For Applicants Encountering Difficulty… AYV & Africell-SL Providing Guidance to Complete Application Process

March 7, 2022

By Amin Kef-Ranger

Housemates Salone Season 3 with the slogan, “Di Game Get Yagba If You Nor Able Na for Pull Hand” is a Reality TV Show that is organized and proudly brought to all and sundry by the African Young Voices Media Empire and Africell-Sierra Leone, marking the 3^rd Season of the presentation of this entertainment show which is primarily aimed at spotting talents of young participants and empowering them.

Currently, the application stage to participate as a Housemate is ongoing. Any individual of Sierra Leonean origin that is 21years old and above and was not selected to participate in any other Reality TV Show in Sierra Leone is eligible to apply. If an individual previously applied for a Reality TV Show but was not selected to participate he or she can apply for Housemates Salone Season 3.

Application forms are available online on AYV and Africell platforms. The application form costs Le200, 000 and is payable ONLY via Afrimoney. To apply, please click the following links: https://www.africell.sl/housemates/

www.ayvnews.com

Please note that before you go online to apply make sure you have Le 204,000 Leones on your Afrimoney phone and then go on to complete the form online using the phone number that has the Le 204,000 as your contact number and automatically Afrimoney will take Le 200,000 as form cost and then you submit successfully.

The detailed application form is to properly evaluate an interested person’s qualifications as a suitable candidate for Housemates Salone.

An applicant must make sure to answer all questions correctly and honestly in the form otherwise he or she will automatically be disqualified from the selection process if any of the answers turn out to be untruthful or if the requested information is withheld.

However, AYV and Africell have made it in such a way that if an individual is struggling to complete his or her application, he or she can visit any of the following locations in Freetown for help: AYV Media Empire on 3 Wesley Street Off Pademba Road, Africell Office at Odion on Siaka Stevens Street or Africell Office at Wilberforce Village.

Closing date for submission of applications is 10^th March 2022.

After the closing date what comes up next is the audition and it will run from the 11th to 14th March 2022. Note that diaspora applicants will be sent a zoom link for their virtual audition upon successful completion of their application.

The Reality TV Show will be broadcast live on AYV TV, DStv Channel 399 and other social media platforms.

Since Housemates Salone Season 3 was launched at the prestigious Lagoonda Entertainment Complex at Aberdeen in Freetown, tongues have been wagging, with some people vehemently arguing that it will definitely change the face of the entertainment industry in this country.

“Indeed Africell-SL and the African Young Voices (AYV) are really committed to taking entertainment to another level as they have once again come forward to organize another Reality TV Show after successfully rolling out Season 1& 2. For me and my friends we are looking forward to watching another Season which I am convinced will be thrilling,” Foday Moriba Conteh, a first-year University of Sierra Leone student opined adding that he will definitely vote for any of the Housemates that really impresses him the most.

When this medium reached out to gauge the views of people in different parts of the country after the launching of Housemates Salone as to what they make of staging the show, a plethora of interesting statements were captured all affirming that the initiative is good and will positively impact the lives of many young people in the country.

The expression of determination by some who have manifested interest in participating in the Show, as Housemates, was also very impressive as the zest to compete was seen flowing in them.

From all indications, Housemates Salone Season 3 is set to give all and sundry a fun-packed, entertaining, enterprising, and very interactive Reality TV Show, which even after it ends will leave tongues wagging in many social circles as some will be vividly recalling episodes and critically analyze what should have been done, not should have been done etc.

Chinese Economic & Commercial Counselor Rubbishes Unfounded Report on Illegal Fishing

March 7, 2022

By Amin Kef-Ranger

From an in-depth investigation mounted by this news medium related to fishing activities in the country, based on what was learned, it has now become crystal clear that there are certain individuals, who out of a hidden agenda and a deliberate ploy to present distorted facts geared towards misinforming members of the public, are bent on a calculated ploy to tarnish the reputation of Chinese nationals, who are involved in fishing activities in Sierra Leonean waters, by making baseless and unfounded allegations of their involvement in illegal fishing and other uncanny related activities in the country.

The allegations were initially published by an international newspaper, The Guardian and after some weeks by an online news outlet, Sierra Leone Times and few local newspapers.

In reaction to those allegations, one of the diplomats, attached to the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone, adequately refuted all the baseless claims made against Chinese fishermen.

Du Zijun, the Economic and Commercial Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone, in his response, stated that despite the fact that he has already set the records straight, he was really taken aback to see few other news outlets making the same unfounded allegations which by every stretch of imagination do not have any iota of truth in them.

The Chinese Economic and Commercial Counselor maintained that he will again reiterate that the remarks on low license fees paid and the inability of the Chinese fishing enterprises to promote the economic development of Sierra Leone are totally groundless. According to him, Fishery is one of the traditional areas of China-Sierra Leone cooperation starting from the 1980s.

He pointed out that in 2017, the Governments of China and Sierra Leone signed a Memorandum of Understanding on fishery cooperation, laying a solid foundation for the healthy and sustainable development of that cooperation.

Du Zijun stated that as far as he knows, there are more than 100 industrial fishing vessels and over 12,000 small fishing boats operating in the exclusive economic zone of Sierra Leone.

He continued that at present, with the approval of the Chinese authorities, 5 Chinese fishing enterprises are operating in Sierra Leone with about 40 fishing vessels adding how these Chinese fishing enterprises and vessels have created thousands of direct jobs and tens of thousands of indirect jobs for Sierra Leoneans.

“In recent years, the Chinese fishing enterprises paid nearly 10 million US dollars of various fees including license fees to the Sierra Leonean Government annually and also helped Sierra Leone earn a lot of foreign exchange through the export of fish catches,” he claimed.

He went on that during the Ebola epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese fishing enterprises managed to continue their production, playing an essential role in maintaining the local jobs, ensuring the supply of fish in the local market, stabilizing prices, and enhancing people’s livelihood.

“The Chinese fishing enterprises have worked actively to fulfill their social responsibilities, established good relations with the local communities, and donated money or materials to victims who suffered from natural disasters, all of which were highly appreciated by the Government and people of Sierra Leone,” he argued furthering that to sum up, the Chinese fishing enterprises have made significant contributions to the promotion of the economic development of Sierra Leone and the improvement of living standards of its people.

The Economic and Commercial Counselor stated that the accusations in the report that China has seized the interests of Sierra Leone’s fishery resources and led to their reduction are entirely untrue.

According to the regulations of industrial fishing licenses in Sierra Leone, he pointed out, fishing enterprises operating in Sierra Leone should keep at least 30% of their catch for the local market.

He stated that actually, in normal years, more than 65% of the catch by the Chinese fishing enterprises remained in the local market, which has greatly met the living needs and enhanced food security of the local people.

Du Zijun said, in recent years, to promote the sustainable development of the fishery industry of Sierra Leone, China has been gradually reducing the number of fishing enterprises and fishing vessels in Sierra Leone, and actively reduced the production capacity.

Besides, China, according to him, at the request of the Government of Sierra Leone, has dispatched a scientific research vessel to carry out a survey on fishery resources in Sierra Leone to help promote sustainable development of the fishery sector in the country.

He said the Chinese fishing enterprises and their Sierra Leonean counterparts and employees share common interests maintaining that they fully understand that the sustainable development of Sierra Leone’s fishery industry benefits both sides.

The Chinese diplomat stated that the blame on the Chinese vessels’ under-declaration of catch and destruction of local fishermen’s boats and nets is merely speculation or a one-sided allegation.

He said the Chinese Government always requires the Chinese fishing enterprises to operate in compliance with laws and regulations of Sierra Leone, monitors the Chinese vessels through surveillance systems, and asks the vessels to report their locations every hour.

“The Chinese fishing enterprises abide by the laws and operate strictly in the waters stipulated by the Sierra Leonean Government bearing all certificates and documents required,” he argued adding that besides, each fishing vessel is equipped with a Vessel Management System (VMS) and an observer is dispatched by the Sierra Leone Government to supervise the operation of the fishing vessels including loading and unloading of the catch.

He stated that generally speaking, Chinese fishing vessels and local fishing boats get along with each other well stating how even in the case of rare frictions between the two sides, the Chinese fishing enterprises always deal with it in a proper way according to the laws and regulations of Sierra Leone and in cooperation with observers and local agents. Chinese fishing vessels, he said, also take such measures as strengthening observation and voluntarily moving away from busy fishing grounds to avoid frictions.

“The Chinese fishing enterprises have been following the fishery policies and regulations of Sierra Leone, and have been working under the supervision of the fishery authorities of Sierra Leone,” he asserted.

He said the Chinese side has always been following and will continue to follow the principle of sincerity, actual results, amity and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests to carry out friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with Sierra Leone.

Du Zijun assured that China is committed to helping Sierra Leone in her social and economic development.

He expressed hope that the relevant parties would treat the fishery cooperation between China and Sierra Leone objectively rather than with prejudice against the Chinese fishing enterprises or with tinted glasses.

“I believe the Sierra Leonean Government and People will, out of fairness and justice, continue to promote and uphold our cooperation in various areas, including the fishery sector,” he concluded adding that if the relevant report is aimed at undermining China-Sierra Leone cooperation or tarnishing China’s image, it will be very disappointing, unnecessary and to no avail.

Delivering a Powerful Public Lecture… Rokel Bank MD Cautions FBC Students to ‘Stay Ahead of the Curve’

March 7, 2022

Dr Walton Ekundayoh Gilpin who is considered to be one the country’s foremost motivational speakers, also a preacher and career development expert, has on the 4^th March 2022 inspired a gathering of Fourah Bay College students to “Stay ahead of the Curve” if they are to become productive and successful in life.

He gave that admonition while delivering a Public Lecture organized by the FBC Students Union in collaboration with the Rokel Commercial Bank of which he is Managing Director.

Whilst the Topic, “Become Women leaders By Creating Your Tomorrow” could be a bold reference to the University’s first-ever female Students Union President, the philosophical underpinning of the RCBANK’s CEO message to the students of Sierra Leone’s oldest university exudes clear guidelines for success after university. To this end, Gilpin began by articulating the barriers women face in the social, cultural and economic strata of society. He espoused on the role of women in economic development and barriers in the corporate world – drawing a clear distinction between the usual rhetoric about gender empowerment and the realities that exist within countries in Sub Sahara Africa.

To better illustrate the widening disparity on female empowerment, the Rokel Bank MD referenced the Global Economic Index to present data that showed a grim picture of women’s participation in formal and informal business and professional activities. This, he said, can be tackled through a number of sound polices but without ignoring the fact that individual success begins with the individual regardless of gender.

The erudite Rokel Commercial Bank Managing Director took the students through a litany of life’s lessons, stating that whilst education is a necessary condition, it is not always a sufficient condition to success. Therefore, two key parameters; Attitude and Aptitude must be combined to determine one’s altitude in life. Other attributes like perseverance, hard work, purposefulness and the ability to determine people who positively impact your life, according to Gilpin are essential components success. Apparently, his message was so stimulating and thought provoking that the speaker became overwhelmed by student’s questions and contributions that the need for a repeat of that public lecture became apparent to both the Rokel Commercial Bank and the FBC Student Union Government.

The event was climaxed by the marketing of the Bank’s products and services and the students who wished joining the bank already know there’s an outlet at their doorstep. The Bank since last year, has opened a fully functional outlet at Fourah Bay College.

Japan Ambassador to Sierra Leone Showcases Japanese Funded Projects

March 7, 2022

By Mary Kabay

The Japan Ambassador to Sierra Leone on the 3^rd March 2022 has showcased Japan’s support to bilateral and multilateral projects in Sierra Leone during an engagement with key stakeholders that was held at the Radisson Blu Hotel Conference Hall at Aberdeen in Freetown.

The objective of the event was to highlight the level of Japan’s economic and development cooperation with Sierra Leone as over the years the country has benefited significantly from economic and technical cooperation and support from the Government of Japan.

It was underscored that assistances are given mainly in the forms of grant and technical assistance. Some of the projects highlighted were and some still supported by the Japan Government through UN Agencies, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and other partners in Sierra Leone mainly from 2019 to 2022

The Ambassador of Japan to Sierra Leone, His Excellency, Mochizuki Hisanobu, in his presentation stated that he was pleased to be with all dignitaries during the event before making mention of the projects the Government of Japan and international organizations it has partnership with have implemented and still continue to implement in Sierra Leone between 2019 and 2022.

He said for the past three years Japan has implemented many projects through International Organizations, mainly UN Agencies in Sierra Leone. He, however, lamented that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have not had enough time to promote the projects here.

He mentioned that the projects were implemented across several policy domains and are expected to complement the national policies of Sierra Leone that seeks to make meaningful progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Ambassador said some of the projects have helped to increase access to health services since the COVID-19 pandemic started. In the areas of agriculture and food security, he stated that some of the projects have helped to build the capacity of smallholder farmers and introduced initiatives to reduce the impact COVID-19 had on food security in vulnerable households.

He furthered that to effectively prevent the spread of the pandemic across borders some of the projects have helped to strengthen health systems in several points of entry in Sierra Leone.

“There were also projects in other sectors like energy, education, infrastructure, women empowerment, child protection, gender-based services and partnership with the private sector which were somehow affected,” he revealed.

He climaxed his address by reiterating that the projects are a reflection of the extraordinary alliance and deep friendship between Japan and Sierra Leone disclosing how the amount expended on those projects is around 70 Million US Dollars equivalent to 7.8 Billion Japanese yen.

The Ambassador revealed that Japan’s own development efforts is attributed to investments they made over the years in human security related projects. He said that is why the objective of most of their ODA initiatives such as the projects they are showcasing is to promote the concept of human security.

“As we have continuously advocated for through TICAD, Japan will continue to focus on international dialogue with Africa through mobilizing the necessary support to implement projects towards promoting sustainable development,” His Excellency Mochizuki Hisanobu concluded maintaining how they use Japanese expertise to work alongside international partners in order to enhance the status of the projects and made mention of an upcoming project which will be implemented by UNFPA.

Babatunde Ahonsi, UN Resident Coordinator in Sierra Leone, thanked His Excellency Ambassador Mochizuki, and the Embassy of Japan for inviting him to speak at the event highlighting Japan’s Economic and Development Cooperation in Sierra Leone, and also extended warm greetings to all Government and development partners in attendance.

He said as a multi-lateral organization, the United Nations and its member States have unbounded potential to work together towards peace and development around the globe.

The UN Resident Coordinator said both Sierra Leone and Japan were among the 193 countries that committed to Agenda 2030 and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. He continued that since making that pledge, both countries have demonstrated their ongoing commitment to SDG realization. He said in Sierra Leone, the country has adopted the Medium-Term National Development Plan, rooted in the SDGs, and regularly evaluates its progress toward the actualization of the goals through a Voluntary National Review.

He also pointed out that Japan has demonstrated its commitment to the implementation of the SDGs not only through domestic efforts but also through development cooperation programmes with a range of countries, including Sierra Leone.

The Coordinator stated how Japan’s range of programmes represents the true spirit of SDG 17 — Partnerships for the goals. He said somehow distinct from the others, the overarching SDG 17 has catalytic potential to accelerate all other SDGs.

He said among the targets under Goal 17, one will find the following objectives for global actors: Effective and targeted capacity building support to developing countries to support national plans to implement the SDGs, and Multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources, to support achievement of the SDGs in all countries, particularly developing countries.

The UN Coordinator said seeing through the presentations of the range and depth of Japan’s cooperation with Sierra Leone it truly fulfils the aspirations of SDG 17 as it encompasses Japanese official development assistance, private sector investment, and NGO partnerships, implemented in collaboration with Governments, local communities, the UN Country team and other partners.

In his presentations he highlighted how Japan’s support has made possible UN work in critical areas including, but not limited to: Crisis Response, School Feeding, COVID-19 Response, Youth Empowerment, and Social Cohesion within communities.

He revealed that Japan is a key funding partner of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, the four-year, joint development cooperation programme between the UN Country Team and the Government of Sierra Leone.

A presentation of Japanese funded projects through the following international organizations climaxed the event: Planned Parenthood Association of Sierra Leone (IPPASL), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Population Fund(UNFPA), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

On ECR Machine Saga… NRA Commissioner General Gives Detailed Rationale for their Installation

March 7, 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

During a well-attended press conference held at its branch Office on Wellington Street in Freetown, the Commissioner-General of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), Dr. Samuel S. Jibao, attempted to address issues that he said bordered on misinformation related to the installation of Electronic Cash Register machines in business premises of all registered GST taxpayers.

He informed pressmen that the GST was introduced in the country by an Act of Parliament in 2009, which came into full force in 2010, adding that before the enactment of the GST in 2010 the country was having a tax regime called the Sales Tax which includes import sales tax of which Sierra Leoneans who were importing goods into the country were paying customs sales tax of 40 percent which he said was later reduced to 20 percent.

He said that the Sales Tax had some issues of which they were taxing only the business sector furthering that they never had time to make claims.

The Commissioner General highlighted that the intention of introducing the GST was to broaden the tax base to include consumers underscoring that it is not a business tax but a consumption tax that is only meant to be imposed on consumers.

He stated that when the GST was introduced by an Act of Parliament in 2009 and the mandate to administer it was given to the NRA stating that in most cases the NRA was challenged in collecting the tax because they had no proper system in place to ensure that they collect the taxes as they were using a manual system of which receipt books were issued out to shop owners. The NRA boss continued that because of how the institution is structured they cannot sit in offices to administer and collect the tax, so business owners were given the opportunity to be withholding agents on behalf of Government in an arrangement whereby these business owners will do payments to NRA at the end of the month.

Dr. Samuel S. Jibao revealed that NRA had issues with the manual system mentioning the cost of printing the receipts books from Ghana revealing how such was costing the Authority huge amounts of money. He further pointed out that they noticed how some business people were printing receipt books and issuing out fake receipts without the Government benefiting from the expected accrued revenue to have been generated.

The Commissioner General said against the backdrop of all those challenges the Authority deemed it fit to initiate the installation of Electronic Cash Register (ECR) Machines in the business premises of all registered GST taxpayers such as supermarkets, hotels, guest houses, restaurants, bars, night clubs, building materials stores, boutiques, saloons, general merchandise, and other services providers, among others.

He said that when they started installing the aforementioned machines and enforcing their use the threshold of business turnover for those who should use them was pegged at 350 million Leones.

The Commissioner General, however, said according to the 2022 Finance Act the Electronic Cash Register (ECR) Machine which they are using to collect GST of 15 percent is meant for businesses with turnovers of 100 million Leones and above. He stated that businesses within 10 million Leones to 100 million Leones turnover are on a special regime called the turnover regime and are charged 3 percent, adding that also new businesses with a turnover of 10 million to 100 million are exempted from paying the 3 percent for a period one year.

He underscored that the use of the machines is compulsory as provided for by the Finance Act of 2020 and other related legislations of which he said therefore, all registered GST taxpayers are mandated to input all transactions into the machines and generate a receipt for each transaction.

The Commissioner General noted that as per law taxpayers who fail to issue an electronically generated receipt from the ECR machines or other related software for that purpose or prevent the installation of the ECR machines or refuse to allow NRA staff to install the machines, or willfully, recklessly or carelessly damage such machines and systems will be construed as impeding tax administration.

He concluded by calling on all to support the NRA in mobilizing the much-needed revenues for effective State governance.

The Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Solomon Jamiru who was also intendance used the opportunity to inform pressmen that they had held engagements with stakeholders within the business community, adding that they have looked at the keys issues raised including the closure of shops.

He said that at the meeting they emphasized that as Government they do value the roles the business community is playing in contributing to the economy and that they are part of the process of stimulating growth.

The Deputy Minister said that during the discussions they were able to understand that one major issue was that which has to do with the threshold stating how during the meeting they elaborated on that of which he informed them that according to the 2022 Finance Act the Electronic Cash Register (ECR) Machines are meant for businesses with a turnover of 100 million and above.

He maintained that bearing in mind the sensitivity of the said subject matter at the end of the meeting they were unable to resolve all the issues but stated that they arrived at key resolutions also disclosing how the stakeholders present agreed to continue the dialogue in good faith.

As He Clocks Seven (7) Months… Professor Andrew Augustine Baimba Showcases Critical Milestones at Njala University

March 7, 2022

Acting Vice Chancellor and Principal: Professor Andrew Baimba

By Ralph Sesay (PRO: Njala University)

Professor Andrew Augustine Baimba has on Friday 4th March 2022 showcased his major achievements at Njala University for the past seven (7) months in his capacity as Acting –Vice-Chancellor and Principal.

The accomplished Educationist and Administrator was addressing Senators of the University Senate, the highest academic organ of the University at the Secretariat, Njala Campus where he noted that he had successfully achieved the three key point objectives for which the Government had sent him to Njala and this according to him included working towards a smooth transition between him and his predecessor-Professor Mallam, Superintending over a functional and management review of the University and overseeing the appointment of a substantive Vice-Chancellor and Principal.

He thanked the Deans of School and other academic staff for working towards producing results and reopening the University for the 2021/2022 Academic Year on record time.

Professor Baimba also highlighted efforts around trying to fix the water and electricity challenges and making students’ hostels conducive for living and used the opportunity to appeal to Government and private sector players to help his administration overcome the issues of sustainable energy across his campuses.

The Administration, according to him, spends a colossal two hundred million Leones a month to generate water and electricity across its campuses and he is deeply worried that his Administration has not been able to have a sustainable solution towards that end.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor also recounted efforts at changing the status of casual workers in the security sector, revamping the Public Relations Office which is producing a quarterly monthly Newsletter thereby creating visibility for University functions, formation of three Committees to resuscitate agricultural farming in the various sectors, and the beautification of the various campuses to name but a few. Considerable resources have already been provided to support the work of those committees.

He praised the collective efforts of all sundry towards the attainment of the aforementioned achievements and thanked the Government for giving the opportunity to serve and for the support over the last seven months. “I am always glad to serve Njala because it made me who I am today,’’ Professor Baimba expressed gratitude.

Professor Andrew Augustine Baimba was appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Njala University on the 1st July 2022 replacing Sierra Leone’s Statistician-General, Professor Osman Sankoh Aka Mallam O. who served for fourteen months (April 2020-July 2021).

The Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal is a seasoned Administrator and Academician and has served the University as Senior Lecturer, Head of Physics Department, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Bo and Njala Campuses, Chairman Policy and Curriculum Review Committees of the University.

His successes at Njala University are largely due to his experiences and understanding of the institution and the huge respect he commands among a good number of members of staff most of whom now form the Senior Administrative and Academic cadres of the current administration.

Members of the Njala University Administrative and Academic Staff

Sierra Leone Basketball Association to Honor Luxeuil-Les-Bains’ Mayor Invitation in France

March 4, 2022

By David Emile

In preparation for the 2022 Commonwealth and 2024 Olympic Games, the Sierra Leone Basketball Association has been offered an invitation by Mayor Frederic Burghard of Luxeuil-Les-Bains City in France for a training camp scheduled for 12-28 March, 2022.

According to Shamsu Mustapha, one of the Association’s officials intimated that the trip will encompass the camping of players, training of coaches, referees and administrators, on how to manage their federation and to organize proper events, friendly matches against Belgium, Switzerland and the host, France.

“The fixture has already been drawn for the first game scheduled to play on the 15th March,” he said. He continued that the trained officials when they return home will organize a nationwide training for coaches and other officials. He mentioned the proposed signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a basketball development project with the French Basketball Federation, which Senegal is presently benefiting from in terms of infrastructure, equipment and technical supports.

He added that it is an opportunity that the basketball team will benefit from every year and it is also going to serve as a good opportunity in terms of exposing the players to standard facilities in future international tournaments. Shamsu further disclosed that the team is going to participate in the 2022 Commonwealth Games African Regional Championship.

He concluded by thanking the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Authority for their supports, adding that the delegation is going to be headed by Joseph Nyande, President of the Sierra Leone Basketball Association.

The delegation comprises both home and foreign based players, officials of the Sierra Leone Basketball Association, Ministry of Sports and National Sports Authority officials.

Attorney General & Minister of Justice Pledges Taking Critical Steps in Addressing Human Trafficking

March 4, 2022

Attorney General and Minister of Justice.jpg

By Amin Kef Sesay

Mohamed Lamin Tarawalley, Esq, the newly parliamentary endorsed Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has pledged to take critical steps in addressing human trafficking.

He made that pronouncement on the 28^th February 2022 at the Freetown International Conference Centre during the opening ceremony of a national conference against human trafficking, organized by the Ministry of Social Welfare in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President.

The Minister said the Justice Department will continue to forge strong collaborations and increase cooperation and coordination amongst key Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, as well as Civil Society Organizations, NGOs, the private sector, foreign Governments, and UN agencies, in achieving the objectives of the National Action Plan.

“We shall utilize all available resources in prosecuting suspects and convicting perpetrators of Trafficking In Persons (TIP).” Reports have indicated that over the past five years, human traffickers have exploited domestic victims, mainly from the rural provinces, at mining sites, agricultural farms, street crimes, and begging, while most foreign victims are mainly from the urban provinces of Sierra Leone, sent to foreign countries for the sex trade and forced labour.

In order to address challenges faced in relation to the prosecution of traffickers, the AG strongly encourages victims to speak up about their experiences and to further matters at the court. “I shall also engage the prosecution division of my office to initiate and develop new strategies and to effectively implement the National Action Plan to prevent trafficking in persons in Sierra Leone.”

Furthermore, the AG accentuated, “the Justice Department of my office will engage the Judiciary and other relevant law enforcement agencies on not only prioritizing TIP cases to be expeditiously tried but also the continued training of judges and prosecutors to effectively implement the Anti-Human Trafficking Act for the effective prosecution of cases.”

He disclosed that the justice department has been a strong pillar of support in this fight and that he is quite sure that their commitment now is more than ever before.

The AG explained that the Office Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons report 2021 from the US State Department noted that the government had made significant progress through collective efforts and consistent actions, noting that the report also applauded the government’s overall increase in anti-trafficking capacity efforts, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

These efforts noted in the above report, according to the AG, include a significant increase in investigations and prosecutions, the allocation of funding to NGOs for protective services and adopting a new anti-trafficking national action plan. He further explained that in 2005, the Government legislate the 2005 Anti-Human Trafficking Act, No. 7 of 2005, which criminalizes sex trafficking and labour trafficking, making the punishment “up to 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine or both.”

He said while this law was largely welcomed, it was not without flaws adding that the 2005 Act had been criticized for allowing perpetrators to avoid jail terms by paying a fine instead. When the Sexual Offenses Act No. 12 of 2012 was passed, the AG said it criminalizes sex trafficking under its “forced prostitution” and “child prostitution” provisions and prescribes penalties of up to 15 years of imprisonment, making the crime of sex trafficking equal to the punishment for rape in Sierra Leone. He also added that in 2019, the law was again amended to legislate tougher punishments for sexual offenses, including sex trafficking, from 15 years maximum imprisonment to life imprisonment.

As a result of the Government’s persistent commitment and determination to combat this modern slavery, the AG disclosed that the Government is currently working to replace the Anti-Human Trafficking Act 2005 with the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Bill 2021, which will improve victims’ protection and impose sufficient sentences involving imprisonment, replacing the option of paying a fine for convicted traffickers. “My Ministry, together with relevant stakeholders, is working tirelessly to ensure that the appropriate authorities expedite the process of passing the said bill into a law,” the AG revealed.

ACC Expresses Commitment to Always Compensate Informants & Whistleblowers

March 4, 2022

By Amin Kef Sesay

In a public notice dated 3^rd March 2022 and issued by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) it was stated that in a bid to sustain, consolidate and improve on the remarkable gains the country has made thus far in the fight against corruption, the Commission is re-introducing a reward and incentives scheme for informants, whistleblowers and citizens who support the ACC in its fight against corruption.

In that vein, any member of the public who provides cogent and useful information to the Commission that leads to the successful prosecution and conviction of, and/or recovery of funds or property from a corrupt person (including public officers) will be rewarded 10 percent of the total amount or value of the 10 percent withheld by the Commission for its operations as per law.

For instance, where the information provided by an informant or whistleblower leads to the recovery of One Billion Leones (Le 1,000,000,000), the ACC will, as stipulated in Section 139 of the Anti-Corruption Act, 2008 as amended in 2019, withhold One Hundred Million Leones (Le 100,000,000) of the said sum, which constitutes 10 percent of the proceeds.

Thereafter, the Commission will pay the sum of Ten Million Leones (Le 10,000,000) in full to the informant or whistleblower, which would amount to 10 percent of the proceeds withheld as in the aforesaid example.

Furthermore, the ACC says it is assuring all informants of their full protection as provided for in Sections 81 and 82 of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 as amended in 2019 and the Witness and Whistleblower Protection Policy of the Commission including anonymity, identity masking, security, relocation, transfer, etc.

The Problem Is Partly The Cash Register Machines… The Problem Is The Level Of Taxation

March 4, 2022

Electronics Cash Register Machine.JPG — Commissioner-General of the National Revenue Authority (NRA), Dr. Samuel Jibao

By Amin Kef Sesay

Against the background of the strike yesterday by businesses in the capital city, one can easily understand the dilemma faced by the National Revenue Authority in carrying out its constitutional mandate of raising revenue through taxation to enable the Government perform its core functions which without adequate financial resources at its disposal it cannot perform effectively and satisfactorily.

We all know that the basic objective of taxation is to raise resources for the State which can be used to reduce inequalities, accelerate economic development, and regulate consumption, control imports and exports, in addition to its basic objective of raising revenues.

Taxes generally contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country. Because of this contribution, taxes help spur economic growth which in turn has a ripple effect on the country’s economy; raising the standard of living, increasing job creation, etc.

However, the danger is when the State depends too much on taxes to raise revenue. In the case of Sierra Leone, which has a very large informal sector, that is very hard to tax, the burden of raising tax revenue for the State falls largely on the formal business sector which is very small.

In terms of calibrating the economy, by increasing or decreasing taxes, the Government can affect households’ level of disposable income (after-tax income).

A tax increase will decrease disposable income, because it takes money out of households. Correspondingly, a tax decrease will increase disposable income, because it leaves households with more money.

Against this background, NRA finds it hard to raise sufficient tax revenue for the State because income and consumer taxes are hard to calculate since employment and shopping occur mainly in the informal sector.

We should now ask ourselves the question: what happens when taxes increase?

High marginal tax rates discourage work, saving, investment, and innovation, while specific tax preferences can affect the allocation of economic resources. However, tax cuts can also slow long-run economic growth by increasing deficits. This is the dilemma NRA and the Government face; hence the reason why the Electronic Cash Machines were introduced, which businesses argue increase their costs.

The ECR Machines are to enable NRA better collect Goods and Services taxes which are basically a sales tax. Since sales tax increases the price of goods, it becomes more difficult for businesses to profit from selling goods, or that consumers change their buying behaviour to purchase less of the more-expensive goods.

Impact on Demand

Sales tax also impacts consumers’ buying power. When sales tax rates are high, consumers spend more money on taxes and have less to spend on additional goods. This drives down general demand or forces businesses to reduce prices to keep demand steady. This effect holds true even for items that are not subject to sales tax.

Thus, the extent to which sales taxes impact supply and demand, and the form that the impact takes, depends on how businesses incorporate sales taxes into their pricing structures.

When a State/ Government increases its sales tax, businesses may choose to leave prices where they are and simply earn less profit per sale.

Businesses also can choose to pass these taxes along to customers through increased prices, which can have a significant impact on supply and demand.

Governments must therefore examine these issues before imposing new taxes, thereby allowing businesses to adjust their pricing structures to account for slight changes to sales tax rates.