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Legal Aid Board Applauded for Playing Positive Role in the Discharge of Inmates during Judicial Week

February 28, 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The issue of overcrowding in our detention facilities – cells and correctional centers – is not new. The country’s post-war history is replete with this malaise. It is the biggest challenge the Legal Aid Board has had to grapple with since its inception in May 2015.

It comes as no surprise the priority of the Board at inception was to reduce the chronic overcrowding at the Pademba Road Correctional Center which had an estimated 1,500 inmates at the time and nearly half of those were remand inmates.

By the end of the year in December 2015, the Board had secured indictments for 326 inmates at the Pademba Road Correctional Center. Thanks to the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice. Moreover, the Board represented 237 indigent accused persons – most from the Pademba Road Correctional Center- standing trial in courts in the Western Area and secured the acquittal and discharge of 76 of them.

The latter include thirteen youths most of them students from the Calaba Town Community who were arrested and charged for attacking the Calaba Town Police Station causing damage to the property, and remanded at the Pademba Road Correctional Center.

For obvious reasons, the references to the work of the Board by way of legal advice and legal representation were limited to the Pademba Road Male Correctional Center and the Female Correctional Center in Freetown. This is because the Board was in its ‘formative year’ in 2015 and expectedly had only one office in the country in Freetown. Moreover, the Board had only five lawyers including its Executive Director and the Legal Aid Manager.

Seven years down the line, things are not getting any better. This is despite the fact that the Board has invested a lot of resources in decongesting the cells and correctional centers by establishing offices in 26 towns and cities and recruiting 18 lawyers and 65 Paralegals on its staff and others.

This has brought about an increase in legal aid services in terms of legal assistance to suspects, Legal advice and Legal Representation to indigent accused persons, mediation of minor criminal matters (such as community level disputes, disorderly behavior, common assault/fighting, insulting and threatening remarks and intimidation) and legal education through community outreach. These services brought about an increase in number of inmates granted bail, issuance of indictments and a reduction in minor criminal matters taken to the police.

The efforts at decongesting the correctional centers received a major impetus with the organization the Judicial Week by the Chief Justice of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards on 31 January to 4 February 2022.

Several positives came out of the Judicial Week more so the hundreds of accused persons who were acquitted and discharged. There is no disputing the fact that this state of affairs has had an instant impact on overcrowding in correctional centers around the country.

More importantly, a meeting comprising Judges, Legal Aid Board, Office of Public Prosecution and the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone was convened by the Chief Justice on the 9^th February 2022 for a review of the Week and also look at lessons learned.

The Judges made a strong case for effective supervision and training of Magistrates to prevent a repeat of problems identified in the Judicial Week such as those relating to jurisdictional issues and records management. Also, the Board was singled out for praise by the judges for doing a good job at representing all the cases in the Judicial Week. More importantly, there was acknowledgement of the need to support the Board.

This was apparent in the Judicial Week when the Board had to contract seven lawyers from the Sierra Leone Bar Association to assist with providing representation to 1,013 accused persons who were supposed to appear before the 26 Judges presiding over courts in cities and towns around the country. The 13 Legal Aid Counsels and the 7 contract lawyers secured the discharge of 234 accused persons that appeared before the 26 Judges in the Judicial Week. These include a Guinean and a man who lost his speech and became disabled while on remand at the Pademba Road Correctional Center.

Overall, there is a good chance the gains of the Judicial Week will be sustained and we will start seeing a gradual reduction in inmate population in correctional centers around the country. This is achievable with effectively training and supervision of Magistrate Courts of first instance to ensure they follow the Bail Regulation and Sentencing Guidelines and also ensure proper management of court records.

To Replicate Strides to Universal Health Care… VP Juldeh Jalloh Leads High Powered Delegation to Senegal

February 28, 2022

By Theresa Kef Sesay

Vice President, Hon. Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, is leading a delegation from the Sierra Leone Social Health Insurance (SLeSHI) to Dakar, Senegal to understudy progress made by Senegal towards Universal Health Care (UHC).

Senegal has made significant improvements in infant and maternal mortality and contraceptive prevalence rates, and the country benefits from high level political commitment to universal health coverage (UHC).

Its health financing has been able to support the development of key sector strategies such as the National Health Development Plan, Community Health Strategy and the health financing strategy. HSS+ technical assistance is strengthening 380 community health insurance schemes so that they can better serve their members. In the intervention regions, these community health insurance schemes, or mutuelles, are providing households with financial protection when they seek health services.

On the area of community engagements, Senegal helped establish 1,478 health development committees and other platforms, so that community members can be more involved in identifying challenges and solutions to their local health problems. The health development committees have successfully negotiated with local authorities, mayors and other local actors to allocate resources to purchase new equipments and hire health workers.

The Sierra Leone delegation is expected to tap into the resources of the progress made so far by Senegal and have slated to have discussions with several relevant stakeholders in the health sector. The team is expected also to visit several hospitals in the regions, health care centers in Dakar and the teaching hospital in Touba. The study tour ends on March 5th, 2022.

It could be recalled that on the 4^th August, 2021, the Hon. Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh hosted an inter-ministerial committee on Sierra Leone Social Health Insurance scheme at his Tower Hill office, Freetown. During the meeting, he emphasized the vision of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio to provide affordable health care to Sierra Leoneans. He said SLeSHI was a social health insurance scheme for Sierra Leoneans that focuses on the reduction of out of pocket expenditure on medicals. It aims at improving access to quality medical services for all and improved equity in medical services.

Part of the Sierra Leone delegation includes the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby, the Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations, Alpha O. Timbo the Financial Secretary, Sahr Jusu, the Deputy Director General NASSIT, Mohamed Gondoe, Dr. Machael Amara- Lead Consultant SLeSHI, the UN Women Country Representative, Ms. Setcheme Mongbo and the SLeSHI Consultant Ms. Juliet Laverly.

There is a renewed call for long-term, sustainable, and equitable progress towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and improving health for all Sierra Leoneans as Sierra Leone continues to recover and return to pre-Ebola health system priorities.

Sierra Leone now has a robust revitalized integrated disease surveillance and response (IDSR) system with countrywide coverage. The vision of the new National Health Sector Strategic Plan is a well-functioning national health system that delivers efficient and high-quality healthcare, accessible, affordable and equitable to all.

NP-SL Ltd’s Enhanced Customer Care Platform is Positively Impacting Lives

February 28, 2022

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By Amin Kef Sesay

It is an irrevocable fact that NP-SL Ltd continues to optimize Customer Care on a high pedestal everywhere the company has a presence. In no way can it be disputed that the National Petroleum- Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is currently the leading petroleum marketing entity in the country. One striking attribute which NP-SL Ltd has harnessed to the fullest is no nonsense stance in enhancing customer care as the Shareholders and Management of the company are doing everything within their ambit to optimize it with a view of giving maximum satisfaction to its cherished customers.

Being an indigenous company that cherishes its numerous customers, NP-SL Ltd, over the years, has placed high premium on customer care, which as a business entity it is effectively rolling out to such an extent that it has earned the company the enviable reputation of 1^st for Customer Care. It is within that realm that the initial shareholders of the company, thirty-five (35) of them, thought it entrepreneurially prudent to import and install modern calibrated pumping machines in all its Filling Stations.

These are automated and high precision machines which have the capability of pumping the exact quantity of fuel that a particular buyer or customer requests for, displaying quantity (in litres) as well as the price(s). With these machines, contrary to what used to obtain in the past when less sophisticated pumping machines were used, customers have sincerely attested that they do derive utmost satisfaction whenever they do transactions expressing the belief that the process is really transparent.

Within that same domain of satisfying and providing care for its customers, the company made it a must that all its Filling Stations should have safety regulations. That is why it cautions its customers and others that they should not use naked flame, that mobile phones should be switched off, engines must also be switched off at Filling Stations when fuel is pumped among others.

In order to ensure that fuel is distributed timely to all its Filling Stations in the country, the company has maintained a fleet of tankers (vehicles that transport fuel) and they are regularly maintenance in order to ensure that they are roadworthy.

The company has also sustained an open door policy in the sense that it encourages customers to express their concerns as well as recommendations which the Management takes into consideration whenever major decisions are taken, geared towards the development of the company. It has been ascertained that whenever customers have the feeling that their inputs are well respected such does not only bring them closer but also gives them the satisfaction that they are indeed relevant and highly regarded. This is exactly what NP-SL Ltd does and that has been paying good dividends. As far as the Shareholders and Management are concerned their customers do matter.

With the avowed objective of making fuel transactions easier and very convenient for its esteemed and numerous customers, the company again introduced the brilliant idea of introducing the use of NP Smart Card. This is a cashless way of transacting business or in other words purchasing fuel without using physical cash. The holder of an NP Smart Card could present the card at any Filling Station, as long as it contains money, and request for the quantity of fuel he or she requires.

The card is then slotted into the pumping machine with the subsequent discharge of the amount of fuel into a car or jerry can. This method of conducting cashless transaction is very advantageous in the sense that a customer is saved the hassle of intermittently rushing to the bank to withdraw cash for the sole purpose of purchasing fuel. This is so because already his or her NP Smart Card is loaded with money for that purpose. Indeed, it also provides security as the card is securitized only having the particulars of the holder which cannot be used by another person.

Human beings cannot exist in the absence of food as it is a basic necessity of life. Food is prepared in various ways but one popular way of doing so is by cooking. In this part of the world, most households are dependent on largely using wood and charcoal for cooking purposes. However, the cutting down of trees to be used as wood and charcoal have been frowned upon by environmentalists on the grounds that such is contributing negatively to the depletion of the environment and pose other adverse consequences on the ecosystem.

Against this backdrop, the Shareholders and Management of the company thought it fit that to assuage that they must introduce a safer way of cooking. It was out of this idea that the initiative of introducing an environmentally cooking device arose and NP Gas was borne. Manufactured in different cylinder sizes, NP Gas has a high precision performance and to refill it is simple as the gas could be accessed at all the company’s Filling Stations in the country. Many whom have tried them intimated this medium that it is worth having at home and one could never regret having it but would rather recommend it to others.

NP-SL Ltd has etched its name in the sands of time for embracing and effectively rolling out the country’s Local Content Policy. As one of its major priorities, the company has placed high premium on giving employment preference to Sierra Leoneans. It is only on rare circumstances that the company makes use of expatriates and in most cases it is when local personnel cannot be sourced.

In a country where accessing a secured and suitable job is like finding a needle on the beach for a company like NP-SL Ltd to avail Sierra Leoneans the opportunity to access job is indeed commendable. This posture, on the part of the company, has given the beneficiaries the opportunity to live improved lifestyles and have a sense of believing that they are contributing to national development.

A company that has vibrant branches in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia speaks volumes of a serious business entity that is determined to grow. In all those countries, the company employs indigenes and is paying taxes to the Governments which in turn are used to fund various development programmes.

From what have been said so far, NP-SL Ltd is a company that is making Sierra Leoneans proud and is an epitome of selflessness with a strong passion to further climb higher heights. Indeed, the company is truly a success story!

Housemates Salone Season 3 Application Deadline is 10th March 2022

February 28, 2022

By Amin Kef Sesay

Housemates Salone Season 3 with the slogan: “Di Game Get Yagba, If You Nor Able Na for Pull Hand”, organized and sponsored by the African Young Voices (AYV) Media Empire and Africell-Sierra Leone is geared towards providing the enabling environment to help young people discover their innate talents, as well as expose them to the wider world, in a bid to foster youth empowerment in the country. In as much as only one Housemate will emerge the ultimate winner at the end of the show, all the other participants will benefit, in one way or the other, from the media exposure which will put them at vantage positions to become possible choices by corporate entities for the promotion of their brands.

It should be noted that AYV and Africell, over the years, have been at the forefront of promoting and empowering young people. Both institutions have copiously supported sporting activities, the entertainment industry, incorporating young people as Brand Ambassadors, offered job opportunities and rolled out mapped out programmes that have seen young people meaningfully contributing to development activities at community up to national levels.

Mindful of the fact that Youths constitute 70% of the country’s population and are the leaders of the future, the organizers of the show have slated it in such a way that the participants will discover their hidden talents and in the process provide the enabling environment to allow them develop those skills and talents, prepare them to play good roles in society, as well as for the enhancement of their own personal development.

That is how Housemates Salone Season 3 seeks to impact, to provide POSITIVE EMPOWERMENT that will sharpen the wits and skills of the participating Housemates, improve their potentials and make them productive citizens in society.

AYV and Africell-SL, in bringing Housemates Salone Season 3 Show, have fused entertainment and youth empowerment, to not only give exposure to the participants and its accompanying benefits, but to provide a lively show that will keep viewers glued to their TV sets.

With 20 housemates from both sexes staying under the same roof, physically cut off from the rest of the world, socializing, learning useful skills like cooking, singing, going through trials on how to articulate well in different situations, setting goals they want to achieve, learning how to resolve conflicts, playing games, swimming and so on, will provide the necessary experiences needed to successfully go through life.

What at the end of the day the ultimate winner will heartily and elatedly bag is the whooping sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Million Leones (Le250M) and he or she will be availed the opportunity to go on a full round trip to Dubai.

Applications are now open for interested individuals who want to be part of the show as Housemates before the commencement of auditions.

Application forms are now 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 204,000 Leones minimum on your Afrimoney phone and then go on to complete the form online using the phone number that has the 204,000 Leones as your contact number and automatically Afrimoney will take 200,000 Leones 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 turns out to be untruthful or if requested information is withheld. Closing date for submission of applications is 10^th March 2022.

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.

Audition for Housemates Salone Season 3 will run from the 11th to 14th March 2022. Diaspora applicants will be sent a zoom link for their virtual audition upon successful completion of their application.

When the Reality TV Show will actually commence in May 2022 and last for seven (7) weeks, it will be shown live on AYV Television and via other social media platforms across the country. As AYV Media Empire recently sealed an arrangement with DStv to show some of its contents on that platform, Housemates Salone Season 3 will be streamed live on DStv Channel 399, which is an unprecedented development in the broadcasting history of this country.

There is no gainsaying in maintaining that the Reality TV Show will really facilitate the exposure of the participants to the wider world and put them in the spotlight.

From what has been gathered so far it is going to be an exceptional entertainment show that is truly worth watching especially more so as it will be packaged for entertainment in comfort zones.

Baptist Convention Concludes 48thAnnual Convention

February 28, 2022

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone (BCSL) has on Sunday 27^th February 2022 concluded its 48^th Annual Convention on the theme: “Modelling the Gospel of Christ through the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)”. The convention which started on Thursday 24^th to Sunday 27^th February 2020 was held at the Baptist Conference Center at Lunsar, Marampa Chiefdom, Port Loko District Northern Province of Sierra Leone.

Giving a paternal greeting, the Director of Programs of the Council of Churches Sierra Leone, Keziah Kargbo expressed appreciation to the Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone owing to the fact that amidst the COVID-19 in the country BCSL has been into ministry with a lot of positive impact across the country.

She said the BCSL is among the churches that the Council is looking up to in terms of giving their support towards the development of the entity, adding that the Council has been working on its mandate geared towards impacting different communities across the country.

The Regional Coordinator of North of the Evangelical Fellowship of Sierra Leone, Apostle Dr. Moses S. Kargbo, revealed that the BCSL has been doing great works in the country, adding that currently BCSL is on a great expansion in most of the districts in the country where it has branches.

He revealed that the theme for this year’s convention which is “Modelling the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit” (Galatians: 22-23) is not only timely but very important towards the development of Christians of which he admonished members present that in whatever they do they need to live practical lives and be the Bible in their homes, churches, communities, and the nation.

The Head of Mission at the National Pentecostal Mission Sierra Leone, Bishop Benjamin B. Bangura, who also gave paternal greetings, said that there has been a long lasting relationship between the BCSL and the Pentecostal Mission.

He said that the convention should serve as a turning point in the lives of members especially with a very important theme: “Modelling the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit” (Galatians: 22-23). He assured of the Pentecostal continued relationship with the BCSL.

Giving his presidential address, the Executive President & Head of Mission of the Baptist Convention Sierra Leone, Rev Dr. Joseph S Fornah said that the journey to convene the Convention that will lead to their Golden Jubilee year in 2024 has not been an easy one but said they thank God for His grace and favor upon them.

He revealed that theme for this year’s convention is, “Modelling the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit” (Galatian: 22-23) which he described as not only timely but very appropriate given their present situation, adding that the theme is calling on all to demonstrate the biblical truths or teachings of the Bible which they have received over the years wherever they go and in whatever they do.

Rev Dr. Joseph S Fornah further pointed out that in spite of all the challenges they faced as a Convention, they were richly blessed by the Lord in the following areas: That they were able to have two successful national prayer and fasting programs in March and October respectively during the year under review which he said has greatly brought God’s divine intervention into the ministries and activities of the BCSL.

He noted that they were able to conduct trainings for deacons and pastors in the Western Area Associations and Kono Area Association and that these trainings have helped a lot to resolve certain challenging issues among the churches who attended the program and that other areas will be reached out to in this year with such training by the grace of God.

The Executive President maintained that they were able by the special grace of God to secure three generators for use by the BCSL, two new (100 &50 KVAS) and one old (40KVA) through donations and contributions from fiends of BCSL and their partners and fourthly a massive work was done on the fencing project of the BCSL Lunsar property which he said is almost two thirds complete.

“By the special grace of God, a new missionary (Rev. Mrs. Christiana Doehring) and her family, Pst. Ralf Doehring and son from Germany will be in Sierra Leone in August 2022 to serve as lecturers at the Evangelical College of Theology in Jui and our beloved Baptist Theological Seminary (BTS) in Lunsar for four years,” he informed the gathering.

He maintained that during the year under review, they were able to have 17 of their schools approved by the Ministry of Education and have 12 Principals and Vice Principals approved for five of their secondary schools.

Rev Dr. Joseph S Fornah informed all that their traditional partner, the Christian Blind Mission (CBM) has approved a four year project for the Baptist Eye Hospital and that the project aims to build the capacities of staff, rehabilitate the hospital, buy medical instruments, equipment, vehicle for the BEHL and build two eye health centers in Karene and Falaba districts for the Government of Sierra Leone but will be supervised by the BSCL of which he extended appreciation to the entire BCSL and hospital team for working very hard to have the Project approved.

He stated that the BCSL will be 50 years on the 27th April, 2024 and they want to celebrate that golden Jubilee in a grand style God being their helper and called on all and sundry to make themselves available when called upon to contribute their resources, talents, time, adding that the construction of a Multi-Purpose building is one of the agenda items in the 50th Anniversary Celebration.

At the close of the opening of the convention the Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone (BCSL) presented certificates to pupils who performed very well in their external examinations and schools & churches that performed extremely well during the year under review.

Chamber of Commerce, Local Agric Stakeholders Hold Fruitful Discussions with ILO

February 25, 2022

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By Mary Kabay

Members of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (SLCCIA), Everybody Must Farm (EMF), and the National Coalition of Small and Medium Enterprises on the 16^th February 2022 engaged representative of the International Labour Organization (ILO) at the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture head office in Freetown.

In attendance were the CEO of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, James Koroma, the Founder and President Everybody Must Farm (EMF) Prof. Amb Sfano Njawa Sesay, and the Consultant of Value Chain Development from the International Labour Organization, Jonathan Bird and representatives from the National Coalition of Small and Medium Enterprises-SL (NaCoSME-SL).

James Koroma, the CEO of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture who chaired the meeting the meeting intimated that Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (SLCCIA) is a voluntary association of business people, who are nationals of other countries and running various businesses in the country. He maintained that the Chamber does not interfere in the running of the businesses of its members except when assistance is sought by individual members.

James furthered that the Chamber’s activities are designed in such a way that they promote requirements for a competitive market economy.

The Chamber of Commerce Head went further to inform that their gathering together is geared towards the role Everybody Must Farm (EMF) must play in the agribusiness sector and the role of the National Coalition of Small and Medium Enterprises in the country.

On his part, the consultant from ILO pointed out that their aim is to ensure that the food value chain flows smoothly and the agricultural project they are about to invest in thrives.

Jonathan Bird stated that agriculture is their focus and the target group are women and youth for whom particularly they want to create employment and avail them opportunities to grow and create other jobs. He noted they conducted a research before concluding on the kinds of crops they will want to focus on before engaging the people, Government and businesses. He continued that based on the result they derived they shall be engaging in the cultivation of four main crops which are cassava, cocoa, palm kernel etc.

The International Labour Organization is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice through setting international labour standards

Everybody Must Farm (EMF) is a non-profit making, Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) registered and established in Sierra Leone. Their aim is to promote massive farming practices and the knowledge to accept agriculture as a profit-making and dignified business in communities. Popular artiste, Prof. Amb Sfano Njawa Sesay, aka ‘General Sfano’ is the founder and president. He implored Sierra Leoneans to embrace the need to invest in agriculture if the country is to attain food security, food sufficiency, end hunger and malnutrition

He further explained how he is working with various stakeholders in different districts by educating and sensitizing the people to be part of agricultural chain. In his presentation he disclosed five communities that were engaged through radio programmes and Television talk on the importance of agriculture.

Prof. Amb Sfano Njawa Sesay revealed that he also uses music and drama to tell and show the significance of farming and why young people must engage on it. He later explained some of the constraints that farmers go through naming competition pressure, less interest in food diversification, maintenance of machinery and poor storage facility. Climaxing his statement he showed pictorial evidences of districts that has been supporting.

The Secretary General of the National Coalition of Small and Medium Enterprises-SL (NaCoSME-SL), David S Kabba who doubles as the CEO of MELLO FOODS, in his contribution explained the role of their organisation disclosing how it is covering 16 districts.

He said the coalition is covering agro business and other businesses by connecting and creating a chain with small and medium-size businesses. He mentioned the mentoring, entrepreneurship and business management programs they have been conducting across the districts.

Other members present made salient contributions during the meeting which was climaxed by a question and answer session.

Kenyan Wildlife Experts Explore Gola Rainforest National Park

February 25, 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The wildlife tourism potential at Gola Rain Forest National Park (Lalehun in Kenema and Silety in Pujehun) respectively was extensively explored on the 19^th February 2022 by three Kenyan tourism wildlife experts, Michael Wanjau, Bernard Ngoro and Maurine Musimbi who are in Sierra Leone to follow up on Sierra Leone’s tourism sector and Line MDA’s recent study visit to Kenya, as part of their assessment of the country’s wildlife tourism potential.

This development was borne out of President Bio’s desire for Sierra Leone to have its own wildlife safari by relocating exotic wildlife species from Kenya to Sierra Leone. The exploration and assessment of the country’s parks by the Kenyan Wildlife experts aimed at using the Kenyan experience in wildlife tourism and sanctuary management as a benchmark for the establishment and management of wildlife safari in Sierra Leone.

Before venturing into the forest, meetings were held with the management of Gola Rain Forest and the community people of Lalehun on the purpose of the assessment of the forest and the benefits attached to it when proper care is taken. A presentation from officials of Gola Rain Forest was done on the different animal species that are in the forest (those that were caught on camera traps). Accompanying the experts to the wild were the Director of Tourism, Mohamed Jalloh, the Executive Director of National Protected Area Authority (NPAA), Joseph Ranto Musa, the Head of Conservation Society Sierra Leone, Charles Showers and staff of Gola Rainforest office in Kenema.

After a long hike into the forest, the Team Lead of the Kenyan Experts, Michael Wanjau said the potential of the forest are obvious and there are lot of opportunities with regards tourism development in Sierra Leone ranging from forest hiking, botanical hiking tours, educational tours by school groups and forestry visit. He mentioned that accommodation facilities in the bush could be improved by erecting luxury tentative camps. He noted that primates and other animals could be attracted to certain point for people to view among many other products that could explode depending on the different interest adding that there should be a comprehensive human, wildlife conflict management strategy.

He called on the people of Sierra Leone to protect the forest by doing a fencing programme in order to get a build-up on wildlife population, thus combining conservation and tourism for the forest to make more meaning to the country.

Giving the tourism perspective of the exploration, the Director of Tourism, Mohamed Jalloh said as part of the Ministry’s effort to diversify its tourism product, wildlife tourism is highly considered as it is the desire of President Bio. He continued that the Gola Rain Forest which is very close to Liberia has different exotic species which, he said, can be harnessed. He furthered that if the recommendations proffered by the experts are employed, there would be significant increase in the number of people that visit Gola Rain Forest National Park.

Notorious ‘Arata’ Stands Trial for Varying Criminal Offences

February 25, 2022

By Esther Wright

A notorious personality by the name Alicious Deen Tarawally, aka Arata, it was learnt has been sent on remand at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre after making his first appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba.

Arata’s name appeared on two files – he was separately charged alone on one file and, jointly charged with one William Mathew Johnson, also nicknamed ‘Game Terror’ on the other file.

The notorious thug is facing various counts charges ranging from carrying offensive weapon, disorderly behaviour and throwing missile – all of which are contrary to the State laws.

According to the charges, Arata was allegedly found carrying offensive weapon, to wit cutlass, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, at Aberdeen Police Station, earlier this month. He was further accused of disorderly behaviour and throwing of missiles at the police station.

On the other file, the same Arata is jointly facing three count charges with William Mathew Johnson, (Game Terror) for conspiracy to commit robbery.

It was alleged that the accused on Friday 31st December, 2021, at Beach Road, Lumley, conspired together with other persons unknown to commit robbery.

It was also alleged that, on the same date and place, the accused robbed one Alhaji Mohamed Barrie of one Blu mobile phone valued three million five hundred thousand Leones, property of the said Alhaji Mohamed Barrie.

The Accused were not granted bail and were supposed to appear in court on the 22nd February, 2020. When they appeared in court on the 22^nd February 2022 the Magistrate again refused granting them bail.

ASP Hawa Bah is prosecuting the matter.

31st March 2022 is Deadline for… Public Officers to Declare Income, Assets & Liabilities

February 25, 2022

Esther Wright

In a Public Notice published on the 24^th February 2022 by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) it was stated that the general public must now be aware that pursuant to Section 119(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act 2008 (as amended in 2019), Public Officers are to declare their income, assets and liabilities on or before the deadline date of 31st March 2022.

Quoting the relevant Section 119(1) it states: “Every public officer shall, within three months of becoming a public officer, deposit with the Commission a declaration of his income, assets and liabilities and thereafter in every two years that he is a public officer, but not later than 31st March of that second year, deposit further declaration of his income, assets and liabilities and also while leaving office.”

The ACC said, in line with the above, the following public officers are required to declare their assets: Persons in elective offices, Persons appointed by the President, Public Officers in Grade 7 and above and Public officers below Grade 7 with fiduciary (financial) responsibilities, such as bursars, etc.

The Public Notice furthered that categories of teachers in Government and Government-assisted schools that are expected to declare their income, assets and liabilities during this declaration period (2022) are: Principals, Vice Principals, Head Teachers, Deputy Head Teachers and Bursars.

It stated that all other teachers in Grade 7 and above are exempt from this year’s declaration requirement.

The Commission further wishes to inform public officers that, declarations can be done online through the Commission’s website: www.anticorruption.gov.sl

According to the ACC , the public is reminded that Section 122 of the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Act 2019 provides that: “A public officer who, without reasonable cause, fails to submit his/her Assets Declaration Form or knowingly records false, inaccurate or misleading information in the declaration form shall, in addition to any other penalty imposed under the Act, be liable to administrative sanctions as set out in Sub-section (5)” as follows: Withholding the salary of the Public Officer, suspend the Public Officer after one month of default but not more than three months and dismiss the Public Officer after exceeding three months but does not apply to Positions for which removal from office is stipulated in the Constitution but applies to all.

CHRDI Assesses Kamarainba’s Current State & Calls to improve Prison Conditions

February 25, 2022

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Senior Human Rights advocate from the Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI), including its Chief Executive, Abdul M. Fatoma, made a formal request to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Prison officials to visit Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray at one of the Sierra Leone Correctional Services facility in Freetown, a request that was granted on the 22^nd February 2022.

It would be recalled that on the 17th July 2020, a police complaint for an alleged sexual penetration of a 15-year-old school girl, led to his arrest by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Sierra Leone Police and later detained and charged to court on the 21st July 2020. On the 7th September 2021, he was granted bail, but he still remained in the detention facility in Freetown on the grounds that he failed to meet his bail conditions.

The visit has been described by the CHRDI team as very useful because it offered them the opportunity to form correct opinions or make valid conclusions. According to members of the team, they were made to learn during their visit, that Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray has serious medical challenges, which need immediate attention.

CHRDI stated that it learnt Kamarainba has spent a year and half in detention and has been diagnosed with prostate cancer by two medical Doctors while in detention.

He also disclosed that because of his medical condition, he has to use the toilet to urinate every 30-40 mins, failing which, he will urinate on himself and he also revealed that about a year ago, a neurologist from ECO-MED, recommended to the Correctional Services that he should have a surgical operation which he was denied.

In October 2021, according to Mohamed K Mansaray, a very senior authority at the Correctional services center advised him to raise funds for his medical laboratory test fees as the facility is unable to provide him with that fund. By December 2021, Kamarainba was able to raise five million, eight hundred and sixty thousand Leones (Le 5,860,000) by himself and from monies given to him by family and friends but also claimed that the said money was taken away from his detention room by a senior authority who promised to give him back the money but later confiscated it.

CHRDI said at the time of the visit, the team was reliably informed that an internal investigation into an allegation of the possible use of a cell phone in a detention facility and also of inmates being in possession of money above the one hundred thousand Leones limit for all inmates at the facilities across the country is ongoing.

CHRDI disclosed that when Kamarainba was asked about his Bail Bond, he responded that he had fulfilled his bail condition but yet in prison but informed CHRDI that he has family members and friends who visit him.

CHRDI further revealed how Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray pointed out that he has not been subjected to any inhumane treatment from neither prison officers nor from any other person or individual but pointed out that whenever he has visitors, there will always be military personnel and prison officers listening to their conversation. The CHRDI team also experienced a similar situation during the visit.

In view of all of the above, CHRDI says it is drawing attention to the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, which establishes standards on a range of matters. Those include accommodation conditions, adequate food, personal hygiene, clothing and bedding standards, exercise, medical services, and disciplinary procedures.

Those rules, according to CHRDI, are now complemented by the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The rights based institution stated that such obliges States to set up preventive monitoring mechanisms to maintain detention standards.

CHRDI , however, expressed disappointment and denounced the service and conditions of the facilities for both security personnel and the inmates and calls for proper improvement of the detention centers and the conditions of services for all the workers.

CHRDI also pointed out to the fact that there are no in-house psychiatrist Doctor(s) or clinicians in the centres and correctional services personnel have to apply ‘common sense’ to treat inmates with mental health issues or call on the country’s only psychiatric Doctor for treatment.

The rights based organization also stated that there is no external monitoring or oversight, which is extremely damaging, considering the level of negligence and incompetence displayed by some correctional services personnel on a daily basis.

It continued that keeping inmates in jail in very poor health conditions puts both their own health and the health of the Correctional Services staff who come into contact with them at risk and impedes efforts to maintain public health. It also defies both Sierra Leonean and international law, which requires care for the health of prisoners.

CHRDI is therefore urging the Government of Sierra Leone to implement the just concluded prisons management assessment recommendations.

CHRDI further urges the authorities to take action now, before it is too late aSet featured imagend use different tools to reduce the prison population.

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