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Premium Divine Organizes Xploza Inter-Company Football Gala Competition

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

One of Sierra Leone’s outstanding food marketing and distribution companies, Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd, which operates as an agent for Promasidor Holdings Limited, a leading manufacturer of top quality food products in more than 30 African countries, including Sierra Leone on Sunday 12th December 2021 held a one day Xploza Inter-Company Football Gala Competition 2021 at the Brima Attouga Mini Stadium in the East End of Freetown.

Four companies participated in the football gala which includes Hani K. Enterprises, Premium Divine Trading Company, SARFCO Trading Limited and Ibrahim Moshen & Sons. After both teams played each other Hani K. Enterprises and SARFCO Trading Limited made it to the final of which Hani K. Enterprises emerged champion of the Xploza Inter-Companies Football Gala Competition 2021, SARFCO Trading Limited took the second position, Premium Divine Trading Company took the 3rd position and Ibrahim Moshen & Sons took the fourth position.

All the participating teams including the match officials received cartoons of Xpolza drinks as prizes from the Premium Divine Trading Company. During the match, free sampling of Xploza drinks was also facilitated by the company targeting spectators who witnessed the match.

In an exclusive interview with the Country Manager of Premium Divine Trading Ltd, Kenneth Konuah, he commended the companies that participated in the Xploza Inter-Companies Football Gala Competition 2021, adding that without their participation the football gala wouldn’t has been a success.

He also congratulated Hani K. Enterprises for emerging as the champion of the Xploza Inter-Company Football Gala Competition 2021 and SARFCO Trading Limited for taking the second position. He encouraged the players to maintain the peace among them as workers from the participating companies.

Kenneth Konuah stated that Premium Divine Trading, as a responsible company, decided to organize the Xploza Inter-Company Football Gala Competition 2021 to bring other companies together in unity and also used the opportunity to market their products especially the Xploza energy drink which he described as one of the best energy drinks in town.

He further revealed that Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd also distributes and markets Cowbell, Onga, Miksi Chocolate and coffee drink, Xploza, Kremela and Yumvita, the latter being an infant cereal with milk also containing wheat, rice and maize.

The Manager for Hani K. Enterprises, Hani K who was also in attendance, applauded Premium Divine Trading for organizing the football gala which he said is very important towards uniting companies in the country, stating that football brings peace and unity of which he said those have been manifested by the participating companies.

He also congratulated his players for their wonderful performances manifested during their encounter with their counterparts during the competition saying they have made him proud.

Sheka Kamara, who happens to be the Captain for Hani K Enterprises also described the competition as a wonderful move taken by the Premium Divine Trading Limited in bringing together the companies to take part in a football competition.

He also commended his colleagues for putting up massive performances against their counterparts.

Climaxing the event was the distribution of cartoons of Xploza drinks as prizes to all the participating teams by the Marketing Manager of Premium Divine Trading Limited, Isha Bangura.

Orange Money Seals MoU with Bo City Council

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

In a bid to make the payment of property rates and licenses easy and affordable from their comfort zones using Orange Money effective 2022 for residents of Bo City, Orange Money on Monday 13th December 2021 sealed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bo City Council during a well-attended ceremony held at De-wizard Conference Hall in Bo City, Southern Sierra Leone.

The MoU between Orange Money and the Bo City Council will enable residents of Bo to pay their property rates, licenses and other city rates to the Bo City Council using Orange Money.

In his address, the Deputy Mayor of the Bo City Council, David J.N Smart commended Orange Money for their tremendously work over the years particularly with regards breaking a new ground in Digital Financial Inclusion in the country.

He added that it is a very serious decision which the Bo City Council made to go into partnership with Orange Money, noting that they held various meetings before deciding who to sign a partnership with because other companies approached them with similar opportunities but said it was because of the confidence they entrust in Orange Money that is why they decided to sign the MoU with them.

David J.N Smart added that they chose Orange Sierra Leone over the other companies because of what Orange Sierra Leone has been doing in the country and that they also decided to go into the partnership with Orange Money in order to help the Council in its revenue mobilization further stating how he is of the strong conviction that with this partnership their set target in terms of revenue mobilization will be met.

The Deputy Mayor revealed that the partnership between the two institutions will serve as a foundation stone for them to go into further partnerships as it will benefit both parties. He further noted that they have been depending on banks and physical payments, but that with Orange Money, the burden on the people will be less in paying their taxes.

The Chief Administrator of the Bo City Council, Veronica Fortune, said it is a dream come true to partner with Orange Money, noting that they are anticipating huge returns and sustainability as their projection for 2022 is very high. She further said that with robust publicity, such is welcome news to the people of Bo.

She added that they expect Orange Money agents to always be up and running and assured that tax payers outside Bo City can now pay their taxes even if they are outside the city, adding that she looks forward to a formidable partnership and collaboration between the two institutions.

On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Orange Money, David Mansaray said he is grateful to the Bo City Council for accepting to partner with them, noting that it is not new for Orange, because they have been partnering with other Councils.

He assured the Bo City Council that they have chosen the right path because the world is now moving towards digitalization, noting that they will help the Bo City Council in their revenue mobilization. He said the partnership will ease the burden on the tax payers and boost transparency. He thanked the Orange staff and the Bo City Council staffs for their efforts in actualizing their dream.

Closing the event was the official signing of the Memorandum of Understanding by the Chief Executive Officer of Orange Money, David Mansaray and the Deputy Mayor of the Bo City Council, David J.N Smart.

Call For High Profile Trials To Shift To Special Court

By Amin Kef Sesay

The 14th December, 2021 first sittings at the High Court in Freetown presided over by Justice Fisher of Dr Samura Kamara and 5 others on allegations of corruption charges filed against them by the Anti Corruption Commission not only had thousands of passengers and commuters in the central and central west part of the city annoyed but also caused many unwarranted business delays, cancelled and lost and delays in arriving at work on time on offices that require worker to be in as early as 7.30am or earlier.

Understandable that fearing a repeat of what happened before around the precinct of the ACC building on Charlotte Street when Dr Samura Kamara was called for questioning in November, from as early as 7am, police had sealed off the entire area from Liverpool Street heading towards the Cotton Tree and the Law Courts building, and going down towards the adjacent Siaka Stevens Street – the two principal inlets and out lets into the city central.

This caused a journey that usually takes passengers and commuters less than five minutes from the upper reaches of Pademba Road and Siaka Stevens Street into and out of the city center to take over a frustrating hour.

To the annoyance of city dwellers who depend on conducting business promptly, this is not the first time that police have brought traffic to a virtual halt in the perimeter of the city central whenever there have been high profile cases at the law court building.

It is therefore a humble suggestion to the Inspector General of Police and the Chief Justice of the Judiciary, that in the exercise of our rights as citizens to free, uninterrupted movement, high profile cases that would result in severe disruption to free flow of traffic in the city center be held at the Special Court premises on Jomo Kenyatta Road where they are less likely to interfere with the free flow of traffic the whole day long.

As this commentary is been written, traffic flow around the central parts of the city are frustratingly slow, with even pedestrian movement on streets in the vicinity of the Cotton Tree and the Law Courts completely cut off, causing us to use longer routes.

Transnational SL/DStv Awarded for Best Marketing & Customer Management (2021)

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By Amin Kef Sesay

Transnational SL Ltd, which is the Sole Agent of MultiChoice DStv Sierra Leone, is indeed proud to have been recognized as top performer amongst MultiChoice DTH Agencies and Franchises in two categories : Best Marketing Team and Best Team in CVM / Customer Value Management Execution.

The award ceremony took place virtually on October 25, 2021 in recognition of the efforts and dedication MultiChoice Agencies and Franchises have put towards the growth of the business.

The Chief Executive Officer of Transnational SL Ltd, Natalia Abboud, stated: “For over 30 years Transnational SL Ltd/DStv Sierra Leone has entertained Sierra Leonean households with the best in entertainment and sports, a mission it has set for itself against all odds”.

She furthered that despite the local challenges faced amidst rampant smuggling of illegal decoders and Piracy, Transnational SL Ltd continues to focus on growing its footfall in the nation contributing to economic prosperity and the growth of the media and content industry.

It could be recalled that a key highlight of 2021 was the on-boarding of AYV TV onto the DStv platform which has  now enabled Sierra Leonean original content to be aired to over 25 African countries.

As ECOWAS Leaders Bemoan Democracy Decline…   Biden Says Renewing Democracy is Our ‘Defining Challenge’

By Amin Kef Sesay

West African leaders have bemoaned the decline of democracy and urged stronger action to enforce compliance. They made the call at the second Kofi Annan Peace and Security Forum on Wednesday 8th December in Accra, Ghana on the theme: “Democracy and Good Governance in the Context of Complex Crises in West Africa”

Ibn Chambas pointed out that most conflicts in West Africa occurred as a result of poorly managed or frankly rigged elections.

Former Ghanaian President, John Kufour and former Guinean Prime Ministers – Kabine Koumara and Lansana Kuyateh, identified politics of exclusion, constitutional violations/manipulations, bad governance and the integrity and character of leaders as key factors of conflict in West Africa.

Significantly, former President Koroma was commended for respecting the constitutional term limits despite pressure on him to go for a third term.

Former President Koroma called for, “ECOWAS to carve out a way of utilizing early warnings and be bold enough to confronting leaders who are contravening the ECOWAS protocols on democracy and good governance.”

The former President referred to his home country where he said several violations, including the suspension of an Auditor General and the setting up of a tribunal to allegedly investigate conflict of interest at the eve of the publication of an annual audit report, represent a decline in democratic practice.

“Setting up a tribunal to investigate an Auditor General at the eve of the publication of an audit report; the disruption of Parliament and imposition of a Speaker, as well as the replacement of elected Members of Parliament by a court judgment, are not good signs of democratic progress,” President Koroma maintained.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden gathered over 100 world leaders at a summit on Thursday and made a plea to bolster democracies around the world, calling safeguarding rights and freedoms in the face of rising authoritarianism the “defining challenge” of the current era.

Intended to counter democratic backsliding worldwide, Biden said global freedoms were under threat from autocrats seeking to expand power, export influence and justify repression.

“We stand at an inflection point in our history, in my view. …Will we allow the backward slide of rights and democracy to continue unchecked? Or will we together have a vision…and courage to once more lead the march of human progress and human freedom forward?,” he said, adding, “Democracy doesn’t happen by accident. And we have to renew it with each generation.”

“In my view, this is the defining challenge of our time.”

Via Raffle Draw… Lands Minister Sets History for Allocating Plots of Land to the Public

Amin Kef Sesay

The current Minister of the Ministry of Lands Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesie, has made history on the 9th December 2021, when he rolled out an initiative of conducting the first-ever public raffle draw geared towards allocating 200 plots of State Land to lucky winners among the public.

It must be noted that for quite a considerable period of time, members of the public and the Ministry have been grappling with the serious challenges of corruption, mal-administration and unfair treatment among other negative vices that had marred the general operations of the Ministry, especially in the area of land allocation.

As part of the various reforms and professional standards ushered in by the Dr. Turad Senesie administration in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Sierra Leoneans for the first time in the nation’s history had the opportunity to be publicly informed about the availability of State Land for lease and the call for the citizens to apply and compete fairly for the meagre State natural resource.

A total of over 7,000 Sierra Leoneans from various walks of life, religious backgrounds, ethnic groups and regions collected the free application forms and submitted same within the two weeks application period.

As a result of the mad rush and demand for land, the Ministry proactively and accordingly increased the advertised plots from 100 (200 Town Lots) to 200 (400 Town Lots) to ensure many more applicants are afforded the opportunity to be allocated the available State land.

It was also unprecedentedly resolved that the plots would be allocated to the citizens through a public raffle draw to ensure transparency and fairness in the process.

Applicants, Anti Corruption Commission, Civil Society, Parliamentary Committee on Lands, the Press and the General Public to witness, observe and participate in the public raffle conducted in the compound of the Youyi Building in Freetown.

Additionally, the program was screened and streamed live on National Television and through the Official Facebook Page of the Ministry.

The over 7,000 application forms were displayed in the full view of the public before folding them up publicly and dumping them into the specially designed raffle drum.

Starting with the symbolic hand-deep and blind selection done by the Hon. Minister, one person at a time, members of the public were invited to blind-deep and select lucky winners from the rolling application forms.

The winners were announced one after the other as their forms were hand-picked out of the drum by members of the public.

A total of 200 Sierra Leoneans from various backgrounds and status had a fair share of Two Town Lots each of State Land.

Vulnerable citizens, including a disabled chairlady that were present when their names were announced, burst out in tears and celebrated uncontrollably with emotional testimonies of their feelings.

Even applicants present who could not make it successfully in the draw publicly testified and endorsed the credibility, transparency and fairness of the process.

The list of winners would be published by the Ministry early this week and the process to formally hand over the land to the wining applicants is already in top gear.

Premium Divine Trading Boosts Orphans with Food Items

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

In continuing its humanitarian gestures to the  less privileged children and to support the Orphan Society Outreach Program, which is geared towards supporting 5,000 orphans in the country, the Premium Divine Trading Limited has on the  9th December, 2021 donated 200 cartoons of their food products, which includes 100 cartoons of Yumvita and 100 cartoons of Miksi Chocolate to the Orphan Empowerment Society (TOES) with the objective of supporting Orphans in Orphanage Homes within the Freetown Municipality. The official handing over ceremony of the items was done at one of the Orphanage Homes (UCC Orphanage Home) at Allen Town in Freetown.

Handing over the items, the Marketing Executive of Premium Divine Trading Ltd, Isha Bangura, noted that in response to a request made by the Orphan Empowerment Society (TOES) towards supporting the organization’s outreach program, which is geared towards supporting 5,000 orphans in the country, as a responsible company, they deemed it fit to undertake such a donation to the organization in order to support orphans in their different homes.

She continued that the company has been very keen towards honouring its Corporate Social Responsibility and that over the years it has contributed tremendously towards nation building.

Isha Bangura revealed that the company recently made a total donation of one hundred million Leones both in cash and products. A Cheque of 50 million Leones was presented to the National Disaster Management Agency and 50 Million worth of products (Miksi Chocolate & Miksi Powder Milk) to the Management of the University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospital Complex at Connaught Hospital with the aim of providing succour to the victims of the November 5 Wellington fuel tanker fire accident.

She stated that many orphans do not have access to clean water, sufficient food or basic sanitation of which she urged members of the organization to ensure that the donation reaches its targeted beneficiaries.

She also used the opportunity to inform the gathering that Premium Divine Trading Company Ltd distributes and markets Cowbell, Onga, Miksi, Xploza, Kremela and Yumvita which, in particular, is an infant cereal with milk that comes in three variants namely: wheat, rice and maize and wheat combined. Isha also disclosed that the package sizes are 50g and 400g and they are produced in Ghana by Promasidor Ghana Limited for sale to some West African countries including Sierra Leone. She further intimated that they are the sole distributor of all the aforementioned products in the country.

Receiving the donation, the National Coordinator of the Orphan Empowerment Society (TOES), Amb Alie Conteh, on behalf the organization, commended the Premium Divine Trading Limited for the kind gesture towards supporting orphans in the country.

He revealed that according to UNICEF, there are 153 million orphans worldwide with 310,000 in Sierra Leone alone and that most of the orphans in the country face several challenges ranging from accessing good shelter, good sanitation, food etc.

Amb Alie Conteh disclosed that the Orphan Empowerment Society (TOES) is Africa’s biggest orphanage outreach since 2016, and they have been mobilizing resources from kind-hearted donors, equipping orphans & caregivers with free vocational skills and tools while donating clothes, books, food & providing free medical care.

He revealed that their goal for this year’s outreach program is to empower 5,000 orphans across Sierra Leone with donation of food and non-food items, offering free vocational skills training and free medical care maintaining how they cannot accomplish those things alone but by leveraging on their massive volunteer network and support from kindhearted partners like the Premium Divine Trading Limited which will enable them to significantly reduce orphan poverty in Sierra Leone.

He assured the company that the donated items will be used for the intended purpose disclosing how they will be distributed to the orphanage homes. He further called on other organizations or institutions to follow the footprints of the company by supporting orphans in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the benefiting orphanage homes, the Administrative Secretary for the UCC Scouts Foundation Orphanage home, Amadu Ibrahim Forna, showered praises on the Premium Divine Trading Limited and the Orphan Empowerment Society (TOES) for the donation which he described as a move in the right direction towards the development of organs in the country.

He said that the donated items will definitely contribute towards the development of the affected children, adding that the home over the years has been faced with a lot of challenges which includes sponsorship and food items but said with such a donation it will surely help especially at this crucial moment in the country.

Earlier before the donation the Orphan Empowerment Society (TOES) held a one day skills training program for orphans during which period the children were taught needle work and gara tie work.

Legal Link Celebrates its Third Anniversary in Grand Style

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Christian Lawyers Centre commonly known as LEGAL LINK successfully celebrated its 3rd Anniversary on the 10th December 2021, which was International Human Rights Day during which it launched its 3rd Annual Report in defense of the rights of religious communities and vulnerable groups in Sierra Leone.

The organization also seized the opportunity to launch its website for easy access to its activities and projects as well as to aid legal research and education.

It could be recalled that on the 10th of December 2018, LEGAL LINK was officially founded and launched by Rashid Dumbuya Esq together with a host of other lawyers, law students and human rights activists at the Christians in Action Church on Pademba road in Freetown.

It is also worthy to note that the 10th of December is usually referred to as International Human Rights Day, the world over.

The day was set aside by the United Nations to reflect and showcase how much successes have been garnered within its 194 member States in the push for compliance and respect for human rights.

The 10th of December is also celebrated to remind States of the numerous challenges regarding adherence to their human rights obligations and commitments under International Human Rights Law.

Just three years on, the organization has become a household name in Sierra Leone due to its passion and quest in defending the rights of religious communities and vulnerable groups in the country.

In that regard, the organization has continued to receive accolades and recognitions both locally and internationally for its revolutionary interventions and impactful programmes.

During the formal celebration of its 3rd Anniversary and the International Human Rights Day event which took place at the Africell American Corner on Bathurst Street in Freetown and was well attended by interns, lawyers, law students, civil society organizations and representatives from the religious communities and vulnerable groups, the Executive Director of LEGAL LINK, Rashid Dumbuya Esq used the opportunity to thank God for making LEGAL LINK to see its 3rd anniversary and to also celebrate it in grand style.

In launching the 3rd Annual Report, the Executive Director, highlighted the myriad of activities undertaken by LEGAL LINK within the period under review.

The report amongst other things also espoused on the extrajudicial killings that took place in the country between 2020 and 2021, analyzed the successes achieved, challenges encountered and proffered recommendations for reforms.

With the launch of the report, the Executive Director expressed hope that such will engender dynamism for legal, institutional and policy reforms in the country.

Rashid also explained to the audience about Legal Link’s interventions to complement Government’s efforts in the area of litigations, respect for human rights as well addressing the needs of vulnerable groups. He stated that Legal Link was able to provide legal support to about 600 vulnerable persons in 2021 and even secured a discharge verdict in the High Court on six out of eight counts for Alie Forster, a youth victim that was fired in the foot by the security officer of the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Lahai Lawrence Leema.  Forster is not out as a freeman but certainly needs urgent medical attention.

Dumbuya appealed that the State or Lahai Lawrence Leema support him get medical treatment overseas so he doesn’t lose his left foot.

A video documentary from an Organization called CRY FROM THE SLUMS was shown to the plenary, depicting the challenges faced by sex workers in the country and what Civil Society Organizations can do to help out.

Furthermore, the Executive Director also mentioned to the audience about the global and national recognitions Legal Link has attracted culminating into two international invitations sent to the Executive Director in 2021.

He further emphasized that the US Embassy in Freetown, Parliament and other MDAs are all reaching out to the organization for involvement in their programs – a testament of how much Legal Link  is being appreciated at the International and national levels.

Several representatives from the religious community, civil society organizations, vulnerable groups, the Press and students community witnessed the programme.

They appealed for Legal Link to continue to build on these meaningful achievements in the coming years so that a culture of respect for human rights in Sierra Leone will be garnered and sustained.

The Executive Director assured the representatives of Legal Link’s  continued support in 2022 and in subsequent years to continue to defend the rights of religious communities and vulnerable groups in the country.

Statements were also made by Mohamed Wurie Bah on behalf of ILRAJ, Morlai Conteh on behalf of the National Youth Coalition, Pst Kuku on behalf of the religious community, Evangelist Success on behalf of Cry From the Slums organization, the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Persons Living with Albinism, the Law Society FBC, Genida Working Group Sierra Leone chapter, the Milton Margai School for the Blind amongst many others.

They all expressed good sentiments regarding the work Legal Link is doing and further appealed to the donor community to keep supporting Legal Link in 2022 so that it can do more to defend the rights of religious communities and vulnerable groups in Sierra Leone.

The programme ended up in a joyful party celebration in honour of Legal Link’s third Anniversary and Rashid Dumbuya Esq. was crowned with the 2021 AWARD OF HONOUR medal by Triumph Gospel and Multi Media Empire.

Acting Executive Director & Board of Directors of SLRSA Inspect Autospect Facilities

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By Amin Kef Sesay

The Acting Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) ,James Baggie Bio, Chairman of the Board of Directors , Sheikh Mustapha Bawoh and  the Board of Directors, on the 10th December, 2021 embarked on a conducted tour of the newly constructed SLRSA Administrative building on Africanus Road at Kissy in Freetown and the Autospect Facilities under construction at Konta Line, Koya Chiefdom, Port Loko District.

The purpose of the tour was to update the Board of Directors and for them to assess the quality of works and progress made so far.

James Baggie Bio, Acting Executive Director informed the Board that the structure at Africanus Road at Kissy when completed would house key administrative departments and units within the Authority with a modern board room and conference centre.

Briefing the SLRSA entourage at the Autospect Facilities at Konta Line along the Waterloo – Masiaka highway, the Managing Director of Autospect Sierra Leone, Muhieddine Itani said the facility would be fitted with state-of-the-art safety technology that meets international best standards to ensure that no safety principle is compromised. He continued that  he is optimistic that the first phase of 2 Vehicle Fitness Centres; 1 at the SLRSA Headquarters at Kissy Road and another at Konta Line,  would be completed by February 2022 and that they plan to commence full operations in March 2022 after thorough training of key front desk SLRSA personnel on key technical issues.

“This will serve as an opportunity for SLRSA technical staff to be trained on how to use sophisticated technology in doing their work and help reduce if not put an end to the many fatalities on the roads,” Itani said.

He however pleaded with the Board Chairman, Acting Executive Director and Management to exercise patience as they (Autospect SL) tries to complete the facilities on or before the stipulated time.

The Chairman, Board of Directors, Sheikh Mustapha Bawoh said he is pleased with the level of energy, professionalism and quality of works being done by the Autospect. He however admonished them to do more so that the best of what is expected is delivered.

“As a Board, we are impressed with the progress and quality of work done and we urge you to ensure you deliver the best and nothing less,” he enjoined.

Other Board members, who made statements, expressed similar sentiments.

Popularization of National Population Policy by MoPED Ends in Makeni   

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By Theresa Kef Sesay

The popularization of the Sierra Leone National Population Policy ended in Makeni City, Bombali District at the District Council Hall along the Makeni-Lunsar Highway on the 7th December 2021.It was facilitated by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Similar events were earlier held in Kenema and Bo Cities on Friday 3rd and Monday 6th December 2021 respectively at which events it was revealed that there are eight objectives and 21 indicators in the policy, that 75% of the population is made up of youths, that 46% of the population is uneducated and that there is a big gap between school going boys and girls.

All the stakeholders, including Paramount Chief Prince Boima of Kakua Chiefdom, Bo District and John S. Koroma, Chairman, Bombali District Council, pledged their unflinching support to the policy but underscored that if youths are not catered for they would become armed robbers, prostitutes and seek greener pastures abroad.

In his keynote address and officially handing over the policy to stakeholders in the three regions, Hon. Festus Lansana, Chairman of the Parliamentary Action Group on Population and Development , said the Midterm Census is to correct the anomalies of the last census for accurate allocation of resources depending on the population of each district.

Earlier, Daniel Banya Brima, Senior Economist in the MoPED, introduced the Chairman of the program, Dr. Robert Moikowa, Director of Performance Management and Planning in the MoPED attached to the Office of the Chief Minister at State House.

Dr. Moikowa apologized that due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country in 2018, Government was late to popularize the policy and enlightened that the National Population Policy (NPP) was the first document launched by the SLPP Government in 2018 to ensure that nobody is left behind citing the radical inclusion of all in the education sector, women’s empowerment, underscored that the policy is the roadmap that would be handed over to the people for ownership and appealed to them to monitor the process for sustainability.

According to Dr. Robert Moikowa, Sierra Leone pledged commitment at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) to among others provide family planning, promote the use of contraceptives to manage the birth rate, reduce maternal and infant mortality, end child marriage as well as improve the lives of youths and appealed to all to widely disseminate the policy to their respective constituents.

He further articulated that if the population is effectively managed, Government would be able to provide basic services for the people and in the process increase life expectancy, stressed the need for decentralization of service delivery, that the policy prioritizes reproductive health and rights and that government wants to manage the population to harness the demographic dividends as the majority of the population is made up of youths.

He continued that the policy is forward-looking, all encompassing and is based on credible data, disclosed that government plans to train and employ 1,000 midwives and health workers, reduce gender based violence and harmful traditional practices in addition to prohibiting and criminalizing child marriage.

The UNFPA Web Media Analyst, John Baimba Sesay revealed that his organization has a crucial role to play in the policy citing the progress Government has made to empower women and pledged that they would continue to support Government due to its strong commitments to accelerate the ICPDs as well as budgetary support to the Ministry of Health to reduce maternal and infant mortality.

He furthered that they are now practicalizing the well-prepared policy, that UNFPA is supporting Government to achieve the Mid-Term National Development Plan in addition to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and working to address key issues in the policy.

Representatives of the Paramount Chiefs in Kenema and Makeni revealed that they are the custodians of Government policies, that chiefdoms account for three fourth of the country, that the event is very important and that implementation of the policy is now at their doorsteps citing the Mid-Term Census that would commence on 10th December this year.

They also reiterated the need for the Mid-Term Census for proper planning, appealed to all for their support and behalf of all Paramount Chiefs in the three districts and the entire country pledged their unflinching support to the policy and assured the people that their inputs would be presented to Government and partners.

In his PowerPoint presentation, Gabriel Dumbuya of MoPED disclosed that the policy was developed in 2018 and launched by the Vice President of Sierra Leone in 2019 reiterating that the policy is very important for the country, underscored the need to manage the country’s population with the available resources so as to improve the lives of the people, especially women and children and affirmed that the Mid-Term Census would help generate credible data.

Stakeholders in the three Districts reiterated that the importance of the Mid-Term Census cannot be overstated for proper planning, promised to sensitize their subjects to participate in the census adding that adult literacy would help to reduce the high illiterate rate in the country and pledged their respective Councils’ commitment to the policy but lamented that the population in some Districts were under-reported in the last census.

Other dignitaries who made statements included representatives of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) who underlined that population issues are crosscutting and guaranteed to mainstream population issues in all their activities, the National Youth Commission, the Institute of Population Studies and Development, University of Sierra Leone, the Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools in the East, South and Northern Regions respectively, Commercial Motorbike Riders and Inter-Religious Council.

The question and answer session, distribution of the policy and radio discussion programs climaxed the highly interactive event in the three Districts while the votes of thanks were rendered by participants in each of the districts.

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