Sierra Leone to Benefit from the World Bank $1.31 Billion by 2023

February 21, 2022

The World Bank Regional Vice President for West and Central Africa, Ousmane Diagana, in his two days working visit to Sierra Leone, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to strengthen its bilateral relationship with the Government of Sierra Leone and to also increase the Bank’s support to key sectors in the Medium- Term Development Plan.

Ousmane Diagana held series of engagements and discussions with the President, H.E Rtd. Brg. Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Government Ministers, private Sector Players, CSOs, and development partners.
In most of his statements, he expressed delight over the progress Sierra Leone is making amidst the challenges the country is facing

He applauded the Government for its Human Capital Development Programmes on Education, strides in the Health, Agriculture sectors and improving the standards of living of vulnerable groups.

The Minister of Finance, Dennis K Vandi, in his statement thanked the Bank for approving the disbursement of 2021 budget support of $75 million, stating that such will enable the Government to deliver basic
services to the people of Sierra Leone. “We are confident with the support of the World Bank Country Office, we can complete the implementation of the reform actions by June 2022 so that we can start work on the third series of the DPO before the end of 2022,” he added.

He reiterated Government’s commitment to the implementation of policy reforms actions under the Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) and Debt Transparency. The Minister further emphasises the need for more support in the water sector to ensure access to clean drinking water in both rural and urban areas, thus calling on the Bank to support the water sector under the IDA 20 funding cycle.

Dennis K. Vandi further expressed appreciation to the Bank for the initial funding for the construction of four rural bridges out of the thirteen bridges for which feasibility studies have been done.

Speaking on the Bank’s current portfolio in Sierra Leone, the Vice President for West and Central Africa ,Ousmane Diagana, stated that the current project portfolio is about $956 million covering projects on youth empowerment and safety net, digital transformation, lands, ferry crossing bridges, budget support, energy, health system strengthening and accountable governance.

He further stated that for the financial year FY2023 there are several projects in the pipeline, additional financing on energy $50 million, additional financing on education, $50 million, DPO- Budget support of $75 million, and construction of remaining 8 ferry crossing rural bridges of $50 million; the Bank is already financing 4 ferry crossing bridges of Gendema, Manowa Ferry, Mattru-Jong Ferry and Tomparie, for which the Procurement is well advanced.

The visit of the Vice President of the World Bank to Sierra Leone at this time according to Sahr Jusu Financial Secretary is a demonstration of the level of confidence the Bank and other development partners have in the new Direction Government. He committed to improving transparency and accountability as well the performance of the country’s CPIA ratings to be able to access additional resources.
From now to June this year, the Bank is committed to approve 3 new projects of $130.0m-the Youth Empowerment and Safety net of $40.0m, Lands Development Project of $40.0 million and digital transformation project under the Information Ministry of $50.0 million. The World Bank’s 2022 Financial Year (which ends in June) has committed $130.0 million, Pipeline projects stand at $225.0 million with the existing total ongoing projects funding of nearly $900.0 million bringing the Bank’s portfolio to about $1.31 billion by June 2023.

LLB3 Football Squad Emerges as Champion of FBC Law Society Soccer Tournament

February 21, 2022

Sierra Leone Football Association Academy on Kingtom in Freetown,

By Foday Moriba Conteh

During a well-attended football encounter hosted by the Law Society Fourah Bay College at the Sierra Leone Football Association Academy on Kingtom in Freetown, the Bachelor of Law, Year 3 (LLB 3) Football Squad has been crowned the Champion of the Law Society Inter-Class Soccer Tournament 2022 under the grand patron of Bubuakei Jabbi Esq.

The Law Society Inter-Class Soccer Tournament 2022 brought together students pursuing a Bachelor of Law degree at Fourah Bay College in a friendly competition. At the initial stage LLB 3 played LLB 2 of which LLB 3 won, and LLB 4 played LLB 1 of which LLB 1 won. At the end of that stage, LLB 3 and LLB 1 made it to the final of which the LLB 3 squad was crowned as the Champion after defeating LLB 1 in a penalty shootout. The tournament also featured events for ladies, which include Sack Race, Egg & Spoon, Tug of Peace and 100-meter relay.

Prizes were awarded to winners of the various categories amounting to over 7 million Leones including the prize for the first goal scorer which were 200 dollars. All cash prizes were donated by Madam Tuma Jabbi Gento Kamara the daughter of the late Bubuakei Jabbi Esq.

In her address, the President of the Law Society of Fourah Bay College, Bintu Bangura, revealed that pursuing a Law course and LLB Program at Fourah Bay College is extremely demanding and daunting, adding that for both first and second semesters, students do engage in effective studies with no time for relaxation and fun.

She continued that it was against such a backdrop that the Law Society Executive deemed it fit to stage a Law Students’ week which started with Sports and Games to culminate with a dinner.

Bintu Bangura maintained that the sports and games activities were mainly geared towards creating the platform for students to have fun, play games, relax and cool off.

She informed all that the Law Students’ Week will be climaxed with the Law Society Dinner scheduled to take place on Friday 18^thFebruary 2022 at the Ocean View Country Club and Resort at Sussex of which she called on all Sierra Leoneans to support the society in their up-coming dinner.

“Tickets are available now at 1,000,000 (Gold), 500,000 (Silver) and 250,000 (Bronze) and all those who want to purchase tickets should contact us on +23277459-773,” the President revealed.

The Coach for LLB 3, which emerged as the winner of the tournament, Alhassan Idris Bangura congratulated his team for emerging victorious saying that he is very proud as a coach.

He said on behalf of the team they are dedicating the victory and trophy to one of their colleagues who was their Sport Ambassador, the Late Christopher Stevens who passed away sometime in December of 2021.

Alhassan Idris Bangura revealed that in the last competition they lost on a post-match penalty to LLB 4 and since then they have been engaged on several practices saying they have manifested professionalism in this year’s tournament.

He concluded by commending the FBC Law Society Executive for starting the Law Society Inter-Class Soccer Tournament 2022 which he described as a laudable venture towards creating the platform for students to have fun.

On his part, the coach for LLB 1, expressed disappointed that they lost to LLB 3 in the final, adding that during the 90 minutes of play his team was very much composed and they were on top of situation. He stated that although they did not win the final, but they are very proud to have made it to the final stage after defeating LLB 4 considering the fact that they are only coming into the system but said regardless of all that they were able to compete against their seniors. He concluded by encouraging his players to keep the spirit and wished them better luck next time.

Closing the event was the handing over of prizes, medals and the trophy by Madam Tuma Adama Gento-Kamara.

Global Compact for Migration Implementation Report Reviewed by Sierra Leone

February 21, 2022

By Alfred Fornah

National stakeholders in the migration sector in Sierra Leone met on the 15th February,2022 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation offices in Freetown to discuss the country’s progress in the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM).

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the consultations, the United Nations Resident Coordinator (RC) in Sierra Leone, Babatunde Ahonsi, said, “the GCM reflects a growing understanding of the benefits linked to human mobility,” and that it provides us with a structured framework to look at migration in a comprehensive, forward-looking manner.

According to the RC, through its 23 objectives, the Compact offers a range of guiding goals that can be inspiring, if not foundational, for policymaking to the benefit of migration. He stated that the forum serves as the primary global platform to discuss and share progress on the implementation of all aspects of the Global Compact, including its relationship with the 2030 Agenda and the participation of all relevant stakeholders.

In her statement, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ms Mamadi Gobeh Kamara, said that the engagement was timely because it coincides with the finalization of the Government’s policy on migration – to finalize a profound work undertaken by Government and non-governmental organizations and to develop a national document that deals with migration issues.

The Head of Office of IOM Sierra Leone, James Bagonza, commended the Government of Sierra Leone for moving forward with the review of the GCM. “Sierra Leone’s report, which will be discussed today, is a chance to identify existing gaps in the migration landscape, and it is also a chance for the UN Network on Migration in Sierra Leone to contribute to the discussion and look at concrete ways to close these gaps”, he said.

Mr Bagonza added, “As a leading agency with respect to IOM’s role as secretariat of the United Nations Network on Migration, we feel privileged to bring together diverse stakeholders to this discussion. We are confident our exchanges here will also be critical to identifying how to improve thematic migration policies and programmes in Sierra Leone in the long run.”

In December 2020, Sierra Leone held its first national consultation and submitted a Voluntary National Report (VNR) on the GCM. The national review process of the progress of the implementation of the GCM Report will feed into the sub-regional review, the continental review, and then the first International Migration Review Forum that will be held in New York in May this year.

Why is Maada Kpenge Going after Private Lands at Mile 13?

February 21, 2022

By Esther Wright

The Head of Guma Valley Water Company, Maada Kpenge is on the verge of going after private lands at Mile 13. The GUMA Boss, according to the investigation has been hell-bent on his plans to cleverly acquire the said land under the guise of protecting the GUMA Dam.

The investigation uncovered has proved that before the existence of GUMA, people were living at Mile 13. Some of the buildings along Mile 13 are said to be within the town and not in the thick bushes. GUMA Valley during its establishment was said to have asked the people to allow them to pass their pipes at the time the dam was under construction. It will interest readers to know that since the establishment of GUMA years back, employment opportunities have not been given to the indigenes as most of those employed by GUMA are people coming from other communities and big towns.

GUMA Valley has not been honouring any corporate social responsibilities and most of the lands along the Mile 13 area which are within the township have nothing to do with the areas of operations by GUMA.

The investigation has also uncovered that the institution charged with the responsibility to determine land ownership which is the Ministry of Lands has given authentic documents to owners of different families who are rightful owners of the lands GUMA wants to lay claim at. It is also understood that the National Protection Area Authority in their findings discovered that the lands at Mile 13 township are owned by Private Individuals and not GUMA hence the reason why the NPAA has not taken any action to go after the land. “What is the head of GUMA aiming at?” asked concerned citizens who preferred to be anonymous. If GUMA believes the lands they have laid claimed on belongs to them, let them come up with a plan or authentic document to back their claims.

The head of GUMA, according to the investigation, is using the institution as a front so that he can actualize his vision and plans to sell a large portion of the lands and make money. GUMA Valley, according to the recent Audit Report was unable to account for a huge amount of money disbursed to them by the Central Government.

The cynical activities of Maada Kpenge will be brought to the light in our next edition on how he is using the institution to milk the country of her needed resources through backdoor deals and operations within the water sector as the Government continues to spend a huge amount of money in managing the operations of the institution.

GUMA Valley is one among many Government agencies that are presently not good to write home about as their operations within the city is not even good to talk about.

Chinese Ambassador Visits LV Yuan Wood and Furniture Company

February 21, 2022

LV Yuan Wood and Furniture SL Company Limited.png

By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Ambassador Hu Zhangliang, has on the 19^th February 2022 visited the LV Yuan Wood and Furniture Company located at Songo, Rotifunk Road, 200 meters away from Makoloh Roundabout to Songo Highway. The visit to the factory by the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone was to endorse and encourage green development and local production within the ambit of China-Sierra Leone Cooperation.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone Hu Zhangliang expressed delight for visiting the LV Yuan Wood and Furniture Company, adding that China has entered a new stage of higher level development of which he said HE Chinese President Xl Jinping has put forward the development philosophy, which stresses innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development and that green development is now one of the key components of China’s comprehensive development strategy.

He intimated that the China-Africa cooperation has been elevated to a higher level, stating that at the 8^thMinisterial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Senegal last year, China and Africa set green development as one of the priority
areas of future cooperation.

“To my joy, the LV YUAN Wood and Furniture (SL) Company Limited and Madame Sunny, the dynamic Chinese business-lady are actively implementing China’s new development philosophy and its new guidelines for China-Africa Cooperation by setting up the Song Timber Factory,” Hu Zhangliang further expressed how he is highly impressed.

He maintained that he is glad to know that the factory not just makes good use of timber to make value-added wood products locally, but also offer saplings to the community residents for the reforestation of the country, intimating that the factory provides 600 job opportunities for the local people while employing only about 15 Chinese technicians, which he described as a concrete step in realizing local content and results in a win-win situation.

“I hope this factory and all the other Chinese invested companies in Sierra Leone will as always abide by the laws and regulations of the land strictly respect the traditions and customs of our local friends, ensure the legitimate interests and welfare of the employees are enhanced, and make more contribution to the development of the local society through a win-win cooperation,” the Ambassador expressed optimism.

Hu Zhangliang said that he is with the strong conviction that the Government and people of Sierra Leone will continue to support and protect such commendable investments, take good care of the legitimate concerns and interests of the investors and make them feel at
home in doing their businesses.

On his part, the Manager of the LV Yuan Wood and Furniture SL Company Limited, Leon Lee, commended the Chinese Ambassador for visiting their factory which he described as a move in the right direction towards fulfilling his purpose in endorsing and encouraging green development and local production in the China-Sierra Leone Cooperation.

He revealed that the factory was set up on the 11^th January, 2021, and officially started production on the 15^th May 2021, adding that the factory is covering an area of 220,000 square meters which is divided into four areas which includes the workshop, warehouse, solar energy exhibition hall, grinding and sawing rooms, generator rooms, staff dormitories.

Leon Lee maintained that the factory not just makes good use of timber to make value-added wood products locally, but also contribute saplings to the community for the reforestation of the country, of which he revealed that at present the factory provides 600 job opportunities for the local people while employing only about 15 Chinese technicians.

The Local Staff of the LV Yuan Wood and Furniture Company who spoke during the ceremony applauded the company for establishing such an investment in the country.

They also commended the company for the support the company has been rendering to them since its inception.

They further called on other investors to follow the footprint of the company which they said will contribute positively towards the overall development of the country.

CHRDI Unequivocally Condemns Arrest of Opposition Spokesman

February 21, 2022

By Amin Kef-Ranger

In a statement issued by the Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI) dated 9th February 2022 it was stated that earlier last week, the Sierra Leone Police “invited for questioning” Sidie Yahya Tunis, APC’s Acting Publicity Secretary, and Deputy Spokesman, after an interview which he granted to Radio Democracy 98.1 “Good Morning Sierra Leone” program on February 7, 2022.

According to CHRDI, the SLP deemed his statements on the radio program tantamount to “incitement” and as such Tunis was charged and released on Le 200 million bail and asked to report again to the CID on the 14th February 2022.

It continued that recently it is the second prominent opposition party leader that have been detained and questioned because of statements made on Radio Democracy.

The rights-based organization said as we approach the 2023 national elections, it notices with concern that the number of arrests of prominent opposition members, including prominent women, is on the rise.

Stating few examples of these arrests it referenced in December 2021, when the Sierra Leone Police arrested the Leader of the Unity Party, Femi Claudius-Cole and about 20 other women who went to the CID to peacefully protest the arrest of another prominent female opposition leader, Diana Finda Konomanyi.

The organization also mentioned how in December 2021, the Sierra Leone Police arrested female opposition leader, Diana Finda Konomanyi, who was questioned in connection with a video she posted on social media asking her constituents to refuse participation in the mid-term census.

Again it pointed at the December 7, 2021 incident when the Chairman of the opposition National Grand Coalition party, Dr Dennis Bright, was also invited by the Sierra Leone Police to be questioned in connection with his interview on Radio Democracy about the government’s mid-term population census. Dr Bright was released after the questioning.

It went on to state that on May 1st, 2020, Dr Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, a senior female politician to the main opposition APC party was arrested, and on May 22nd authorities charged Blyden with sedition, defamation, and “perversion of justice” over her social media posts. She was discharged after the repeal of Part V of the Public Order Act of 1965.

CHRDI maintains how it has observed with grave concern an increase in the arrest and prosecution of other citizens who speak up against the Government or criticize the Government and the leaders at State House.

The rights-based organization added that it is deeply concerned about this pattern of arrests of opposition leaders in Sierra Leone, as well as arrests of civilian people who criticize the Government.

“These arrests have a chilling effect on the people of Sierra Leone regarding their space to assemble freely and to freedom of expression,” CHRDI asserted furthering that the pattern represents a blatant attempt to intimidate politicians and political activists and to silence the regular people who wish to express disapproval to the way the Government of the day carries out its duties, promises and obligations.

It went on to state that at the same time, CHRDI acknowledges that freedom of speech comes with responsibilities as well stressing that as we approach the 2023 elections, they urge ALL political leaders and activists to criticize based on facts, evidence, and data and to remember that an irresponsible speech may have far-reaching effects.

The organization also urged all political party members/supporters to respect the laws of the land, and refrain from making irresponsible statements.

It underscored that at the same time, the leadership of the Sierra Leone Police must train their staff to understand that criticizing the Government does not constitute “incitement” and that the fundamental role of the Police is to protect the people.

CHRDI categorically pointed out that according to the POLICE ACT 1964, ACT NO 7 OF 1964 Sec 4 the general duties of the Police Force, include detection of crime, apprehension of offenders, preservation of law and order, protection of property and enforcement of all laws and regulations and not to assure the people of insecurity

It also pointed out that Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – ICCPR which Sierra Leone also ratified, states that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.

Without freedom of expression and information, according to CHRDI, political parties’ right to association and their right to take part in public affairs amount to little or nothing.

The rights-based organization pinpointed that it is freedom of expression that ensures the right of political parties and their members to present their political views, values, and to take part in the political debate, etc.

The Organization quoted the ICCPR by stating that: Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference, that everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression and such shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice.

CHRDI stated that the exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of that article carries with it special duties and responsibilities and it may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary: for respect of the rights or reputations of others and for the protection of national security or of public order, or of public health or morals.

The rights-based organization maintains that the Government of Sierra Leone is obliged to ensure these rights. Also quoting the African Court on Human and People’s Rights it was stated that: States shall review all criminal restrictions on content to ensure that they serve a legitimate interest in a democratic society.

That Freedom of expression should not be restricted on public order or national security grounds unless there is a real risk of harm to a legitimate interest and there is a close causal link between the risk of harm and the expression.

Referencing Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, CHRDI said it mandates that “everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers”.

Based on the standpoint of the organization, the Sierra Leone Government is obligated under those international laws and conventions to: Respect the freedom of expression of all political parties, their members, and activists, to take positive actions to prevent non-State actors from interfering with the exercise of freedom of expression by political parties and their members, and to put in place positive measures to ensure that its own actions contribute to the free flow of information and ideas in society, e.g. through a legal framework to provide for access to information held by public bodies.

As Inquiry Team Submits Report… Local Government Minister Dissolves FCC Mayor’s Delivery Unit

February 21, 2022

By Esther Wright

It could be recalled that on the 26th August 2021, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development constituted a group of distinguished persons to critically examine alleged concerns raised by various parties to the imbroglio at Freetown City Council (FCC).

It comprised eminent personalities in the persons of Haja Alimatu Yebbi Abdullah, a distinguished Civil Society, Women’s Rights Activist and current President of Gender Equality 50-50 Group, Mrs. Gladys Darling Hastings-Spaine, another distinguished Consultant Administrator, erstwhile Secretary to Women’s Forum (national umbrella body for all Women’s groups); Dr. Carol Labor, female Advocate Educationist & Consultant; Mrs. Neneh Dabo , a distinguished Retired female Civil Servant; Charles Joezie Silver PhD – Executive Chairman, African Peer Review Mechanism; Francis M. Fofanah-Komeh, a seasoned Accountant, Decentralization Secretariat , David Sheku, a distinguished Retired Civil Servant who served as the Chairman and Alieu Vandi Koroma Esq. – State Counsel, Law Officers Department who served as Secretary to the Inquiry.

At the end of their inquiry a Report was submitted to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Amb Tamba Lamina on the 17^th February, 2022, with recommendations in a 51-page Report that is now freely available to the general public.

During the publication of the administrative inquiry report into the Management of the Freetown City Council, the Local Government Minister ordered that the Mayor’s Delivery Unit (MDU) at the Freetown City Council (FCC) be dissolved with immediate effect on the grounds that it is not legally seated in the Council.

“As a Ministry, having gone through the recommendations of the inquiry team, which stated that FCC had a toxic and acidic working environment, dysfunctional relationship, financial mismanagement and that the MDU is a parallel administration to the statutory administration, we have resolved to disband it from the Council,” Minister Tamba Lamina pronounced.

He stated that the decision of the Ministry was in accordance with part 14 of Subsection 97 to 99 of the 2004 Local Government Act, which outlines the roles of the Local Government Ministry with regards monitoring, supervision and oversight.

The Minister added that Section 97 (4) clearly gives the Ministry the responsibility to investigate defaults in any Council, map out ways to rectify it, choose the type of actions or interventions that may be required to settle the same and support the said Council to effectively exercise its functions.

He disclosed that the Ministry is very much concerned about the underperformance of FCC and that it has developed a number of benchmarks which FCC must conform to, disclosing how the Ministry will be meeting with the FCC on Tuesday 22nd February 2022 to agree on timelines for the abduction of the said benchmarks.

Minister Tamba Lamina ended by reading a good number of recommendations from the report, including the one to restore the dignity and effectiveness of the core staff who had been redundant in the Council since the establishment of the MDU.

Members of the inquiry team read couple of sections on their findings during the investigation. Among other things they highlighted were that FCC had taken and implemented major decisions without consulting the Ministry. For instance, the decision to establish the MDU to raise property tax was a unilateral decision taken by FCC in complete disregard to the supervisory Ministry (MLGRD), that visiting dignitaries of FCC do not pay courtesy calls on the Ministry and many others.

Other interesting findings and recommendations were disclosed during the publication ceremony where members of staff of FCC, MLGRD, the inquiry team and the media were present.

In a related matter, prior to the publication of the administrative inquiry report which was done at 2:30pm, Councillors of the FCC earlier, on the same date, 17^th February 2022, issued a Press Statement on the 17^th February 2022 in which they stated that they have seen a memo circulating on social media from Alex Bhonapha, Director of the Decentralization Secretariat inviting the Mayor and other stakeholders in the Local Government sector to the official release of the report about the administrative inquiry on Freetown City Council.

They furthered that as Councillors, they are appalled that they were not invited to the be part of the public presentation of the administrative investigation which started from a letter of complaint against the Chief Administrator and his lack of administrative professionalism that was written by them.

The Councillors said they wish to remind the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development that they are elected representatives of the people of Freetown and have been given a mandate to serve the people.

In that respect, they said they are asking kindly that the Ministry in its supervision of the Council respects their decisions as representatives of the people of Freetown, continue to provide a platform for dialogue between political and administrative wings of Council, and in the event that there is an impasse, does not impose an administration that the Council – the elected representatives of the people – does not want.

They concluded by saying that, at a minimum courtesy, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development should have engaged the Council first on the report findings instead of making a big public display for a serious matter that affects the functioning of the Council and by extension, residents of Freetown.

Expansion of US PEPFAR Improves Increased Access to HIV Treatment

February 21, 2022

By Millicent Senava Mannah

This year’s expansion of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is dramatically improving access to treatment for Sierra Leoneans living with HIV in the country.

This was made known by the US Ambassador to Sierra Leone, David Reimer, at the Bintumani Conference Centre in Freetown on the 11^th February 2022 marking the end of a five-day training programme that was conducted for health workers to Mann 15 new facilities that they are adding in the country. The training was geared towards mentoring health workers on comprehensive HIV prevention, care, and treatment.

He informed the audience that U.S. support of expanded treatment facilities and accessibility will enable Sierra Leone to meet the UNAIDS global goal of 95% of people living with HIV should know their status.

The Ambassador continued that 95% of those who know their status are on treatment; and 95% of those on treatment will have achieved viral suppression by 2030. He disclosed further how three additional U.S.-sponsored training sessions are planned for health facilities across four districts.

Speaking to participants of the training session, the United States Ambassador, David Reimer stated, “This training, and the site level support that will follow, will enable you to improve the services and outcomes in your communities, and contribute to the rapidly improving National HIV Response.”

He further disclosed that PEPFAR is now in its second year of support to Sierra Leone maintaining that due to the program’s success in its first year, the United States has nearly doubled funding for the program this year to $9 million.

“Last year, PEPFAR supported 15 high volume sites in four districts which are the Western Urban, Western Rural, Port Loko, and Kambia,” he stated adding how this year that support will be extended to an additional 15 sites.

He pointed out that PEPFAR is the Global Fund to Fight HIV, TB, and Malaria, for which the U.S. Government is the largest donor, and the Government of Sierra Leone, collectively implements the National HIV Response in Sierra Leone disclosing that the collaboration continues to deliver impressive progress for Sierra Leone.

It must be noted that Sierra Leone has an estimated 80,000 people living with HIV. Between 2020 to 2021, PEPFAR increased the number of people receiving treatment for HIV by over 20% and they hope to continue the trend of increasing the number of people receiving treatment.

Worthy of consideration is that once on treatment, most clients achieve viral suppression, which enables them to live a healthy life while also preventing them from transmitting HIV to someone else.

Other stakeholders present during the event made salient contributions during the program.

As the Two Sign Economic & Technical Cooperation … Strong Bilateral Ties Cemented between China & Sierra Leone

February 21, 2022

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.jpg

By Amin Kef Sesay

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Professor David John Francis and the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H.E Hu Zhangliang on the 11^th February 2022 signed a Joint Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement between China and Sierra Leone at the Ministry’s Conference Room on Tower Hill in Freetown.

Professor Francis in his statement said the agreement process was initiated at the China-African Forum in Dakar, Senegal. He said the signing of the Economic and Technical Cooperation agreement with China symbolizes the cordial bilateral relationship that has existed between the two Countries and that, they will continue to cement the great win-win collaboration.

The agreement on Economic Cooperation will help reduce the costs of trade, improve the availability of goods and services, and increase consumer purchasing power in both Nations. . On technical cooperation, this will cultivate the human resources who will shoulder the burden of nation-building activities that will be primarily information and services oriented.

“A Government of Paradoxes that ‘E Fiba Lek Say, Nor Fiba Lek Say’…” -NGC Leader& Chairman

February 21, 2022

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In continuation of providing a formidable opposition to the ruling SLPP Government, the Chairman and Leader of the National Grand Coalition (NGC) Party, Dr. Dennis Bright, has criticized the former for being what he tagged as an administration that is full of paradoxes underscoring how at one moment the Government will say one thing and in the next or in a twinkle of an eye says something different.

Dr Dennis Bright was expressing his views on the Society for Radio Democracy 98.1 FM on the 17th February 2022 during the Gud Morning Salone Programme.

The NGC Leader referenced various instances to justify his stance one of which he mentioned what he referred to as the purported repeal of the Criminal Libel Law which, according to him is only theoretical but underscored that practically and in reality it is the contrary stressing that the Police are still clamping down on journalists, opposition figures for merely expressing their views on governance and stating their various party positions on certain State issues.

During the widely listened program, Dr. Bright particularly concentrated on the Bread and Butter issues which he said the Government has woefully failed to address. He referenced the just concluded NGC market survey, which he underscored, reveals the poor living conditions of the vast majority of Sierra Leoneans. The survey, he explained, highlighted how a family of 4 can barely survive for 8 days with the minimum wage bill of Le 600,000, excluding transportation fare, drugs and other household bills.

Using that as a basis or yardstick, the NGC Chairman asserted that such is the level of economic morass to which the Paopa Government has reduced Sierra Leoneans to.

Dr Dennis Bright concluded that he does not see anything changing for the better underpinning how the SLPP –led Government has failed the people woefully maintaining that at the end of the day the people will have to judge.