9 PM Curfew Causing Poor Commuters Extreme Strain

April 17, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

So far, so good, Sierra Leoneans – both the duty bearers and us citizens – have done well and continue to do well in observing the restrictions placed on our Freedom of Movement by the Government due to the corona virus disease.

Generally, we can pat ourselves on the back that we are bearing up admirably and courageously to the hardships imposed on us by the health emergency that confronts us.

We cannot however help but express grave dismay at our brothers and sisters who call themselves traders that have taken the current hardship that we face as a very good excuse to inflate the prices of the commodities with no sympathy or pity for the plight of the majority poor that constitute the bulk of our population.

However, we should not be surprised. Traders generally thrive on calamity to make excess profit; whether as the Bible and Qur’an say they will face judgment for the wickedness to their poor suffering brothers and sisters next world, is an open question.

It is not easy for the average ordinary Sierra Leonean living under the present economic climate by any stretch of the imagination when we recall the untold hardship that we went through in 2014 and 2015 during the Ebola outbreak period.

We can recall how President Koroma’s immense and timely efforts in containing the Ebola outbreak was widely appreciated in the country as many lives were saved, although, as we recall then, the curfew order placed extreme strain to especially Freetown commuters living in the peri-urban areas such as Waterloo, Goderich and other places to rush home in the evening hours.

Given that transportation is very hard to find during the evening rush hours, many people living in the outskirts of the city are calling on the Government to consider lifting the start of the curfew from 9pm to 10pm.

Citizens however do not quarrel with the Government’s order for commercial bus owners and drivers to reduce the number of passengers that they carry, given that before the emergency, they used to cram us into their tight vehicles like herrings in a basket.

Many are praying that even after the emergency, the SLRSA considers making the present sitting arrangement in poda-podas the standard norm; only that many observe that restricting the front passenger seat which is meant for two passengers to only one passenger is not fair.

Vehicle owners and their drivers enjoyed this illegitimate right to carry excess passengers because they were licensed by SLRSA. Going forward, there must be extensive sensitization exercises by SLRSA to enlighten drivers that cramming passengers in vehicles is uncomfortable and dangerous.

Palo’s Daughter Cries Foul Over Her Father’s Continued Detention

April 17, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

Altilda Conteh, the daughter of Alfred Palo Conteh, both British/American citizens has raised concern over the arrest and detention of her father. She stated that on Friday, 20 March 2020, her father was detained by the Sierra Leone Government without any valid reason.

According to her, Alfred Palo Conteh was questioned by security personnel of the Criminal Investigation Department at State House on Thursday 19th (the day the alleged incident occurred), and told to go home.

She added that her father was invited for further questioning on Friday 20^th March 2020 but was detained and in less than 48 hours later he was transferred to the Pademba Road Correctional Service, which she said is one of Sierra Leone’s most notorious and dangerous prisons. Altilda Conteh stated that there were no charges of a crime, but he was accused of “wanting to assassinate the current President of Sierra Leone,”which she underscored is a baseless accusation.

In a very sentimental mood she highlighted how her father has served Sierra Leone faithfully and is a member of the main opposition APC party. She pointed out that he was in the Sierra Leone Army from 1976 until 1992, during which he was Officer Commanding the Military Police and attained the rank of a Major.

“He later served as the Minister of Defense for Sierra Leone in 2007, when the previous President Ernest B Koroma was Head of State. He later went on to be the Ebola Czar in 2014 when the epidemic hit our beautiful land of Sierra Leone during 2014-2016. Later, he was appointed as the Minister of Internal Affairs, by the President, in 2016, until the elections in spring of 2017,” she narrated.

She maintained the position that her father’s arrest is highly political. Altilda says this is the second time within fifteen months that the current Government has arrested and detained her father adding how this is the first time he has been taken to prison.

“Both times he was arrested without being charged, but only to be harassed, degraded, embarrassed, and inconvenienced in an attempt to intimidate him. My father has sacrificed to serve the country he loves, for ten consecutive years and does not deserve such continuous harassment,” she vented anger.

She revealed that on Monday, 16th March 2020, which was the date of the first meeting, due to his expertise and execution of duties whilst he was the Ebola Czar, her father was asked by President Bio to join them in their fight against the current Coronavirus (CONVID-19) pandemic. She said without hesitation, her father unwaveringly pledged his support for the good of the country, ensuring thousands of lives would again be saved during these tough times.

“Even though this political administration has been on a witch hunt to defame and assassinate his character her father freely volunteered to work with them to instill some sense of harmony and possible cross-party relationship,” she continued adding how on Tuesday, 17th March 2020, her father, the current Minister of Health, and other SLPP party members went to Lungi Airport.

She narrated that later that same week on Thursday 19th (second meeting) her father went to the State House to meet President Bio and further discuss matters.

“Upon arrival, he specifically told security personnel he had a loaded gun in his bag with all the adequate licenses. Even though my father asked the security men to hold his bag, because he is aware of the State House protocols, they refused to take his bag with the pistol in it. He was told it was fine for him to keep his bag,” she narrated.

She emphatically stated that her dad refused to take his bag into the meeting with the President and left his gun and bag at the security entrance.

Altilda said after waiting 45 minutes the head of the security went to the waiting room and asked for the owner of the bag to which her father replied that it belongs to him. She said he was questioned by CID personnel that exact day (Thursday 19th of March) and he went home and slept, ate…

From her account, on Friday 20^th March 2020, the following day her father was invited to CID for more questioning and upon arrival he was arrested but was NOT told why he was being detained. According to her he has still NOT been released!

Altilda strongly registered that this is a violation of the Laws of Sierra Leone as stated in the Information Pack for British Prisoners in Sierra Leone. “This is yet another ploy to dehumanize an opposing political party member that has been imprisoned for nearly two weeks without any charges,” she lamented.

Based on what she said on 30th March 2020 the Sierra Leone Government charged her father for treason on a total of 15 counts. “Many of the charges are contradictory. My father is currently in solitary confinement and being denied access to clothing, books, proper food, all basic necessities and denied family visitation,” she further bemoaned.

“I am writing this petition because I’m concerned about the safety of my father’s life and I would like you to please do all legally possible to have my father released. I love my father. This man has saved thousands of lives in Sierra Leone, defended many that had no voice whilst practicing law in the UK, improved the quality of life and life expectancy of those he has served. My father is my super hero and a hero to many. He is also my first love, pillar of my family and the community,” she disclosed her feelings.

According to her, Alfred Palo Conteh is an asset to not just our society but to the world saying he is a well-educated man that would never jeopardize his legacy, future endeavors and all he has worked hard to obtain as well as to hurt or harm anyone.

“He also has an eight year old son who is an American citizen, who resides in Sierra Leone with my father’s wife, and I am unsure how safe they are. Please help me and my family to ensure his release and safe return to his family,” she ended up appealing.

Six Companies Battle for Offshore Exploration

April 17, 2020

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Six companies submitted bids for offshore exploration concessions in Sierra Leone’s recent bid round. A public ceremony was held in late March for the Fourth Petroleum Licensing Round. The process began in January 2018, Sierra Leone’s Petroleum Directorate Director General Timothy Kabba said at the event.

Kabba expressed delight at receiving six applications, which were described as meaningful for Sierra Leone’s exploration business. A statement from the agency said it was appreciative of the participation. The round is supported by London-listed Getech, through its ERCL subsidiary.

The Petroleum Directorate aims to deliver the results as soon as possible, it said. The agency assured its stakeholders that it would deliver an “impartial and fast-tracked evaluation that can yield outcomes that will stand the test of time”. At the opening ceremony, all of the bids were checked to make sure they complied with statutory bid requirements.

The Fourth Licensing Round was launched at the beginning of 2018, with the expectation that it would close in June that year. In May 2018, closing was pushed back to September in response to the protracted electoral process.

Kabba took over as the head of the Petroleum Directorate in August that year and opted to suspend the licensing round. This was to provide scope for the country to hold talks with those in industry.

These talks led the country to change its licensing round plans, opening up its water for exploration and moving to a more flexible framework for blocks. Five areas had been marked out for bids, but the new system allows companies to apply for areas made up of contiguous blocks, each of which covers 1,360 square km.

It also opened the way for direct applications for areas which were largely in water depths of more than 2,500 metres, in recognition that the number of companies able to operate in such areas was limited. Furthermore, there are no minimum work specifications required in the first exploration phase.

The round was reopened in May 2019 and closing was again pushed back, in September that year, until the end of February 2020.

EOC Operations Pillar Issues Guidelines for Movement of Essential Goods & Services

April 17, 2020

Head of National COVID-19 Response Team, (Rtd) Brig Gen. Hassan Kellie Conteh

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Operations Pillar of the COVID-19 Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) has issued the undermentioned guidelines for the movement of essential goods and services during the 14-Days partial lock down period.

Essential Goods in this context refers to food item, fuel tankers and construction materials. It says all vehicles carrying essential goods must be allowed access through all Inter-District boundary check points on to their final destination.

The Operations Pillar furthered that all check point commanders are to implement the following guide lines: Vehicles with Inter-District Pass are allow to move during curfew hours across Inter-District boundaries, all ambulances are authorized to travel during curfew hours without pass.

It also stated that Health Care Workers with vehicle and body passes are authorized to move during curfew hours, that vehicles moving essential goods without vehicle pass are not authorized to travel during curfew hours.

Moreover, all boats carrying essential food items should be allowed to berth at various wharfs with no more than 4 persons, all cargo vehicles must include the driver and 2 apprentices only and all other vehicles with Inter-District pass must only carry the authorized capacity of persons as indicated on their license documents.

Please execute these guidelines to ensure smooth coordination and implantation of the 14- Days partial lockdown.

Lebanese & Indian Communities Donate Food Items Towards COVID-19 Fight

April 17, 2020

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their support towards the fight against the coronavirus in the country, the Indian and Lebanese Communities have on Wednesday 15^th April, 2020 donated essential food items to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Covid-19 Response Team which includes: 1,000 Bags of Rice, 1,000 Gallons of Oil, 1,000 Packet of Sugar, 100 Cartons of Sardine, 100 Soap and 70 Cartons of Milk. The donation took place at the Forecourt of the Emergency Operation Centre at Cockerill in Freetown.

Present at the ceremony were Chief of Staff of the COVID-19 Response Team Solomon Caulker, Deputy Minister of Defence, Col. Rtd. Muana Brima Massaguio, President of the Lebanese Community Samir Hassanyeh, the Consul of Indian, Harish Agnani, Pressmen, members of both Communities and Staff of the EOC.

Presenting the items on behalf of Indian & Lebanese Communities, President of the Lebanese Community, Samir Hassanyeh, revealed that they were extremely humbled to donate these essential food items to the Government and People of Sierra Leone to support the strides the Government is taking in order to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus COVID 19 in the country.

He said that COVID-19 is no respecter of race, status, wealth, gender or whether a State is economically developed or under developed. “It is an equal opportunity enemy that is a harbinger of tragedy and chaos wherever it goes and in that regard we decided to come to the aid of the Government,” he underscored.

He assured the Government of their continuous support towards the fight against the coronavirus in the country saying they will continue to respond to the call for assistance to Sierra Leone.

The Indian Consul, Harish Agnani, expressed appreciation to the Government for their tireless efforts in trying to curtail the spread of the coronavirus in the county.

He also noted that on behalf of the two Communities they are humbled to donate the following items which are 1000 Bags of Rice, 1000 Gallons of Oil, 1000 Packet of Sugar, 100 Cartons of Sardine, 100 Soap and 70 Cartons of Milk to the Government of Sierra Leone through the Covid-19 Response Team as their support towards the fight against COVID-19 in the country.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Government, Chief of Staff of the COVID-19 Response Team, Solomon Caulker, expressed gratitude to the Indian and Lebanese Communities for the food items which he said is very timely.

He assured them that the COVID-19 Response Team will make good use of the donated items and ensure they reach the right beneficiaries further adding that food items are really necessary for those who are under quarantine.

He admonished citizens to adhere to all the preventive measures put out by the Government of Sierra Leone and its health partners in order to combat the deadly virus.

Corruption is Receiving Heavy Punches Under Pres.Bio

April 17, 2020

Amin Kef Sesay

For decades, Sierra Leone has languished at the bottom of international corruption rankings. Despite detailed anti-corruption legislation that has been on the books since 2000, millions of aid dollars in technical assistance and repeated promises by politicians, corruption has persisted, even flourished.

More recently, however, this has started to change under President Julius Maada Bio. Transparency International ranked Sierra Leone 119th out of 180 countries in its Corruption Perceptions Index last year, up 10 places from 2018. The Millennium Challenge Corporation, an independent U.S. foreign assistance agency, also recorded a jump for Sierra Leone in its annual anti-corruption scorecard, from 0.06 in 2016 to 0.36 in 2019.

It’s not just foreign donors and NGOs; Sierra Leoneans are also reporting improvements in the Government’s fight against corruption. In a survey published by Afrobarometer in 2019, 66 percent of respondents believed the Government was doing a good job tackling corruption—the second-most positive response in Africa. In 2015, only 15 percent of Sierra Leoneans viewed the Government’s efforts favourably.

While far from graft-free, the country’s progress is notable, particularly in light of Sierra Leone’s long history with both petty and grand corruption. Its success is due to a series of policy decisions by Bio’s administration to target the social and political roots of corruption.

For nearly a decade after its creation, Sierra Leone’s Anti-Corruption Commission was little more than a paper tiger. Despite the rhetorical support it received from successive governments, it had a limited mandate and lacked the ability to prosecute those suspected of graft. But in 2008, Sierra Leone’s Parliament passed the Anti-Corruption Act, which contained several important changes that strengthened the commission. First, the law expanded the scope of what constitutes corruption in the country.

Until 2008, Sierra Leone had based its anti-corruption policy on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, which it joined in in 2004. One former Anti-Corruption Commission official told me that the convention did not cover many of the offenses most prevalent in Sierra Leone. For example, while the U.N.’s convention devotes little attention to political corruption, Sierra Leone’s 2008 legislation included detailed provisions defining abuse of office and the use of bribery to influence public officers. The legislation also identifies misappropriation of donor funds and public contract interference as instances of corruption.

In another major change, the 2008 law granted prosecutorial powers to the Anti-Corruption Commission, which had previously been totally dependent on Government prosecutors to bring cases to court. As part of the law, the commission also gained more independence, taking control over staff appointments and salaries. In 2013, the government gave its fight against corruption a new, public face with its “Pay No Bribe.” campaign. Funded by the British Government, the program set up a reporting platform where individuals could anonymously report bribes, either by calling a toll-free number, utilizing a data-free mobile app or using the Pay No Bribe website.

While these innovations were important in strengthening the Anti-Corruption Commission, they did not immediately bring about tangible benefits for Sierra Leoneans. But since taking office in 2018, Bio and his anti-corruption commissioner, Ben Kaifala, have pushed through legislative and institutional changes that breathed new life into the fight against graft. Like other presidential contenders, Bio campaigned on fighting corruption. But unlike his predecessors, Bio has acted on his promises.

The success of Sierra Leone’s new approach in fighting corruption offers several lessons for other countries, in West Africa and beyond.

He has done so by recognizing the structural obstacles to fighting corruption in Sierra Leone, including a troubling tendency for public officials accused and convicted of corruption to be reinstated in their positions. The country’s overburdened and inefficient judiciary was also unable to process the large caseload brought by the Anti-Corruption Commission. Finally, an entrenched culture of impunity for both petty and grand corruption led many to believe that corruption was just a part of life. Recognizing these challenges, the administration has pursued a multipronged strategy for fighting corruption, beginning with legislative reform.

In 2019, Kaifala introduced a new amendment to the 2008 Anti-Corruption Act that was quickly passed by Parliament. It built on the 2008 reforms in several important ways, including by giving the Anti-Corruption Commission new authority to take preventative steps to fight corruption in procurement contracts. Under the new rules, the commission can intervene in contract negotiations that it believes to be against the public interest. To prevent repeat offenses by public officials, the 2019 amendment also raised the penalty for corruption: Officials who are found criminally liable for corruption face financial penalties and jail time. The minimum sentence for serious corruption has been increased from three to five years. Even without a criminal conviction, if an official is found to be corrupt in a civil court, they are subject to a three-year minimum ban on holding office.

To fast-track corruption cases, the government established a special Anti-Corruption Division within the High Court of Sierra Leone, with specialized procedures, technology and staff. This new division is designed to bring expertise and efficiency to prosecuting corruption. At the same time, the Anti-Corruption Commission is devoting more resources to recovering embezzled state funds. Following a change initiated by Kaifala upon assuming office, it now has the authority to begin the process of recovering stolen assets while cases move through the court system by pursuing both civil and criminal forfeiture.

Since adopting this new approach in 2018, the commission has returned roughly $2 million to public coffers—more than the total of funds recovered during the first 18 years of the commission’s existence. This approach does not substitute for criminal action; rather, it gives the government an avenue to recover much-needed embezzled funds while courts process cases against the accused. Unlike criminal cases, which are brought against the suspected individual, civil forfeiture cases are brought against the assets in question, and are usually settled out of court. Thus, if the commission can prove that the funds in question are tainted, it can force the individual to surrender them even if the state cannot prove that the individual is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Finally, the Anti-Corruption Commission has pursued a vigorous public education campaign to combat perceptions of impunity and inform the public of their options. Across the capital, Freetown, signs now warn against asking for bribes and provide information about forms of recourse.

Sierra Leone has a long way to go in the fight against corruption. Petty corruption, particularly among traffic police, remains rampant. Officials continue to award lucrative contracts to friends and political allies. Still, expectations are changing. The former Anti-Corruption Commission official noted that perceptions of impunity have begun to shift, and that law enforcement officers are less likely to request bribes in the street. Convictions against those who do are increasingly common.

The success of Sierra Leone’s new approach offers several lessons for other countries trying to fight corruption, in West Africa and beyond. First, to be effective, anti-corruption strategies must be tailored to the realities of each country. With regard to recovering stolen assets, the likelihood of being able to track them down diminishes over time. So for states with limited capacity to process corruption cases in a timely manner, a pre-conviction asset recovery approach like Sierra Leone’s may present the best chance of success.

Preventative strategies like those adopted by Sierra Leone last year in the amended Anti-Corruption Act may help to ensure that funds are not lost in the first place. Finally, public outreach can help change the culture surrounding corruption. Awareness that the government is taking meaningful action may contribute to an important shift in perceptions about what constitutes appropriate behavior by public officials.

Pioneered by SLAJ… Kroobay & Susan’s Bay Communities Receive 50 bags of rice from Pikin Bizness

April 17, 2020

By Foday Moriba Conteh

Residents of Kroo Bay Community were recent recipients of a kind gesture by Pikin Bizness. It all started on the first day of the national three-day lockdown authorized by the Government of Sierra Leone to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the country, when AYV TV reporter Ransford Metzger interviewed the Chief of Kroo Bay live from the community. The Chief lamented that the community lacked hand washing buckets and food.

The President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, was at the AYV TV studios being interviewed by Amadu Lamrana Bah when Ransford’s report came in.

Nasralla was touched by the cry of the Kroo Bay Chief and so after his interview he swiftly moved to the community with his Secretary General, Mohamed Asmieu Bah and donated 15 veronica buckets and bowls through the Chief and the Councilor and appealed to well-meaning individuals and organizations to come to the aid of Kroo Bay and other deprived and vulnerable communities in the country.

Meanwhile, the Chairman Pikin Bizness, Adonis Abboud – who is out of the country- saw the news on AYV TV and on the SLAJ Facebook page and was also inspired. He immediately contacted the SLAJ President and kindly requested him to make a donation of 50 bags of rice on behalf of Pikin Bizness to the Kroo Bay community, specifically for the children. The SLAJ President obliged, but advised that the donation be split into two so that another deprived community called Susan’s Bay would benefit.

On Wednesday 15th April, 2020 the 50 bags of rice were delivered to both communities (25 bags each) through the coordination of the journalist, Ransford.
Presenting the donation on behalf of Pikin Bizness, the SLAJ President reminded the Chiefs about their responsibility to ensure their people obey the measures the Government has put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their communities and the country as a whole.

Receiving the donation, the Chief of Kroo Bay, Pa Alimamy Kamara, said Mr. Adonis Abboud is no stranger to them as the Pikin Bizness Chairman has always supported the community in various ways. He thanked Mr. Abboud for his continued kind gestures to the community and hailed SLAJ and the AYV Journalist for showing the spotlight on Kroo Bay.

Similarly, the Chief of Susan’s Bay, Pa Alimamy Kamara II, expressed gratitude to Mr. Abboud, SLAJ and the journalist and assured that the donation would be shared fairly to the intended beneficiaries.

“May God bless you all for this donation,” said Chief Alimamy Kamara II. “In relation to our compliance with Coronavirus preventive measures, we are doing our best to ensure our people practice the basic hygiene measures at all times. The only challenge we have is in the aspect of social distancing, which is difficult to comply with giving the nature of our community. But our people are very cooperative.”

The Chairman of Pikin Bizness said this is a period when Sierra Leone needs everybody to play their part, no matter how small.

“The ripple effects of COVID-19 across the world is enormous, so we must all play our part to not only help fight against the disease but also help to cushion the impact it is having on vulnerable communities like Kroo Bay and Susan’s Bay. Our donation is a humble one but if we all give little and little of what we can afford we can make a huge difference in the lives of those who don’t have the ways and means,” said Abboud.

350 Benefit from NaCSA & Stats-SL Training

April 17, 2020

Amin Kef Sesay

After completing the training of enumerators for the Social Safety Nets Project, the National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA) and Statistics- Sierra Leone (Stats-SL) have commenced the training of 350 (Three Hundred and Fifty) data collectors on Proxy Means Test Assessment.

It could be recalled that in February 2020, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone – His Excellency Rtd (Brig.) Dr. Julius Maada Bio launched the Social Safety Nets Additional Finance; a project also known as “Ep Fet Po” as the first Government led Cash transfer program in Sierra Leone instituted in 2014. With NaCSA as the lead implementing agency, the program is funded by the World Bank and the Government of Sierra Leone.

In ensuring that the SSN Additional Finance reach its target (35,000 beneficiary households) in the 16 (sixteen) districts, the National Commission for Social Action, Statistics Sierra Leone (Stats SL), Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and other stakeholders have developed strategy for Community Validation, Targeting and Enrolment. While NaCSA remains the project implementing agency, ACC provide technical supports on Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM) and Stats-SL take lead in Proxy Means Test Assessment. These components are pivotal in targeting the poorest of the poor.

In this respect, Stats-SL hosts NaCSA and other stakeholders to train potential data collectors on the Proxy means test assessment. In addressing the trainees, the Deputy Commissioner-NaCSA; Dr. Sao-Kpato Isata Hannah Max-Kyne elucidated the long standing relationship between NaCSA and Stats-SL. She called on potential data collectors to be meticulous in carrying out their sacred duty in the targeting exercise. “NaCSA depends on Stats-SL for data to inform our programming.

When you are dealing with the poorest of the poor, you don’t want to get it wrong; you have to make sure that the real people get the benefits and in doing such, you have to work with partners. This is one of the reasons why the Commission has worked with Stats-SL for credible data. We all know that data is very political more so when it is linked to development; the politics of data requires honesty and sincerity because one error will deprive the actual beneficiaries and we expect you to carry out this exercise in a very transparent and credible manner,” he re-emphasized.

In his statement, the Deputy Statistician General, Andrew Bob Johnny thanked all Directors and staff from NaCSA and Stats-SL for their collective efforts in ensuring that the SSN AF2 actually targets the poorest of the poor. He defined the proxy means test as “situation where information on household or individual characteristics correlated with welfare levels is used in a formal algorithm to proxy household income, welfare and need.’’ He further called on the trainees to be attentive and take every components of the training seriously; as Stats-SL and NaCSA have competent facilitators who will provide the requisite knowledge on Proxy Means Test and other components of the training.

The session continues with presentation on the Covid-19 preventive measures from the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and SSN project overview. In compliance with Covid-19 national health emergency rules, the trainees were divided into four groups with less than eighty participants per group. Individual trainees and facilitators received mask and were encouraged to follow all safety measures.

In an interview with one of the trainees, Musa Barrie, on behalf of other trainees he expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to the National Commission for Social Action, Stats –SL, ACC and other partners for providing such training. “The training is important to us not only for the targeting exercise but I believe the knowledge will be useful for future purpose. With this I say thank you NaCSA, thank you Stats-SL and thank you ACC,” he concluded.

Legal Aid Board Chair Donates 9 Handwashing Milla Tanks to the SLCS

April 17, 2020

By Edward Vamboi

Honorable Justice Miatta Maria Samba, Chairperson of the Legal Aid Board, who also doubles as Justice of the Appeals Court on 14 April 2020 donated nine locally made hand-washing Milla Tanks to the Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS) as part of efforts at mitigating the spread of the COVID-19.

The ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service at the New England Ville in Freetown. The tanks are operated by pedals with inbuilt soap compartments, bowls for hand washing and bins.

In a short statement at the handing-over ceremony of the nine Milla Tanks to the SLCS, Hon. Justice Samba said she is motivated to do the donation by virtue of the fact that she is Chair of the Board which provides legal assistance to indigents who fall foul of the law and some of whom are serving as inmates in Correctional Centers around the country. She added that the Board has provided representation to thousands of poor and vulnerable people since its inception.

Justice Samba also noted that the donation is meant to support Government’s efforts in the fight against COVID-19 in the country which she underlined has resulted in the Proclamation of a State of Public Emergency by His Excellency the President. She said the Proclamation demonstrates the importance and seriousness Government attaches to the fight against the pandemic.

She added that the proclamation of the State of Emergency will affect some basic rights such as movement and assembly as provided for in Sections 18 and 26 of the 1991 Constitution. She said people should appreciate this as part of sacrifices in fighting the pandemic.

She underlined the important role of Paralegals during this difficult period in explaining to ordinary people the law relating to the State of Emergency and also providing legal assistance to them.

She said as part of measures also aimed at stemming the spread of the COVID-19, the Board’s paralegals in all corners of the country are also helping to explain these restrictions to ordinary people. She further noted this is crucial because the Board does not want to see a situation where people will be locked-up or put behind bars as a result of the restrictions.

She said the nine water-tanks are to be distributed as follow: one at the SLCS headquarters in Freetown and one each to the Male and Female Correctional Centers in Freetown, Makeni, Bo and Kenema. Justice Samba appreciated the prison authorities for keeping the prisons safe in the midst of the pandemic.

Receiving the tanks, the Director General of the SLCS, Mr. Joseph Lamboi described the donation as timely. He said prior to the donation, the Pademba Road Correction Center has only one small Veronica Rubber Bucket at its entrance.

Mr. Lamboi assured the Chair and the Board that the tanks will be utilized appropriately in ensuring that the correctional centers do not record any case of COVID-19 just as they did with the Ebola scourge.

Justice Samba also donated one hand-washing water-tank each to the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) and Kingharman Road Maternal and Child Health Hospital. She said as a woman she is delighted to see women in the forefront of the fight against COVID -19 in both hospitals.

The donations were climaxed with demonstrations on how to use the hand washing tanks by both the Chair and the Executive Director of the Board, Ms Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles.

Senior Information Technology Officer Indicted by ACC

April 17, 2020

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Anti-Graft institution on the 15th April, 2020 filed an indictment against Abdul Razak Kabba, Senior Information Technology Officer at the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone and of Wilberforce Guard Room, Wilberforce, Freetown, on sixteen (16) counts of corruption offences bordering on Conflict of Interest, contrary to Section 45(1), Participating in Proceedings of a Public Body, contrary to Section 45(2), and Abuse of Office, Contrary to Section 42(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act No.12 of 2008, as Amended by the Anti-Corruption (Amendment) Act, No.9 of 2019, respectively.

According to the Anti-Corruption Commission, between May, 2017 and November, 2018, Abdul Razak Kabba, in his capacity as Senior Information Technology Officer at the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, failed to disclose in writing a direct and personal interest in JPS Electronics of No.2 Upper Brook Street, Freetown, a business Enterprise wholly-owned by hi, and contracted the said business entity for several procurement related activities, including, the procurement of electronic items, the networking of the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone Head Office in Freetown, the procurement of two (2) Designing Software for the Registration and Information Departments, the Repairs of existing Electronics equipment in Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone Bo Office; and the replacement of faulty Router attached to the Office of the Registrar of Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone in Freetown.

Similarly, Abdul Razak Kabba, being the Senior Information Technology Officer at the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, notwithstanding his personal interest in a procurement contract, unlawfully took part in a decision to be executed by the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone and the West African Health Organization (WAHO), thereby improperly conferring onto himself an advantage, by participating in proceedings in which JPS Electronics was awarded contracts for the supply of equipment, without the said Abdul Razak Kabba, disclosing his personal interest.

Meanwhile, the indictee is expected to appear in the High Court Holden at Freetown on Thursday 23rd April, 2020.

The Commission reassures the general public of its determination to curb graft at all levels in Sierra Leone especially, in the area of procurement, which accounts for over sixty (60) percent of Government expenditure.

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