In 2005 the Adonis Abboud Trust Fund (AATF) launched a special programme geared towards recognizing and awarding best University Students for outstanding academic performances that led them to graduate with flying colours.
According to Dr Adonis Abboud, who also doubles as the Chief Executive Officer of Trans World International and Founder of Pikin Bizness, the recognition and support given to the Best Male and Best Female graduates is meant to identify and raise the morale of the recipients who over the years excelled in their various academic pursuits.
He revealed that students of FBC, IPAM, College of Medicine, Njala University, EBK University, MMTC, IAMTECK and University of Makeni (UNIMAK) at anytime stand the chance of benefitting from the Trust Fund as it has been in the past.
He furthered by disclosing how the selection of the Awardees is strictly done by the Administrative Wing of the Universities. For the past academic year (2020/21) the lot fell on Abdul Bangura and Mariatu Zainab Bangura, who emerged as best graduating students from the University of Makeni (UNIMAK) in the fields of Agriculture & Food Sciences and Public Admin & Management respectively.
Both of them received Personalized Trophies and Cash Prizes of Two Million Leones each at the Adonis Abboud Trust Fund Office on 62 Wilkinson Road in Freetown.
During the aspect of the ceremony when the awards and cash prizes were added over to the two best students, Dr. Abboud reconfirmed his organisation’s commitment to recognise and motivate students who have excelled in Universities .
He disclosed that the gesture is part of the educational support that the Trust Fund his organization has been rolling out with the main objective of enhancing educational standards in the country.
Dr. Abboud stressed that his organization has nothing to do with the choice of the winners of the awards as their names were provided by the University to the organization maintaining that such has been the norm for many years.
The AATF Chairman further underscored that without a healthy and well educated citizenry a country cannot develop maintaining how it is in that regard that the Trust Fund is providing support to Universities in Sierra Leone.
He said UNIMAK is giving each student the right type of education which will enable him or her the opportunity to contribute to their society and have the chance to live up to their God-given potentials as the nation charts the way forward.
“It is your turn to use your qualifications as springboard for the currents that will dominate the nation’s landscape politically, socially and economically from now on,” he enjoined the recipients concluding that the gesture is his little contribution to efforts to challenge students and get the best out of the dwindling pool of talents available to carry the burden of the nation’s future.
The recipients expressed profound thanks and appreciation to Dr. Adonis Abboud for the gesture and promised to positively contribute to overall national development in their own little ways.
News intimated this medium was reliably informed that in Makari Village, Makari Gbanti Chiefdom, Bombali District, Northern Province of Sierra Leone Poro Secret Society members of Makari Village have mounted a round the clock search for Mohamed Fuad Bangura now declared fugitive.
He is accused of refusing to comply with the tradition of the community, which dictates that after the death of his father Foday Bangura who was a herbalist and a member of the Poro Society, Mohamed Fuad Bangura must be initiated into the Poro Secret Society and adhere to the oath of secrecy.
The said practice is said to be a tradition in the chiefdom that every male child whose father is part of the secret society once he passed away his male child becomes an heir to take over his father, of which every family in the community is expected to comply, as deviating from it is tantamount to disobedience to the gods of the land and is seen as a sacrilege.
According to our source, the Poro Society is hell-bent on initiating Mohamed Fuad, because his father was a member of the secret society, which makes him eligible to be part of the Society.
It was also revealed that Mohamed Fuad Bangura has reached the age to be initiated; therefore, he is expected to voluntarily report to the Poro Society elders for the due ceremony. But certainly, Mohamed Fuad Bangura is not interested to join the Poro Society because it’s not morally decent and unethical for his health and the Islamic religion which led him not to cooperate with the process.
Conversely, the ideology or mentality of Mohamed Fuad Bangura about the society doesn’t go down well with the elders as they brand it to be disrespectful and is unacceptable.
As he became eligible for initiation, our source disclosed, he simply declined their invitation, and it became apparent that the society is poised to abduct him and forcefully initiate him, since he had shown unwillingness to join the secret society and to take over his father. It was at the point that the mother of Mohamed Fuad Bangura Maseray Yillah decided to facilitate the escape of his son out of the country for his safty.
According to our investigation, it was revealed that the members of the society had raided the family home of Mohamed Fuad Bangura on several occasions, and are currently offering a reward (according to tradition) of 1 goat, 2 cows, 12 cups of rice and one chicken for information leading to his location whenever he visits Sierra Leone.
Our investigation further revealed that in January 2022, one Abdul Kamara of the same village, who is also currently on the run, was abducted and taken to the Poro Society bush, where he was to undergo the most inhumane ritual, described as part of their initiation rites in the Makari Gbanti Chiefdom. Our information further revealed that Abdul Kamara narrowly escaped from the hands of the initiators in the secret shrine in the bush, out of fear that he might lose his life.
A senior member of the Society group disclosed to this medium, on condition of anonymity, that the fugitive, Mohamed Fuad Bangura refused to come home after information was leaked that four (4) Boys who went through the initiation nearly died that same month before completion of the ceremony.
According to sources close to the Secret Society hierarchy, the penalty of betrayal (refusing to comply with the tradition of the community) is death through unconventional means that leave no room for police investigation.
It could also be recalled that due to the rampant unethical activities of these secret societies in the country, the Government of Sierra Leone in a press release through the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has placed ban on all secret societies activities in the country, but surprisingly even though the Government has placed a ban on it some are still practicing it in the name of maintaining the country’s tradition.
The continuous activities of these secret society groups mean that the Government is unable to put a stop to all secret societies. Recently the Anti-Corruption Commission was unable to interview the former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, on matters raised in the Government’s White Paper because he’s a member of one of the secret societies and whenever they are out in the streets even the Police cannot go out on the streets which prevented the official of the Commission from doing the said interview.
Till Press time, family members of Mohamed Fuad Bangura have confirmed to this medium that they are constantly under harassment and threat by the elders of the secret society and, that the members of the Makari Gbanti Chiefdom Secret Society group are still searching for him with a reward of one (1) goat, Twelve (12) cups rice and one chicken for information leading to his location whenever he visits Sierra Leone.
West Africa’s main political and economic bloc said on Friday it would give Mali’s military transitional Government twelve to sixteen (12 to 16) months to arrange elections and offered Guinea’s ruling junta a month to propose a democratic transition timeline.
After a summit in Ghana’s capital Accra, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also agreed to ask Burkina Faso’s interim leaders to reduce a proposed transition of thirty-six (36) months to a “more acceptable timeline,” the bloc’s Commission President Jean Claude Kassi Brou told a news conference.
Opening the 5th Extraordinary Meeting of the Authority of Heads of States and Government, ECOWAS Chairperson and Ghana’s President Akufo-Addo said, “I want to welcome your Excellencies back to Accra again to take stock of where we are with our three recalcitrant member States Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso and take appropriate decisions on the way forward”.
Since August 2020, West Africa has been rocked by two coups in Mali, one in Guinea and one in Burkina Faso, tarnishing its reputation as a model of democratic progress in Africa.
The 15-nation ECOWAS has repeatedly condemned the putsches and is trying to bring power back into civilian hands.
“Our democratic values must be preserved,” Kassi Brou said. “Some countries are going through challenges but we must address those challenges collectively.”
ECOWAS has already imposed sanctions on Guinea and Mali for delays in restoring constitutional order.
Kassi Brou said those measures would be gradually lifted in Mali if its leaders respected the 12- to 16-month ultimatum. Harsher penalties will hit Guinea if it misses its own April 25 deadline, he warned.
“We have no idea when the transition (in Guinea) will end and this creates tensions in the region and inside the country,” he said. Guinea, whose ex-President Alpha Conde was overthrown in September, has yet to lay out handover plans.
Mali’s interim Government failed on a promise to hold elections in February and first said it would keep ruling until at least 2025, which was then revised down to 24 months.
ECOWAS on Tuesday, 22 March 2022, extended an invitation to the President of the transition Colonel Assimi Goïta to attend the summit but he declined, instead, sending a delegation of four members of the Government led by Mr. Abdoulaye Diop, Mali’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to represent him in Accra.
Meanwhile, Burkina Faso’s junta, which took over in January, has proposed relinquishing power after three years, raising eyebrows in ECOWAS.
Sanctions in Mali have already severed the country’s access to regional financial markets, caused job losses and contributed to its default on about $180 million in debt payments.
Burkina Faso, which has so far been spared, will also face sanctions if the junta does not release ex-President Roch Kabore from house arrest within the next month, Kassi Brou said.
Parliament of Sierra Leone has on the 24th March 2022 ratified agreements and memoranda between Sierra Leone and others for the economic growth and development of the people.
The following agreements and memoranda were approved by Parliament:
Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Government of the Federal Republic of Germany
Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe
Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Republic of Sierra Leone
Bilateral Air Service agreement between Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Government of the Sultanate of Oman
Memorandum of Understanding Agreement between Government of Sierra Leone and Government of the Sultanate of Oman and
Air Services Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Presenting the ratifications, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Rex Bhonapha recalled the formation of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and a treaty as well as freedom surrounding air services. He informed that the national Government should continue to support bilateral agreements and spoke about the importance of the agreements.
According to the Deputy Minister, the agreements have no financial implications on the Government but rather enhance air services.
He said the following provisions that are contained in the agreements includes; traffic rights, capacity, designation, ownership and control, operational flexibility, cooperative arrangement, and competition rules.
Contributing to the debate, the Parliamentary Chairman of Transport and Aviation Committee in Parliament, Hon. Maada Lebby said the agreements are among other series of agreements that have had passages in the House. He informed that the agreements would not cost the State and informed that, it would help the country to comply with international aviation and organization practices. He said approving these agreements it would benefit Sierra Leone immensely relative to job creation, tourism, and another private sector.
“We are encouraging the private sector to come and invest,” he stated and encouraged his colleague MPs to speedily ratify the agreements.
Hon Catherine Zainab Tarawallie said Sierra Leone is a serious nation in light of ratifying these agreements and went on to say other countries had long ago ratified them and are now enjoying the implementation. She emphasized job creation for the citizens. “We are ratifying these agreements that would bring jobs for our students from universities,” she stated and informed that, “let us try to hastily ratify things that would bring development to Sierra Leone”.
Hon. Sahr Charles raised a few concerns about the agreements related to the improvement of aviation and consultation as well as review between parties. He also spoke about capacity building in that regard and called for immediate ratification.
Hon. Joseph William-Lamin said in light of the agreements, he would like young Sierra Leoneans to fly aircraft. He went on to say, he wanted to see a situation where compatriots working in the aviation sector may represent the State honestly and sincerely. He spoke about the protection of air services space, integrity, and infrastructure safety.
Hon. Dr. Mark-Mahmoud Kalokoh thanked the Deputy Minister for his services to the nation. He informed that the air services connote liberalization and made some comparative analysis relating to benefits of air services already enjoyed by other countries.
In rounding up the debate, Acting Leader of Opposition, Hon. Hassan Sesay said the agreements is a welcome situation and admonished the Ministry not to delay such an agreement in the future relative to the importance of its nature.
The Acting Leader spoke about job creation from the agreements for the people of Sierra Leone, adding that Government alone cannot provide jobs for the people, but with support from the private sector it is possible. He emphasized the training of host communities and further impact on the economy through livelihood support to their extended family. He cautioned the Minister to ensure that the air services comply with quality assurance. “The flight that does come here should be of higher quality,” he stated and went on to say, let that be part of the agreements as well as affordability. “Let us try to make the ticket affordable,” he informed.
He noted that the agreements were not controversial.
Concluding the debate, the Acting Leader of Government Business, Hon. Dickson Rogers said the agreements were not controversial. He emphasized safety and made a comparative analysis of flights in Europe and Africa.
He said if the literatures in the agreements are followed or properly implemented, Sierra Leone would be the best place for air services. He raised concerns over the provisions of air hostess not in the agreements and said that it was time to start training young women for such careers. He spoke about other related opportunities relating to air services, especially for free visa countries.
Ing. Elder Francis Lahai, Deputy Managing Director Guma Valley Water Company, has said that the Government of President Bio is considering to build 200 to 300 boreholes across the country. Places such as in Moyamba in the South, Kamalo in the North West, Newton in the West and Kambia in the North all being water starved areas in the dry season will benefit from that drive.
The Deputy Managing Director revealed this when the Council of Churches Sierra Leone joined the international community in celebrating World Water Day 2022. The celebration which took place on Tuesday 2022 at the CCSL Hall, Kingharman Road in Freetown attracted mostly religious leaders and other water stakeholders. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Ground Water, Making the Invisible Visible”.
Ing. Elder Francis Lahai, who was speaking on behalf of the Minister of Water Resources, Philip K Lansana, said that water is a precious commodity in the country and that in the last decade, the water sector in Sierra Leone was characterized by a feeling of “we have landed”. He cited the New Direction Manifesto, in which the President approved the establishment of the new Ministry of Environment to better environmental challenges facing the pollution of water in the country. He called on all for the need to take pages from the Chinese and Arabs and look for alternatives for Sierra Leone. He cited desalination, Ground water sources and large scale rainwater harvesting for consideration as surface water begins to get contaminated for human consumption.
He pledged that the Ministry of Water Resources will intensify awareness raising across the country, interpret data on ground water distribution, train personnel in the technology of ground water, geophysics and hydrogeology and encourage PPP partnerships to exploit the invisible water and make it more visible.
In welcoming participants, the General Secretary of the Council of Churches Sierra Leone, Kezia Kargbo, said the theme points to ground water as a hidden vital resource that provides almost half of all drinking water worldwide but yet not fully recognized and utilized. She said Sierra Leone depends entirely on groundwater which supplies a large proportion of water used for drinking, sanitation, food production and industrial processes. She ended by calling on all to protect groundwater from overexploitation.
The Chairperson of the program, Madam Jane Godwin, who is also the 2nd Vice President of the CCSL, in her remarks cited the creation story in the Bible in which God created water for the livelihood of man but went on to say that unfortunately human activities have been depriving people access to water. She said that the country lacks adequate drinking water and dilated on the fact that pipe borne water was now a rarity and the sachets of water that are being sold are much to be desired.
Speaking on the theological perspective of water ,the Right Reverend Arnold Arnold A C Temple, Co-Chair of the Ecumenical Water Network, World Council of Churches noted that the theme is not a popular one in the sense that it has not been popularly explored. He pointed out that in Sierra Leone groundwater still remains untapped, while in some parts of the world there has been overexploitation. He dilated on the following themes;
Water is God’s creation and gift-Water is life
Water is for the common good and is to be shared
Water is spiritual
We are stewards of creation
Quoting form Genesis 1:20 “Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life…” “Take water away from any community and that community is wiped”.
He cited instances in both the Old and New testaments in which water played a pivotal role around good and bad times noting that even Jesus on the cross called for water when he cried I THIRST. He said Christians are called to stewardship of water – to provide it and make it readily available in its pure form to the next generation. He called on all to be careful in their utilization of the earth’s resources – especially water.
Panel discussions, practical case study; effects of water pollution-Taia River and group work all formed part of the engagement.
In a bid to support children living with disabilities in the areas of health, education, livelihood and social inclusion using the inclusive development strategy in the country, One Family People organization with support from Liliane Fonds has on Friday 25th March, 2022 allocated the sum of One Billion Six Hundred and Seventy Million Leones (Le 1,670,000,000.00) to be divided amongst their six partner organizations in the country. The event took place at the One Family People’s Office on Congo Cross in Freetown.
The six partner organizations that benefited from the funds include: Dorothy Springer Trust, Kono Cheshire Services, Disability Awareness Action Group, Welfare Society for the Disabled, Polio Person’s Development Association and Sierra Leone Autistic Society.
In his welcome address, the Executive Director of One Family People, Edward Emmanuel described the ceremony as a remarkable event as it symbolizes the formal kickoff of their 2022 programmatic year.
He expressed his sincere appreciation to the Liliane Foundation for generously providing funding for its partner organizations that helped them to make 2021 a successful year and count on their support for 2022.
Edward Emmanuel maintained that One Family People believes that persons with disabilities are powerful, radiant agents of change and that is why they have an unwavering commitment to enable them to
develop and attain the same quality of life as those without disabilities maintaining how they include them in everything they do, furthering that listening and giving them space to shine, working together to find solutions that benefit not only persons with disabilities but their families and communities as well and with Support from LF and together with their local partners, they are empowering individual children with disabilities and their parents/caregivers.
Reading the press statement on behalf of One Family People, the Program Manager, Samuel POV Macaulay, described the gathering
as a fulfillment of one of their core responsibilities as the strategic partner organization of Lilliane Fonds in Sierra Leone (to Sign/renew Contracts and Agreement with Partner Organizations within their Network) as well as to demonstrate transparency and accountability by informing the general public about their 2022 Child Empowerment Annual Plan and budget allocation of One Billion Six Hundred and Seventy Million Leones (Le 1,670,000,000.00) to be divided amongst six partner organizations in the country.
He revealed that the funding allocation to these organizations will enable them to support the development of children and youngsters with disabilities in the areas of health, education, livelihood and social inclusion using the inclusive development strategy to make their environment accessible.
“OFP as the Strategic Partner Organization of Liliane Foundation in Sierra Leone is mandated to develop and implement policies, strategies and Programmes that fit the country’s context and are consistent with the LF global policy and strategic framework. We are also responsible for
coordinating a network of partner organizations that are empowering children and youngsters with disabilities below 25 years of age, who belong to “resource poor” families to participate in society
and ensure their inclusion in the community,” he added.
The Program Manager pointed out that the gathering is part of the organization’s efforts towards informing the general public and their beneficiaries about their collective plans for 2022 geared towards complementing Government efforts, as well as key successes of 2021, highlighting the synergies between their work and committing towards broader participation in the implementation process, continuing that they also wish to emphasize to their POs in the presence of stakeholders and the Fourth Estate, the importance of complying with OFP-PO Agreement, PO eligibility criteria, communication guide, child protection policy and reporting requirement.
He further inform the gathering that One Family People with support from Liliane Fonds last year also disbursed over One (1) Billion Leones to five partner organizations who are also present to give them highlights of what they achieved in 2021, stating that this year they have added another Partner to the Network Sierra Leone Autistic Society that will share their expertise in working with children and youngsters with neurological disorders.
“As an organization we are of the strongest conviction that the support we are providing for the children through our partners have broken barriers and opened doors for them to access basic health and education facilities, improved livelihood and enhanced social inclusion using the
inclusive development strategy. As a way of achieving the sustainable development goals 2030,One Family People is committed towards creating the enabling environment for an inclusive society where no one is left behind,” he revealed.
The Executive Director of one of the implementing entities, Welfare Society for the Disabled, that benefitted, Joseph Alieu Kamara, expressed appreciation to the One Family People and the Liliane Funds for the support they have been giving them over the years to implement programs geared towards the development of people living with disability across the country which he described as very pivotal in addressing issues of disability in the country.
He said that through the support of the organization they are currently supporting children with disability which has open doors for those children, furthering that they support the children to access health and education facilities, improve their livelihoods and enhance social inclusion using the inclusive development strategy formally known as community based rehabilitation in the country.
Joseph assured all that the funds will be used for the intended purposes and will benefit the lives of children living with disability across the country.
All other partner organizations’ representatives also highlighted their achievement for 2021 and also outlined their future plans for 2022.
The event was climaxed with the official signing of the agreement between the One Family People and the six partner organizations.
During a press conference held at the Ministry of Finance Conference Hall on George Street in Freetown, the Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) Mohamed Massaquoi informed pressmen that the Government of Sierra Leone through Parliament has ratified a 15-year Agreement between the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) and Constrat Systems SL LTD for the production of Securitized and Multi-purpose Identity (ID) Cards (National & ECOWAS Compliant), ID Verification System and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). The ID Cards will be accessed and utilized by citizens and other Residents in Sierra Leone.
He said that these Chip-based ID Cards will ensure proper identification and authentication using the National Identification Number (NIN) as a unique identifier that will neither be duplicated nor re-used and assigned from birth to death, thereby strengthening accountability and transparency in Public Administration, governance and accountable service delivery, while also serving as a deterrent to any attempt at identity fraud or manipulation.
On behalf of the Authority he announced that the following categories of ID Cards will be produced which includes National Identity Cards that will be limited to Sierra Leoneans only, ECOWAS ID Cards- on demand for use within ECOWAS member States, Sierra Leone ECOWAS ID Cards – also on demand for Sierra Leoneans wishing to travel within member States consistent with the ECOWAS Protocol to promote free movement, integration, trade liberalization etc. and Non-National ID Cards – Mandatory for all foreign residents in Sierra Leone.
Mohamed Massaquoi further intimated that these legal Identity documents will be mandatory to access services that include but will not be limited to the following: transactions with financial institutions (Banks, Forex Bureau, Insurance Companies etc); Vehicle Registration and Licensing; Recruitment into Public and Private Institutions for consistency in personal information and verification; NASSIT enrolment; Land and Property Registration; Enrolment into Educational institutions including Public Exams; SIM Card Registration to account for every communication in order to halt abuse and pranks; Vital Events, Registration such as Births, Deaths, Adoptions, Marriages (Civil, Christian, Mohammedan and Traditional) and Divorces; Immigration Services- Residence and Work Permits and Business Registration and Incorporation among others.
“Moreover, these Securitized Multi-purpose ID Cards will be associated with benefits that will enable citizens and other residents to access services such as healthcare, education, social security, financial transactions and other public services, as well as support tax administration, immigration opportunities, financial inclusion etc. It will also enable citizens and others to exercise their civil right to secure protection against sexual offences on the girl child, child Labour, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, Identity manipulation, impersonation etc. by providing proof of identity and other demographic details such as age thus halting dynamism of personal information,” he maintained.
The Director General also pointed out that the NRA is pleased to inform the general public that Identity services will be decentralized where the ID Cards when produced will be issued in District headquarter towns as well as other communities with high population in order to ease the burden on the movement of the public to acquire ID Cards from Freetown, adding that these Identity services will complement Government’s efforts in providing details of perpetrators of crime to the security sector.
He said that through the ID Verification System, personal information of people will be authenticated by institutions authorized to access the ID System at the NCRA to guarantee consistency of personal information and halt dynamism and abuse of such information thus ensuring a reliable track or record of every transaction whether business or communication digitally.
High Court Judge presiding over cases at the Sexual Offences Model Court in Freetown, Honourable Justice Mohamed Bawoh has acquitted and discharged 29-year-old Tailor, Mohamed Gbla of Sexual penetration.
The accused, Gbla, was before the court on a one count indictment of Sexual Penetration Contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act, 2012 Act No 12 of 2012.
Gbla was alleged to have on a date unknown between the 1st day of June 2018 and the 30th day of September 2018 at Freetown in the Western Area of the country engaged in an act of sexual penetration with a child.
He also denied the allegation upon his arraignment before the court.
State Prosecutor E. T Jalloh made an application for trial by Judge alone instead of Judge and Jury which was granted by the Judge.
The Prosecution led in evidence a number of witnesses in support of their case including a medical doctor whose medical report on the victim indicated that the 13-year-old victim at the time was diagnosed of a six weeks pregnancy with a completely ruptured hymen and no physical injuries seen.
At the close of the Prosecution’s case, the accused took the witness stand and testified in his own defence.
In his evidence, Gbla said the victim was his girl lover for over six months before the incident and that they both were staying together with the approval of the alleged victim’s mother.
Upon review of the totality of the evidence before the court, Justice Bawoh noted that “it is quite clear that the Prosecution has not proven to this court that indeed the “victim” is a child and as doubts exist with regards the correct age of the “victim”.
Gbla was acquitted and discharged of the offence charged.
Justice Bawoh also acquitted and discharged 65-year-old Building Contractor, Charley Deen of Sexual Penetration.
Accused Deen was standing trial for a one count indictment of Sexual Penetration Contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act 2012, Act NO. 12 of 2012, as repealed and replaced by Section 4 (a) (iii) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2019, Act NO 8 of 2019.
He was alleged to have on a date unknown between the 1st day of December 2020 and the 31st day of December 2020, at Freetown in the Western Area of the country, engaged in an act of Sexual Penetration with a 14-year-old child at the time.
The Prosecution closed their case after leading in evidence a number of witnesses while the accused relied on his denial statement to the Police and called his wife as the sole witness.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Bawoh said “none of the witnesses has been able to corroborate the victim’s story and as more doubts rather than clarity have been evident in this matter this court will hereby acquit and discharge the accused.”
22-year-old Mason, Mohamed Jalloh alias Rasta and 16-year-old Mason, Mohamed Bangura alias Orga were both standing trial for the offence of Sexual Penetration.
Jalloh was alleged to have on the 25th day of February 2020 at Waterloo in the Western Area engaged in an act of sexual penetration with a child.
Bangura was also alleged to have on the 21st day of July 2021 at Freetown in the Western Area of the country, engaged in an act of sexual penetration with a child.
Both accused persons denied the allegation upon their arraignment before the court.
At the end of their trials after the Prosecution was able to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt, Justice Bawoh sentenced Bangura to 5 years’ imprisonment and Jalloh to 15 years’ imprisonment.
Justice Bawoh similarly sentenced 20-year-old pupil, Mohamed Ngulama to 10 years’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of sexual penetration.
During the course of the trial, the Prosecution was able to adduce evidence that hit the threshold for his conviction.
In another related matter, Court of Appeal Judge presiding over cases at the Sexual Offences Model Court in Freetown, Honourable Justice Komba Kamanda has also sentenced 35-year-old teacher, Alhaji Baimba Kanneh to 36 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of sexual penetration committed against a 13-year-old girl.
The Prosecution led in evidence four witnesses in support of their case while the accused led a sworn-evidence on oath and did not call any witness.
The Prosecution was able to adduce evidence that hit the threshold for his conviction.
The son of Colonel Vanba Atteh Konneh, the current ADC to President Julius Maada Bio, Vaffie Konneh won Overall Best Graduating Student Class of 2021, as he graduated in Pharmacy from the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS).
For many that darkened the doors of that educational institution, graduating as the Best Student from COMAHS is indeed no mean feat maintaining that his result was outstanding especially as he won 7 medals for different achievements.
Vaffie won the awards for his exceptional performance in the following subjects: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pathological Sciences, Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy.
Many in and out of the country have showered congratulatory messages on Vaffie Konneh for his outstanding performance and wished him well in life.
The College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS), University of Sierra Leone, is Sierra Leone’s only medical and pharmacy school and the main institution for basic and specialist nurse training.
Its medical and nurse educators are volunteers who work alongside faculty staff and clinical staff at Connaught Hospital (which is the main site for students’ clinical placements). They are supported by the Education Lead who is also a pharmacy educator and by technical advisors from King’s Health Partners. The aim is to help partners find practical solutions to the challenges they face so as to strengthen the training capacity at COMAHS and Connaught Hospital and contribute to improved human resources for health in Sierra Leone.
The College is playing a critical role in building a competent health workforce but faces many challenges in terms of human and physical resources. King’s Sierra Leone Partnership (KSLP) is working with all faculties to provide support across medicine, nursing, pharmacy and dentistry.
Its medical undergraduate curriculum spans six years and is based on the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO) harmonized curriculum.
With support from Africell-Sierra Leone, the Ninth Assembly Conference of the Rotary 9101 took place on the 25th March, 2022 at the Freetown International Conference Centre in Freetown with delegates from other countries including Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Liberia and The Gambia in attendance.
President Julius Maada Bio and other important personalities were also present
The District Governor of District 9101, Rotary Club Sierra Leone, Christopher Forster, on behalf of others welcomed all the international delegates to Freetown, assuring them that they are prepared to give them the best treatment underscoring how their stay in the country will be a memorable one.
He continued that when he visited different countries in Africa, he received warm welcome from Rotarians adding that he was even assigned a police escort from Rotarians in one of those countries.
In a welcome statement at the conference, Past Assistant Governor of Rotary 9101, Rotarian Sheila John, who doubled as Chair for the Host Organizing Committee said she was honoured and delighted to have her fellow Rotarians from over 10 countries in Africa to Freetown to deliberate on the progress and challenges of their Club.
“Rotarians in Sierra Leone wish you all a wonderful and successful time in our beloved country. Thank you,” she concluded.
In a goodwill message, the International Rotary President, Shekhar Mehta, said that Rotary is an institution of community service where the ordinary people are motivated to another height, adding that serving people is the service of paying rent on earth.
He further noted that their institution would continue to do more by empowering and putting special emphasis on girls, and by so doing they would have unlimited opportunities in the world.
”I hope you take the knowledge gained at this District Conference back to your Clubs to help them succeed throughout the coming year. Together we will achieve great things as we serve to change lives,” Shekhar Mehta concluded.
In his remarks President Julius Maada Bio welcomed the Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Interactors to Sierra Leone, telling them that the country is the fourth most peaceful in Africa, according to the Global Peace Index.
“International assessments rate us highly on scorecards for governance and ruling justly. We now have a National Commission for Peace and National Cohesion. As I always say, the ties that bind us as a nation are stronger.
“I have been impressed with the emphasis on the power of one that is central to the principles of your organization – the idea that each individual is a global citizen and, working with others, can touch lives in the farther parts of our planet including Sierra Leone,” he said adding that the power of one, unleashed with a singular focus, with a common purpose, with a common goal, had changed lives and futures and given hope where there was none and could have been none.
“When Rotarians support the peanut butter project in Pujehun and stave off malnutrition among under-fives, they are helping keep alive and nourish men and women who will later change this nation,” he concluded.
Rotary, a global network of 1.2m neighbours was formed by a Chicago Attorney, Paul Harris, on 23 February 1905, for professionals from diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Members have a long track record of addressing challenges in their communities and around the world.
