pastor Bernard and family, Calvary Gods’ Way Chapel International in the USA and Sierra Leone, I. B White commonly known as a white boy, the entire community of Barracks Road Cole Farm, Kweku Lisk, Wilshire Johnson, Chillers, Union of Youth Sierra Leone, Charlie Haffner, Friends of stand 15, the All People’s Congress, True friends organisation, friends of Whatsapp Pull and Wash Aberdeen, Mighty Blackpool Football Club and Manchester United supporters club.

There will be a vigil at her residence, 90 Sir Samuel Lewis Road, Aberdeen on Saturday 9th April 2022, at 6: pm.

The laying out ceremony is on Sunday 10th April at 11:am at her residence and at the Pentecostal Church at Cockle Bay at 1: pm followed by a funeral service at 2:00 pm. Interment at the Murray Town cemetery.

Sympathizers may call at her residence 90 Sir Samuel Lewis Road,

Aberdeen and on the following number -078-880-323 and 076-99- 002

WE ARE SORRY FOR ANY OMISSION OF NAMES AS YOU ARE ALL EQUALLY IMPORTANT.

Edmond Bangura on the Run for Being Gay

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

The increasing reports of isolated physical attacks on persons found to be gay seem to have no end in sight, as the recent case of Edmond Bangura indicates.

News intimated this medium revealed that in Old Wharf Wellington East End of Freetown, Edmond Bangura, has come under serious intimidation and harassment from members of his family and the community after being caught practicing homosexuality with his male partner in an unfinished building of which both stakeholders and the community youths have mounted a round the clock search for Edmond Bangura who is now declared wanted by the Sierra Leone Police.

Edmond Bangura who hails from a Christian background and was raised by a Christian Family was not expected to practise this act especially when his family was well known by members of the community as religious people

Both national and religious laws in the country totally forbid individuals from practising such act. Community members were completely disappointed at Edmond’s action, which they noted goes contrary to their customs and traditions.

According to a resident of Old Wharf Wellington, identified himself as a resident of the Old Wharf Wellington East End of Freetown, and who had known Edmond since childhood said he had been very secretive about his sexual orientation since they were early teenagers until he (Edmond Bangura) was caught having sex with his male partner at his partner’s residence by her stepmother, Kadiatu Kamara.

According to an in-depth investigation mounted by this medium, Edmond Bangura who lost her mother at an early age was living with her stepmother Kadiatu Kamara.

On 1st April, 2022 the stepmother of Edmond Bangura caught Edmond Bangura having sexual intercourse with his male counterpart at unfinished building of which the stepmother decided to take the law into her hands together to physically and violently attacking Edmond Bangura and his partner at the place of seeing during the process Edmond Bangura and his partner were fortunate to escape for their lives.

After his successful escape. he tried going home, and he was approach by his friend who informed him about how members of the community including some of his family members are planning to eliminate him because he has not only embarrassed and disgraced them but has also flouted the customs and traditions of the land and going against what the family believes in and as such was described as the black sheep of the family.

This medium also learnt that members of the community were against his lifestyle of which they were pointing fingers at him which nearly led him to commit suicide.

It was also understood that this irate community members stormed the residence of Edmond Bangura based on an intelligence they purportedly received that he has returned to his residence, which in actual fact turned out to be false.

Aid Pioneers Partner with Uman Tok to Produce Menstrual Hygiene Underwear Kits

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By Esther Wright

It is on record that the Aid Pioneers sent over two tons of flannel to Sierra Leone in February for the production of menstrual hygiene underwear kits.

Aid Pioneers are also celebrating another major success: the transportation of over two tons of flannel to Sierra Leone, West Africa to their long-term cooperation partner Uman Tok for the production of over 12.000 menstrual hygiene underwear kits.

The Sierra Leonean NGO Uman Tok produces menstrual hygiene underwear kits to enable young women to attend school or work during their periods, reducing the number of days absent due to menstruation. Aid Pioneers has supported Uman Tok not only in matters of funding and project planning, but also in the transportation over two tons of flannel, the main component of the kits necessary to produce over 12.000 menstrual hygiene underwear kits due to local scarcity.

With the powerful support of Uman Tok, Aid Pioneers was also able to deliver life-saving medical materials to Freetown for the first time within 6 days in reaction to the tanker explosion in November 2021. In the course of this, Aid Pioneers was able to build further partnerships locally, especially with regional hospitals.

Four Aid Pioneers team members from Germany, Ann-Sophie Semer, Johanna Körner, Julian Adler and Alexis Broschek, were able to meet in person in Sierra Leone in February with the inspiring women and men behind Uman Tok, who make this NGO such a remarkable organization.

The team was also able to learn about the entire underwear production process in detail. With this newly gained expertise, Aid Pioneers aims to continue to actively support the growth of the NGO Uman Tok, working together to positively impact the lives of even more young women in Sierra Leone and improve gender inequality.

During their stay, the team also visited the 34 Military Hospital, the Connaught Hospital, as well as the Ola During Children’s Hospital. It was a great honor for the team to be able to visit these important facilities and to have the opportunity to exchange ideas with the doctors and health care managers on site.

The Aid Pioneers team is already working to expand partnerships in this field and to support the health care system in Freetown by providing locally unavailable medicines and medical equipment.

Thanks to the intensive meetings with representatives of the health sector and embassy, the team was able to gain a deeper problem awareness for the current situation in Sierra Leone. Encouraged by the open-mindedness and the drive of the Sierra Leoneans, Aid Pioneers would like to continue a close exchange with the responsible persons on site in order to expand the projects together.

Aid Pioneers is also looking for additional local organizations that need support with their projects. A specific focus of Aid Pioneers is to support organizations with goods from Europe that are not available locally.

Additionally, Aid Pioneers supports to achieve scalable growth. The team is always looking forward to exciting organizations that have great visions for Sierra Leone and want to improve the lives of individuals in a meaningful way. If you have ideas, the team welcomes submissions.

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