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Gender Minister Outlines Successes & Future Plans

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

During an exclusive interview with this medium on Thursday 20th January 2022, the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Manty Tarawalli, succinctly outlined the Ministry’s successes and future plans.

She first disclosed how the Ministry started full operations in January 2020 with the mandate to empower women and girls and enhance the protection of children in the country of which she said during the two years the Ministry achieved certain aspects of its mandate.

The Minister noted that when they commenced operations, the number of Sexual and Gender Based Violence cases skyrocketed and as a Ministry their first move was to come up ways and strategies as to how to prevent sexual and gender based violence against women and girls in the country. She continued that inasmuch as actions taken to curb the menace of SGBV, the Ministry also made provision for timely responses which was why the Deputy Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs, Hon. Hindowa officially launched the National SGBV Response Strategy during the 16 days of activism, the Ministry held a high level policy dialogue on SGBV on the 6th December 2021 further disclosing how the event attracted the participation of national SGBV response actors, UN Agencies, and donor partners.

Manty Tarawalli revealed that the Ministry in 2020 also created Six One Stop Centres with each centre providing a comprehensive set of ‘Survivor Centred Services’ for Victims of SGBV, furthering that the Six One Stop Centres provided 1, 214 services for victims of SGBV which included Medical reports: 396 – Legal Services: 408 – Psychosocial services: 408 – Safe Home: 2.

She also revealed how they also established an interim care in order to facilitate effective child protection, temporary shelter and care that was provided for neglected and abandoned children, adding that the Ministry facilitated placements of 16 children (9 boys and 7 girls) in 2021 in various interim care centres including Homes like the Variety Children, Victory Teens Orphanage, Initiative for Women and Girls Empowerment.

She disclosed further that the Ministry also worked on the review of the Child Rights Act-2007 of which she stated that the review process commenced in 2021 and has rolled out district level multi-stakeholder consultations, technical review and validation sessions with child protection partners and the children themselves and that the recommendations from the consultations and review have been submitted to the Law Officers Department for drafting of the Child Rights (Amendment) Bill.

The Minister pointed out that to strengthen ‘child protection coordination’ at national and district levels the Ministry reintroduced the Child Welfare Committees stating that the committees were re-introduced with revised terms of reference, furthering that the Ministry conducted Orientation Workshops for District Child Welfare Committee personnel, held Bi-monthly National Child Welfare Committee meetings and in person monthly district committee meetings.

“As a Ministry, in 2020 we also established the 116 Rape Free Hotline as part of our comprehensive SGBV response services for survivors. A total of 414 GBV cases were reported through the call centre in 2021. 384 were related to sexual penetration, 12 to rape, 12 to Domestic Violence and 6 to other related issues,” she revealed.

In terms of adoption, the Minister informed that to adopt a child in Sierra Leone requires the services of a lawyer and that the Lawyer should liaise with the Ministry to ensure that laid down procedures are followed of which she maintained that in 2021, the Ministry processed 73 adoption cases.

Manty Tarawalli pointed out that the Ministry developed the National Street Children Strategy in 2020 and in 2021 established the National Street Children Consortium. The consortium, according to her, is a multi-stakeholder group that includes: NGOs, CSOs and Government officials. The Consortium, she went on, developed an Action Plan for Implementation in 2022.

She continued that the Ministry also developed the Gender Empowerment Bill which was approved by Cabinet and was laid in the Well of Parliament by herself as the Hon. Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs.

The Minister maintained as part of their efforts to have an inclusive Bill the Ministry brought together its partners, stakeholders and Parliament in a Consultative Meeting that was geared towards allowing Parliament to provide constructive feedback on the position papers that she presented to the House of Parliament of which she stated that the Ministry received 15 position papers from interest groups following its nationwide consultation drive on the Bill.

She also disclosed that the Ministry also supports the Sexual Offences Court to ensure that SGBV cases are speedily concluded stating how conviction rates have increased and that a total of 322 files were sent to the court for trial. “26 cases were convicted, 45 cases discharged. Accordingly, 71 cases were completed in 2021 with a total of 251 cases pending before the court for trial,” she disclosed.

The Minister expressed optimism that in this year,2022, the Ministry will deliver on its mandate more than the previous years of which she said that as a Ministry they are pushing for the law and its implementation.

“This is the time for women and His Excellency President Maada Bio has made it clear and he is living to his words but it is important also for women to take up the responsibility. Whoever is in education, business, politics etc. this is the time because the opportunities have been created for you,” she concluded the interview.

Sick Pikin Project Facilitates Travelling of 3 Kids to India for Heart Surgeries

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By Millicent Mannah

The Sick Pikin Project, in collaboration with Caratas-Freetown, convened a Press Conference on the 21st January 2022 at its Head Office on Savage Street in Freetown geared towards informing members of the Fourth Estate and by extension the public that it has facilitated the flying out of three children to India for them to undergo specialized medical treatment.

Lead Campaigner of the Sick Pikin Project, Ishmael Alfred Charles, informed newsmen that it is now a usual practice for them to update members of the public and their donors via the Press about any latest development related to their work, especially that which has to do whenever they succeed in facilitating the movement of sick children in order to access specialized medical attention or treatment either overseas or in-country.

“Today Ezekiel Mammy, Treasure Jusu and Shadrack Bangura will spend the night at Lungi and depart the shores of Freetown early tomorrow morning (22nd January 2022) for New Delhi, India for their surgeries to be done at Max Super Specialty Hospital,” Ishmael Charles disclosed.

He further revealed how the children will be travelling with their mothers also stating that their Goodwill Ambassador, Abubakarr Kindo Sankoh, will be escorting them to India.

“We remain forever grateful to God Almighty, the Government of Sierra Leone, our donors, well wishers and our energetic volunteers for this latest development,” he expressed gratitude.

Journalists were told that Treasure Jusu, the only female among the three children lost her mother twenty days after giving birth to her.  He continued that her grandmother, who is taking care of her, informed them that she was diagnosed with a rare heart condition which she had been suffering from since birth.

Mother of Ezekiel Mammy expressed profound gratitude to God, the organization and all those that rendered support for making it possible for her son to undergo heart surgery in India. Ezekiel is 8 months old.

Janet Bangura, the mother of Shadrach Blessing Bangura, also expressed her appreciation to God, the organization, Government and all those who rendered their support for her son’s surgery. The son was also diagnosed with a problematic heart condition that he had been suffering from since birth.

Goodwill Ambassador of the Sick Pikin Project, Abubakarr Kindo Sankoh, commended the Government, donors and their relentless volunteers for their support.  He appealed to other Sierra Leoneans to give their support to the organization disclosing how 47 kids are currently waiting for help to undergo different surgeries.

Climaxing the Press Briefing was the offering of special prayers for the children in order for them to undergo successful surgeries and return home in good health.

In Makeni & Bo… NP-SL Appreciates, Empowers, Certifies & Awards Station Managers & Pump Attendants

By Amin kef Sesay

The presentations of certificates by the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd)  to Station Managers and Pump Attendants in both Makeni and Bo on the 21st & 22nd January 2022 respectively, were indeed very memorable occasions that will go down the annals of history of the indigenous petroleum importing and marketing entity.

In Makeni, the programme was held on the 21st January 2022 at the Wusum Hotel Conference Hall and in Bo on the 22nd January 2022 at the Galliness Hotel Conference Hall. A total of 76 individuals were awarded Certificates in Makeni and 48 from the Southern Province and 12 from the Eastern Province, inclusive of Station Managers and Pump Attendants from Kenema and Kailahun giving a total of 136 beneficiaries who were awarded.

Present during both occasions were the Chief Executive Officer of NP-SL Ltd, Amb. Kobi Walker, the Sales Manager of NP-SL Ltd, Vandy Bockarie, the Finance/Accounts Manager of NP-SL Ltd, Saidu Mansaray, the Senior Operations Engineer of the same company, Alhaji Munu, Mary Ganda, a staff of NP-SL Ltd, two interns working with NP-SL Ltd , Station Managers , Pump Attendants and members of the Fourth Estate. The two programmes were moderated by Leon Abuko Cole, who is the Sales Supervisor for NP-SL Ltd.

In his opening remarks, the Sales Supervisor of NP-SL Ltd, Leon Abuko Cole ,stated that the two events have been slated to be social occasions during which periods all are considered to be on an equal pedestal as none will be considered superior or junior. “What NP-SL Ltd is doing is bringing together the Management of the company, Station Managers and Pump Attendants together as one family so that concertedly we could successfully achieve our collective aims and objectives,” he informed adding how the company is determined to continue the trend.

Declaring the purpose of bringing together Station Managers and Pump Attendants, the Sales Manager of NP-SL Ltd, Vandy Bockarie intimated that in November of 2021 NP-SL conducted training sessions targeting Station Managers and Pump Attendants in Makeni, covering those in Kono District, in Bo, Kenema and  Kailahun in order for them to be more adept in the discharge of their duties within their various Filling or Gas Stations.

He continued that after the training sessions, Management of the company thought it fit to show appreciation and award them Certificates of Completion as well as present to them gifts for their participation and for the current status of their various stations. “After the trainings, Management observed that there have been marked improvements in terms of service delivery,” he disclosed.

Vandy Bockarie continued that the training sessions covered two broad areas which were: Customer Care and Safety furthering that the two areas are considered to be very paramount in the operations of the business entity. He continued that key issues that were instilled in the Station Managers and Pump Attendants included how to handle equipments at Filling Stations, lubricants at Filling Stations, how to market NP Gas and upkeep their various Filling Stations.

Emphasizing the importance of the training sessions, the Finance and Accounts Manager, Saidu Mansaray said it will help them greatly in the discharge of their duties. He called on them to be steadfast and execute diligently what they have learnt so far. Saidu appealed to them to always comport themselves accordingly to expectation and raise the bar high.

The Chief Executive Officer of NP-SL Ltd, Ambassador Kobi Walker informed the audience that for the occasions all must consider him as the Chief Pump Attendant (CPA). He wished all a prosperous 2022 adding that he is thanking all on behalf of Board of Directors of the company more especially for the biggest sacrifices they are making citing how even during the past holidays, when others were having breaks, they the Station Managers and Pump Attendants were busy serving members of the public, for which they should commend themselves.

“Because of your relevance to the company and the nation as a whole we decided to empower you so that you will become more efficient in your service delivery,” he underscored and went on to give a synopsis of how the company was established by 35 Sierra Leoneans who used their end of service benefits to set up the business entity. “Today NP is in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia functioning on a good footing,” the result oriented CPA stated with pride.

He continued by telling the Station Managers and Pump Attendants that in real sense they are not selling petroleum products but rather the NP Experience. Kobi Walker emphasized that the manner in which customers are treated politely and with respect encompasses the NP Experience maintaining that such go a long way in endearing customers if such are rolled out well. He appealed to them to work together with one goal in mind as well as to respect the rules, further admonishing them to refrain from doing things bordering on dishonesty. He ended up telling them how towards the end of the programmes they will issue out Certificates to them after which all will socialize.

Launching of a Safety Campaign was done by the Finance and Accounts Manager of NP-SL Ltd, Saidu Mansaray. After safety tips were given by Saffia Gbanmanja, bordering on how Station Managers and Pump Attendants should uphold the dos and don’ts at Filling Stations, Saidu Mansaray told all that safety begins with individual selves adding that where safety consciousness is high there is bound to be fewer accidents. Saidu, therefore, called on all the Station Managers and Pump Attendants to always endeavour to enhance safety standards within their various Filling Stations. He then officially launched the Safety Campaign and appealed to all present to be safety conscious and spread safety messages even within their communities and homes.

The launch was followed by a short video clip, put together by NP-SL Ltd, displaying or depicting what to do in order to avert fire accidents at Filling Stations and communities. It was stated that the video clip is currently running as jingles on major electronic media platforms, radio and television as well as on Social Media platforms.

Highpoints of both occasions were the distribution of Certificates and prizes/gifts to all those who participated during the training sessions. Special prizes were also awarded to various Station Managers based on merit as for neatness of their Filling Stations, punctuality etc. That was followed by party sessions throughout.

China’s Economy Expands 8.1% in 2021

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By Amin Kef Sesay

China’s economy expanded 8.1 percent year-on-year in 2021, bringing the average growth rate from 2020 to 2021 to 5.1 percent, the National Bureau of Statistics announced recently.

The country’s gross domestic product reached 114.4 trillion yuan ($18 trillion) in 2021, with major indicators reaching the expected targets, NBS said.

Ning Jizhe, head of NBS, said that China, the world’s second-largest economy, is expected to cover over 18 percent of the global economy in 2021, furthering that China’s GDP grew by 4 percent in the fourth quarter, down from 4.9 percent in the third quarter.

The NBS data showed that the country’s total added value of industrial enterprises above a designated size grew 9.6 percent on a yearly basis in 2021, bringing the average growth rate from 2020 to 2021 to 6.1 percent, During the first 11 months of 2021, profits at major industrial companies surged 38 percent, with an average growth rate of 18.9 percent between 2020 and 2021.For the whole year of 2021, total retail sales of consumer goods came in at 44 trillion yuan, up by 12.5 percent over the previous year.

In 2021, investment in fixed assets (excluding rural households) increased 4.9 percent to 54.5 trillion yuan. A total of 12.69 million jobs were created in China’s urban areas, an increase of 830,000 over the previous year. The surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas was 5.1 percent in December and 5.1 percent on average for the whole year, the bureau said.

Going forward, Mr. Ning also warned of a more complicated external environment and uncertainties, saying the domestic economy is facing multiple pressures from shrinking demand, supply shock and weakening expectations.

He added that the country will make coordinated efforts in epidemic prevention and control as well as ensure “six priorities” (employment, people’s livelihoods, the development of market entities, food and energy security, and stable operation of industrial and supply chains, as well as smooth functioning at the community level) and stability in “six areas” for steady economic momentum (employment, finance, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment, and market expectations), to stabilize the overall economy and keep it within a reasonable range.

Inspector General Assures Under-Secretary of Residual Court of Ending Impunity

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By Theresa Kef Sesay

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Ambrose Michael Sovula, has assured the Under Secretary General of the Residual Court for Sierra Leone, James C Johnson and his team that the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) will continue to work with partners to end impunity.

According to the IGP, the creation of the Special Court was to set precedent and uphold the principle of justice for people who would want to revert to the things the country went through during the 11 years civil war.

Such people, he said, would fall back and say to themselves that was what happened to them when they attempted what were not accepted.

On the conflicting information coming about Johnny Paul Koroma being alive or dead, he asked that the prosecution remains open, determined and ready to arrest and prosecute Johnny Paul Koroma whenever he surfaces.

“Personally, I am delighted and fulfilled on your enduring effort to make a follow-up on the safety and security of witnesses who provided evidence(s) for the success of the Special Court,” he said.

The Under Secretary General commended the SLP for its support to the Court for security and witness protection services since its inception in the country.

They also commended the SLP for thorough follow up and effective outreach education to the general public on the reintegration and resettlement of released convicts who have completed their jail terms in Rwanda to their various communities in Sierra Leone.

He however expressed mixed feelings over information of Johnny Paul Koroma being alive or dead. Johnny Paul Koroma, he said, is the only suspect who ran away from prosecution.

He disclosed that they have built a WAR Museum at the Residual Court Premises and an invitation has been extended to the IGP for a visit to the War Museum for a symbolic ceremony in the not too distant future.

Jennifer Thompson Feeds 650 Less Privilege Children in Tikonko

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Chief Executive Officer of No Child Left Behind Initiative, Jennifer Adeshola Thompson, has on Saturday 15th&Sunday 16th January 2022 feed 650 children within the Tikonko Township which include Sawa Section, Mattru on the Rail Section etc. in Bo District, Southern Province. The two day feeding event was part of her usual annual feeding programme undertaken through her, “No Child Left Behind Initiative” as support to the less privileged children in the country took place within the different communities at Tikonko, Bo District.

Speaking during the event, the Chief Executive Officer of No Child Left Behind Initiative, Jennifer Adeshola Thompson, highlighted that over the past years her organization has been celebrating Christmas day with children, adding that in 2020 during their Christmas day celebration the organization fed over 500 children within the Tikonko Township but said due to certain things the organization was unable to undertake the Christmas day feeding in December of 2021.

She pointed out that since the No Child Left Behind Initiative is an organization that has been working for the development and welfare of children she thought it fit to undertake the aforementioned feeding program within the Tikonko Township in Bo District this January as a way of celebrating the New Year with these children.

Jennifer Adeshola Thompson disclosed that her organization, which is working for the development and welfare of children in the country, has been in existence for over 4 years now with branches in some districts in the country, adding that as an organization they have been complementing the efforts of Government towards supporting the development of children in less privilege communities across the country.

She maintained that since the COVID-19 outbreak in the country her organization has been working in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 in the country through the distribution of face masks and undertaking coronavirus sensitization campaigns.

The CEO inspired children to take their studies serious underscoring how education is the key to success.  “Education is a process of learning that one goes through in order to become somebody in society”.

She further encouraged them to take the opportunities the organization has offered in order to achieve their dreams and become great people in society who will in return give back to society as she is currently doing.

On his part, the Councilor for Ward 289 Constituency 080 in Mattru on the Rail Section, Lahai Alpha expressed appreciation to the Chief Executive Officer of No Child Left Behind Initiative, Jennifer Adeshola Thompson for considering their township for the aforementioned feeding program which he described as not only important but a timely gesture.

He maintained that as stakeholders of the community they sincerely embraced the gesture as it has put smiles on the faces of the children and further pleaded to her that it should not be the end with the feeding program but to also consider these children for future programs that is geared towards the development of the children.

One of the beneficiaries in Sewa Section Tikonko, also extended gratitude to the No Child Left Behind Initiative for celebrating with them as children, furthering that as children they felt very good for considering them as very important people in society.

He said that the feeding program is a remarkable one in their lives as children, assuring them that all what they have learnt in the process of the celebration will be utilized which in turn will benefit them as children.

The event was climaxed with the distribution of 650 goodie bags and 30 balls to the children in all the Sections visited by the Chief Executive Officer of No Child Left Behind Initiative, Jennifer Adeshola Thompson.

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Red Cross Supports Wellington Fire Victims with Over Le375 Million

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their mission to facilitate the development of emergency first responder programs geared towards alleviating the plight of victims of the Wellington Tanker Fire disaster, the world largest humanitarian network, the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS) has on Tuesday 17th January 2022 through AfriMoney commences a cash transfer of One Million Six Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Leone (1,675,000) each to Two Hundred and Twenty Four (224) Wellington Tanker Fire disaster victims. The event took place at Choithram Supermarket Compound in Wellington, East End of Freetown.

Addressing the beneficiaries, the Director of Resource Mobilization and Communications at Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, Yusuf Kamara noted that the Sierra Leone Red Cross cannot replace lost lives or lost properties but rather they are doing such as part of  alleviating the plights of the victims, adding that  one of the focus of the Government is to ensure that even though that unfortunate has occurred victims should not continue to suffer and it in that regard that the Government called all humanitarian organizations, including the Sierra Leone Red Cross, in order for them to join the Government  to help in supporting to alleviate the sufferings of the victims.

He maintained that as an organization that is always ready to complement the efforts of Government they responded to that call by providing the sum of One Million Six Hundred and Seventy Five Thousand Leone (1,675,000) each to Two Hundred and Twenty Four (224) Wellington Tanker Fire disaster victims.

Yusuf Kamara informed beneficiaries that the cash transfer is going to be done via AfriMoney of which beneficiaries will be provided with Africell Sim Cards and their monies will be sent to those Sim Cards but also said those beneficiaries who want to access their monies during the event were given the opportunity to do so.

He further informed the gathering that they will support 224 victims and that the list victims who will be benefiting from the cash transfer was submitted to them by the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) as certified beneficiaries.

Speaking on behalf of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society, the Senior Planning and Reporting Officer of IFRC, Alhaji Bockarie Abu revealed that when Government made the crystal call to solicit partners’ support in order to support the Wellington Fire Victims the Sierra Leone Red Cross which relates directly with citizens informed the International Federation Red Cross and Red Crescent Society.

He said that during disasters the Red Cross has been providing life-saving assistances and ensured that people in need can live with greater resilience and dignity of which he said they will always continue in that direction.

On his part, the Relief and Response Officer at the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Michael Lavahun, commended the Sierra Leone Red Cross for their unwavering support they have been giving to Government but especially the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) over the years.

He maintained that over the years the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) was under the Office of the National Security but said His Excellency, the President, Julius Maada Bio, whom out of his wisdom, in trying to deal with disaster management issues in the country decided to establish the Agency as a stand-alone entity in order to support such disasters in the country which he said they have been doing since inception.

Michael Lavahun also went further to inform the gathering that when the Wellington Fire Disaster took place Government convened a meeting with all partner organizations of which the Sierra Leone Red Cross happens to be one of those organizations in order to solicit support from them to support the victims.

The Relief and Response Officer encouraged the beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity and also pleaded with those who were not selected to be calm as there are many other gestures in the offing.

Jacob Kamara, one of the beneficiaries, applauded the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society for considering them during this crucial moment in their lives, adding that the fire disaster brought them nothing but suffering and tears but said with such a support it will help in alleviating their plights.

Climaxing the event was the symbolic handing over the of Sim Cards which contain the said amount of the victims by the  Relief and Response Officer at the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Michael Lavahun and the Director of Resource Mobilization and Communications at the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, Yusuf Kamara.

EU Delegation Head Presents European Union -Sierra Leone Cooperation Strategy 2021-2027

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

Ambassador Manuel Müller and the Head of Cooperation, Gerald Hatler had the opportunity of presenting the new European Union – Sierra Leone cooperation strategy 2021-2027 to the Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Dr Francis Kaikai and a host of other State authorities at the National Authorizing Office in Freetown on the 18th January 2022.

Ambassador Müller underscored that the EU’s cooperation with Sierra Leone is based on shared values and committed to support the Government of Sierra Leone’s development initiatives to foster sustainable peace, unity and prosperity for the people of Sierra Leone.

The cooperation strategy document also known as the Multi-Annual Indicative Programme (MIP) for Sierra Leone 2021 – 2027, focuses on three main priorities. They include Green Economy, Human Development and Governance.

Green Economy – focuses on addressing the crucial social issue of addressing decent jobs and a sustainable, inclusive green economic transformation. It aims to increase access to a modern, sustainable, affordable and reliable energy for jobs and growth and to develop a sustainable, employment-oriented agriculture and fisheries food systems for health and nutrition security. It. This component will also specifically focus on addressing restoration, management and protection of terrestrial and marine biodiversity and ecosystems in Sierra Leone.

Human Development – this component focuses on creating an enabling environment for people to enjoy long, healthy and creative lives through sustainable investment in Basic and Secondary Education and TVET, improving the quality literacy and numeracy, skills and qualifications of the population. It will also address social protection issues with the objective of reducing vulnerabilities and enable sustainable growth.

Governance – the EU aims to promote democratic institutions, fundamental rights and freedoms. Credible and inclusive elections will remain key priorities of the EU action, as well as government’s effectiveness and public service delivery at national and local level. Economic governance will also be targeted to underpin sustainable economic and social policies by strengthening public finance management, transparency and domestic resources mobilization and improving the business climate.

To see more details click on: https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/sierra-leone/109830/2021-2027-multi-annual-indicative-programme-mip-republic-sierra-leone_en

Parliamentary Accounts Committee Authorizes ASSL to Audit FCC Mayor’s Donor Funded Projects

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By Amin Kef Sesay

In a new development, the Parliament of Sierra Leone, to be specific the Parliamentary Committee on Accounts, has on the 19th January 2022, ordered an immediate Special Audit of the Millions of Dollars of Donor-Funded Projects that were done via Mayor Yvonne Aki Sawyer in the name of the Freetown City Council with a specially ordered Audit to be done by the Audit Service Sierra Leone (ASSL) and completed within the next 30 Days.

This latest twist follows a revelation by Senior ASSL officials to the Public Accounts Committee of Sierra Leone that under Lara Taylor-Pearce as Auditor General, officials were hampered from completing a required Audit of the Mayor of Freetown and her so-called “Transform Freetown” initiative costed at over Ten Million Dollars (over 100 Billion Leones) for the year 2019 alone.

In return, Parliament has now ordered the Mayor and Freetown City Council to fully cooperate with the Auditors of the ASSL so as to ensure the Report of the ordered Special Audit is submitted to Parliament within the next 30 DAYS.

This said new development took place inside Parliamentary Committee Room 1.

The ASSL officials faithfully promised the Parliament that they are ready and determined to complete the audit if the Mayor and FCC cooperate.

Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas strictly advised the Mayor and FCC to provide all information to the Auditors of ASSL. He also directed the Auditors that if they face any obstacle or bottleneck in the process of auditing the Mayor’s projects, they should immediately report the Mayor to Parliament.

The matter was then adjourned.

For Deflowering & Impregnating Girl 15… 40 +Years Old Accused Person Stands Trial Before Sexual Model Court

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By Esther Wright

An accused person, Abubakarr Kamara, said to be in his late 40s, is currently standing trial at the Sexual Model Court for allegedly penetrating and impregnating a-15-year-old girl.

He was arraigned before Justice Mohamed Bawo, on one count charge of sexual penetration contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act 12.

It is alleged that Abubakarr Kamara on 15th of January 2021, in Freetown, engaged in an act of sexual penetration with a-15-year-old girl.

In her testimony on the 18th January 2022, the victim’s mother told the court that she does not like the present condition of her daughter.

She testified that in January, 2021, she observed a particular line mark underneath the stomach of her daughter (victim) and when she asked about the said mark the victim disclosed to her that it was the accused who had sexual intercourse with her and deflowered her.

According to the mother, she took the victim to a nurse for check-up and after the check-up examination, the nurse told her (the mother) that her daughter was six months pregnant stating that when she asked the victim as to who impregnated her, the victim replied that it was the accused and one Alhaska.

She said the Alhaska was her neighbour and he used to assist the victim with her studies, stating that the said Alhaska is currently at-large

She further testified that after the nurse had pronounced her daughter six months pregnant, she went home and reported the matter to the elders and later reported it to the police.

She said the police provided them with medical paper which they used to access medical examination and treatment at the Rainbow Medical Centre.

The matter was adjourned by Justice Bawoh and the accused remanded in custody.

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