Hon. Dr. Memunatu Pratt, Minister of Tourism and the World Monuments Fund (WMF) announced on the 17th February 2022 the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for a preservation project to save Old Fourah Bay College in the Cline Town district of Freetown, Sierra Leone, funded by the U.S. Embassy in Freetown.
Old Fourah Bay College was the first Western-style University in sub-Saharan Africa and is a living testament to idealism and the power of education. Established in 1827, it produced the earliest leaders in West Africa including many leaders of the independence movements that helped end colonialism. It is immensely important in the history of Sierra Leone and the region and is a protected national monument.
World Monuments Fund is the implementing partner for a United States Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) grant, awarded in 2021, to preserve Old Fourah Bay College. The grant will cover the first phase of what will likely be a multi-phase project. The scope of the first grant is to prepare a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the structure, carry out limited emergency stabilization to prevent further damage, and develop a plan for reuse of the structure in consultation with the community and key stakeholders.
“This project, funded by the United States Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, demonstrates American values in action and United States leadership in preserving cultural heritage sites like Old Fourah Bay College. It is my hope that preserving this site ensures that the next generation of Sierra Leonean leaders can continue to draw inspiration from the triumphs of education, culture, and science of the past,” said U.S. Ambassador David Reimer, who attended the ceremony.
“The project at Old Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone, supported by the United States Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, reflects our shared commitment to working with local communities to protect their heritage for future generations, and preserving structures that can help tell a more textured and complete story of human experience,” said Bénédicte de Montlaur, President and CEO of World Monuments Fund.
World Monuments Fund (WMF) is the leading independent organization devoted to safeguarding the world’s most treasured places to enrich people’s lives and build mutual understanding across cultures and communities. The organization is headquartered in New York City with offices and affiliates in Cambodia, India, Peru, Portugal, Spain and the UK. Since 1965, our global team of experts has preserved the world’s diverse cultural heritage using the highest international standards at more than 700 sites in 112 countries.
Partnering with local communities, funders, and governments, WMF draws on heritage to address some of today’s most pressing challenges: climate change, underrepresentation, imbalanced tourism, and post-crisis recovery. With a commitment to the people who bring places to life, WMF embraces the potential of the past to create a more resilient and inclusive society.wmf.org.
Honourable Gregory Weldon Meeks, Chairman of the United States House Foreign Relations Committee, with his delegation, comprising senior congressmen and women, has paid a courtesy call on President Julius Maada Bio, on the 20th February 2022, saying the country is an example of a shining star of leadership in Africa.
He has lived a true American success story. Known for his compassionate and tenacious representation of his constituents and his coalition-building skills, Meeks, now in his thirteenth term, proudly serves the constituents of New York’s Fifth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. He is known for being an effective, principled, and common-sense leader.
During their two-day visit, the President crowned Congressman Gregory Meeks as Paramount Chief of the Republic of Sierra Leone at a short ceremony earlier in the day and later addressed them at a dinner organized in their honour at the Presidential Lodge on Hill Station.
President Julius Maada Bio recalled that their rice-growing, rice-eating Gullah cousins from the South Carolina low country would say “Cumya can’t tell binya”, meaning who arrived (cumyas) could not tell those who had been there.
“This may well be true on both sides of the Atlantic. But we still eat and grow rice like them. We still weave shukublys, wear sehbeh, sing ring shouts, tell trickster stories, and eat okra and chitlins like them. We are they and they are us. DNA and science have unveiled this rich tapestry of history, of memory, and of lineage.”
He added that in the last two years his Government had welcomed home brothers and sisters from the African Diaspora and assured them that Sierra Leone was home for them and would always be home away from home.
“Welcome to the fourth most peaceful country in Africa. Welcome to one of the most tolerant nations in the world. Welcome to our democracy where we have abolished the death penalty, permanently removed all criminal libel laws; clamped down on corruption; made tremendous progress in ruling justly; robustly fighting all forms of sexual and gender violence.
“…taken progressive steps to assure gender empowerment and women’s equality; expanded access to justice and promoted and protected people’s rights; invested in human capital development as a national priority – free and quality education, quality and accessible healthcare, and food security,” he said.
He stated that America was leading by example and had also challenged them to be better, citing the three straight years record of Sierra Leone passing all the critical indicators on the Millennium Challenge Corporation’s scorecard for ruling justly, for the control of corruption, and for investing in people.
“We are now compact eligible and we have identified health and sanitation and access to energy as key constraints on our development,” he said.
In his acceptance speech after he was crowned Paramount Chief, Hon. P.C. Gregory Weldon Meeks extended appreciation to President Julius Maada Bio and the people of Sierra Leone for the hospitality given to him and his delegation since they arrived, saying that he felt greatly honoured and privileged to trace his ancestral home to Sierra Leone and in Africa.
“This is an emotional day for me but am so glad that I am home. Barrack Obama may have Kenya, but I have Sierra Leone. When I look at your faces out here today, where this country is from, and where this country is heading. When I look at the progress that this Government is making, a shining example of democracy is right here in Sierra Leone. We are going to show the world and the rest of Africa that we will stay together. When we work together, we will lead West Africa, Africa and the world. A show of resilience of a people,” he said.
In life, there is the saying that states that no one single individual has a monopoly over knowledge. There have been instances when expressed views have been challenged either in their entirety or in certain aspects.
The Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, Professor Kelfala M. Kallon, is no exception to that rule as the Speech which he delivered at the 2022 meeting of the Sierra Leone Bar Association
at De Wizzard Conference Hall in Bo on “The Reasons for, and Effect[s] of, Redenomination of the Leone on Sierra Leone’s Post-COVID-19 Economy” has been vetted and commented on by an Economist of high reputation in the person of Prince Jacob Macauley.
Prince Jacob Macauley commended the Bank Governor for establishing the fact that the redenomination of the Leone will prevent the huge quantity of banknotes needed to conduct simple transactions that imposes huge transaction costs on economic activity. He also agrees with the notion that it will ease other economic burdens which the old currency poses and as he rightly puts it, “can support economic growth”.
Jacob said in as much as the Bank Governor mentioned about sensitizing the general public about the transition from the old currency to the new currency after the redenomination process he ,however, failed to explain in detail what that will entail in terms of shape and form, through which means and the impact that such will have far and wide.
There’s no detail in the speech on the likely size of the ‘shoe leather and menu’ costs arising from the redenomination. These will be significant for some businesses.
As stated by the Bank Governor there will be a transition period of not less than 90 days during which the two currencies shall be legal tender. He continued that during that period, the prices of goods and services shall be displayed in both the New and Old Leones. Thereafter, the Old Leone shall cease to be legal tender and all prices shall then be set in the New Leone.
Prince Macauley said the Governor’s stated three months change over period seems to be extremely short particularly given the limited reach of Commercial Banks in Sierra Leone. He furthered that people in rural areas who may not have easy access to commercial banks should be given more time to swap the old notes for the new ones.
Macauley stated that in the Governor’s speech he did not clearly stated what the policy coordination is between the Bank of Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Finance should be. He said, for example, how is the Government debt held by the Central Bank going to be treated?
He further asked the question: Does the redenomination increase liabilities on the Central Bank’s balance sheet?
Jacob maintained that the actual speech is highly theoretical arguing that taking into consideration the Sierra Leonean audience and the transition, such a speech that deals with practical issues associated with the redenomination of the Leone should have been tailored in such a way that the vast majority of the citizenry could easily follow through and understand.
He was so curious to know whether the Central Bank has the capacity to carry out the re-denomination. Also, how could the Bank prevent counterfeiting and the outright theft of money during the transition period?
Those are few questions which the Economist believes should be answered / clarified.
Central Bank Governor, Professor Kelfala has explained the reasons why the Bank of Sierra Leone decided to re-denominate the nation’s currency (the Leone), placing a new family of currency notes and coins into circulation as legal tender and eventually call in the existing currency at a date that will be announced pursuant to Section 27(4) of the Bank of Sierra Leone Act, 2019.
Redenomination, he stated, is bound to create genuine concerns and confusion. Therefore, the Bank of Sierra Leone recognizes its duty to fully sensitize the people of this country about the new family of notes and coins in the redenominated currency before they are introduced.
He explained that the leadership of the Bank started this sensitization drive immediately after his August 11, 2021 announcement of the redenomination programme.
To date, the Bank has held informational meetings with key stakeholders, including the leadership of the Sierra Leone Bar Association, where the rationale for redenomination and a general blueprint of how it will be implemented were discussed.
Soon, the Bank will embark on a nationwide public education campaign to fully educate the average Sierra Leonean about the redenomination of the currency.
Simply put, redenomination is a recalibration of a nation’s currency by dividing it by a constant. In our case, that constant is 1,000, which is equivalent to removing three zeroes from the currency.
To keep the real value of assets that are denominated in the Old Leone constant, all prices that are denominated in it shall be similarly divided by 1,000 in order to get their equivalence in the New Leone.
Governor Kelfala said that there will be a transition period of not less than 90 days during which the two currencies shall be legal tender. During that period, the prices of goods and services shall be displayed in both the New and Old Leones. Thereafter, the Old Leone shall cease to be legal tender and all prices shall then be set in the New Leone.
Also, on the day the New Leones come into circulation, all contracts, debts, and other agreements that are denominated in Old Leones shall be automatically converted into New Leones.
During the parallel run period, deposits and payments can be made in Old Leones but withdrawals and change shall only be made in New Leones. At the end of the parallel run period, all Old Leones in the hands of the public shall cease to be legal tender and therefore not usable in transactions in this country.
Governor Kelfala noted that this is not the first time the currency of Sierra Leone has been redenominated. The first was when the British West African Pound, which was legal tender in the British West African colonies (Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone), was converted into Leones and cents in 1964.
Why Re-denominate now?
According to the Governor, the current currency regime imposes several significant deadweight losses on the economy. Firstly, the huge quantity of banknotes needed to conduct simple transactions imposes huge transaction costs on economic activity.
Additionally, the costs borne by economic agents (households, businesses, and Government agencies) in counting and storing large volumes of cash is also not trivial.
These costs are compounded by the increasing costs of bookkeeping, the strain on the payment system, as evidenced by our crowded banking halls, long lines at Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs), and the general risk of theft.
Moreover, the inconvenience customers will incur from counting huge stacks of currency when they withdraw cash from their bank accounts, as well as the high possibility that doing so will attract the attention of thieves lurking around in banking halls, has created tremendous incentives for unscrupulous bank tellers to pilfer notes out of sealed bundles, thereby opening the financial system to the possibility of losing its most important asset—which is the public’s trust.
Businesses, he said, have also been taking advantage of the public when they round-off prices to the next thousand Leones.
For example, when a consumer presents 9,000 Leones to purchase something priced at 8,500 Leones, merchants essentially force customers to pay 9,000 Leones by claiming to have no change.
The cumulative effect of this has been tremendous “theft” by businesses—just because the currency is so debased that prices are set in the thousands of it.
By minting and circulating a whole new family of coins, in an adequate quantity, redenomination will bring much needed respite to the public from such scams.
It is now crystal clear that the plan to establish a new Administrative and Financial City is gaining momentum as the Government of Sierra Leone intensifies moves to actualize the President’s vision.
In that direction, the Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, on the 21st February 2022 led a high-powered Government delegation to commence a stakeholders’ engagement to acquire the required land for the project.
In Lungi, local authorities including chiefs and parliamentarians converged at the residence of the Vice President to map the way forward for the project that aims to completely overhaul and transform that part of the country.
The Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, assured his fellow indigenes that the project will not only benefit the community but the country as a whole.
He used the forum as an opportunity to remind the Lungi authorities, indigenes and residents of the enviable space they occupy in the President’s heart.
“This project will transform Lungi into a modern city with all its accompanying facilities and advantages,” he disclosed, while encouraging his people to give the Lands Ministry the required support for the acquisition of the land, and the Government in general for the actualization of the new city project.
Explaining the project to the local authorities, the Minister of Lands Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesie, said the President’s vision is to extend the seat of governance to Lungi as part of the decentralization process.
“Cabinet has approved the vision and plan to transform Lungi into an administrative and financial city,” he pointed out, while explaining that the Government will need vast acreages of land to actualize this beautiful dream.
According to the Minister, the Government shall be identifying parcels of land for purpose of purchasing such land from the land owners, while at the same time recovering and protecting State land.
“Lungi will become the extension of Freetown hosting Government Ministries, departments, agencies, banks, hotels, among other facilities,” the Minister disclosed, while noting that the project will decongest Freetown and extend development to Lungi.
Dr. Senesie said a Government/Stakeholders Committee will be established as part of the land acquisition road map to identify, survey and negotiate with land owning families.
The establishment of a new city in Lungi, will attract investment, beautify and develop the nation.
The Deputy Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Rev. Abraham James Sesay-Jones, who doubles as a stakeholder of Lungi, urged his people to embrace national development, as according to him, the President is on an unstoppable drive to transform the entire Sierra Leone for the better.
The authorities in that part of the country unanimously welcomed the good news from the Government with assurances that they will support development irrespective of political, tribal or regional considerations.
In a related development, Dr. Turad Senesie, Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, arrived in Lungi over the weekend with a team of senior management staff from the Ministry to ascertain progress and land use compliance at the site of the extended Freetown International Airport project in Lungi.
Following a conducted tour of the project site in Lungi, the Minister expressed satisfaction that the land was being used for the intended purpose.
Minister Senesie witnessed work at an advanced stage and received assurances from the investors that the airport reconstruction project would be completed before the end of the year as targeted.
The Minister was shown progress on work being done at the modern terminal that can host at least six flights at the same time, the presidential pavilion, the runway, taxiway and control tower that will form the ultra-modern airport being designed by the Turkish Investor – SUMMA.
“At the completion of this massive development, the citizens of this country would be happy that the President is transforming the nation in accordance with his manifesto promises and policy pronouncements,” the Minister noted, while encouraging the airport investors to continue to support the President’s dream.
According to the Minister, the Government will continue to attract more investors and ensure that their investments are well protected.
He disclosed plans of the Government to establish an administrative and financial city in Lungi which will attract more visitors and investors into the country and by extension support the airport investment.
Lungi, he said, will have a 5-Star Hotel and an International Conference Centre as part of the Government development plans.
High Court Judge, Hon. Justice Adrian Fisher has on the 21st February 2022 dismiss an Application by the defence team of Dr. Samura Kamara, the 2018 Presidential Candidate of the APC Party, seeking to quash the indictment upon which Dr. Samura and 5 others are standing trial at the High Court for corruption related offences.
“Under the common law, an indictment may only be quashed where the facts stated in the said indictment, did not amount to an offence punishable by law. An application for quashing the indictment made by the defence can only succeed where it is clear on the face of the indictment, that the said indictment was preferred without jurisdiction,” Justice Fisher stated.
He said that, “having considered the application made by the legal team of the 4th accused, Dr Samura Kamara, the application is dismissed in its entirety,” he ruled.
Justice Fisher’s decision follows an Application filed before the court by way of Notice of Motion by the defence team of Dr. Samura Kamara seeking to quash the indictment on the grounds that it was defective.
In his objection, Lawyer Joseph F. Kamara argued that there was no certificate from the Attorney General and Minister of Justice consenting to indict the 6th accused who is a foreign national as provided for by Law.
He stressed that the indictment charges offences against a person, in respect of whom necessary notification of a decision to bring proceedings has not been given.
Lawyer Kamara further argued that the proofs of evidence and documents submitted in support of the preferment of the indictment against the 4th accused (Dr. Samura), for offences undercounts 47-48 do not disclose a case to answer for those offences.
He added that there was no evidence that the prosecution notified the United States Embassy of the intent to investigate or charge its national in the person of Jules Sanders Davis, the 6th accused.
He concluded that in the absence of a consent, these proceedings are a nullity, and the court should stop the case from proceeding.
In their response to the Application, Counsel for the State, O.V Robin Mason Sr. also argued that the Notice of Motion is defective as it does not comply with the High Court Rules of 2007.
He reiterated that the persons who drafted the document have “no locus standi” to approach the court on behalf of the 6th accused or to act on his behalf.
Robin Mason Esq added that the provisions of Section 53(2) of the CPA 1965 preclude objections in respect of form and content of any indictment that is framed in accordance with the provision of Section 51 of the CPA 1965.
Justice Fisher went on to note that, “I will therefore hold that the indictment charged without the consent of the Attorney General is not bad in law and the application to quash the indictment in that regard is refused.”
He added that, “I have not seen any evidence that the public interest in prosecuting this case is outweighed by granting a stay of proceedings or in fact quashing the indictment. The defence team has not been able to show why it would be unfair to try the other accused persons, if it were accepted that the 6th accused was wrongly charged.”
Immediately after the ruling, Lawyer Kamara informed the court that they will appeal each and every ruling delivered in respect of the hearing and will readily file in the requisite document seeking the leave of the Judge.
According to him, the Judge acted outside his powers by going ahead to interpret Section 124, 66 and 64 of the Constitution, a mandate which he said is only reserved for the Supreme Court.
The accused persons; Saidu Nallo (1st accused), Adikali Foday Suma (2nd accused) Foday Vahfomba Bawoh (3rd accused), Dr. Samura Matthew Wilson Kamara (4th accused) with the exception of Dr. Kandeh Foday Basil Kamara (5th accused) and Jules Sanders Davies (6th accused) who is currently out of the jurisdiction, are before the court on 48 count indictments ranging from misappropriation of public funds, conspiracy to commit a corruption offence, abuse of office and other corruption related offences.
The matter has been adjourned to Friday, 25th February 2022.
It has emerged that among petroleum dealers in Sierra Leone, the National Petroleum Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is being highly commended and respected for its reliability in terms of prompt service delivery.
It is indeed a remarkable feat that NP-SL continues to maintain in order to ensure that there is sufficient high grade petrol, diesel, kerosene and other petroleum products available in the country to avoid shortage.
It is an indisputable fact that the National Petroleum (NP) Sierra Leone Limited is also held in very high esteem for its progressive and steady provision of petroleum products to its numerous consumers across the country and even in the sub-region.
Indeed, this contention has been proven perfectly correct by this medium after conducting a thorough survey gauging the views of Sierra Leoneans from different walks of life. What came out clearly throughout the period of the survey was that NP-SL Ltd is rated as one of the most successful 100% owned indigenous company that has stood the test of time.
“It is of course rare for one to see in this country a purely and result-oriented indigenously-owned company like NP-SL Ltd with all its members of staff being Sierra Leoneans which is truly a testimony of commitment and resilience,” posited a seasoned economist who further said that, “when we talk of optimizing the Local Content Policy, which is a sine qua non to overall national development, then the company should be given a pat on the back”.
The selflessness and commitment of the shareholders have made it possible for the company to empower many Sierra Leoneans and at the same time put it at a vantage position to continue to open more filling stations across the country.
The company deals with individuals and various sectors of society, always ensuring that its various petroleum products are available and are sold at affordable prices. This keen symbiotic relationship with its customers has been paying huge dividends, always resulting in a win-win situation, making NP very endearing to all and sundry.
The regulatory institution of the different petroleum companies in the country, the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), has lauded NP-SL Ltd for its efficient service delivery wherever it is operating.
It is a fact that fuel is regarded as a political commodity and based on its availability and non-availability it has the potential of making a government popular or unpopular.
For too long this country has been contending with unemployment; one of the issues which the Government should be addressing by creating avenues for young people to be gainfully employed. However, it is not only the prerogative of Government to do this as the private sector too could play a vital role in that direction.
NP-Sierra Leone, operating in different parts of the country, has been very instrumental in availing Sierra Leoneans with jobs in various categories and from what was gathered, conditions of service are very satisfactory. Justifiably one can state that NP-SL has been greatly contributing to poverty reduction, putting food on tables which beneficiaries hitherto found tough to achieve.
NP-SL is not only thinking within the confines of maximizing profit but also is also thinking out of the box when performing its demand and supply chain, taking into consideration the harmful health consequences to humans and depletion of the environment by using coal and wood for cooking purposes. This is why NP Sierra Leone thought it fit to provide Sierra Leoneans with a safer and cleaner means of cooking devoid of inhaling carbon-dioxide which is the NP Gas Cooker. These are affordable and readily available in all NP outlets and from their agents.
To keep abreast with latest technological trends the company has availed its customers the opportunity to use Smart Cards for purchasing purpose meaning that buyers could top-up their cards to the tune of any amount which they can use intermittently to procure petroleum products. This has made it convenient for easy transactions to transpire and many are comfortable with that.
For any Government to match up with what is encapsulated in its manifesto in the direction of deepening national development through funding various projects then it must have sources of generating domestic revenue. NP is one conduit through which government past and present had and is deriving revenue as it falls within the category of being one of the largest taxpayers to the National Revenue Authority.
For a company to move beyond the shores of this country and establish branches in Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast and The Gambia which are vibrantly operating is no mean feat. Indeed, NP-SL Ltd has made history and is being copiously praised for such an accomplishment.
The company’s result-oriented managerial team will definitely and sustainably continue to put NP-SL Ltd at the top.
It goes without saying that the National Petroleum Limited-Sierra Leone continues to give optimum satisfaction to its numerous customers and is doing so excellently.
Corn Milk Infant Cereal with milk has been certified by nutritionists as fitting and good to be used as a first complementary food for babies. However, they advised that breastfeeding must be continued for as long as possible after introduction of this good complementary food. This is more so as Corn Milk contains important vitamins such as iron; vitamins A, C and Zinc to name a few and is very easy to Digest, easy to prepare. Indisputably, Corn Milk Infant Cereal is the perfect daily complementary food for your baby.
Besides, it provides energy and essential nutrients for the healthy growth of children, is convenient, delicious and can be consumed any time of the day as well as prepared in several ways as a porridge, shake or with a favorite fruit.
With Corn milk infant cereal with milk, mothers can provide their children less than five years the right to be well nourished and healthy, because Corn milk infant cereal with milk is a complete food that provides calories, protein, vitamins and minerals to ensure growth and child development.
Corn milk infant cereal with milk is an excellent everyday food source ideal for a healthy balanced diet for babies from six months of age. Contains important vitamins such as iron; vitamins A, C & D and zinc to name a few. Easy to Digest! Easy to Prepare!
It’s very easy to make, just boil some water, pour in the recommended scoops of the infant baby cereal and stir until you have a good consistency.
Contact Emkay Store SL Ltd as it is the sole distributor of Nutrilac Baby Cereal Wheat +6months 400G, Olinda Slim Tea & Olinda Pure Ceylon Tea and many other products which include: Nutribom Infant Cereal, Nutrilon and H&H infant formulas (Corn milk and Cereal for infants), Confectioneries (inclusive of items for children’s birthday parties), etc.
The Reality TV Show that many are looking forward to participate in and to watch on their television screens will shortly commence as AYV Media Empire and Africell-SL are putting all the final touches in place to provide all, within and out of Sierra Leone, one of the best entertainment events of modern times, Housemates Salone Season 3.
There is no iota of doubt that it is going to be big and truly entertaining as all the lessons learned during the Season 2 sessions have been taken into consideration to present a social event that will leave tongues wagging in different circles in the form of arguments based on the performances of the Housemates, what was supposed to be done at one particular moment or the other and all the gossips associated with such shows.
Housemates Salone Season 3 will definitely create a situation that will project the image of this country in a more positive light to the outside world. This was a bit touched on by the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt during the launch of Housemates Salone Season 3 at the prestigious Lagoonda Entertainment Complex in Freetown on the 13th February, 2022 which attracted many from different walks of life.
Indeed, the Ministry of Tourism has done much in terms of marketing the touristic potentials of the country as seen in the series of engagements that the Ministry has held with important stakeholders in the industry as well as putting in place requisite infrastructure to derive fruitful dividends from which the country could immensely benefit. Against such a backdrop, what Housemates Salone Season 3 will do is add to what had been achieved already by making Sierra Leone more visible at the international stage and make it very attractive in order to woo tourists into the country.
The likelihood of the Reality TV Show to have a domino effect on the tourism sector becomes more accentuated or more feasible when cognizance is taken of the fact that the show will be shown live via DStv Channel 399.
This is simply so because, of late, the African Young Voices Empire concretized an arrangement with DStv for some of its content to be broadcast on the satellite platform via channel 399 which will be used to air the show live and by extension Sierra Leone as a country to be portrayed where all the beautiful talents attributes are embedded in the Housemates whom many out there would like to meet and interact with. From time to time certain aspects or parts of the country, its intangible customs, traditions, historic places will be shown or raised which foreigners might have interest in.
It is an established fact that with an enhanced and booming tourist industry the country will benefit economically and individuals will also stand to gain immensely in diverse ways.
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. To apply, please click the following links : https://www.africell.sl/housemates/
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 10th March 2022.
What is at stake is the Star Prize of Le250M plus a round trip to Dubai.
Already certain interested persons have made know their intentions to be part of the Reality TV Show and more are doing so on a daily basis.
The slogan for Housemates Salone Season 3 is: “Di Game Get Yagba, If You Nor Able Na for Pull Hand”. It sounds like a warning shot within the contextual meaning that in the House the competition is going to be extremely puzzling and heated to such an extent that if those who think or believe that the kitchen will be hot should not even attempt to procure application forms.
But in real terms, it is the keenness of the competition which brings out the juicy sides and creates the laughter and fun among viewers.
AYV and Africell are indeed both set to one again thrill viewers in and out of the country with a fantastic Reality TV Show never seen in the country’s entertainment history or industry.
I have met with hundreds of drug users and their answer was they switched to using Kush rather than that of marijuana. Few of them really want to get off it but how? And where can they go? Who will support them? All the Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) that live in the streets and I am pretty sure the “elite sex workers” are also on Kush. When you hear their stories, as to why they use Kush, they will say “sometimes, I need to numb myself so that I will not be bothered for sex”! There are specific locations where homeless drug users exist and are raided by police, been imprisoned, or jailed at one point or another.
I have heard from CSWs that are homeless, say that when they are caught by a Police Officer, if they do not have money to give, the Police ask for sex in return! The questions that bounce into my mind are? How many of these Police Officers are involved in these kinds of act? Are they infected with HIV, Hepatitis B or other sexually transmitted diseases that predisposes them to chronic infectious diseases? Many CSWs attest to the fact that sometimes they do not use condoms, because it is requested by their clients not to. Have they not heard of HIV? The problem is when they are on drugs, their cognitive response is dampened!
Drug users and CSWs represent one of the high-risk groups for HIV, Hepatitis B and C. Most drug users that are homeless in Sierra Leone inhale drugs, they do not inject drugs, unlike the elite ones who do. The gloomiest fact is many youngsters, college students that have a bright future ahead of them are also on drugs. Who do we hold accountable for this and who will save them from the ditch they have placed themselves into? At least the elite drug users can afford to travel abroad for rehabilitation, how about the teenage CSWs, that are homeless, helpless, and vulnerable- who will save them?
What is Kush?
To simplify things here, we have the naturally occurring Kush which is a specific strain of cannabis that originated from the Hindu Kush mountains located near the border of Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. The leaves are darker, fuller, and rounder than the sativa plant. The buds tend to grow in clumps. Cannabis has two main subspecies indica and sativa. Kush mainly falls into the indica-hybrid category rather than Sativa, but there are many hybrid Kush strains produced through cross breeding.
Mind you, the Kush that is smuggled into Sierra Leone (SL) is a synthetic weed otherwise known as Kush, spice, k2, and many other funny names. These synthetic cannabinoids can be very harmful and life threatening as it is 100 times more potent than that of natural marijuana. Kush is a mixture of “plant matter” sprayed with an ever-altering host of chemicals, in sometimes dangerously high proportions. The original formula was invented by a chemist who had no idea that his research, would be used to mass-market dangerous drugs around the world.
Synthetic Marijuana (Kush)
How do we recognize fake weed/ Kush or synthetic Cannabinoids?
Synthetic marijuana often contains a mixture of dried leaves from traditional herbal plants. They are various colours, including green, brown, blonde, and red, and often sold in small packets approximately two by three inches. The packets are often colourful foil packs or plastic zip bags.
How is Kush used?
In SL it is mostly smoked with or without tobacco, placed in e-cigarettes or pipes.
What made people start using it in SL?
Probably due to its flamboyant euphoric effect and tranquilizing effect it produces, well its effect varies among individuals.
How is it sold? And by whom?
Kush is sold per ounce and be packaged as “bull”, sold at Le 5000/bull. From what I was told, it arrives from Columbia, sold by ghettos, mostly by bars, gambling places and slum areas. They are hence sold by Sierra Leoneans and brought in by Sierra Leoneans through Guinea.
Common Side Effects
Many people believe that synthetic marijuana can be safe because its “legal” and contains natural substances. However, this is false, as it resulted in severe bleeding, bruising, and some deaths. God only knows how our youths are just dying in Sierra Leone, with some committing suicide! Side effects of the drug include elevated mood, relaxation, altered perception, symptoms of psychosis, extreme anxiety, confusion, paranoia, hallucinations, violent behaviour, suicidal thoughts, rapid heart rate, raised blood pressure, vomiting, kidney damage, and seizures. Overdoses can cause fatal heart attacks.
Is it dangerous to mix with other drugs?
Mixing Kush with alcohol or other drugs can be especially dangerous. It can exaggerate the risks of both drugs and can lead to a greater risk of accidents or death.
Also, because synthetic cannabinoids can over stimulate the serotonin system, it is important to avoid mixing them with antidepressants, as they both stimulate serotonin response in the brain- which can lead to serotonin syndrome, causing high fever, rapid pulse, sweating, agitation, confusion, convulsions, organ failure, coma and even death.
What are the long-term consequences?
This includes increase in blood pressure, seizures, tremors, anxiety and of course addiction.
What are the withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking Kush?
The withdrawals can include cravings for synthetic cannabinoids, irritability, mood changes, loss of appetite, weight loss, difficulty sleeping and even sweating, shaking and diarrhea.
Take home messages
Though “naturally occurring marijuana” is still available for recreational use and regarded as “natural”, and despite its medicinal uses, that does not make it safe. Marijuana is addictive. In countries with good health information systems and surveillance, it is known that since marijuana has been legalized for recreational use, emergency room visits have skyrocketed.
Where are we heading?
For a socioeconomic disaster, our youths, the future generation that is supposed to build a new Sierra Leone is getting high, rather than building a bright future! Mind you the brain is not fully developed until after 25 years old, DO NOT MESS it up with drugs! A well-equipped rehab and addiction centre needs to be established in Sierra Leone, with trained and qualified health staffs.
Need help?
Due to societal pressure, Kush and other substances of abuse can be difficult to give up. Having it in my mind that you can beat the addiction and ready to face the temporary withdrawal symptoms could be a good start. Do not be shy or embarrassed to seek help! You should visit the psychiatric hospital at Kissy which has trained psychiatric staffs that can help you get the care you need. You are not alone, and you cannot do this alone!
Manal Ghazzzawi– is a Doctor of Pharmacy, a public health specialist and a consultant clinical pharmacist. She is a health entrepreneur, CEO of Citiglobe Pharmacies Ltd, and a laureate for women in Africa Entrepreneurs 2020 and has won many awards as the most outstanding pharmacist in Sierra Leone. Dr. Ghazzawi is a foundation fellow of the newly established Postgraduate College of Health Specialists in Sierra Leone.
