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NCRA Signs MOU with Ministry of Health

By Millicent Senava Mannah

The National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA) has on the 26th October 2021 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) that is geared towards putting together ways to improve or strengthen the Births and Deaths registration in the country with effect from the 1st of November. The signing ceremony took place at Sierra Palms Resort in Freetown.

During the ceremony the two institutions also used the opportunity to present a Mobile App which is a technology they introduced to support the notification and registration of Births and Deaths in the country.

Delivering his statement, Director General of the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA)  Mohamed Mubashir Massaquoi, said that on assuming office as the Director General in 2018, he signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation because of its strategic relevance in the management of  two events: Births and Deaths, which hitherto had been managed fully by the MoHS and that the indisputable relevance of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation was envisaged by drafters of the NCRA Act, a reason that informed the inclusion of the Chief Medical Officer as a statutory Member of the Board of Authority of the NCRA.

He added that NCRA decided to engage the leadership of the Ministry of Health both at Political, Technical/Professional and Operational levels also at National and District levels, to discuss and come up with realistic ways forward that will improve Births and Deaths registration services at all levels of healthcare deliveries and also in communities where there are no health facilities in a sustainable manner that guarantees the production of accurate Vital Statistics consistent with  Section 26 of the NCR Act, 2016 for the good of all.

The DG maintained that Birth Registration is a fundamental right of the child as enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Sierra Leone is a Signatory.  Birth Registration establishes a child’s right to legal identity necessary for the enjoyment of other rights provided by International and National Legal Frameworks. This legal provision has been domesticated in the Child Rights Act of 2007 and in the National Civil Registration Act of 2016.

He noted that as the main provider of healthcare delivery service in the country, the Health Facilities of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation are key for collecting information for the registration of Births and Deaths and that is why as part of their collaborative efforts and following an assessment done on the status of health facilities in 2018 with support from UNICEF, the NCRA has conducted series of trainings for designated healthcare workers especially those who provide Births and Deaths registration services in their respective Primary, Secondary and Tertiary healthcare facilities across the country.

Those trainings, he said, have largely been aimed at sharpening the skills and competencies of those staff in the recording and completion of Births and Deaths Registration Tools and documents.

“In conclusion, while reiterating the importance of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in public administration, good governance and healthcare interventions, let me take this opportunity to thank our Development Partners namely UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA, UNDP, EUD and the Irish Aid that are supporting Births and Deaths Registration and in general, the CRSV and ID Management Service in Sierra Leone. To also thank the Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Finance for the continued support towards the CRVS and ID Management System and for particularly supporting this very important engagement,” he concluded.

The Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby ,said that the two most important events in every life is the documentation of arrival on this earth and the exit from it. And that it is one of the most profound and personal records that defines a person with a true sense of belonging and absence of both records is unfathomable both at individual and at the national levels.

He maintained that traditionally, such records in the country are initiated for the most part by health facilities, because such processes have involved manual entry of information with ultimate submission to the Birth and Deaths Registry, describing the process as delayed and inefficient, adding that the completeness of Births and Deaths records for 2020 were as low as 34.2 percent and 16.2 percent respectively  of which  he stated that such inefficiencies of births records as an example has major implications for effective care and monitoring of babies during the very critical stages in their lives.

The Minister concluded by saying that the signing of the MoU between the NCRA and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation means they have arrived at a mutually supportive solution and that this solution takes advantage of the bio-secure digital tool that NCRA has produced furthering that he is very confident that they will bring efficiency, effectiveness, completeness, and timeliness to this important service to the nation and to every individual.

WHO Health Systems Coordinator Dr. Selassi D’Almeida said that Civil Registration and vital Statistics is very important to WHO as reflected in World Health Assembly Resolution WHA67.14 of 24 May 2014 in which members States were urged in the context of the development agenda beyond 2015, to recognize the importance of accountability by strengthening of civil registration and vital statistics and health information systems, which can be used for monitoring health equity by providing disaggregated data.

He added that WHO is mandated to support the strengthening of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics of which registering Births and Deaths is part of the continuum and in ensuring that Civil Registration is prioritized by member States.

St. George Foundation Launches ‘’Pul Pikin Na Trit For Lan’’ Project

By Millicent Senava Mannah

The St. George Foundation, with the support from TOYBOX UK and other donor partners has on 27th October 2021 launched their ‘’Pul Pikin Na Trit For Lan” Project, which is aimed at rehabilitating and reuniting children living on the streets with their parents or wards and to send them back to school.  The launching was held at the Ebenezer Millennium Hall on Regent Road in Freetown.

Giving an overview of the project, the Project Coordinator at the St George Foundation Aruna Mansaray, said that the Foundation is a local NGO which was established in 2004. And that since inception, it has been working earnestly to remove children from the streets after the end of the Civil War in the country by providing shelter, basic needs and sending them back to school and for those that have parents the Foundation has aided them to be reunited with their families.

The St George Foundation Programme Manager, Yayah Kamara, stated that there are many children living on the streets and they are vulnerable to lot of dangers maintaining ho it should be a concern to every citizen in the country and if they are not helped they will end up creating problems in the society.

He said it is in that regard that they have embarked on a 3 year project which started in August 2021 and will end in July 2024. He said the project is targeting the Western Urban area which they consider to be danger zone for children. According to him, the project is not only for children, but to implement skill training in  communities geared towards empowering parents for them to be fit to responsible for their children.

The Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs Child Protection Officer, Gassimu Sesay, commended the St George Foundation for their efforts stating the organization is a stepping stone to get children out from the streets.

He stated that parents have a key role to play to get children from the streets by being responsible parents and also monitor their children’s affairs in and out of school. “When they are on the streets they are exposed to a lot of dangers like drug abuse, rape and crime,” he reiterated.

Deputy Director at the Ministry of Social Welfare ,Worokia Conteh said that parents should give their children encouragement, create time for them, and make them have the confidence to speak to them when they face any problem.

“Corporal punishment must be minimized in order for children not to be afraid of you because if they cannot speak to you as their parents, they will speak to the wrong people that will mislead them,” he cautioned.

One of the beneficiaries at the St George Foundation, Thomas A. Gbla, said that he was taken from his the provinces by his aunt with the promise of sending him to school. He expressed his disappointment when his aunt did not keep to the promise and gave him sachets of cold water to sell. The Foundation found him and sent him to school and he can now read, write and made an appeal for the project to be extended so that more children would benefit.

Eminent Women with Disability Urges Govt. To Address Issues Affecting Disable Women

By Foday Moriba Conteh

As part of their campaign in raising awareness on issues affecting women living with disabilities across the country, the Eminent Women with Disability in collaboration with One Family People on Wednesday 27th October, 2021 called on the Government of Sierra Leone to address issues affecting women living with disabilities across the country. This disclosure was made during a Press Conference held at the One Family People Head Office on Main Motor Road on Congo Cross in Freetown.

Reading a Press Statement by the Eminent Women one of their members, Esther Conteh, informed that their organization and One Family People are of the strong conviction  that women with disabilities rightly demand the enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, adding that they recognize and acknowledge that work remains to be done to ensure that the links between gender and disability feature more routinely in all spheres of the development strata and common approaches to disability rights ,specifically the rights of women with disability and gender equality, have yet to be placed centrally.

Esther Conteh pointed out that the 2030 for Sustainable Development also launched a call to “Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres”.

She said that effective change depends upon meaningful consultation and involvement of women with disabilities in public decision-making processes including through working with organizations of women with disabilities.

She further pointed out that Sexual and Gender Based Violence especially against women with disability is still a challenge. Making a reference she cited one such case which has to do with a young lady with speech and hearing impairment, who was brutally raped multiple times after undergoing a Caesarean operation. Sadly, she was left  dead and that as women with disability they consider that sad incident as a wake-up call and have decided to unequivocally bring it to the attention of duty bearers and the general public the sad plight of women with disabilities as they continue to encounter barriers to access justice.

Against that backdrop, they asked all concerned parties to join them as they call for the following which includes

  1. That women and girls with disabilities must be recognized as equal rights holders before the law and should enjoy equal recognition of their legal capacity and their credibility.
  2. Women with disabilities must have access to information on their legal rights and the justice system, as well as necessary support services and accommodations to navigate and participate in the judicial process, including legal aid. And that information must be available in alternative formats to sure accessibility.
  3. Law enforcement, the judiciary and other actors involved in the administration of justice must be trained to handle cases concerning women with disabilities and to dismantle harmful stereotypes about credibility or capacity.

On behalf of the Eminent Women with Disability, she disclosed that they are willing and ready to join hands with duty bearers to ensure that they address those burning concerns.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disability, Saa Lamin Kortequee, commended the Eminent Women with Disability for their pro-activeness in raising the awareness on issues affecting women living with disabilities across the country, which he described as a move in the right direction by eradiating issues affecting these women in the country.

He said that as a Commission they are very concern about those issues as persons living with disability face double discrimination, especially women with disabilities and that as a country those issues must be addressed.

He described the case of a young lady with speech and hearing impairment, who was brutally raped multiple times after undergoing a caesarean operation as unfortunate, adding how actions must be taken in order to give justice to those victims.

The Chief Executive Officer of Advocacy Movement Network, Wilhemina Sho-Cole, said that the International Journal of Environmental Research on Public Health conducted a survey examining the prevalence of sexual and gender based violence of which they published a report in February 2020 which states that gender based violence against women in the Sub-Sahara Africa is on the increase with the West Africa Region experiencing 30 percent while Eastern Africa Region experiences 25 percent increase on emotional victims.

She added that UN Women has reported that according to the Sierra Leone demography health survey 2019 an estimated 62 percent of women age 15-29 reported having experience physical sexual violence, adding that despite the country’s commitment in the fight there are still challenges in winning the fight as sexual gender based violence remains a critical and unpleasant issue which the country is struggling to put an end to.

She applauded the Eminent Women with Disability for the move taken by them calling on stakeholders in order to address issues affecting women living with disabilities across the country.

Addressing the gathering, the Programme Manager of One Family People, Samuel P.O.V Macaulay maintained that their organization is a disability focused organization that has been working tremendously in creating a conducive environment for people living with disabilities across the country, adding discrimination against women has been happening from ancient days of which he said hands must be put on deck in order to eradicate the issue in the country.

He also used the opportunity to call on the Government of Sierra Leone and other relevant stakeholders to address issues affecting persons living with disabilities across the country more especially women living with disabilities whom, he said, deserve more care and attention as they are more vulnerable especially when it comes to sexual and gender based violence in the country.

NP-SL Ltd is Well Grounded in Petroleum Importation & Marketing

By Amin Kef Sesay

There is not a single iota of doubt that the National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited (NP-SL Ltd) is a premier oil marketing company that has been doing extremely well in the areas of importing and marketing various petroleum products in the country, notably petrol, diesel, gas and lubricants of which the most outstanding is Castrol oil.

Without contesting the undiluted fact, this 100% indigenous company has left its footprint on the sands of time as it continues to bag wide commendations for its timeliness in always ensuring that qualitative petroleum products are imported into the country, distributed country wide to its sales points or Filling Stations across the country in order for its esteemed customers to easily gain access to them.

The company has never renege in doing so save only certain situations where, as a result of unforeseen contingencies, most often beyond its control, there has been some delay. However, in such circumstances measures are quickly rolled out to address them and restore normalcy in the supply chain.

It must be noted that for any petroleum marketing company to maintain such a solid and unshakable posture could only be attributed to prudent business management initiatives. Indeed, it could be said with all amount of certainty that the selflessness and dogged determination on the part of the 35 Sierra Leoneans who established the company have greatly influenced most of the policies that were adopted, effectively implemented which saw the transformation of a small business enterprise to a towering entity.

One of those laid down policies is that which places premium on enhancing or maximizing customer care to create a situation where its customers are always made to feel good and satisfied. The company’s Shareholders and Management are also conscious of the fact that by taking customer care to a higher pedestal such could serve as a leeway to attract other individuals to come on board its customer platform.

Indeed, it is in that light that a conscious move was made to make the company’s Filling Stations very attractive and welcoming. Built in state of the art fashion, painted with yellow and green paints, these sales points are very spacious to accommodate fleet of vehicles, are very eye catchy and in some of them there are shopping marts where customers could purchase basic items and even relax to socialize. As of now social gathering in those marts has been put on hold as social distancing has been recommended as one of the preventive measures put in place to avoid the spread of the deadly virus.

To promote transparency and win the trust of its numerous customers as well as match up with international standards, it was decided on the part of the company to invest so much in procuring and installing calibrated pumping machines. These have the capacity to pump the exact quantity of fuel in vehicles and containers to the utmost satisfaction of buyers. “I always feel gratified whenever I do purchase petrol at NP Filling Station because I am always satisfied that I am getting my money’s worth,” a banker divulged to this medium adding that the Managers of the company are doing a fantastic job ,referencing the orderliness of how business transactions are taking place.

One very striking feature which NP-SL has so far exhibited, to the admiration of many, is its strict adherence to the country’s Local Content Policy. Development Economists have recommended that one viable route to be used to boost a country’s economy is to make effective use of indigenous resources, both material and human, as long as they are available. Enhancing local content has its attendant merits one of which is creating employment opportunities and ensuring that monies paid workers are not remitted overseas.

The National Petroleum-Sierra Leone Limited is one of the few companies in this country that has successfully implemented its internal policy of giving employment preference to Sierra Leoneans. This is indeed very impressive and is helping in major ways to reduce poverty.

If today NP Gas is going at the pace of the Concord, in terms of sales, then this is simply because it has been discovered that it is very fast, efficient and environmental friendly for cooking purposes. Besides, it can be refilled without going through the hassle of having to find gas elsewhere as the company markets gas alongside petrol, diesel and other lubricants. They are manufactured in different cylinder sizes and are easily accessible.

“NP Gas is my kitchen partner and I am finding it very cooperative. It is easy to handle and for me it poses no danger. I am therefore recommending it and for anyone to secure it there will be no regrets,” Mariatu Sesay a resident, living in Makeni recommended.

What is much talked about today, well not in social circles as social distancing is now the norm, is NP Smart Card. As the name suggests the card is so smart to such an extent that as long as it is loaded with money it can be slotted in the calibrated pumping machine and after demanding the amount of petrol or diesel requested for, it churns out the exact amount plus displaying the price. It is trending, secured and convenient to use.

“NP Smart Card works well and since I have been using it I always procure fuel for my car and generator in record time. Using it, there are many benefits one can derive,” a Civil Servant, Mohamed Jusu, underscored.

The company does not joke with rolling out its Corporate Social Responsibility fully aware that it is incumbent on it as a business entity to give back to society. This is all the more reason why it has been complementing the Government’s development interventions. The Shareholders and Management have always stood by the side of Sierra Leoneans in thick and thin always endeavouring to give succour and deepen development. The good things it had done are so many to catalogue and time plus space could not permit one to narrate all of them. However, the recent one should not go unnoticed and it has to do with availing the Government one Billion Leones to help scale up the fight against the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

“This shows that the company is a responsible business entity,” an official of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency commended.

The company stands tall for having vibrant branches operating in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and The Gambia where they are operating efficiently, offering jobs and paying taxes to Governments. NP-SL is indeed a force to reckon with and is poised to further make its presence felt and expand its operations.

As Pres. Barrow Lays the Foundation Stone…   Pavi Fort in Top Gear to Undertake 50 Km Roads Construction Work in The Gambia

By Amin Kef Sesay

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pavi Fort Road Construction Company, Alimu Sanu Barrie, was on the 28th October 2021 sitting comfortable among other contractors ,who inter alia won a road construction contract, in Banjul The Gambia, to witness an important watershed in the infrastructural development of the West African State, that which has to do with the laying of the foundation stone by President Adama Barrow for the construction of a 50 kilometre OIC Urban Roads Project.

Indeed, it was a brighter and carnival-like day in Greater Banjul as hundreds and hundreds of Gambians, with some foreigners among them, converged at the venue in Brufut, within the Greater Banjul Area and the West Coast Region, to see history in the making. People from different walks of life were in a jubilant mood, singing and dancing to traditional drumming for what many considered as a positive move by the Barrow-led Government although there were certain dissenting expressed opinions on Social Media that the roads project is not a top national priority in comparison to other felt needs. However, in any democratic political dispensation such is obvious as all cannot toe the same line at the same time.

During the commencement of the program, which was moderated by the Minister of Transport, Bai Lamin Jobbe, representatives of the host community, Brufut, welcomed President Barrow, the Vice President and all to their community to witness another important occasion which has to do with development. They endorsed their unflinching support for the project and pledged to do all within their reach to see its successful implementation up to completion stage.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretariat in The Gambia, Yankuba Dibba, in his statement disclosed how the Secretariat was established to mobilize resources, identify and implement key infrastructural projects in preparation of  the 14th Summit of Heads of State and Government  of the OIC. “However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak and certain bureaucratic red tapism it was postponed to April 2022,” he further revealed adding how they are delighted to have weathered  the storm disclosing that the forthcoming OIC Summit to be held in 2022 will be the 15th Summit .

Yankuba Dibba said the Secretariat will leave no stone unturned in order to make The Gambia proud. He said due to the proliferation of vehicles and expansion in human activities there is now the need for an overhaul of the country’s infrastructure to match up with contemporary trends.

“Though this road construction will definitely pose inconveniences for some yet I am craving for maximum cooperation with the contractors because at the end of the day after completion traffic congestion will be considerably reduced,” the OIC Secretariat CEO assured.

Transport Minister of The Gambia, Bai Lamin Jobbe, informed the audience that the urban roads project is a long-awaited one adding how it neatly falls under the Government’s National Development Plan.  “This project will be implemented against two backdrops, one which has to do with enhancing infrastructural development and as well in preparation for the hosting of the OIC Conference next year,” he told a jubilant crowd that responded with deafening applauses adding that the roads will be constructed into two carriages each with solar-powered streetlights, proper drainages, a parking lot and other facilities.

“When completed the benefits will be immense which include reducing the travelling time, minimize carbon monoxide emissions and bring varying economic benefits to the nation among others,” he stated greeted by a thunderous chanting  by the crowd, “We want Barrow, We don’t need old Pa” followed by  a cacophony  of cheering.

The Minister appealed for all to work closely with the contractors for the timely and qualitative completion of the road project. He then extended thanks to the Saudi Development Fund for funding the project and residents of the community where the project is implemented for their support and cooperation.

In his keynote address, President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow said it is with great pleasure and hope for a better Gambia for all that he is joining them to lay the foundation stone for a fifty-kilometre Urban Roads Project in the West Coast Region and Kanifing Municipality. He welcomed all to the auspicious occasion, furthering how it is “another major milestone in the development process of the necessary infrastructure for the successful hosting of the OIC Summit in 2022”.

The President told the  jubilant crowd that the development of,  “these busy roads will solve the difficulties of schoolchildren, patients, business persons and the numerous commuters who struggle daily to board the few vehicles that ply these congested areas”.

He continued that, “Through such projects, access to schools, hospitals and other social amenities and services will be enhanced gradually throughout the country.” The President intimated that the 50KM road will have 45% asphalt pavement and 5% concrete pavement. He added that when completed, the project will vitally expand the country’s urban road network to accommodate the increasing volume of road traffic, address the need for more effective road safety measures and set up an efficient drainage system within the Greater Banjul Area.

President Barrow disclosed that the project duration is 14 months  and that twenty (20) roads will be constructed which will constitute the 50km Roads Project.

The President underscored that t is obvious that the construction of good roads, where they are needed most, can boost commercial engagements and improve the image of urban settings.

He congratulated the contractors for winning the contract and the OIC Secretariat for the efforts they are making to host a successful summit come 2022.

It will be recalled that two contractors won the bidding competition for the implementation of the 50KM road project. They are SSTP-CSE –Al Fahd Company JV for Lot1 and Pavi Fort –Gambisara-Huta JV for Lot 2.

In an exclusive interview by the author, Amin Kef, aka Ranger, who is the Publisher and Managing Editor of The Calabash Newspaper, who travelled to The Gambia primarily to witness the  event, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pavi Fort Roads Construction Company, Alimu Sanu Barrie, stated that the company is in top gear to deliver on its mandate. According to him the company’s equipment and workforce are well positioned and ready to go into full action.

He revealed that because of the 14 months duration of the Project, Pavi Fort commenced light work before the laying of the foundation stone ceremony was held which, he said, shows the level of preparedness and commitment to fulfill its obligation.  “This is a litmus test and I as well as my team are totally committed to deliver qualitative works within the stipulated completion date,” he assured adding that establishing a flourishing operation of the company in the ECOWAS sub-region is effectively in progress, with business activities currently going on in Sierra Leone, Gambia and Guinea.

He disclosed that the company is also fully registered in Liberia and Ghana and will continue to explore investment opportunities in the region

Alimu Sanu Barrie also revealed that he  has over twenty-five years of entrepreneurial experience in the execution of large-scale development projects adding how the company has of late  invested a lot  in the areas of procuring  heavy-duty machinery, Logistics management, estate development, Quarrying, building and road construction.

“It is high time to make the whole world know that Sierra Leoneans can compete in roads construction at the sub-regional as well as the global level and that is exactly what Pavi Fort has proven in winning a roads project contract in The Gambia and we are proud of flying high the Green, White and Blue flag of Sierra Leone,” he concluded.

Orange-SL Updates the Media on its Latest Activities 

By Foday Moriba Conteh

One of Sierra Leone’s leading Mobile Operators in the country, Orange Sierra Leone on Thursday 28th October held a one-day engagement with media practitioners. The one-day engagement was geared towards updating the media about key highlights of their journey and their successes from April 2021 to date. The meeting was held at their Head Office on Hill Station in Freetown.

In her address, Head of Corporate Affairs & Publicity at Orange-SL, Annie Wonnie Katta, said that Orange is a passionate Corporate Social investor and they believe in the investing in the Socio-Economic development of the country, adding how they want to support Government’s initiatives to ensure the country move to another level of which she added that the company has been engaging on activities that has contributed tremendously towards the development of the country.

She noted that over the years they have supported Muslims who are finding it difficult to take care of their family with food items during the month of Ramadan by providing them with food items worth million of Leones across the country.

Annie Wonnie Katta maintained that as a company they have made the commitment to reduce carbon to 0 by 2040 in the country. And that they have been very deliberate in pushing environment initiatives in the country, furthering that internally they already set up an Environment Health and Safety Committee that will solely be responsible for looking after the environment and safety issues.

She maintained that in a bid to provide a platform for young innovators and creative thinkers in the country, in September 2021 the company awarded 150 million Leones to the two winners of this year’s Orange-SL Social Venture Prize Innovators competition.

The Communication Officer of Orange Foundation Sierra Leone, Alimamy Pallo Bangura, revealed that the Foundation was established to extend humanitarian gesture to the populace, which he said they have been doing since its inception.

He disclosed that the Foundation in April 2021, donated assorted food items worth 89 million Leones to the Sierra Leone Autistic Society for onward support to children living with Autism in their school and that the donated items includes 70 (50kg) bags of rice, 70 cartoons of tin tomato, 67 gallon of cooking oil, 70 bags of onions, 70 bags of sugar, and 70 bags of medicated soap.

The Communication Officer noted that in March 2021 the Foundation also launched the Maternal Health Project in Sierra Leone worth 600 million Leones which is geared towards safeguarding the health of pregnant women, lactating mothers and under-five children primarily as a pilot phase targeting the Kroo Bay community, adding that the Foundation also supported NaCOVERC with ICT equipment Data, furniture etc worth 450 million Leones for the distribution and administering of the COVID-19 vaccines. These and many more were highlighted by the Communications Officer  of  the Orange Foundation Sierra Leone as some of their interventions since April 2021 to date.

Assistant Manager, Marketing/Partnership Department at Orange Money, Sadia Kanu said that currently Orange Money has at least 1.3 million active based customers and they have made great success in terms of service delivery.

She stated that Orange Money has partnered with banks in the country in making possible accessibility to the Wallet to Bank and Bank to Wallet platform of sending and receiving money with a view to ease the workload on the Bank to give easy access to the banking system country wide.

Sadia Kanu said that Orange Money also launched the “Orange Money Lajor” in order to meet the financial needs of people who are in need of money by offering loans to them without guarantors or collateral securities as traditional commercial banks do request before granting loans which she said has been very supportive to customers.

She pointed out that Orange Money Sierra Leone continues to break new ground in Digital Financial Inclusion, of which they launched “Oversea Money”, in partnership with Western Union and BnB. Diasporas can now send money directly to the mobile phone wallet of their friends and relatives in Sierra Leone via Western Union, BnB and other Money Transfer Operators”.

A question and answer session climaxed the occasion.

APC Calls for the Release of Its Members Arrested in Kabala

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By Foday Moriba Conteh

The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party, in a Press Statement it issued out dated 24th October, 2021 and signed by the National Secretary General of the party, Amb. Dr. Alhaji Osman Foday Yansaneh,has called for the release of its members arrested in Kabala and brought down to Freetown.

The release stated that the public would recall the 2nd October 2021 when the National Electoral Commission conducted by-elections for the vacant seats of Chairman of Koinadugu District Council and that of Councillor for Ward 155, Koinadugu District.

It continued that on the eve of polling day and immediately after polling closed on the day, elements of the Sierra Leone People’s Party carried out violent attacks against members of the All Peoples Congress and their properties, causing serious injuries to their persons
and malicious damage estimated in excess of one hundred million Leones.

The party maintained that one of the prominent APC sons of Koinadugu District whose person and property was the target of the wanton violence is Dr. S.S. Marrah and that his house at Chief Compound, Denka Street, Kabala Town was pelted with stones and Molotov cocktail bombs, causing extensive damage.

It furthered that the Sierra Leone Police, whose duty it is to protect lives and properties, investigate and bring the culprits of violent conduct to book, ironically arrested three youths, Mustapha Daramy, Farrah Yapie Marrah and Abu Bakarr D. Mansaray who were the victims of the reported violence and who are Dr. S.S. Marrah’s wards and living with him at his residence which was attacked, pointing out that the arrests took place on 4th of October 2021, and those arrested subsequently charged to the Kabala Magistrate Court and denied bail.

The APC noted that after lawyers for the three accused persons made an application for them to be discharged on Monday 11h October 2021, the Magistrate on receiving a phone call in the middle of the hearing announced to the court that having had orders from above  he is remitting the Court file together with the three-accused persons to the CID HQ for further investigations, a practice which, according to the APC is a novelty and most unusual and that the three accused persons were taken to Freetown on 11th October 2021 and have been kept in police custody without bail or charged again to court.

“The detained youths; Mustapha Daramy, Farrah Yapie Marrah and Abu
Bakarr D. Mansaray have since been in police and court custody continuously for eighteen (18) days now without bail, a breach of their constitutional right as guaranteed under Section 17(3) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone. The APC is calling on the Sierra Leone Police toimmediately release the detained young persons on bail and carry out investigation to bring to book the culprits responsible for the carnage meted on Kabala town on the eve and day of polling” the Release stated.

It concluded by calling for the release of its members arrested in Kabala and brought down to Freetown and that the security and justice sectors are reminded that fairness is the bedrock of any stable democracy which they  are duty bound to serve and protect.

BCSL Inaugurates Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Fornah as Executive President & Head of Mission

By Foday Moriba Conteh

In fulfilling their customary mandate to inaugurate/induct leaders into offices for which they have been elected or selected to serve, the Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone (BCSL) on the 24th October 2021, inaugurated Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Fornah as Executive President & Head of Mission and Rev. Titus A.S. Kamara as Vice President of the Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone on the theme: “Vessels for Honorable Service” during an auspicious event held at the Loko Baptist Church on Circular Road in Freetown.

In his declaration of purpose address, the Executive Secretary of the Baptist Convention Sierra Leone, Deacon Abu-Bakr B. Turay, informed the audience that in line with the BCSL Revised Constitution of 2021, an Evaluation Report on the performance of the Executive President was presented by the BCSL Executive Committee during a special delegates convention held on Saturday, 16th January 2021 at the Loko Baptist Church Circular Road in Freetown of which he noted that the Delegates from all BCSL constituted local Churches and Fellowships who were in session unanimously approved the recommendation from the Executive Committee for the current Executive President and Head of Mission Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Fornah to continue his second term of office for another 5 years period instantly.

On behalf of the BCSL Executive Committee and entire Convention, he however submit for presentation to all the Right Rev Dr. Joseph S Fornah as duly re-elected Executive President & Head of Mission on his second term in office and also Rev. Titus A.S. Kamara as the newly elected substantive Vice President of the BCSL.

Delivering his Inaugural address, the Executive President & Head of Mission of  theBaptist Convention Sierra Leone, Rev Dr. Joseph S Fornah described the gathering as another red letter day in the history of the BCSL as they witnessed a well-planned and organized inaugural service for the President and Vice President of the Convention.

On behalf of his able Vice President, he noted that they whole heartedly accept the confidence and responsibility reposed in them to provide both spiritual and administrative leadership for the BCSL within the next five years of their leadership, God being their helper.

“I want to take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to the Executive Committee, the Search Committee and the entire BCSL membership for giving us such great responsibilities and privileges to serve you .I pray that we will not disappoint you but will perform beyond your expectations by the special grace of God,” he expressed appreciation.

He continued that during his first time in office as Executive President, he saw the mighty hand of God moving and doing marvelous things in the BCSL, adding that irrespective of the many challenges they went through as a Convention they were able to achieve the following things which include:Nine churches  which existed for years without pastoral leadership were supplied with pastors through what they called negotiated transfer, over 50 pastors, teachers and leaders were capacitated with education awarding them certificates, diplomas, some at the baccalaureate and postgraduate levels through the BTS, TECT, CCMP and Teacher training colleges right across the country, two new mission fields were established in Kailuhun and Kamakwie and more to come, the BCSL administrative office in Freetown was well refurbished with modern facilities and equipment that aided the effectiveness and efficiency of the BCSL work, the BCSL headquarter land in Lunsar, 21.8 acres was redeemed on freehold.

Other properties of BCSL have also been secured in other parts of the country and that the three fourth of the perimeter fencing of the 21.8 acre land in Lunsar almost done, Forty KVA generator presently installed in Lunsar and two more big generators on their way to Sierra Leone etc.

He revealed that all these achievements emanated as a result of the support and cooperation of BCSL local Churches, Area Associations, Pastors, partners, friends and supporters of the BSCL who gave their time, talents, and resources generously towards the growth of the BCSL of which he used the opportunity to applaud them for their support and also called on them to continue their support to the BCSL whenever the need arises so that they can take the Convention to the next level.

He disclosed that the returning of the Headquarters to Lunsar by 2024 when BCSL will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee by the grace of God will play a dominate role in his second term in office, furthering that a design has already been put in place to erect a three-story multipurpose building which will host the office and other facilities and that the Project will be launched early next year January 2022 God willing.

“Your unflinching support, cooperation and prayers are needed for this great project.  BCSL should celebrate her Golden Jubilee in that building God willing. I therefore, want to grave your indulgence to give us your untainted, unflinching, unwavering, undisputable support to achieve these dreams for the BCSL. It is either now or never,” he concluded.

Health Show Commissions Newly Refurbished Cancer Ward at Connaught

By Foday Moriba Conteh

During a well-attended ceremony held on Friday 22nd October, 2021 at the Connaught Hospital in Freetown, the Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation 2, Dr. Amara Jambai, officially commissioned the newly refurbished Ward 2 at the Connaught hospital meant for cancer and cancer related patients.

The refurbishment which cost a hundred thousand pounds sterling including the procurement of medical equipment, such as electronic beds and pressure relief mattresses, were put together and facilitated by the CEO and Founder of The Health Show, Isata Sisay-Jalloh and her husband Sheku Ajuma Jalloh in partnership with the University of Sierra Leone Teaching Hospital Complex.

Chairing the event, the Hospital Care Manager at the Connaught hospital, Dr. Mustapha Kabba, said since the inception of their administration, their main goal is to rebrand Connaught hospital, starting with the basic medical services on a 24 hour basis.

He said since that time they have achieved 90% of their goals, noting that wherever one goes in the hospital something is happening. He added that prior to now, nobody wants to associate him or herself with the Connaught hospital but the narrative has changed completely with the rapid transformation.

Dr. Kabba said Madam Sisay-Jalloh had the idea to refurbish the Ward 2, and came up with a plan and design to fix the ward. He ended up thanking Madam Sisay Jalloh and her husband for such a marvelous work.

According to the Board Chairperson of Administration, Madam Dr. Sonia Spencer, Ward 2 of the Connaught Hospital is the unofficial Cancer Ward, and in 2019 when Mrs. Sisay Jalloh noticed the condition in the Ward during a visit, an idea was borne in her mind.

She maintained that, “Being a seasoned Palliative Care Specialist and Trainer, she understands better than most, the gravity of the disease, the need for patient comfort in palliative care and specifically the tenuous link between one’s psychological state and physiological wellbeing. Indeed research has shown that a depressing environment can adversely impact the patient’s journey to recovery.”

In her statement, the Founder and CEO of the Health Show, Madam Isata Sisay-Jalloh said it was the connection with Dr. Smalle back then in the United Kingdom in 2019 that led to the implementation of such a project at the Connaught Hospital, and thanked Dr.Smalle and the other stakeholders for making it possible.

She noted that as a cancer nurse, the condition of Ward 2 was unacceptable “There was no dignity and privacy for patients that were then at the ward.”

Madam Sisay-Jalloh said the project should have been completed in October 2020 but was halted as a result of the outbreak of COVID-19, since they had to intensify their fundraising through the Health Show. She said the entire renovation cost One Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling including the purchasing of equipment with herself and her husband responsible for 50% of the funding.

“Let us make Connaught Hospital a better place wherein foreigners will come for treatment instead of us going to them. We are going to change the narrative and work with every Government.”

Giving the keynote address, the Deputy Minister of Health 2, Dr Amara Jambai, said Connaught is the epi-centre for care giving, noting that if they get Connaught right, all other places in the districts will be up to standard.

He said their partners have been helping out with giving the hospital a facelift, now he said the fate of the hospital is in the hands of the nurses, pointing out that the hospital has a committed leadership to drive such a transformation.

He thanked Madam Sisay-Jalloh and her husband for such a move, while he appealed to other Sierra Leoneans to follow suit by supporting the health sector in the country.

Minister of Health Breaks Silence

By Foday Moriba Conteh

During an exclusive interview with the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby, on Tuesday 26th October, 2021 at his office at Youyi Building, Brookfields in Freetown, he intimated this medium that his Ministry is very committed towards the development of the health sector in the country.

He said that since he was sworn in as Minister of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation in February 2021 the Ministry has been looking at multiple tasks within, adding that a week after he was sworn in as Minister there was an Ebola outbreak in Guinea and the Ministry was able to mount a robust response by not only working with their counterpart in Guinea in containing the outbreak in Guinea but also embarked on incredible preparedness in the county by working with all frontline healthcare workers across the country in preventing the importation of the virus in the country and also to make sure that they were able to respond to it in a proactive and timely manner.

The Minister maintained that the Ministry has been very active in engaging their external partners in making COVID-19 vaccines available in the country of which he said the country currently has over 450,000 people that have taken their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine with close to 2 percent of the population that has already been vaccinated and close to 5 percent of the population have had at least one shot with close to 11 percent of the country’s population of eligible to have been vaccinated at least with one shot.

He continued that they have also been working on looking at all the hospitals network in the country of which he said Connaught Hospital is considered to be in a bad state but said they were able to change the Management structure and that things are changing slowly at the facility, stating that the Ministry is also looking at a network of hospitals in order to revamp them by making them more responsive in terms of service delivery. He disclosed that they have been able to secure 80 billion Leones to renovate 23 hospitals across the country which he said will commence in due time.

Dr. Austin Demby also used the opportunity to comment of the issues about the postings of Doctors into both horizontal and vertical positions which was done by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Thomas T. Samba at the Ministry of Health & Sanitation of which he said on numerous occasions, they have discussed the issue of postings of Doctors into both horizontal and vertical positions and he had always let the leadership of the Ministry know that he has no issue with postings or moving doctors horizontally.

He underscored that his policy has always been that for all key national leadership and managerial positions, their approach would be a consultative, competitive, and transparent collaboration that identifies the best candidates for posting to important positions.

The Minister disclosed that prior to his trip to the United States on the 11th September 2021 he had an exit brief and left  handing over note with the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Thomas T. Samba and the leadership of which he instructed the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to collate resumes of potential candidates to be considered by the leadership team for certain positions and they will discuss further on his returns.

He further revealed that he was very shocked and surprised that colleagues overseas had seen the draft appointment letters that he had signed without any consultation with him as a Minster of the Ministry, stating that he immediately informed the CMO of the documents and asked that all promotion announcements be put on hold till he returns to Sierra Leone on the 8th October 2021 but said those instructions were ignored and the CMO proceeded with making the announcements on October 5th and 6th respectively.

The Minister went on to say subsequently, on October 6th, he wrote to the Chief Medical Officer instructing him to rescind his announcements no later than close-of-business on Friday October 8th of which he said he again ignored his instructions. He furthered that after his arrival in Freetown, he convened a meeting of senior staff and asked the CMO formally if he had rescinded the appointment letters he had issued and by the deadline indicated but said the Chief Medical Officer said that such has not been done.

He informed him that his actions were unacceptable and were a clear case of insubordination to the highest level.

The Health Minister said that with less than a month before Dr. Samba’s contract expires, he is deliberately working to create a very toxic working environment that undercuts his authority and ability to do his work and that any additional moment he remains in his position would not only be detrimental to the operations of the Ministry, but would stifle effective work at a time when the whole Ministry should be focused on improving critical health outcomes.

This medium was made to understand that the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Thomas T. Samba has been sent on leave with
immediate effect by the Director General, Human Resources Management Office (HRMO), Asumana Tucker pursuant to the end of his statutory retirement period in the Civil Service on 30th November 2021.

Dr. Austin Demby concluded by reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment towards the improvement and development of the health sector in the country of which he described the health sector as a very important trajectory for the better, adding that as a Ministry they are working towards undertaking a transformational change within the health sector that will be responsive to its citizens, that have adequate and qualitative staff that will be able to respond to the needs of patients, that has infrastructure that will be able to support the response they have, that has the drugs and medication available for the Free Health Care initiative, that work on prevention activities and that has an impressive network of services that are able to manage diseases at the remote end all the way to the  Centre of their facilities etc.

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