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President Bio Inspects Ongoing Expansion of Freetown International Airport

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By Esther Wright

President Julius Maada Bio visited the Freetown International Airport, on the 25th March 2022 since work started on 12 November 2020, to inspect the $270 million work on the new airport terminal project that will accommodate one million passengers per year once complete later this year.

Chairman Office of the Presidential Infrastructure Initiatives (OPII) Dr John Tambi, said the ongoing work is a testament to what God can do for Sierra Leone in a very difficult situation.

He noted that even though Coronavirus was ravaging economies around the globe, it was uplifting that the President was on an inspection tour to have firsthand information of the work that SUMMA Group is doing to expand the capacity of the airport to an estimated 13,200 square miles from the current 7,200 square miles.

“This is the largest Turkish investment in Africa so far and when completed it will give a facelift to our country and open it to investment,” he concluded.

Country Director of the SUMMA Group in Sierra Leone, Ibrahim Sheriff, said they were a multinational Turkish company operating in about 8 African countries, adding that they are building a new terminal that would create the transformation of a new airport in Lungi.

He maintained that the company had already employed hundreds of Sierra Leoneans who were primarily indigenes of that locality, adding that SUMMA Group would continue to impact lives and add to the socio-economic development of the country.

“At the end of this year we will all be gathered here again to celebrate the completion of this all-important project,” Sheriff concluded.

In a brief statement, His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio thanked the people of Lungi for hosting and supporting the project that he too is now very anxious to see and why he had taken time off his busy schedules to visit and follow-up on progress.

The President emphasized that the construction work is the largest such investment in Africa by the Turkish developer, a demonstration of confidence in his Government. He added that the airport is the gateway of the country so a modern facility is necessary to beautify the country and attract direct foreign investments.

“I am pleased with the progress made so far. I am very excited to be here and to share this moment with you. Thank you very much,” he concluded.

Housemates Salone Season 3 Public Voting Commences to Choose 22 out of 60

Housemates Salone Season 3

By Amin Kef Sesay

Yesterday, the names of sixty applicants for Housemates Salone Season 3 were announced by the organizers of the upcoming Reality TV Show, AYV Media Empire and Africell-Sierra Leone. The names of the sixty (60) applicants were those whom the Judges believed did very well throughout the three days that an audition was conducted.

The process leading to the real show takes another dimension as the next stage will be popular voting as members of the public will be given the opportunity to vote for the final number of applicants that would enter the House as Housemates.

Now, out of the sixty names announced, the organizers will then proceed to look for the best Twenty (20) or Twenty-Two (22) who should enter the House.

Some may be wondering how that is going to be done. Well the organizers have a perfect plan.

The plan is that a voting process will be made known to members of the public to actively participate in order to choose the required aforementioned number of Housemates. The organizers will communicate the link and the process of voting which members of the public should use when the appropriate time reaches.

As stated by the organizers, from what members of the public have seen during the replays, the ‘Yagba’ in terms of making the right choices will then commence and if that is logically done then we will be assured of a very thrilling Reality TV Show.

What in actual fact is up for grabs by the contestants, in the ongoing Reality TV Show, is the winning prize of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Leones (Le250M) plus undertaking a round trip to Dubai. That besides, every day spent in the House qualifies each Housemate to earn One Hundred Thousand Leones (Le100, 000).

According to the organizers, this exciting Reality TV Show is put together against the backdrop of promoting Youth Empowerment. Better put into perspective, Housemates Salone encompasses providing mentorship for young aspiring Sierra Leoneans who believe that they have talents that they could showcase which will provide valuable insights as to the everyday behavioral patterns of young people living together.

However, the most important aspect of the Reality TV Show is that it will serve as a conduit through which the Housemates are taken through  mental and physical exercises that will end up to mould and shape their characters.

They will benefit from being guided to be motivational speakers, to think critically as well as rationally, how to healthily interact, how to solve problems, to cook, to sing, dance, control emotions and stress.

These competitors will be given the opportunity to learn from what visiting guests from certain corporate institutions will teach them, learn how to play games and a host of other things that are aligned to coping mechanisms in life.

If it could be succinctly put in other words, Housemates Salone is a kind of refinery where the competitors will go through life overhauling experiences to an extent that life after Housemates Salone will be completely and positively different for them.

Housemates Salone Season 3 is indeed going to bring loads of smiles and evoke animated discussions among the young and old in various social circles.

Book an Appointment For…   Choithram Hospital Free Urology & Orthopedic Screening & Treatment

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By Amin Kef Sesay

 For some this will not be the first time that the Choithram Memorial Hospital will be offering free screening and treatment as in the past Management of the hospital has facilitated the arrival of  visiting doctors from Germany and India on various occasions to render professional medical services, on a free of cost basis, to many from different walks of life.

This same opportunity has presented itself again as the Choithram Memorial Hospital will be organizing a free 2 day expert consultation commencing on the 11th April, 2022 to the 13th April 2022 at the hospital premises on Hill Station in Freetown.

This medium was reliably informed that renowned doctors and specialists in the persons of Dr. Ruchir Maheshwari, Principal Consultant, Urology and Dr. Munish Chaudhary, Senior Consultant, Orthopedics and Joint Replacement from Max Healthcare in India will be on the ground to screen and treat individuals from all walks of life for free. They will be treating individuals suffering from Urology and Orthopedics.

It must be noted that Urology is a part of health care that deals with diseases of the male and female urinary tract and includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. It also deals with the male organs that are able to make babies and include the penis, testes, scrotum, prostrate etc.

Orthopedics, on the other hand, is the branch of medicine dealing with the correction of deformities of bones or muscles.

However, it was made clear that for major cases diagnosed, during that period, treatment for such cases will be paid for on a discount basis and if surgery could not be done here then the patients will be referred to India. In the case of minor tests it was stated that such will be done free and for major ones like CT scanning, payment is required.

Max Healthcare is one of the leading healthcare networks in North India and will now be closer even during these challenging times of pandemics.

According to the Medical Superintendent of Choithram Memorial Hospital, Dr Gowrinath M. George, they are aware that it is not everyone in the country that is financially capable to travel to India for specialized treatment which is why they decided to bring experts in the country to offer their professional knowledge and services on a pro bono basis.

Interested persons must note that prior registration is mandatory and they must book an appointment at Choithram Memorial Hospital on the 10th April, 2022 as only limited spaces will be available. To book individuals must call +232-76-541-331.

To Set the Record Straight…   NP-SL Ltd is A Business & Not a Political Entity

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By Amin Kef Sesay

There is a video that is currently trending on Social Media in which it is purported that the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited is owned by politicians belonging to the All People’s Congress (APC) Party furthering that because of this ownership these politicians are trying tooth and nail to undermine the present SLPP sitting Government by hoarding petroleum products in order to create artificial scarcity and thereby make the Government very unpopular.

The aforementioned assertion is not only false but a calculated ploy to drag the name of a reputable petroleum importing and marketing company, that has no politician living or dead as one of its shareholders, to the mud, presenting it as a conduit for political gains and manipulation when the glaring facts speak otherwise.

To set the record straight, NP-SL Ltd came into existence after the then British Petroleum Company (BP) decided to sell shares to the Government of Sierra Leone. Later on, acting upon expert advice, the Government decided to sell the shares it bought from BP and thirty-five former employees of BP came forward and bought all the shares from Government out of their end of service benefits. This was how NP-SL Ltd was formed.

As a matter of fact it is on record that the Government at that time, the National Provisional Ruling Council, that decided to sell its shares was headed by the now sitting President, Julius Maada Bio.

It must be underscored at this point that it was the World Bank that recommended for the Government to privatize the petroleum sector and it was that decision which led to the formation of NP-SL Ltd by the 35 Sierra Leoneans.

Since that period there has been no time in history known when a politician has bought shares from the company. The message as portrayed in the Social Media video is therefore totally erroneous and does not in any way contain any iota of truth.

The reality of the situation at the moment is that the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has affected easy access to petroleum products as 56% of diesel that is consumed Africa comes from Russia.

The economic sanctions that have been imposed by Western Countries supporting Ukraine are definitely bound to affect the supply chain and for a country like Sierra Leone which is a net importer of petroleum products it will definitely feel the crunch or the debilitating effects and

if the war continues then the situation will only become worse.

However, prior to the commencement of the war, Oil Marketing Companies were already grappling with the challenge of easily accessing the Dollar from the Banks in the country. Since petroleum products are bought in dollars, if Oil Marketing Companies had not been accessing them easily then such has been posing a huge challenge negatively impinging on their resourcefulness to purchase these much-needed products.

But the depreciation of the Leone to the dollar means that these Oil Marketing Companies, including NP-SL Ltd are really walking on a tight rope as their profit margins have of late been very unstable.

Although it is understood that fuel is available in the country that will last over time there is no certainty, however, how long it will last. What is now noticeable is that owners of Filling Stations are cautiously releasing their stocks by reducing the time of selling fuel to members of the public. This is why at certain times one could be lucky to secure fuel at a particular Filling Station and the next moment they will tell one that there is no fuel available.

However, it must be noted that even with the present fuel challenges, NP-SL Ltd  is the only oil marketing company selling petroleum products to its numerous customers nationwide.

NP-SL Ltd has nothing to do with politics as its shareholders and Management Team are only particular on how to see the business grow from strength to strength.

Lamentably, the country has been reduced to a state where everything is being politicized by interpreting any major happening politically as if it is only politics that people care about in this country.

Earning the accolade 1st for Customer Care by NP-SL Ltd did not only materialize from the blues but came about out of the selfless ways in which the company is offering qualitative services to its numerous customers. It encompasses giving optimum satisfaction to all its customers evident in the company’s expansionist drive by taking fuel to hard to reach areas via opening of new Filling Stations to overcome Energy Poverty, the polite way Station Managers and Pump Attendants treat customers while attending to them ,the ambience and conducive atmosphere at the Filling Stations etc.

Besides, NP-SL Ltd  is the only Sierra Leonean company that can boast of presence in four (4) countries in the West African sub-region namely in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia where it is vibrantly functioning and operating smoothly.

It must be reiterated that NP-SL Ltd is not owned by politicians but by ordinary citizens who are business savvy and only keen on providing essential petroleum products with the aim of maximizing profits.

Any other way that someone might want to portray the company, especially giving the impression that it is anti-establishment or a political conduit, is far from the truth and a deliberate and calculated ploy to distort the real facts.

9th World Water Forum in Senegal: QNET presents its HomePure Complete Water Line

QNET, a global leader in direct selling, is participating in the ninth edition of the World Water Forum which is being held in Senegal from March 21 to 26, 2022, as part of its continuous efforts to support the environment and sustainable development in Africa and across the world.

This is the first edition of the forum in sub-Saharan Africa and it focuses on water security for peace and development.

The seriousness of Water security for developing countries in terms of access and quality makes the African edition of the Forum even more crucial. In an article published on July 28, 2020, the African Development Bank (AfDB) revealed that: “2.2 billion people do not have access to a safely managed water supply, and most are in the poorest regions of Africa”.

QNET, a sustainability-conscious brand is not missing the opportunity to participate and contribute to the on-going efforts at ensuring water security in Africa and the world at large. For many years, QNET has been investing in research to facilitate access to quality water through its HomePure brand. It is under the banner of the HomePure brand that QNET participates in the 9th edition of the World Water Forum.

QNET’s participation in this major water event aims to contribute to the reflection on water security for African populations. Thus, QNET will host a HomePure product booth. Visitors will be able to experience the HomePure Complete Water Line, a range of water filtration products that will ensure clean, safe, and nourishing Pi-Water at home every day. They will realize how user-friendly, convenient and safety guaranteed is the Complete Water Line, world-class quality, economic, and environmentally friendly.

It will also be an opportunity for QNET to present the direct selling industry on the one hand and on the other hand, its actions and solutions to the crucial issue of water quality through the HomePure brand.

Mr. Biram Fall, Regional General Manager of QNET Sub-Saharan Africa confirming the importance of the forum and water-related issues for QNET said: “The issue of water is part of QNET’s global strategy which focuses on the need to provide sustainable solutions and best ways to access clean water”.

QNET has won many regional and international awards for its sustainability model, products, and social responsibility interventions. They include the CSR e-Commerce Company of the Year awarded by the Centre for CSR, West Africa,  Middle East and North Africa Gold Stevie® Award for its mobile application, QNET Mobile, Leadership in Community Service and Corporate Social Responsibility at the Communitas Awards and many others.

 

To Reduce Constraints in Accessing Diesel… NP-SL Discharges Over 6,000 Metric Tons of Diesel on Sunday

By Amin Kef-Ranger

Amidst the uncertainty of the timely importation of petroleum products into the country as a result of the ongoing Russian and Ukraine war, the leading petroleum entity, which has now become a household name, the National Petroleum- Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd), on the 27th March 2022 discharged over 6,000 metric tons of diesel at the company’s Petrol Jetty, where the vessel berthed by 1:00 PM, at the Kissy Terminal in the East End of Freetown.

Also, this medium reliably learnt that all things being equal, distribution of the diesel to its numerous customers will commence by mid-day today (Sunday) or Monday.

Many, whom this medium contacted to express their views about this latest development, intimated that it is indeed welcoming news further maintaining how such could greatly help in reducing the burden of accessing diesel on many during these crucial times when panic buying and artificial scarcity have become the order of the day.

A Social Commentator averred that the discharge of 6,000 metric tons of diesel is a pointer to the indisputable fact that NP-SL Ltd is really 1st for Customer Care adding how the Shareholders and Management of the company are always going the extra-mile to procure qualitative petroleum products with the main objective of giving optimal satisfaction to its numerous customers.

He argued that to import petroleum products is not a mean feat especially during these uncertain times when many countries around the world are grappling with the scarcity of those products going ahead to profusely commend NP-SL Ltd for its pro-activeness.

“If most indigenous companies were following the footsteps of NP, this country would have been miles ahead in terms of development,” he expressed a wish.

As an efficient petroleum marketing entity, NP-SL Ltd is proud of having various filling stations in different parts of the country as well as vibrantly functioning in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia.

This 100% indigenous company has so far offered various employment opportunities to residents in the afore-mentioned countries, keeping in line with Local Content thereby reducing poverty to a considerable level.

Furthermore, worthy of note is the fact that NP-SL Ltd is one of the largest taxpayers to the National Revenue Authority (NRA), which goes into the Consolidated Revenue Fund from which the Government uses funds for various development purposes.

Also, the company introduced what is now known as NP Smart Card which is a memory chip that could be credited from time to time by the holder in order to buy fuel. It is a cashless way of conducting business and many have attested that it is very convenient.

There is also NP-Gas which is a cooking devise that could be refilled with gas. Manufactured in different cylinder sizes it is said to be very efficient and they are sold at the company’s Filling Stations or authorized dealers at affordable prices.

With its core values of NP-SL Ltd  anchored on: Safe Working Environment, Good Customer Service, High quality products, environmental sustainability and building positive teams, NP-SL Ltd has come a long way in executing its roadmap to become a viable business entity.

From the aforementioned, it could be noted that NP-SL Ltd is diligently and passionately serving the nation. As a matter of fact when the Russian-Ukraine war started and the negative effect it poses to easily access fuel at various Filling Stations, it is only NP-SL Ltd that has been selling to members of the public and still continues to do so.

The efforts made by the Management of the company to bring in about 6,000 metric tons of diesel into the country at this time are indeed commendable and will go a long way to reduce the constraints encumbered by many, of late, in accessing diesel at NP Filling Stations.

 

 

Equality Now & Partners Research Results Show African Countries Making inroads in Combating SGBV

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By Amin Kef Sesay

A new report has found countries in Africa that are making progress in addressing and preventing gender-based violence (GBV), including female genital mutilation (FGM), thanks to the adoption of the multi-sectoral approach (MSA) involving all stakeholders in the development and implementation of programs to protect and promote women’s and girls’ rights. However, challenges such as lack of strong political commitment and limited resources are significantly impacting MSA’s effective implementation, finds research commissioned by Equality Now, an international women’s rights organization, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Spotlight Initiative.

Released on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, “Use of the Multi-Sectoral Approach to Ending Gender-Based Violence and Female Genital Mutilation in Africa”, looks at 11 African countries where the Spotlight Initiative has been implemented, namely: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda. The Spotlight Initiative is a UN program aimed at eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls, carried out in collaboration with the African Union and the European Union.

The report analyzed the diverse experiences of countries and identified good practices and strategies adopted to prevent, address, and eliminate FGM and other forms of GBV. It found out countries that have instigated multi-sectoral coordination have encountered similar challenges hindering its full potential. This includes glaring gaps in countries’ implementation of the MSA, made even more apparent in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which exacerbated and exposed the extent of GBV.

Although there is evidence of positive changes in social norms, a stronger synergy of actions is needed from different sectors over the long term. This requires the holistic application of MSA, bringing together relevant state and non-state actors alongside providing a platform to coordinate the development and implementation of national programs and actions and allocate resources.

All the countries examined have integrated GBV and FGM within their national development plans. However, the most effective way to cement the protection of women and girls is to have legislation in place against FGM because this helps accelerate efforts towards eradication, provides recourse and access to justice, and ensures the allocation of adequate funding.

Of the eleven focus countries, only seven have criminalized FGM within their national laws and have therefore allocated budgets for end-FGM programs. These are Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda.

All the focus countries have identified each of the key departments responsible for GBV and FGM, and have nominated gender focal persons to participate in the national coordination mechanisms, which are constituted to bring together state and non-state actors. However, these gender focal persons did not receive capacity building to enable them to assume their roles effectively, and the coordination mechanisms fell short of fulfilling their mandates due to insufficient funds, a lack of strong leadership and commitment, and weak monitoring.

Ms. Asenath Mwithigah, the Global Lead on Equality Now’s End Harmful Practices program, stated that many African countries have made efforts to strengthen their legislation by integrating specific provisions prohibiting GBV and FGM. However, countries with especially high prevalence rates of FGM such as Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, and Somalia, have still not enacted specific laws prohibiting this harmful practice. “If we can have the requisite strong political commitment needed to ensure that anti-GBV structures are reflected in laws, policies, budgets, and national development plans, then we can truly eliminate FGM,” she said.

Ms. Mireille Tushiminina, Coordinator of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, acknowledged the seven countries with national legislation on FGM but added that there was a need to breathe life into these legislations by infusing nationally representative data on FGM, establishing a national coordination body for FGM programs, and integrating an annual implementation review system for programs to end FGM.

“There are many challenges related to coordination and these are mainly on the functionality. Similarly, the lack of centralized information management systems is a challenge that fails to facilitate the availability of a comprehensive set of data in most of the countries studied. The need for strong political will and commitment as key drivers for the effective use of the MSA towards ending GBV and FGM can therefore not be overemphasized,” said Ms. Tushiminina.

Kamarainba Hospitalized at 34 Hospital

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By Esther Wright

Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray who is standing trial for  allegedly sexually penetrating a young girl in Kono and in a very sick condition has been reportedly  transferred from the Pademba Road Male Correctional Centre  to the 34 Military Hospital but that visitors are prevented from seeing him.

According to reports he was taken to ECOMED for diagnostic examination where he got an attack and has to be rushed at the 34 Military Hospital where he was admitted and undergoing treatment.

It could be recalled that the Alliance Democratic Party  Chairman and Leader was arrested and detained on allegations of sexual penetration of a child in February 2020 and since then he has been standing trial as well as being  incarcerated for over two years now.

Six months ago, on the 7th September, 2021, Kamarainba was granted a bail with a condition of Le.100 M and two sureties on Tuesday.

There is a school of thought which holds the view that Irrespective of the bail conditions allegedly met, he is still held in detention at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre. On the other hand, there are those arguing that the suspect has failed in fulfilling all the criteria of the bail conditions, maintaining that the accomplice whom he was charged with has fulfilled hers, and therefore she is no longer detained.

According to family sources, Kamarainba was last seen on a stretcher and all effort to see him was denied, adding that the family is presently caught in a web of a quagmire as they are confused as to what is the health status of their brother.

Although this medium has not confirmed the veracity of the information, however, it states that the Elder Sister of Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray, Haja Mansaray, said the Hospital Management at 34 Military Hospital told them they can only see Kamarainba with ” orders from above”.

US Boost Sierra Leone with 502,299 COVID Vaccines, Achieving 500 Million Donated World-Wide

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By Esther Wright

It must be noted that with the arrival of just over 500,000 new vaccines from the United States in Sierra Leone in March alone, the United States reached an important milestone of 500 million vaccines donated world-wide.

The 200,000 Pfizer vaccines donated March 17 and the 302,200 Johnson & Johnson vaccines donated on March 15 are part of the over 800,000 vaccines  donated to Sierra Leone by the United States since last year.

As of December 2021, the Pfizer vaccine was approved for children in Sierra Leone as young as 12 years old.  To celebrate the latest vaccine arrivals, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission, Elaine French, visited St. Joseph’s Secondary School in Freetown on the 23rd March 2022 to observe U.S. donated vaccines in action.

“COVID-19 vaccination is critical to preventing the spread of this disease and ending this pandemic.  Vaccination at schools like this will ensure that the people and youth of Sierra Leone are protected,” said Ms. French.  “We are grateful for our partnership with our other donor partners, the immunization program, and the Ministry of Health.  The increased vaccination coverage in the country is an example of how this partnership produces meaningful results.”

Since COVID-19 vaccines have become available, the United States, in partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, has worked to prevent COVID-19 infections.  Already 20% of Sierra Leoneans over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated.  United States vaccine donations and assistance will help Sierra Leone meet the ambitious WHO target of 70% vaccination by the end of 2022.

 

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