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New Attorney-General & Minister of Justice in the Spotlight

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Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohamed Lamin Tarawalley

By Amin Kef Sesay

The newly appointed Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohamed Lamin Tarawalley, is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of Sierra Leone with over twenty years experience in the Legal profession. He has a firm knowledge and possesses a board array of experience in regulatory issues, strategic counselling, legal as well as policy matters.

Prior to his appointment as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohamed Lamin Tarawalley served in the enviable capacity of the Solicitor General of Sierra Leone, a position he held for over two years.

Earlier in his career—before becoming the Solicitor General of Sierra Leone—the newly appointed Attorney-General humbly served as the Deputy Head of Yada Williams and Associates, where he practiced law for 18 years.

 

Apart from his professional life, Mr Tarawalley has relished the opportunity to pass on the knowledge and experience acquired over the years to aspiring legal students at the Fourah Bay College Department of law and the Sierra Leone Law School.

Fondly called MLT, the former Solicitor General started his early years of education at the Christ the King College, Bo and later proceeded to the St. Edward’s Secondary School, where he comfortably attained his G.C.E O’ & A’levels, respectively.

Since his younger years, he has proven to be a focused, result-driven and disciplined individual, whose pursuit for higher education landed him at the Law Faculty, graduating with a Bachelor of Law with Honours and subsequently proceeded to the Sierra Leone Law School, where he was called to the  Bar in 2001. Having the untiring zeal to pursue his studies with the sole aim of contributing to his beloved nation, Sierra Leone, the former Solicitor General pursued a Masters degree in Law at the University of San Diego School of Law California, USA.

Mr. Tarawalley is an insightful individual, analytical and critical thinker whose work ethics, independence and integrity has prevailed in his trailblazing career over the years, marking his stellar performance in the profession thereby distinguishing him from others.

As the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, he will serve in the capacity of top prosecutor of the Government and at the same time an advocate for Sierra Leoneans in general. Mr Mohamed Lamin Tarawalley is a good listener and very consultative personality with fewer words and precise in his decisions.

The now AG and Minister of Justice is a family man with two kids.

In Spain…   Tourism Minister & Entourage Showcase Sierra Leone’s Vast Tourism Potentials

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By Amin Kef Sesay

The Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt and entourage comprising the Director of Tourism, the General Manager, Board Member, Director Ibrahim B. Sesay, World Bank Coordinator and personnel of the Monuments and Relics Commission are currently participating in the ongoing Fitur 2022 in Spain showcasing Sierra Leone’s tourism potentials in a bid to attract tourists into the country from different parts of the country.

Fitur 2022 is the global meeting point for tourism professionals and the leading trade fair for inbound and outbound markets in Latin America.

Clad in her African attire Dr Memunatu Pratt and entourage walked in the hall received by other respectable Ministers of Tourism from different countries during the official grand opening of Ministers attending this year’s FITUR 2022.

She called on international partners to pay attention to Sierra Leone.
Engaging potential investors at the trade fairs, Dr. Memunatu Madam Pratt disclosed that her country can boast of an extensive Atlantic Ocean coastline with pristine unspoiled beaches that stretch from the Lumley Beach on the Western Area peninsular to Sulima in Pujehun district.

Describing that country as a tropical paradise, she said Sierra Leone offers eco-tourists a wide variety of unique flora, fauna and birds. She further informed that high up in the Regent mountain is the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, the only such in West Africa.

“Sierra Leone’s new tourism logo is EXPLORE FREEDOM,” the result-oriented Minister told those in attendance as she and technical team seized time to reach out and tap the right sources to revamp the Tourism sector.

This year’s FITUR centres around healthy networking as the Tourism technical team will also be meeting people which could lead to great new ideas and sources of business. The presence of more than 1,170 media outlets is evident of the level of expectation the event creates in the industry by taking advantage of media coverage to promote the destination and tourism businesses.

The fair which commenced on the 19th January, 2022 will end on Sunday 22nd January, 2022.

Fitur is currently one of the biggest tourism conferences in the world with over 200 countries participating attracting over 200,000 attendees.

Significance of Today’s Groundbreaking RCBank /IPAM Financial Inclusion Seminar

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By Amin Kef Sesay

Today will see Sierra Leone’s most innovative Rokel Commercial Bank and the Institute of Public Administration and Management holding a groundbreaking seminar on financial inclusion, financial literacy, innovation and digitalization.

The latest research shows that despite having 14 commercial banks, 17 community banks, 50 microfinance institutions (MFIs), five of them deposit-taking, three Mobile Money Operators, and 59 Financial Services Associations (FSA), only 12.4 percent of adults in Sierra Leone have a bank account. Also, the total number of persons with access to formal financial services, including mobile money, is 19.8 percent.

Furthermore, most financial institutions are concentrated in the capital, Freetown, and secondary urban areas like Kenema and Bo, leaving most people in other parts of the country cut off from the financial system. Reasons include the high operating cost for institutions going into the rural and under-served areas of the country.

Across the continent, innovation and digitalization have become paramount as industries and institutions including commercial banks strive to adopt better and more effective methods of service provisions to their clients and day to day customers.

However, despite the obvious shift to digitalized methods of service provision and delivery, it is pertinent to note that some financial institutions still see the entire process of digitalization as problematic and difficult.

Information and communication technologies has brought about a boost in the financial sector specifically the support of banking services, risk management and increase in productivity and these factors have encouraged financial institutions to increase investments in the process of digitalization.

The practice of digitalizing services carried out by financial institutions gives a new turn to service provision and make for better customer satisfaction as a result of diversity in service provision.

Technology has changed businesses and within-business connections. This has empowered reconfiguration of design, marketing, production, delivery and services through supply chains, independent structure, outsourced manufacturing and contract warehousing and delivery.

The advent of technology has prompted advanced digital transformation, which is not simply restricted to tech savvy businesses; also high-tech major established organizations have embarked on digital transformation venture too.

Strategically, support for financial sector associations (bankers association, microfinance institution (MFI) associations) has not been very strong. Strengthening apex institutions through capacity building must therefore remain high on the country’s financial inclusion agenda through capacity building and institutional strengthening because the apex institutions play a key role in rallying their members and importantly acting as effective and viable channels for support to various interventions.

It is in this light that we must understand and appreciate RCB and IPAM’s quest to work collaboratively in the country’s continued bid to deepen financial inclusion through spreading financial literacy, innovation and digitization.

Financial inclusion means that individuals and businesses have access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs – transactions, payments, savings, credit and insurance – delivered in a responsible and sustainable ways. In this way, financial inclusion can help in poverty reduction in Sierra Leone with inclusiveness in opportunities related to financial services available.

Keywords associated with financial inclusion are: Inclusive growth, equality, financial opportunities, money management, investment initiatives, standard of living, and poverty reduction.

Meanwhile, barriers and constraints in financial inclusion cannot be overcome only by Bank of Sierra Leone policies and regulations.

It requires cooperation and intentional efforts from the government and other private sector players. Interventions could include digitizing payments for government services, including tax collections, passport requests, vehicle registration and driver’s license, customs duty, land registrations, and business registration in helping to enhance the country’s digital transformation agenda.

Internal Affairs Minister Officially Hands Over 22 Vehicles to SLCS

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By Millicent Senava Mannah

After the 29th April 2020 attempted jail break at the Male Correctional Centre on Pa Demba Road in Freetown, a thorough security assessment on Prisons country wide was conducted to determine existential threats and loopholes with regards those incarceration centres. Lack of mobility was identified as a key capability shortfall.

It was against such a backdrop that the Sierra Leone Correctional Service requested that Government must facilitate the provision of assorted vehicles to improve on the operational capacities and functions of prison personnel nation-wide.

In response, the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Internal Affairs recently provided 22 vehicles which include: three ambulances, six Hilux, two Prado vehicles and eleven trucks.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Panda Noah, while officially unveiling the aforementioned vehicles, stated that Government is aware of the numerous challenges that the Sierra Leone Correctional Centre (SLCC) is facing which, according to him, was why in 2020, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio ordered that a Managerial assessment review of the SLCC be undertaken.

“It was clear from the reports we received that across all Correctional Centres there is an acute shortage of vehicles. Such an ugly situation made it difficult to commute inmates in various Correctional Centres to and from court sittings,” he intimated.

He furthered that the Julius Maada Bio led-Government is really committed in building trust between the citizenry and the security sector.

The Minister added how the Government is focused on enhancing professionalism and de- politicising the forces in the country for effective service delivery.

Hon. Panda Noah assured that the Government is taking deliberate and practical steps to de- congest the Correctional Centre and instituting modern reforms.

The Director General of the Sierra Leone Correctional Service, Joseph Lamboi, expressed his excitement over the new development adding that the transportation challenge which has plagued the department or Correctional Centres for so long has been somehow ameliorated.

He continued by saying he is grateful to the Government of Sierra Leone for the gesture which, he said, the Sierra Leone Correctional Service had been yearning for.

“This invaluable support is not only going to make our job easier but it will also bring value to the department in the midst of our sister forces,” he stated.

The climax of the occasion was cutting of the ribbon signifying the official handing over of the vehicles to the Management of the Correctional Centre which was followed by a convoy parade.

Lawyer Robert Kowa Is Now Solicitor General   Newly appointed Solicitor General Robert B. Kowa

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By Amin Kef Sesay

Based on a recommendation by the Judicial and Legal Service Commission (JLSC),  the President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, on the 19th January  2022 appointed Lawyer Robert Baoma Kowa as the new Solicitor General to replace Mohamed Tarawalley who was inter alia appointed to replace the disgraced former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Anthony Brewah.

JLSC is chaired by the Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards, and five other members as provided for by Section 140 (1) of the Sierra Leone 1991 Constitution.

The newly appointed Solicitor General obtained his University education at Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone in 2001 where he first graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English. In his quest to become a razor-sharp litigator, he enrolled to study Law. In 2003, he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with Honours. In 2004, he was certified by the Council of Legal Education, Sierra Leone Law School with a Degree of Utter Barrister after his excellent performance in his Bar final examination. On 8th October, 2004 he was called to the Sierra Leone Bar.

In July, 2018 the new Solicitor General was admitted as Commissioner for Oaths and Notary Public.

His insatiable desire for quality education compelled him to enrol for his Master’s in Law (LLM) at the Salford University in Manchester in the United Kingdom, where he graduated in July 2020. Robert B. Kowa Esq is currently a PhD student.

As a multifaceted Sierra Leonean, R.B Kowa Esq has won many awards including the ‘100 Most Outstanding Sierra Leonean 2019-2021;’National Professional Award for Outstanding Leadership in 2021; 2019 award from the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General on presentation of Registrable Instrument and Bar Association 2021 recognition award for dedication and selfless service.

He has over 17 years’ experience in legal practice and was former Chairman, Income Tax Board of Appellate Commission. He was Commissioner, Law Reform Commission and Non-Executive Chairman of Corporate Affairs Commission.

He was President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association.

As it Invests over $25M on Rehabilitation Work… Chief Minister Lauds NP for Improving its Facilities & Excellent Service Delivery

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By Amin Kef Sesay

In the discharge of the mandate of his office, the Chief Minister of Sierra Leone, Jacob Jusu Saffa, paid a working visit to the Kissy Oil Refinery which is located in the East End of Freetown on the 19th January 2022, during which period he and his entourage, in the company of the Executive Chair of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (PRA), Dr. Brima Baluwa Koroma, the Ministers of Trade and the Environment, the General Manager of the Sierra Leone Ports Authority, Dr. Abdulai Fofana and his Deputy, Yankuba Askia Bio, conducted an inspection tour of the Refinery facilities.

During the inspection tour, the Chief Minister, who is well known for calling things by their real name did not mince his words but copiously stated that he is highly impressed with the level of serious investment that the oil marketing companies have made and continue to make in the downstream sector.

Jacob Jusu Saffa expressed how amazed and delighted he is to see firsthand the massive ongoing rehabilitation work undertaken by the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) to improve on its facilities at the Oil Refinery at Kissy.

“To understand that NP-SL Ltd is spending over twenty five million dollars on rehabilitating its facilities at the Oil Refinery is not only awesome but speaks volume of how serious the company is to continue its operations and I am personally impressed with this,” the Chief Minister responded when he was informed.

He added that undertaking such is a clear manifestation of how a committed indigenous company, with a clear mission and purpose to meaningfully deliver, is steadily contributing to national development.

The Chief Minister also commended NP-SL for effective service delivery to members of the public over the years saying the company has exemplarily demonstrated professionalism to the highest level in terms of its interface with its numerous and esteemed customers throughout the country.

According to the Chief Minister, the conducted tour of the Kissy oil refinery was geared towards having first-hand information on the downstream sector. He maintained that seeing for himself will make it possible to make informed decisions related to the downstream sector in this country. “Making important decisions relating to that sector could make it possible for new jobs to be created, will help boost the country’s economy as well as make room for more investors,” the Chief Minister underscored.

The Chief Minister disclosed that even though Government has been making informed policies relating to the sector, however, his  working visit was to see and assess how those policies are beneficial to the country.
During the conducted tour, the Chief Minister looked at and assessed facilities of Conex, formerly known as Total SL, the All Petroleum Products, and the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited etc.

On his part the Executive Chairman of PRA, Dr Brima Baluwa Koroma, thanked the Chief Minister for touring the facilities and assessing developments at the Kissy Oil Installations.

He furthered how the manifesto promise made by the New Direction Government to turn around the downstream sector or oil industry is seen taking place and positively being translated into tangible reality on the ground that will benefit the country in diverse ways.

It could be recalled that the National Petroleum –Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is an indigenous oil importing and marketing company that has been in existence and functionally operating for over three decades. Due to sound managerial initiatives the company has made steady progress in its meteoric rise to become one of the renowned business entities not only in Sierra Leone but in neighbouring Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia where it has presence and functionally rendering services to its numerous customers.

One outstanding attribute of the company is its laid down policy of employing indigenes in the countries where it is operating as opposed to foreigners. This has benefitted many Sierra Leoneans, which hitherto were jobless and through such help put food on the tables of many families.

Besides, the company is paying huge taxes to the Government which has been contributing to put the latter at a vantage position to fund various development projects.

Financially responding to national disasters and catastrophes in big ways like it did during the Ebola, mudslide and COVID-19 outbreaks are just examples of how the company has rolled out its Corporate Social Responsibility.

For no less a person than the Chief Minister, Jacob Jusu Saffa, to make such complimentary remarks about NP-SL Ltd could not in any way be seen as mere window dressing or an over exaggeration but rather actually recognizing and acknowledging the good work that the company is doing on the ground.

With regards the Chief Minister’s comment about NP-SL’s commendable service delivery portfolio, an outstanding  expert in the Oil industry stated that what was running through the mind of the Chief Minister were the politeness that Pump Attendants at various NP Filling Stations are demonstrating in treating customers, the introduction of the NP Smart Card that makes transactions easier and faster , the marketing of NP Gas at these Filling or Gas Stations etc which were vividly awaken in him because of what he saw at Kissy which could have so impressed him for him to copiously commend a company well known as 1st for Customer Care.

For Nourishing Your Babies…. Nutribom Maize Baby Food is the Answer

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Amin Kef Sesay

It is a well established fact that in any given society individuals loves to play with healthy, bouncing babies who are always sources of joy, pride and inspiration as opposed to those that are unwell for lack of nutritious diets. Again, it is medically accepted that breastfeeding should be a must for kids within a particular age bracket as the mother’s breast milk contains all the necessary nutrients that a child needs for healthy growth.

Indeed, having a baby is one of the happiest moments of any parent’s life and to see he or she growing up healthy and smart brings unending joy.

For parents to witness those joyous moments in their children’s growth will somehow largely depend on the type of food that they administer to their kids.

In order to achieve such, Nutribom wants to be part of that amazing life experience. Nutribom Infant Cereal is an excellent everyday food source ideal for a healthy balanced diet for babies from six months of age.

It ensures your baby a healthy growth and development. Nutribom contains important vitamins such as iron, Vitamins A, C & D and Zinc to name a few and easy to Digest, easy to prepare. Nutribom Infant Cereal is the perfect daily complementary food for your baby.

Emkay Store SL LTD is the distributor of Nutribom Infant Cereal and many products which include: Nurtilac, Nutrilon and H&H infant formulas (Cornmilk and cereal for infants), confectioneries (inclusive of items for Children’s Birthday parties), Rice, Olinda (Pure Ceylon tea, Green tea and Slim tea), Flavoured tea – Ginger etc.

For wholesale and retail contact: Emkay Store SL LTD at 12 Sani Abacha Street Freetown, Sierra Leone or call +23288 604-402.

 

Government Agrees Enforcing Right to Education Rather it Being a Privilege

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By Theresa Kef Sesay

It was insinuated in the speech delivered by President Julius Maada Bio during the launching of the Government White Paper on the Constitutional Review Process at State House that Free quality school education from pre-school to Senior Secondary School is to become a right that is enforceable by law.

According to the President, there remain significant gaps in access to the essential elements of a thriving democracy – fundamental rights, protections, justice, resources, and opportunities. Moreover, matters of citizenship are not clearly defined and are potentially the basis for exclusion and discrimination.

“The review of the Government White Paper on the Constitution of Sierra Leone affirms the State’s commitment to providing free quality and compulsory education at primary and secondary school levels and includes civic education and entrepreneurship among the state’s educational objectives,” the President said.

The 2017 Government White Paper recommended that the responsibility of Government shall be to direct its policy toward “providing necessary structures, finance and supportive facilities for education as and when practicable” be made absolute by deleting the qualifying words “as and when practicable”: section 9(1)c Government accepted the recommendation to delete the qualifying words “as and when practicable” Necessary structures will involve policy formulation to help the Government address challenges where there are limited resources. Section 9(1)(c) should be amended accordingly.

It was therefore recommended that in promoting the educational objectives of the Constitution, Government shall strive to eradicate illiteracy and shall direct its educational policy towards achieving “free secondary education as and when practicable” be made absolute by deleting the qualifying words “as and when practicable”:

According to the Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education Dr. David Moinina Sengeh: “This transformational modification did not come about because I, as Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education served on the Technical Committee, it came about because the Government under the leadership of H.E President Bio inherently believes that the only way to transform our country is through sustained human capital development and investment in our children. Access to quality education is an inalienable right for every child.”

Sierra Leone & Russia Celebrate 60 Years of Bi-Lateral Ties

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By Festus Lahai

The 18th January 2022 marked sixty years of diplomatic relationship between Sierra Leone and Russia. Sierra Leone was one of the first African countries that established diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union (Russia) in 1962.
For 60 years, both countries have benefited from a variety of diplomatic opportunities and trade, including support for each other at the international arena.

In 1963, the Embassy of the USSR was opened in Freetown and in 1965, the Sierra Leone Embassy was opened in Moscow. At the time, it was the only diplomatic mission in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the North and South Caucasus, the Balkans, Eastern, Central, and Southeastern Europe, along the Black Sea.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union after the secession of the Baltic States of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia which heralded the secession of several other states in the Union, the USSR ceased to exist as a State. Therefore, on the 7th of December 1991, Sierra Leone announced the recognition of the Russian Federation as the successor State to the Soviet Union.

Since the establishment of the Embassy in Moscow, Sierra Leone had accredited 11 Ambassadors to serve as Presidential Representatives in the Federation, and Ambassador Mohammed Yongawo is the 12th.
During the more than decade long civil war in Sierra Leone, the Russian Federation relocated its Embassy to Guinea’s capital, Conakry. A strong case has been made to the Russian Government to re-open its Mission in Freetown and that is under consideration.

On the 18th of January 2022, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Sierra Leone celebrated 60 years of fruitful diplomatic relations.

Sierra Leone and Russia have hosted high profile officials in each other’s capital. From ministers {including the visit of two of Sierra Leone’s Foreign Ministers – Dr Alie Kabba (2019) and Professor David Francis (2021) to heads of departments and engineers, exchanges have been taking place. The visit to Freetown of the Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Middle East and Africa , Bagdanov, is one of the highlights of the enduring and promising relationship. The successful participation of President Bio in the first Russia-Africa summit in Sochi, Russia in 2019 formed the climax of the fruitful ties with the Russian Federation.

In nearly six decades, the Republic of Sierra Leone and the former Soviet Union, now the Russian Federation, have collaborated at bilateral and multilateral levels in several areas like international organizations, security, education to name but a few.

It is worth mentioning that thousands of Sierra Leoneans were educated in the former Soviet Union and dozens are currently studying in various fields in the Russian Federation.

Celebrating these fruitful bilateral relations is the confidence and trust both Governments have, to agree on a visa-free movement for holders of Diplomatic and Service passports and the deepening of the bilateral cooperation.

Both countries support each other in various sectors: Mining, Trade, Energy, Transportation, Security Sector and Human Capital Development.

Both Sierra Leone and Russia share similar rebranding values. While the Government of Sierra Leone aims at rebranding the image of the country through economic growth and development, the Government of Russia is strengthening its relationship with Africa through partnerships and investment opportunities.

Mining Sector

Sierra Leone has provided an opportunity for Russian mining companies to operate in the country. It is significant to note that Russian mining companies have played a significant role in creating jobs for young Sierra Leoneans and are also servicing their Corporate Social Responsibilities to communities where they operate, as well as fulfilling their tax obligations to the government.

Trade

On 16th September 2020, the Ministry of Trade and Industry in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation hosted an “Accelerated Growth and Investment Summit in Freetown”. The two-day summit was conducted as a result of Ambassador Yongawo’s strategic engagement in the Russian Federation. The meeting brought together a Consortium of major international investors, including Inova Capital and Allied Identity.

These investors proposed $3.7 billion as ‘direct foreign investment’ into the Sierra Leone economy. Energy, E-Health, E-Education and infrastructure were identified as key areas for investment.
Energy.

During the Russia-Africa Summit, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio discussed with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on multiple business opportunities from which both sides can benefit. Those opportunities centered around energy reformation. In H.E Bio’s meeting with the Russia Energy Minister Mr Novak on the sidelines of the Sochi summit, they agreed on a working group on energy.

On the 25th of August 2020, the first joint Zoom meeting was organised by the Sierra Leone’s Minister of Energy Alhaji Kanja Sesay, who doubled as Team Lead, and the Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr. Sorokin Pavel Yurievich headed the Russian team.

During the meeting, the two countries discussed the present state of their ties and discussed the possibilities of deepening it in the spheres of fuel and energy. The two sides exchanged views on the promising projects that were discussed during the Working Group meeting. Both countries also discussed Oil and Gas projects.

Transportation
At the end of the Russia-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Sochi, Russia, President Bio discussed with his Russian counterpart on collaboration in the transport sector and for Russian support to Sierra Leone. In 2021 a team from the Sierra Leone Ministry of Transport visited Russia and held fruitful discussions with the GAZ group.

Sanitation
President Vladimir Putin promised to donate 200 garbage trucks to strengthen Sierra Leone’s Waste Management Sector, and 50 of those trucks were commissioned by President Julius Maada Bio on the 1st December 2020 in Freetown. The Russian Government has promised to provide further support in this area.

Health
Russia and Sierra Leone have extensively collaborated in this field in the past and continue to do so. Many of Sierra Leone’s doctors trained in the former Soviet Union and now in the Russian Federation. 80% of the current crop of Sierra Leone students in Russia are studying Medicine.

Russia was one of the countries that came to the aid of Sierra Leone following the outbreak of Ebola. Russia sent support to help combat the coronavirus.

There are conversations between the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and eminent Russian specialists to extend their expertise in Telemedicine to Sierra Leone. Similarly, the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education is in talks with Russian higher institutions for possible exchange programs.

Human Capital Development
Records show that the first African student to have studied Medicine at the RUDN University was a Sierra Leonean. Since then, Over 2000 Sierra Leoneans have benefited from Soviet/Russian scholarships in undergraduate and post-graduate courses.

Upon his appointment as Ambassador to the Federation, H.E Yongawo renegotiated with RUDN and other universities for more slots to be awarded to deserving Sierra Leonean students to be trained in the fields of Medicine, Security, Engineering, Agriculture, Mathematics, Economics etc.; so, from a total of 37 students, in just three years we can now boast of nearly 150 students studying in various fields across the Russian Federation. All of the students are tuition-free and are being provided yearly stipends by the government of H.E President Bio.
Sierra Leone and Russia are reliable partners, and long shall this partnership continue.

Tourism Minister & Entourage in Spain to Market Sierra Leone’s Potentials

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By Amin Kef Sesay

The country’s Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister, Dr. Memunatu Pratt and entourage are currently in Spain to attend this year’s Fitur 2022 Spanish International Trade Fair.

As per schedule the Minister will alongside certain officials of the National Tourist Board, World Bank Tourism Coordinator and Monument and Relics Commission showcase Sierra Leone’s rich tourism potentials.

With the Trade Fair taking place from today, the 19th January 2022 and running through to the 23rd January, 2022 in Madrid it is expected to attract high media visibility across the globe.

It is expected the Tourism Minister and entourage will engage international media partners, top operators, airliners, and travel agencies with the sole purpose of showcasing Sierra Leone’s huge untapped touristic wealth.

Many could attest to the fact that the Tourism Minister has been very much active, over the years, in vigorously engaging on programmes that are geared towards rebranding Sierra Leone’s image at the international arena or stage, as well as reviving the tourism sector to create job opportunities and contribute to sustainable revenue generation.

From what this medium has gathered so far, under her dynamic leadership, there has been a dramatic change and positive perception of Sierra Leone’s hospitality sector, with the country quite recently listed by a prestigious US publication as one of 52 ideal tourist destinations.

Sierra Leone has not only  identified tourism as one of the growth sectors to aid economic diversification and job creation but also as a source of support in the sector’s recovery process and positioning of Sierra Leone as a competitive and attractive tourist destination under the Ministry’s implementation of a robust marketing and rebranding strategy.

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