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Afcon 2021: Algeria held to 0-0 draw by Sierra Leone

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By Amin Kef Sesay

The match between Leone Stars and its Algerian counterpart has been described as one of the best played matches in Afcon competition. Algeria had to settle for a point against Sierra Leone despite several second-half chances.

Algeria began the defence of their Africa Cup of Nations title with a goalless draw against a stubborn and spirited Sierra Leone side in Group E.

The Leone Stars had the better first-half openings, with Alhaji Kamara sending two chances narrowly wide.

After the break Algeria forward, Yacine Brahimi, shot straight at keeper Mohamed Nbalie Kamara, who also tipped a low shot from Riyad Mahrez past the post.

Kamara then denied Ramy Bensebaini and Baghdad Bounedjah in stoppage time.

Former England defender Steven Caulker, who recently switched international allegiance to Sierra Leone, made two crucial blocks to help his side to a clean sheet on their first Nations Cup appearance since 1996.

Awarding them with Certificates… Caritas-Freetown Honours 50 Successful Business Ebola Survivors

By Millicent Senava Mannah

Although it is an established fact that the Ebola Epidemic was put behind us as a country, however, one cannot deny the negative impacts it left on survivors and especially children who unfortunately became orphans as a result of the ravages of the deadly disease.

It was against such a backdrop, that Caritas Freetown, a Non-Governmental Organization, in collaboration with Caritas Germany, implemented and concluded a 9 months Project geared towards improving the lives of the targeted beneficiaries who were supported to embark on various livelihood programmes or trades.

At the end of the 9 months duration, Caritas Freetown awarded certificates to about 50 Ebola Survivors residing in different communities within the Western Area and Rural District, on the 11th of January 2022 during a ceremony that took place at the Twin Hall in Hastings, in the outskirts of Freetown.

Giving the overview of the program, Kumba E. Gando, the Public Relations Officer of Caritas Freetown disclosed that the name of the project is: “Enhancing Resilience of Ebola Orphans, Ebola Survivors and Their Families through Livelihood, Quality Healthcare and Psychosocial Services in The Western Area”.

Kumba E. Gando revealed that the project, which came to an end in December 2021 encompassed providing free health care treatment through their Mobile Clinic to Ebola victims as well as providing Psychosocial support through counseling to families of victims and supported them to establish small scale businesses.

“Caritas as an organization is not fighting to be seen but to change the lives of people, to upgrade their livelihoods in order for them to live in dignity in their communities, ” Ismail Alfred Charles, Programmes Director of Caritas Freetown stated.

He disclosed that it is the reason why as an organization they supported them to start small business enterprises in order for them to have sources of livelihoods.

The Program Manager continued that they encouraged them to save some of the profits gained from their businesses for 6 months, stating that it was deliberately a way of teaching them how to save their monies in order to expand their business ventures.

He pointed out that stigmatization of the survivors was difficult to wipe out, but through the small scale businesses, transformation has taken place in their lives and people now consider them relevant in their various societies.

Charles intimated that their organization has been helping these survivors since 2014 to date maintaining that if these survivors were neglected they would still been psychologically disturbed.

Musu Dumbuya, one of the beneficiaries who saved the highest, expressed her appreciation and gratitude to the organization for empowering her to take care of herself and her three siblings after they lost 16 members of their family with their parents inclusive.

Another beneficiary, Gbessey Sankoh, admonished her colleagues to handle their businesses with all seriousness. She furthered that they should minimize their expenses in order to save.

The ceremony was climaxed by the issuance of certificates to 50 survivors for their successful participation and completion of the project. Their savings were given to them by the organization for them to go and expand their businesses.

IMO-Tech Signs MoU with PeopleLink to Provide Virtual Medical Treatment

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IMO-Tech Officials: Ali Rahman, Sia Chakanda and Mohamed Fofanah

By Amin Kef Sesay

During an impressive ceremony held at the Radisson Blu Hotel last Friday the IMO-Tech Solutions Sierra Leone Limited signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with PeopleLink, an Indian-based Company, to help address the health challenges faced in Sierra Leone.

With over 13,000 customer base across 32 countries, PeopleLink is today the strongest Indian alternative to foreign video conferencing and Webinar brands. The company hopes to link Sierra Leoneans with health professionals through video conferencing to proffer medical advice, conduct training, provide diagnostic medical support, treatment, and other health-related services to customers in Sierra Leone.

Through its telemedicine platform, the company will link patients and medical experts in Sierra Leone with Amina Virtual Hospital, which offers quality assessment, diagnosis, and treatment in an integrated setting that provides efficient access to services.

Giving an overview of the opportunities of Amina Virtual Hospital, Annonth, Director of International Business Development, PeopleLink Unified Communications Pvt Limited, said the platform can increase the efficiency of care delivery, reduce expenses of caring for patients, no transporting of patients to hospitals, it provides the best of medical consultation to most distant patients and it saves time that may save lives.

Through virtual conferencing, patients, he said, can view their upcoming, past, and cancel appointments; they can upload their past medical reports, tests reports, or previous prescription; and they can create their profile with their personal information and can also mention if they have any drug allergy. The doctors on the other hand can view appointments, schedule calendars as per their convenience, upload their desired content in the online waiting room, invite two more participants in the online consultation, and create their profile

“Our platform is willing to provide quality and affordable services to Sierra Leone. The software is already available in Freetown to service customers with healthcare solutions,” he said and added that they have the vision of taking their services to every Chiefdom in Sierra Leone to have basic healthcare.

“Our initiative is a physical hospital transformed digitally into a virtual hospital. You can use WhatsApp or Facebook to book an appointment to communicate with a doctor and interact with them virtually,” he revealed and furthered that the hospital will be hosted in Freetown and it will bring knowledge that will be shared to its customers.

“It will help address the health challenges in Sierra Leone like the high maternal mortality rate. We aim to ensure that everyone has access to our health platform everywhere. We want Sierra Leone to be an example for other countries in Africa, and we also want to give knowledge transfer to new generation and doctors, other medical staff and government officials,” the Director said.

Mohamed Fofanah, Chief Executive Officer, IMO-Tech Solution USA Group said he has always been thinking of how to give back to his country, which is why he is establishing the Information Technology (IT) consultancy company that started in the United States of America in 2013. His company, he said has consulted for companies in USA and Africa, providing IT solutions.

“We want to have IMO-Tech Solution in Sierra Leone, which is why we have put together a young team to start the process and we have signed an MOU with PeopleLink, a company based in India to make a difference,” he said.

Ms. Sia Chakanda, Executive Director, IMO-Tech Solicitations Sierra Leone, said she is thrilled with the innovation and she’s optimistic that they will transform Sierra Leone by bringing quality services to the IT sector. She pointed out that they strive to meet the growing needs of Sierra Leoneans to meet modern digital needs and take part in the technology revolution that is benefiting other nations.

“We are introducing Telemedicine wherein a patient can talk to a doctor abroad to get quality treatment and diagnosis. This can save time and travelling cost,” Chakanda remarked and went on to state that it will help bring positive changes to the health sector in Sierra Leone.

Dr. John James, Director of Medicine, Blue Shield Hospital Sierra Leone, re-echoed the fact that the country has lots of challenges on healthcare delivery and furthered that the initiative launched will be of a positive impact to the health sector. “I want to crave the indulgence of the company to start the initiative as quickly as possible. Some people normally take a whole day to meet a doctor, therefore consulting patients through virtual will be laudable. We will accept it and I trust the people want such a health development venture,” he said.

Ali Rahman, Chief Operating Officer of IMO-Tech Solutions, described the initiative as a dream come true for Sierra Leone as it is a great impact that they can create on their country. Telemedicine, he said will have a great impact on the country. “Sierra Leoneans who are used to face-to-face meetings with doctors can now move faster with technology, especially virtual communications. This will alleviate lots of burden on doctors and lots of people don’t want to buy time as they have other engagement,” he said.

The virtual health initiative, according to IMO-Tech Officials, will be a win-win situation between the doctors, patients, and the industry as a whole as it will enable them to create a platform and build a relationship with other industries in the sector.

They said the process will be operated in phases as the first is to start in Freetown and it will be rolled out to the provinces. “We are going to build an infrastructure that is more robust to meet the needs of patients. Applications can be installed on mobile phones to get access to the services. We want as many doctors as possible on the platform. The more doctors we have the more services we provide to patients. They will make their services affordable and accessible to all. Their services are here to make things easy for those in need of quality healthcare,” they said.

32-Year-Old Hallie Chokpelleh on the Run for Sexual Assault of a Minor in Sierra Leone

Hallie Chokpelleh
Hallie Chokpelleh

By Francess Wright

The Family Support Unit in the Sierra Leone Police has placed a warrant of arrest on Hallie Chokpelleh a 32-year-old man for repeatedly penetrating a 16-year-old minor in Freetown.

According to the Director of family Support Unit – SLP CSP Fatmata Daboh Kamara the warrant was issued after preliminary investigation of the case after the case was transferred to the Head Quarters of Criminal Investigation Department due to a complaint of delay in investigations made by the survivor’s mother.

CSP Daboh Kamara said according to the file a case of sexual penetration was reported at the family support Unit of calaba town police station at around 900hrs on the 16th December 2021, and the victim was issued a medical examination report.

She said the police is currently searching for the suspect, one Hallie Chokpelleh a 32 old man who happens to be an uncle to the victim. The suspect has been on the run since the discovery of his heinous crime and efforts are made to track him including the issuance of a warrant for his arrest.

She asserted that the police are doing everything humanely possible to bring him to answer to his crime against the girl.

Speaking to this medium the mother of the 16-year-old survivor who happens to be a journalist and women and girls rights advocate said she is devasted by the shocking discovery.

According to her, for more than a year prior to this revelation, her daughter wrote her several notes during these periods on various times containing contents that were suggesting that she was under duress or being abused in some way, but she never mentioned it clearly. “But having seen and dealt with a lot of such stories that ended up being sexual abuse cases, I became suspicious and I continued talking to my daughter trying to cajole her to tell me about what is making her feel worthless and not part of our family and also repeatedly talking about suicide in most of these letters she wrote to me, but my efforts were not good enough to make her tell me”, she said.

She furthered that her daughter continued writing similar notes from time to time while she continued her frantic effort to find out what was eating up her daughter’s life, until the night of the 15th December 2021 at around 23:47hrs when she quietly walked into the bed room of her daughter and collected her mobile device where she discovered several in appropriate whatsapp messages from the uncle cohersing the girl to sneak into his bedroom for sexual activities and calling her inappropriate names seeing some conversations not expected from an uncle.

She described it as disgusting and traumatic. “I know the catastrophic and everlasting impact this will have in my daughter’s life”, she cried. “Before people could help me that morning, he ran left the house in the presence of his other siblings of the suspect and my husband who works out of town but came in that very morning. “I feel disappointed and betrayed by my husband’s entire family they aided his escape I believe,” the woman emphasised. “I couldn’t shout for outside help thinking about the stigma that will cause to my daughter in the community” she said, “I fight for other children but here I am struggling to get my daughter’s violator to answer for his crime, I don’t think the police is working hard enough to get him,” she lamented.

Hallie Chokpelleh
Hallie Chokpelleh

During Christmas Season … ACC’s Deputy Director Confirms Arrest & Detention of Over 30 Public Officials

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By Esther Wright

During a discussion on Radio Democracy, 98.1 aired via the Gud Morning Salone programme, the Deputy Director of Public Education and Outreach at the Anti-Corruption Commission, Abubakarr Turay, stated  that over thirty (30) Senior public officials from well over a dozen public institutions, were arrested over the Christmas Season by the country’s Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) in relation to issues contained in the 2020 Auditor General’s Report.

He furthered  by disclosing how the arrested public officials spent days and nights in detention during which they were intensely questioned over the Christmas Season, later granted Bail and released after questioning.

Those who were detained, according to him,  included senior officials of the Office of the President, Office of the Vice-President, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Basic & Senior Secondary Education, the Ministry of Works & Public Assets, the Ministry of Social Welfare, the National Revenue Authority, the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority, the Petroleum Directorate, the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority, Sierratel the State-owned Telecommunications entity, the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration and the National Minerals Agency are all under an intense and hot investigation as ordered by the Commissioner of the Anti Corruption Commission, Francis Ben Kaifala.

Based on what Abubakarr Turay stated, a total of seventeen institutions are currently being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in relation to the 2020 Audit Report and confirmed that senior management officials from all the 17 public institutions being investigated were indeed questioned over the Christmas Season.

Whilst declining to identify the exact names of those detained, Turay confirmed the names of all the institutions whose officials were questioned and further confirmed that over thirty (30) of those public officials spent nights in detention during such questioning.

Abubakarr Turay said that the over 30 public officers from these institutions have been interviewed since the 2020 Audit Report was tabled in Parliament last month.

It can be recalled that the Commissioner of the ACC Francis Ben Kaifala Esq. told journalists at a press conference held on the 20th December, 2021, that the Commission was launching series of investigations relating to issues outlined in the 2020 Audit Report. Since then, the Commission has sent Notices to persons of interest and set up teams of investigators who worked throughout the Christmas holidays.

According to him, most of those interviewed included the actual Heads of the institutions, their Finance Directors, Accountants and Procurement Officers.

“At the Ministry of Finance, we are investigating issues of procurement and duty waivers granted to 58 non-governmental organisations. At the National Revenue Authority, the Commission is investigating issues of contract for the supply of generator accessory materials and unsigned contract for the supply of seasonal and promotional materials. The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education is being investigated for allegedly flouting procurement procedures and PAYE tax not deducted and paid to the NRA, while the National Minerals Agency is being investigated for the alleged misappropriation of public revenue of up to 15.9 Billion Leones,” he also stated.

The Deputy Director of Public Education and Outreach said, during the course of investigation, some persons of interest had cause to spend nights in custody but were later put on bail.  He said the Commission has started robustly and will certainly invite more persons of interest from other institutions named in the 2020 Audit Report. He pledged the Commission’s determination to ensuring that all public institutions named in the 2020 Auditor General’s Report are held accountable.

Parliament Takes a Look Back & Projects into the Future

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By Esther Wright

Management and Staff of Parliament of Sierra Leone in collaboration with the European Union (EU) have on Friday 7/1/2022 commenced a-two-day retreat, at the Galliness Paradise  in the outskirt of Bo City, on the Theme; “Strive For Resolve And Make It Happen”.

In her welcome address, the Director General of Parliament, Madam Finda Frazer commended the Clerk of Parliament and staff for the tremendous working efforts. The Director General spoke about the purpose and expected objectives of the retreat and also assured staff of a good working relationship and positive outcome ahead.

On his part, the Clerk of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Param Umar Tarawally reassured staff of a good working relationship.  During his presentation, the Clerk spoke about the critical achievements in 2021 including the recruitment of the Director General, the revival of Management Meeting, performance management appraisal, Parliament openness amongst others. ” I am happy to report to you that we already have a Civil Society desk in Parliament,” he informed.

He went on to speak about elevation of leadership and Members of Parliament, as well as staff at the international cadre. Review of certain documents including Standing Order, establishment of policy and other related achievements of departments were deliberated upon by the Clerk.  The Clerk spoke about parliamentary priorities for 2022 on the Theme: ” Excellence Every day” and highlighted the importance and objectives. “We want to improve on the implementation of the Bo Declaration,” he stated and went on to emphasize on strong collaboration and relationship with civil society and others.

Update and financial plan for 2022, reviewing of departments, strategy plan were part of the Clerk’s presentations and in

concluding his presentation, he thanked the EU for its tremendous support and asked for more.

In his keynote address, the EU Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Manuel Muller described the event as a symbol to the Bo Declaration. He assured that EU is ready to support Sierra Leone, in light of its conformity to reform.

Whilst emphasizing on the Bo Declaration, he expressed hope for more unity among the Parliamentary political and management bodies for better achievements and willingness among all. He reassured Parliament for more supports relative to capability building and other technical assistance. He continued to commend Parliament for various achievements and informed that they were pleased with Parliament in that regard. He used the opportunity to thank all and sundry, and wished them a successful 2022.

Africa Should Be a Big Stage for International Cooperation, Not  Competition -Wang Yi- Chinese State Councilor &Foreign Minister

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By Amin Kef Sesay

The Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, while attending a ceremony with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta to witness the completion of the Chinese-built, Kipevu Oil Terminal (KOT) upon invitation in his statement said:

“Every country should be entitled to development and progress, and every nation should have the opportunity to realize their dreams. The 21st century is not only a century for Asia but also for Africa. The 2.7 billion Chinese and African people, working together to achieve modernization, will constitute the most glorious chapter in the history of human civilization.”

Wang further stressed that China has always called on the international community to pay more attention to Africa maintaining that it welcomes other countries, especially developed countries, to actively participate in Africa’s development process.

“Africa should be a big stage for international cooperation, not an arena for competition among major countries,” he postulated furthering how if there is any competition, it should be a competition of who has done more for Africa, who has contributed more to Africa, and who has worked more for the African people.

He also stated that China is ready to join hands with all countries with goodwill towards Africa in making new contributions to an even brighter future for Africa.

From January 4 to 7, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi made an official visit to Eritrea, Kenya and the Comoros.

It must be noted that it is now the 32nd consecutive time for Chinese foreign ministers to start their year-round overseas visits with a trip to Africa. Since 1991, Africa has been the destination for Chinese foreign ministers’ first overseas visit, heralding a new year of foreign exchanges.

That fine tradition of China’s diplomacy has been going on for 31 years rain or shine fully demonstrating the priority China gives to China-Africa relations, the growing profound friendship between China and Africa, and China’s firm support for Africa’s seeking strength through unity, development and revitalization.

Such, he said, has been applauded by their African friends and the rest of the international community.

Pavi Fort Commences Asphalt Concrete Work on Kenema Roads

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By Amin Kef Sesay

It could be recalled that on 19th December, 2020, Pavi Fort Construction Company entered Kenema city impressively with its highstandard machinery in preparedness to embark on the re-construction of township roads in that part of the country of which there was a lot of pomp and pageantry as residents of Kenema District came out in their hundreds to give a rousing welcome to the Management and team of the company.

Since December 2020 the company has been working round the clock with dogged determination to fulfil its commitment towards the re-construction of township roads in Kenema District.

In that regard on the 7th January 2022, Pavi Fort commenced Asphalt Concrete work on township roads in Kenema. The commissioning of the commencement of the Asphalt Concrete work was officially done by the Mayor of Kenema City, Thomas Karimu Baio.

Speaking to a mammoth gathering, the Mayor of Kenema City commended Pavi Fort Construction Company for their tireless efforts in ensuring that Kenema City has good roads.

He called on residents to support the company in complementing the efforts of President Julius Maada Bio and his Government to rebrand Kenema City, adding that the District can now boast of clean water supply, 24 hours electricity underscoring that with the re-construction of the roads within the township such will accelerate development processes within the district.

He stated that the re-construction of the Kenema township roads formed part of the New Direction Government’s commitment to improve rural infrastructure so that communities could qualitative assets required to support their local economy and enable future growth and development.

He continued that the roads, when completed, will see a major boost in businesses and other economic activities within the Kenema city and as well uplift the facial outlook of the city.

The Paramount Chief of Nongowa Chiefdom Kenema District, Sadiq Kapuwa, also commended the Management of Pavi Fort Construction Company for a job well done, adding that although they are yet to complete the re-construction process of the roads within the township they have to a large extent manifested commitment towards achieving their mandate of which, he said, as residents they are very much happy for their efforts so far.

Many, whom this medium talked with, intimated that they are of the strong conviction that the professionalism displayed by the company over the years for which the company was among other contractors, who won a $50 Million road construction contract, in Banjul, The Gambia, to construct a 50 kilometer OIC Urban Roads Project is what the company is currently displaying in Kenema.

On his part, Alhaji Alimu Sanu Barrie, the Proprietor of Pavi Fort Company, in a snap statement, expressed gratitude to the people of Kenema for the support they have been giving to him further assuring them that as a company they are very much committed towards the completion of the project.

The CEO assured residents of Kenema that the company is fully poised and is in a high gear to ensure that they complete the re-construction work of the Kenema Township Roads highlighting that as a patriotic citizen of this country he is always ready to complement the efforts of President Julius Maada Bio and his Government to rebrand the country.

CARL Urges Govt. to Publish Constitutional Review White Paper

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL-SL) has on Friday 7th January 2022 urged the Government of Sierra Leone to expedite the process by publishing a White Paper and a constitutional bill that is owned, understood, acceptable, and reflects the views and aspirations of the public. That demand was made during a press conference held at its Head office on Circular Road in Freetown.

Speaking to the Press, the Executive Director for Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law (CARL-SL), Ibrahim Tommy, started by expressing appreciation to the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) for approving a $100,000 grant to CARL and its partners in order to launch an inclusive, participatory Constitutional Review project which will keep citizens informed about the progresses made so far towards reviving the constitutional review process.

He maintained that the project is in two fold, firstly to work with the Government of Sierra Leone to ensure that the process is transparent open, inclusive and participatory adding that beyond working with Government CARL also wants to make sure that members of the public are well informed about the context especially the constitutional review White Paper which they are urging the Government to publish.

Ibrahim Tommy maintained that the Centre for Accountability and Rule of Law – Sierra Leone (CARL-SL) is jointly working with a Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, including the Institute of Governance Reform, Action Aid Sierra Leone, Centre for Democracy and Human Rights and Movement for Resettlement and Rural Development on a coordinated strategy that will foster transparency, citizens’ participation and accountability in the ongoing constitutional review process

He further revealed that CARL-SL also seeks to establish a feedback loop that keeps citizens informed and engaged at every stage of the process whilst at the same time informing the Government about the views and attitudes of citizens towards the constitutional review process, and to set up a credible framework that allows an effective interaction between the Government and Civil Society in respect of the ongoing review process.

“In order to bring about increased awareness and wider citizens’ participation, CARL-SL will work closely with key actors in the media and the wider civil society to stimulate a national conversation and bring some pressure to bear on the Government to ensure an open, accountable and expedited review process,” he underscored.

The Executive Director pointed out that the overall objective of their intervention is to ensure a speedy, accountable and citizen-led constitutional review process, as it is important to foster effective interaction between the Government and Civil society.

“We urge the Government of Sierra Leone to expedite the process by publishing a White Paper and a constitutional bill that is owned, understood, acceptable, and reflects the views and aspirations of the public” he reiterated.

As RSLAF Still Under its Radar…   CHRDI Vows it Will not Relent to Demand for Accountability

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By Amin Kef Sesay

One of the most vociferous rights-based organizations in the country, the Campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI), on the 5th January 2022 issued out a Press Release captioned: “CHRDI Condemns Corruption, Sexual Harassment and Rights Violations in the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF)”.  Indeed, the contents of the Press Release were very damning to say the least, unraveling a lot of unethical conduct within the hierarchy of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF).

The RSLAF, in return, convened a Press Conference during which it denied all the allegations made against it. Assistant Chief of Defense (ACDS) Operations and Plans, Brig. Gen. R. B. Harleston expressed total dissatisfaction with CHRDI for, what he termed as outright misinformation about the RSLAF particularly when according to him CHRDI failed to reach out to the senior management of the Army before publishing such a damaging report against the institution.

“Management believes that those issues raised by CHRDI are not well researched. If CHRDI has any issue that has to do with the MoD/RSLAF, let them approach the MoD/RSLAF senior management for access to credible information that will be accurate and balanced,” he admonished.

However, CHRDI, in reaction to the stance of the military stated that the response by RSLAF is indicative of the fact that the organization is willing to engage in a transparent dialogue about issues reported within their institution.

According to the Executive Chair of CHRDI, Abdul Fatoma, “However, we had hoped that the serious issues raised in our press release would have received more attention than just a mere dismissal.”

He continued by rhetorically asking: “After all, if there are no cases of sexual harassment within RSLAF, why is the institution continuing to receiving money to address a non-existent problem?”

Fatoma said they disagree with RSLAF’s way of responding to the issues raised by CHRDI, in large part dismissing their legitimate call for accountability.

He argued that the MoD/RSLAF press conference failed to provide accountability on funds, resources, and measures/actions the institution is taking to address issues of sex based harassment to the media and the general public.

Fatoma continued that perhaps MoD/RSLAF didn’t want to comment on the $290,000 USD due to concerns not to prejudice the matter under ACC investigation but continued that they have not commented on the fact that RSLAF nominated 4 senior staff members from both MoD/ RSLAF to have direct access to the funds, which admittedly are still under ACC investigation.

He said perhaps again there are no such cases “to their knowledge” because there are no proper complaints mechanism established within the RSLAF for GBV cases, sexual penetration, or domestic violence, and when complaints reach the management, they are sometimes catalogued as a family affair issues, and therefore personal issues.

“It seems that an approach of ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ was adopted by RSLAF with regard to sex based abuses,” he pointed out furthering how his organization is challenging RSLAF to publish a complete documentation on mechanisms in place for members of the RSLAF to file complaints based on sex discrimination; how are these complaints processed, by whom, and within which timeframe.

He continued by asking the question: “How many such complaints were received in the past 2 years, and how were they addressed? How many individuals were held to account for sex based abuses, and what were the punishments? How many complainants suffered retaliation because of their complaints?”

After all, Fatoma underscored, all Sierra Leone’s public institutions should publish their efforts to address sex based harassment, discrimination, and assault within the workplace, particularly given President Bio and the First Lady’s costly efforts to change the attitudes on women in society.

Fatoma said CHRDI has a dedicated team of selfless volunteers who have remained committed and have contributed immensely to the organization’s existence since they registered in 2011 and since then have made a difference in the lives of many Sierra Leoneans through research and public education on human rights and social justice.

He continued that as a Civil Society Organization, they have a moral obligation to the people, and the country’s democracy to ask for accountability and transparency and to help address the issues that affect the most vulnerable in society.

“We want to assure MOD/RSLAF that we will not relent in our efforts to ask for accountability and transparency,” he emphatically stated adding that no amount of intimidation will deter them and will continue to protect the confidentiality of their sources, as some of the survivors who spoke with them fear for their lives, their jobs, and their families.

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