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Symposium on How the Film Industry can Fuel Development Held

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In a bid to collaborate with all stakeholders to enable the development and promotion of a transformed and thriving Film Industry in the country, the team from Sierra Leone that participated in the Expo 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates has on Tuesday 7th December 2021 held a one-day solution based symposium on how can the film industry can fuel development in the country. The one-day symposium, which brought together film producers, actors, technicians, was held at the Sierra Palms Conference Hall on Lumley Beach Road in Freetown.

Present at the symposium were the Deputy Commissioner General of the Dubai Expo Team, Dr. Tony Morgan, Charlie Haffner, Producer/actor, Amb. Phebean Swill, Producer/Actor, Sia Comfort Ediener Nyukeh, Technical Director at Crips International, Yinka Shocole etc.

It was stated during the symposium that film industries in Africa could quadruple their revenue to $20bn (£15bn) and create an extra 20m jobs in creative industries, according to a UN report about cinema on the continent and that the booming film industry in Nigeria, Nollywood, is the world’s second-largest film industry in terms of output and Senegal were examples of African countries with defined business models and growing avenues for local film productions, which are increasingly sought after by television and streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+, according to a report by the United Nation’s cultural body, UNESCO.

Speaking during the ceremony, the Deputy Commissioner General of Dubai Expo 2020 Sierra Leonean team, Dr. Tony Morgan, noted that out of the experience gained they intend to build a film industry for commercial purpose which will be self sustainable.

He maintained that it in that regard they deemed it fit to organize a one day solution based symposium on how the film industry can fuel development in the country bring together film experts including producers, actors etc. in a round table discussion to chart the way forward on how Sierra Leone can leverage on the new media, globalization and technology to build a commercially viable film industry.

Dr. Tony Morgan said that commercialization is the process of bringing new products or services to market of which he said the broader act of commercialization entails production, distribution, marketing, sales, customer support, and other key functions critical to achieving the commercial success of the new product or service.

He pointed out that during their discussion panelists present recommended that there is need for change in orientation of which producers will also concentrate on the business part of the film industry which will help improve the industry through revenue generation.

He stated that this will also open an opportunity for producers to expand from the normal film production to production for international audience of which he said they are going to have better training, good script writers, good producers and better film makers in the country.

The Deputy Commissioner General revealed that Expo Dubai 2020,in which Sierra Leone participated, undoubtedly offered a unique platform for countries around the world to showcase diversity and their potentials, to connect with business leaders and policymakers, attract investments, and discuss ways of fostering a brighter and sustainable future for all, urging greater partnership, dialogue and collaboration among nations.

He maintained that from the recommendations they will receive from the symposium they intend to use them and engage other Government agencies in order to have a road map towards the development of the film industry in the country.

The Technical Director at Crips International, Yinka Shocole, who is one of the participants, commended Expo 2020 Dubai UAE for the initiative to bring together film producers, actors, technicians to discuss on how can film fuel development in Sierra Leone which he described as a move in the right direction towards the development of the industry in the country.

Yinka Shocole stated that one of the findings in the film industry is the aspect of research and that most film producers don’t engage in research before filming is done, adding that when research is done before filming it will give the producers the opportunity to understand the dynamics in filming which includes him knowing what to say, to whom and what does his audience want, furthering that he will also know how can he make his film global which will give him the opportunity to sell his film not only Sierra Leone but Africa as a whole.

He concluded by saying with this symposium and the recommendations film producers will engage in research in order to produce quality films that will not only be sold in Sierra Leone but Africa as a whole.

 

What Does The Cash- Hoarding Crisis In Sierra Leone Tell Us?

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By Amin Kef Sesay

The value of the Sierra Leonean Leone depreciated in November 2021 against the US Dollar by 2.11%, according to Bank of Sierra Leone (BSL).

The mid exchange rate stood at $1=Le10, 887.60 on October 29, 2021 and $1=Le11, 117.56 on November 30, 2021. Depreciation in value against the US Dollar is a trend the Leone, the local currency has been following over the years (please see Fractal Grid tables). It seems the real exchange rate depends heavily on the productivity of Sierra Leoneans. Even a booming natural resource sector in the early 2010s did not slow down the depreciation of the local currency.

Moreover, the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the economy has intensified high inflation and weak currency to the point where many Sierra Leoneans are calling on authorities to introduce several fiscal policies including subsidies and tax cuts that might help to prevent and fight against aggravation of poverty.

In normal circumstances, nobody would want to hoard a depreciating currency. Ironically, the economy is suffering from cash-hoarding crisis; an emergency many economic experts suggest is triggered by the country’s dominant informal economy. The informal economy includes not only small businesses, market women and petty traders but also economic activities taking place outside the legal framework such as corruption, money laundering and organized crime.

Therefore, the parallel informal economy could use several loopholes including cash hording to avoid transparency and accountability associated with the formal sector, especially when 23 percent of the money supply (M2) circulates outside the banking system as the Bank’s data shows. Monetary policies such as selling US Dollar reserves to reduce the amount of Leone circulating outside the banking system has proved to be a waste of time and resources.

In his presentation in Parliament on November 22, 2021, the Bank Governor, Professor Kelfala M. Kallon told lawmakers that Sierra Leone’s banking system is still suffering from cash hoarding crisis despite the $68 million the Bank had sold in the foreign exchange market. In other words, his organization’s policy has not provided enough incentive to urge economic actors to swap their Leones for US Dollars.

The introduction of the policy was part of efforts to respond to the commercial bank reserve crisis that swept through the banking system in December 2020 when many individuals and businesses said that they could not cash their cheques. The Bank has turned to other monetary policies including currency redenomination. One of the Central Bank’s reasons to announce in August this year to redenominate the Leone, the local currency was to get cash hoarders to deposit their cash in banks.

However, currency redenomination will have to not only reduce the amount of money circulating outside the banking system, provide security and portability for individuals and businesses but also reverse the trend of depreciation of the Leone against hard currencies, especially the US Dollar.  http://www.sanusiresearch.com/

NP-SL Customer Care Touch Gets One Yearning for More

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By Amin Kef 

It is an indisputable fact that the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd)  is synonymous with 1st for Customer Care. As far as it is known,  in that realm, no other indigenous business entity can come closer to the seasoned petroleum importing and marketing entity when it comes to customer care because in the first place the company identified it, nurtured it and streamed lined it in all its dealings with its numerous and esteemed customers. It worked and continues to work magic for the company.

For some words cannot convey the meaning of NP-SL Ltd being 1st in terms of Customer Care but as they say the taste of the pudding lies in its eating. For those in doubt, once NP-SL Ltd touches or treats a customer, that customer instantaneously desires more of the company’s services.

Indeed, the National Petroleum Limited, NP (SL-Ltd) deserves praise as a resilient business entity that had been rated as the country’s foremost importer and dealer in petroleum products, which includes petrol, diesel, gas as well as lubricants of various types and is always poised to give its ubiquitous and esteemed customers the best in terms of giving them value in return for money.

The company’s competent and result-oriented Managerial think tank, currently headed by its indefatigable Chief Executive Officer, Kobi Walker, in tandem with the Board of Directors, have always endeavoured to be at the pinnacle of affairs within the petroleum landscape in this country, looking at best options, in order for effective service delivery to be executed timely, excellently, all geared towards enhancing good business relationships. If there is any outstanding feature for which the company is identified with then it is giving customers satisfaction to the fullest  which is why it has earned the enviable reputation of ‘1st for Customer Care’.

Prioritizing customer care is considered very paramount out of the strong conviction that the company will be nowhere without its cherished customers.

It is along that line that the company has a customer care unit that primarily interfaces with members of the public. Concerns and recommendations channeled through it are raised in certain management meetings, discussed and the way forward mapped out.

Regarding their customers as priceless jewels, NP-SL Ltd always ensures that to give them optimal satisfaction, the value must be derived from their monies spent. It was thinking along that line that prompted the shareholders of the company to replace their old fashioned pumping machines to calibrated pumping machines of high standard which transparently pump the requisite quantity of petrol or diesel demanded for. Confidence is now high among its customers that they are getting exactly what they are paying for.

Still within the domain of 1st for Customer Care, the company is always in position to enter into payment plans with its reliable and dependable customers including Ministries, Departments and Agencies for fuel and lubricants supplies as long as all the necessary modalities have been put in place. When cognizance is taken of the fact that some of these institutions receive intermittent budgetary allocations then such an arrangement is very significant. Its significance in real terms borders on functional continuity of those institutions as they will be assured of supplies of petroleum products in as much as they keep honouring their obligations.

In this country today, for one to see a successful business entity that is owned mainly by Sierra Leoneans and having a maximum number of indigenes as members of staff is like trying to find a lost needle on the beach, although there are some that could be identified.

For NP-SL Ltd this has been a big achievement as the company is strongly adhering to the country’s Local Content Policy. Making use of local brains has been identified as one of the conduits through which developing countries like Sierra Leone could attain economic empowerment. Correspondingly, if there is a continuation of the colonial mentality that it is only by importing foreign ideas and skills that we will get there then such could be a very sad mistake.

By providing job opportunities for hitherto jobless Sierra Leoneans, NP-SL Ltd continues to help in alleviating poverty by putting monies into pockets that could be utilized to take care of responsibilities.

For those who have not tried NP Gas for the first time it is now time to give it a try. Designed in sizable varying cylinders and sold at various NP Filling Stations, this cooking device has been rated as one of the best that is on offer for sale. NP Gas is safe, user friendly and portable. Trying it will spur you to recommend it to others.

NP Smart Card is now in vogue and is one of the latest technological devices used to purchase petroleum products. Using it has attendant advantages as evident in procuring fuel at any time of the day even during times when monies could not be accessed from banks. It is secured, easy to use and very quick. It is now trending.

To crystallize proposed projects into tangible realities on the ground, Government needs the requisite financial resources to effectively do so and one sure way is from the collection of taxes which is the mandate of the National Revenue Authority (NRA).  NP is indeed one of the big-time taxpayers in the country and it is very compliant in that direction.

From all indications, it is crystal clear that NP-SL Ltd is here to stay in order to give the best and contribute tremendously to the socio-economic development of the country. Indeed the company is passionate and committed towards attaining those objectives.

Amb. Navo Nominated as Africa Media Entrepreneur of the Year

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By Amin Kef 

Someone once asked the question why is it that Ambassador Anthony Navo Jr frequently keeps winning prestigious awards, to which an appropriate answer was given, “he is indeed worthy of bagging them for the simple fact that the dynamic and pragmatic young and enterprising Sierra Leonean continues to passionately and meaningfully contribute to  national development, empowering young people, rebranding the country and is above all a living testimony of a successful, innovative entrepreneur who had and continues to positively impact lives.”

This time around the Advisory Board of the African Achievers Awards has proudly intimated Ambassador Anthony Navo Jrn that he has been nominated as a distinguished recipient of the 11th Edition of the African Achievers Award as ‘‘Africa Media Entrepreneur of the Year’’, for his outstanding contribution to the Media Entrepreneurial space in Sierra Leone in particular and Africa in general and outstanding innovative stride towards the promotion of the African Common Agenda.

The result-oriented Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa Young Voices (AYV) Media Empire received an invitation from the organizers as a Special Guest at the 2021 African Achievers Awards Reception scheduled to hold at the Kensington Palace, England, on the 9th and 10th December, 2021; (International Summit and Award reception respectively) where he will be formally presented with a most distinguished honour.

Indisputably, the name Junior Navo, as he is popularly called, is a household name in this country. He is the Founder and Chairman of the African Young Voices (AYV) Media Empire which comprises radio and television stations as well as a newspaper. Through his investments, Ambassador Navo has offered jobs to many young people in and out of the country. Just recently, arrangements were finalized for AYV to be linked to DStv on Channel 399 and as at now its programmes on that channel could be watched in all African countries, with the exception of Nigeria and Ghana which will soon be onboard.

Ambassador Navo is also a renowned member of the All Walks of Life (AWOL) , considered to be one of the elitist social clubs in the country. The organization, over the years, through its annual award events had recognized and honour distinguished personalities and outstanding institutions for accomplishing certain feats in life and impacting society positively. AWOL has also been involved in humanitarian work by extending philanthropic gestures to deserving individuals, institutions and deepening national development.

It must be noted that the African Achievers Awards is one of Africa’s most prestigious awarding bodies which honours great African Achievers- including African Leaders, Young Achievers, Community Builders to Captains of Industries- whose works have had a meaningful impact on building the Africa of our dream. The theme for this year’s ceremony is; ‘‘Mobilizing Diaspora Investment for a diversified African Economy’’.

The Awards ceremony over the years has been established as one of the biggest gatherings of influential and global African Achievers on the continent and has been rated by Forbes Magazine as one of the most prestigious award Ceremonies on the African continent.
Some of the notable individuals and organizations that have been honored at the prestigious Awards Ceremony include Arch. Bishop Desmond Tutu, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (Former African Union Chairperson), H.E. Jakaya Kikwete (former President of the Republic of Tanzania), Dr Josephine Ojiambo (Deputy Secretary-General of Commonwealth),  Dr. Margaret Blick Kigozi (University Chancellor and Sports Woman who is currently working as a Consultant at United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). She formerly served as the Executive Director of the Uganda Investment Authority among others.

This will be the 11th Edition of the African Achievers Award and will be held at the Kensington Palace, England, on the 9th and 10th December 2021 where Ambassador Anthony Navo Jrn will be formally presented with one of the most distinguished awards in modern times.

In a snap chat with Ambassador Navo, he said he is extremely elated more especially as well meaning individuals are recognizing the good things he has done and continues to do. “I am going to dedicate this award to the country because it is not only a win for me but for the whole country,” he ended by saying.

Kingho Railway & Port Company Embarks on Massive Schools Sensitization in 192 Km Railway Facility

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By Abdul Malik Bangura

A massive sensitization drive has been embarked on by the Kingho Railway and Port Company Limited which operates the 192 Kilometer railway and Pepel Shipping Port in Sierra Leone. The sensitization drive takes the form of raising awareness in schools across the 192 railway corridor on the need of safety for children in those communities.

The railway operation, which is the only rail facility in Sierra Leone, stretches from the Pepel Shipping Port in the Port Loko District and cuts across four (4) districts in the country, through to the minefields in Tonkolili District, Northern Province of Sierra Leone.

It is part of an integrated chain ranging from mining, processing, railway transportation, transshipment, modeling and planning, ship loading and marketing. Thus making the company the largest single private sector employer is Sierra Leone with thousands of staff attached to various sectors.

As a result of its inherent commitment to ensure that people in its directly impacted communities are safe; the Health, Safety, Security, Environment and Community (HSSEC) team of Kingho Railway and Port Company embarked on school sensitization in the rail corridor communities.

The theme of the sensitization was ‘Protecting Lives and Prevention of Incidents along the Rail Track’ as the company sensitized them on the Do’s and Don’ts on the rail line. The team targeted schools that are very close to the rail line. In the end the team provided school materials and an incentive (tokens) to the teachers.

Meanwhile, the sensitization process in schools on rail safety is complemented by monthly community radio sensitization programmes which are done in all local languages spoken at the various localities. As well, the company erected safety signs and posts along all the railway line – from Pepel to Tonkolili and oversaw the recruitment, deployment and safety training of flagmen and security guards from villages along the railway corridor.

The sensitization is done with the aim of showcasing the company’s commitment towards protecting the safety and health of Sierra Leoneans around its direct impact operational areas.

Note: Kingho Mining Company Limited and Kingho Railway and Port Company Limited are both subsidiaries of Leone Rock Metal Group. Kingho Mining Company Limited operates the Tonkolili Iron Ore Mines.

In-Fighting Rocks the Fula Community

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

During a well-attended press conference held on Friday 3rd December, 2021 at the Tabital Pulaaku International Sierra Leone Chapter Head Office on Adelaide Street in Freetown, where members   raised concerns over the cancellation of its Kenema branch launching by the Sierra Leone Police on allegation of orders from above.

Speaking at the press conference, the Strategic Adviser to the President of the organization, Alhaji Tanue Jalloh said that on the 28th November, 2021, Tabital Pulaaku International-Sierra Leone Chapter, Kenema branch decided to officially launch its branch in that part of the country after officially receiving Police Clearance on the 23rdNovember 2021.

He added that it was a shock for their members to be told on the eve of the event, 27th November 2021, that their Police Clearance had been revoked and that the event can no longer hold, noting that upon further questioning by their group, Civil Society activists and journalists in Kenema, it was further mentioned that it was orders from above because their gathering was tagged as APC in nature of which he maintained that 16 of their 18 Executive members in Kenema district are  SLPP members, and some are members of the party’s Executive in Kenema.

“Upon hearing that, the Police further alleged that the meeting was cancelled on the directive of the Fula Tribal Authority in Freetown and the Fula Progressive Union (FPU) on the allegations that the gathering is bent on dividing the Fulas in the country,” he revealed.

Alhaji Tanue Jalloh went further to intimate that this is not the first time that an activity organized by Tabital Pulaaku has been disrupted by the State security apparatus in the name of “orders from above”, as same was done few months back in Makeni.

He stated that Tabital Pulaaku International/SL Chapter firmly believes in the unity and progress of the Fulas and it is in this regard that the organization has as its motto “Education, Animal Husbandry and Agriculture.”

“In furtherance of this objective, Tabital Pulaaku International/SL Chapter during the last academic year dished out 78 undergraduate scholarships to underprivileged and deserving students in Kailahun, Bo, Bombali and Western area. This year, we are in the process of giving 10 scholarships each to Kenema, Kono, Tonkolili, Kambia, Port Loko and further paying again for the successful 78 undergraduates last year. Is this the hallmarks of an organization that is bent on dividing the Fulas?” he rhetorically asked.

The Strategic Adviser pointed out that Tabital Pulaaku International/SL Chapter is a legally registered charitable organization operating within the territorial boundaries of Sierra Leone and it is apolitical and anti-discriminatory, and is therefore at  loss as to why in a country governed by law and where the constitution is the supreme law of the land, people who decided to assemble freely in a meeting to discuss mundane everyday issues could be stopped by law enforcement officers on the say so of nameless individuals under the pretext of orders from above?

Earlier, the Information/Communication Secretary of the Tabital Pulaaku International Sierra Leone Chapter, Abdulai Lama Jalloh, gave a brief synopsis of the organization stating how it was formed by like-minded Fula stakeholders like the Lamido of Adamawa State in Nigeria, Alhaji Dr. Mohammed Barkindo, the wife of the then Malian President Alpha Oumar Konare and Fula figures in Cameroun and Senegal.

Abdulai Lama Jalloh said that Fulas, the world over, are known for their pastoral life stating that it is a way of life for the Fulas and all other things in life revolve around that.

He continued by stating that their culture, traditions, norms and values are interwoven around a pastoral life style disclosing that their way of life is collectively referred to as Pulaaku which refers to their religious beliefs,  honesty, humility and steadfastness and perseverance.

“In order to preserve these values and in order for our valued culture and traditions not to be swept under the carpet by the relentless drive of western culture and modernism, the founders thought it fit to start Tabital Pulaaku which literally means, “sustaining our cherished culture and traditions.”

“Tabital Pulaaku International is all over West Africa and beyond in Sudan, Algeria, Europe, North America and parts of Asia. It came to Sierra Leone few years ago,” he disclosed.

Premium Devine Trading Donates Le100 Million to Wellington Fire Victims

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In the exercise of their corporate social responsibility towards victims of the November 5 Wellington fuel tanker fire accident in which some people lost their lives and others hospitalized among whom some have been discharged, the Premium Devine Trading Limited on Thursday 2nd December 2021 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 University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospital Complex at Connaught. The official handing over of the cheque and items took place within the precinct of the Connaught Hospital in Freetown.

Handing over the items, the Country Manager of Premium Divine Trading Ltd, Kenneth Konuah, commended health workers for the tremendous work they have been doing since the occurrence of the incident.

He highlighted that Premium Divine Trading Limited, as a responsible company, thought it fit to embark on such a gesture by donating the 50 million Leones cheque and 50 Million Leones worth of their products to Connaught Hospital and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) in order to support the victims as well as the health workers, which he furthered is part of their Corporate Social Responsibility with the strong conviction that such a donation could be helpful towards the treatment of the hospitalized fire victims.

The Country Manager used the opportunity to dilate on the company of which he maintained that the company is the sole distributor of all the aforementioned products in the country, adding that the company 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.

He noted that as a company they decided to include their products in the donation especially the Miksi Milk and Miksi Chocolate, adding that protein is very important in healing the wounds and that their milk is very rich in protein which will help in healing the wounds of the victims.

“We wish to show solidarity with the surviving victims of the fire
disaster and also express our sincere condolences to the families of the deceased,” he concluded.

Receiving the donation, the Hospital Care Manager at the USL Teaching Hospital Complex at Connaught Hospital, Dr. Med Mustapha S. Kabba expressed appreciation to Premium Devine Trading Limited for the donation which he described as very important towards supporting the Wellington fire victims, reiterating that the donation was timely.

He applauded the medical practitioners for their tirelessly efforts in looking after the victims, noting that a number of people got seriously injured in the accident on that day and that some have been discharged and others are receiving treatment in various hospitals in the city which include the Connaught, 34 Military and Choithram hospitals.

The Hospital Care Manager assured the company that their humble contribution will be used for the welfare of the affected families.

Director of Finance at the National Disaster Management Agency, Morie Bassie Korteh, who represented NDMA during the event, joined the Hospital Care Manager at the USL Teaching Hospital Complex at Connaught Hospital, Dr. Med Mustapha S. Kabba to thank the Premium Devine Trading Limited for their kind gesture and assured that the donation will be used for the intended purpose.

He revealed that plans are on the way in terms of giving packages to the affected victims but said the Agency is currently putting data together in order to access the targeted beneficiaries.

The event was climaxed by the official handing over ceremony of the 50 Million Leones Cheque and 50 Million Leones worth of their products by the Country Manager of Premium Divine Trading Ltd, Kenneth Konuah to the Hospital Care Manager at the USL Teaching Hospitals Complex at Connaught Hospital, Dr. Med Mustapha S. Kabba.

 

As Citizens Cry Hardship… APC Leader Deeply Critical of Bio’s Administration

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Former President Ernest Bai Koroma

By Amin Kef 

Chairman and Leader of the main opposition All Peoples Congress party, former President Dr Ernest Bai Koroma has at an APC function in Makeni last week severely censured the current President Bio-led ‘New Direction’ Government for not delivering on its 2018 election manifesto promises to the people.

One not known for commenting on the current administration, the APC Chairman and Leader spoke derisively about this administration’s promise on coming into power in April 2018 that within six months, they would repair what they called a badly managed economy that they inherited from the APC.

The evidence so far proves that instead of the economy getting better, Sierra Leone has been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This coupled with the fact that the Auditor General’s report for 2018 and 2019 showed that this Government is wide open to accusations of grand-scale corruption supports the APC leader’s claim that this Government has not done anything better with the management of the mismanaged economy they said they inherited.

An attempt by the Government recently to silence the Auditor General and one of her deputies clearly has the nation worried that Bio’s administration is not amenable to the scrutiny of how transparent and accountable they are in the management of the nation’s finances and resources.

On the welfare of the people, the APC leader noted in particular that inflation and prices are running out of control.

The APC Leader is joined in his criticism of the Bio administration by the APC Leader in Parliament, Hon. Chernoh Bah who last week told the ECOWAS Parliament that there are early warning signs of danger to the county’s peace and democracy.

He told ECOWAS that the Government insists on going ahead with withholding the mid-term census which he said the majority of the people do not support.

He also pointed to criticism made of the country’s Police and Judiciary by an EU Post 2018 Election Observer Mission.

The European Union’s Election Follow-up Mission to Sierra Leone published a damning statement about Sierra Leone Judiciary’s neutrality in administering electoral laws and the National Electoral Commission’s (NEC) conduct of fair elections.

The Mission was told that there is a significant decrease in trust in the essential bodies which play integral roles in the forthcoming elections. These include the Judiciary, NEC, PPRC, and the Police.

The Mission’s findings were that these institutions’ reputations are less trusted than is needed.

The Mid-Term Census, the EU Mission noted, was unprecedented; the stated reason for it being highly contested, adding that the use of an optional census to provide data which might be used to change electoral boundaries shortly before an election is not conducive to the political atmosphere or good electoral practice.

The Mission repeated its recommendation that the voter register should be automatically produced from the civil register, which would save money and time. The Mission has not seen evidence that sufficient progress has been made on this important issue.

MBSSE & Partners Review of the FQE Implementation Shows Improved Progress

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By Amin Kef 

Senior officials in the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) met with partners in the education sector in a mid-term review of the implementation of the Free Quality School Education Programme since its inception in 2018. This mid-term review took place at the Occasion Resort, Lakka on the 2nd and 3rd December 2021.

It could be recalled that President Julius Maada Bio launched the FQSE in August 2018. The FQSE Programme forms a critical component of the New Direction Government’s Human Capital Development Agenda. It aims to increase access to schooling for all children in the country and also improve on the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom.

The Deputy Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Madam Emily Kadiatu Gogra, said the FQSE is a manifesto commitment made by the President during his campaign, noting that the FQSE package means that the burden of paying school fees on parents and guardians is no more, and the purchase of exercise and core textbooks is also no longer an expense that prevents parents and guardians from sending their children to school.

“Government gives all government and government-assisted schools subsidies to help them run smoothly.

These subsidies include substitutions for school fees, furniture, expansion of school infrastructure, provision of school amenities such as toilet, water, and sanitation facilities, as well as personal hygiene kits for girls,” she said.

She said the Government has also distributed over 12 million exercise books to pupils in all public schools – government and government-assisted schools, adding that the Government has also distributed more than 94 containers of core textbooks and other teaching and learning materials to public schools across the country.

The World Bank Senior Education Specialist, Dr. Mari Shojo, said the FQSE programme has been a great step in the right direction with more students coming to schools in all levels of education.

She said the World Bank congratulates the efforts of the Government of Sierra Leone in placing education at the centre of the national development agenda, as articulated in the mid-term national development plan and the President’s vision for human capital development.

“The Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education has, since 2018, implemented a lot of activities in line with the objectives of the Programme. It is therefore expedient that, mid-way into the first phase of the Programme, a review be done to track progress against the objectives, identify challenges and mitigating measures as well as proffer recommendations that would improve on the implementation of the FQSE in the future,” Amara Sowa, National Programme Coordinator for the Free Quality School Education said.

During his presentation on the status of implementation of the FQSE, Sowa said total enrollment has increased by 36% 2018-20, equivalent to 700,000+ more students in school. In addition, there is a clear improvement in gender parity for Senior Secondary School (SSS).

He said gross school completion rates have increased for all levels; by more than 20% points for JSS and SSS, adding that since 2018 the number of students passing NPSE has increased by 27%, or 26,815 students. In 2021 124,541 students passed the exam, more than the total number of students who attempted it in 2018.

Similarly, “Since 2018 the number of students passing the BECE has increased by 62%, or 39,773 students, 104,367 students passed the exam in 2021, more than the total number who attempted it in 2018,” he said.

Sowa said there is a 25% increase from 2018 to 2020 in the number of students obtaining 5 credits in one sitting in the WASSCE, but gender disparity remains challenging.

He said the total payment of school fees has reached 162B SLL in 2021; equivalent to 15M USD. The total number of students sitting exams has increased by 84% from 2018 to 441,299 in 2021.  The total payment of examination fees has reached 73B SLL in 2021; equivalent to 7M USD.

He stated that the number of female teachers is increasing faster than the number of male teachers, and the number of children benefiting from school feeding has quadrupled to more than 400,000 since the launch of FQSE.

SLAJ Grooms 32 Media Monitors to Detect Threats Against Journalists

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By Amin Kef 

32 media monitors from across the country, on the 27th November 2021, underwent a successful training at the Kakua Day’s Inn in Bo district which was organized by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

President of SLAJ, Ahmed Sahid Nasralla, intimated that the monitors will be helping in investigating and documenting threats, arrests, assaults, and intimidations made against journalists across the country and SLAJ, in turn, will follow up on those issues and try to resolve them.

He further disclosed how the monitors will be working closely with the newly appointed SLAJ Media Defence Network and the SLAJ Disciplinary Committee.

The President of SLAJ continued to advise the monitors to do their work with honesty, fairness, and accuracy, and they should be apolitical to ensure they give accurate reports on a daily and monthly basis so as to help SLAJ keep track of those cases particularly so when elections are around the corner.

During the course of the training, the monitors were taken through the SLAJ Code of Ethics, which will be a working guide to help them do their work, and electronic copies were shared among the monitors for reference purposes.

The monitors were also trained on ‘Understanding Media Monitoring Tools’ to help them perform their role as media monitors

The key areas of the SLAJ monitoring include: Harassment, Arrest, Detention, Appearance in Court, Denial of bail, Imprisonment, Attack, Assault, Denied Access to stories/ events.

It was unanimously maintained that SLAJ will continue to monitor local media coverage on corruption and Government accountability programs as it has been doing together with defending journalists.

Princess Gibson, the Public Relations Officer of SLAJ, encouraged the monitors to give their best during the one-year period of the project, and that SLAJ relies on them to be giving monthly reports from the different locations they’ve been assigned to the Secretariat

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